Rana el Kaliouby, Ph.D.

I’m so excited to join Harvard Business School as an Executive Fellow. In this guest role I will partner with HBS faculty like Karim Lakhani and Harvard Business Analytics Program to co-teach a variety of topics including: starting an AI-based business, bringing #AI products to market, #business models and perhaps most importantly how to develop and deploy AI with a commitment to #ethics, #diversity, equity and #inclusion.

I’m passionate about paying it forward and have always LOVED teaching. This opportunity gives me the best of both worlds: continuing to lead Affectiva as its CEO, but a foot in academia where I can share my experience founding and leading an AI company, and being a steward of the technology category we created.

This all started with an HBS case study featuring Affectiva written by Shane Greenstein. Check it out here: http://s.hbr.org/3kJMNdu

Lastly, I especially look forward to collaborating with the other Fellows – Gerald Chertavian and Year Up let's do something around training the next-generation of AI and #datascience leaders.

See announcement here: prn.to/3rf841m

#education #technology #innovation #inclusiveleadership #ethicsofai #diversitymatters #inclusionmatters #payitforward

The year I fell in love … with me ❤️
 
A year ago, on my birthday, my friend recommended I do
affirmations. I was skeptical to say the least. But I was going through major transitions: I had just sold my company, my daughter was off to college and as usual, I was being tough on myself, sometimes downright mean! So I decided to give affirmations a shot, which set me on a journey of self acceptance and self love. 
 
1- I changed how I talk to myself: Writing my daily affirmations helped me focus on my superpowers and quieten the Debbie Downer voice in my head! I start with “My smile lights up the whole world” (and that includes your world too 😉). If I have a big meeting coming up, I’ll write “I kick butt” 💪🏽. To focus my energy on my kids, I write “I’m an amazing mom”. As Don Miguel Ruiz (Author of Four Agreements) teaches: Be impeccable with words, especially the words you tell yourself. You know what’s magical about affirmations? With time, you embody these thoughts and people will echo them back to you. 
 
2- I learnt to spend alone time with me (and enjoyed it!): Last spring, I went on my first solo vacation everrrrrrrrr (in Turks & Caicos). I was worried I would get bored or feel sorry for myself. But I had a blast 😂. I did Zumba by the beach, read lots and made new friends. And after five years of having meditation on my New Year’s resolution but not making any progress, I now meditate daily!
 
3- I gave myself permission to have fun and do things that bring me joy: Working hard is one my family’s core values. But somehow, that translated to feeling guilty about taking time off. So this year, I’m working on letting the playful side of me shine. I visited Jana in Spain and we had a blast. I went on a girl’s shopping trip in Istanbul with my mom and sisters for my sister’s wedding. I chaperoned Adam’s squash camp trip to Egypt. I focused on being present and joyful.
 
4- I doubled down on being generous and paying it forward: It is well documented that random acts of kindness makes one happier. I love me the most when I am generous with my time, expertise, money and connections. It brings me true joy when I introduce two people and that sparks a new collaboration or when I spend time advising a founder on the path forward. 
 
5- I invested in me. Lifelong learning is one of my core values. So I became an active YPO member, which provides ample learning and growth opportunities. I also am more intentional about my physical and mental health. I exercise daily and track my sleep and fitness using my whoop, which keeps me accountable. I am also working on eating clean: if you have any tips on that one, please share!
 
Like all things in life, I’m a work in progress! But as I turn 44, I’m excited to bring that awesome version of me to everyone I am so fortunate to spend any time with.