Feb 13
2013
SBA Dean Pyke with Salah Al Humaidhi at D’Lush in the Avenues Mall, Kuwait
I’m on my way to Dubai after several fascinating days in Kuwait. I am visiting our terrific alumni and finding San Diego connections in many places. In this photo, I’m with Salah Al Humaidhi, an investor in the San Diego-based luxury beverage company, D’Lush. The founder, Jeffery Adler, is a friend of mine and of USD.
Several USD alumni hosted me for dinner after I arrived Monday evening. I enjoyed reconnecting with Ali AlMatrouk, Fahad AlRushaid, Abdullah AlShuwayeb and Mohamed Rassouqi, among others from my previous trip. I also met Nusaiba Al-Kharafi. Nusaiba works for an investment house, Kuwait Investment Authority. She is an equity analyst focusing on U.S. equities. Fahad also works in investments as an equity analyst for National Bank of Kuwait. He analyzes a set of MENA (Middle East/North Africa) region companies.
Al Hamra building, Kuwait
The next day, it was great to see many other alumni at a reception where USD alum, Mishaal AlUsaimi, was the guest speaker. I interviewed him and he also took questions from the attendees. Mishaal is one of five commissioners of the Capital Markets Authority in Kuwait. The CMA is a new government organization designed to bring more transparency to the Kuwaiti financial system. They are working to develop policies for companies that insure an open and transparent market leading to better accountability, less insider trading, and the delisting of companies that do not perform well, among many other things.
The days have been busy and gone by swiftly here. I did have just enough time to see the finished, huge Al Hamra building that was under construction when I was here last year.
I am grateful for the gracious hospitality of our alumni as I continue to experience the global USD community. And I am inspired and proud that these USD alumni are such capable and committed leaders. I was honored to participate in the conversation, to learn more about Kuwait and to ask questions and share ideas.
