Biographical Sketch

Autobiography

Saad Aqeel Alzarooni is passionate social designer and ethnographic researcher. His research interests fall mainly into two categories: collaborative community assets mapping, and applied knowledge modelings for planning and evaluation. His recent publications include “Exploring the Strategic Value of Interdisciplinary Collaboration” and “Learning to Collaborate in Collaborative Innovation Networks”.

Source of Inspirations

Saad is about truing soft data into strategic insights for innovations. He blends his educational background in sociology and community development to feed into his design thinking, concepts and solutions. Saad’s goal is to help individuals, groups, and communities visualize their assets and guide them to realize their goals.

Goal and Objectives

As Saad continues his learning journey, he is beginning to explore the range of opportunities in design research and thinking for community renewal and innovation.

Education

• M.F.A in Design Management –School of Design. SCAD
• M.S. in Social Administration - MSASS-Case Western Reserve University
• Popular Culture and the City Program- GSSS-University of Amsterdam
• B.A. in Sociology Emirates University

Additional Training

• Certificate Program in People Management - American Management Association
• Certificate Program in Building Management Skills - Management Center Europe

Work Experience

Saad’s professional career has spanned diverse work environments. Despite the diversity of work environments, he has been consistently successful in improving results through strengthening learning and coaching function in organizations.

• Manager/Career Development and Research at Etisalat Academy. Duties include: Mapping career strategy and designing leadership and talent development programs. (2003-2007).
• Research Analyst at ECSSR. Duties include: Studying, through methodological means, contemporary social and economic issues and determining their implications for the society. (2002 – 2003).
• Teaching/Research Assistant at UAEU Duties include: Lecturing and Fieldwork Advising. Received Graduate Teaching/Research Assistant Scholarship Award in social policy analysis and planning. (1996-2001).

Awards

• Sheikh Rashid Award for Academic Excellence. Years: 1995 and 2000 .
• Mandel School Excellence in Leadership Award. 2000. Mandel School of Applied Social Sciences. Excellence in Leadership and Inter-cultural Connections
• Al-Owais Award for Studies and Scientific Innovation. Years: 2008, 2006, 2004, 2003. Sultan Bin Ali Al Owais Cultural Foundation-Dubai-UAE.

Links

http://contextualresearch.wordpress.com/
http://independent.academia.edu/SAADAQUEELZ
http://saadaqeelalzarooni.wordpress.com/
http://issuu.com/saadaqeel