Mohammad Sammour

Why did you choose to study this degree?

When I decided to pursue the MSc Global Strategy and Innovation Management at the University of Leeds, I wasn’t looking for another qualification, I was looking for a different perspective. By that point, I had already spent seven years working at the intersection of social impact, entrepreneurship, start-ups and impact investing. My career had given me the opportunity to work with founders, design innovation programmes, support entrepreneurs across different regions, and contribute to building stronger start-up ecosystems.

I wanted to understand innovation from inside larger organisations: how they make long-term decisions, build partnerships and turn new ideas into sustainable growth. The Leeds programme stood out because it combined strategic management with innovation, rather than treating them as separate disciplines. The course helped me connect my previous experience with more structured strategic thinking. It gave me a stronger foundation for designing innovation systems, investment strategies and long-term growth initiatives.

What did you enjoy most about your course?

One of the things I appreciated most was the rhythm of everyday life at Leeds. I made it a habit to start my days early with a workout at The Edge sports centre before walking across one of the greenest campuses I have experienced on my way to Leeds University Business School. Academically, I enjoyed how the programme blended theory with real business cases, encouraging us to debate ideas, question assumptions and apply concepts to practical situations.

The innovation-related modules were the highlight of my academic journey. Every lecture and seminar opened another window into understanding how organisations create value, why some ideas succeed while others fail, and how innovation can be managed intentionally rather than left to chance.

What did you enjoy most about student life at Leeds?

If there’s one thing I learned at Leeds, it’s that university life is what you make of it. I promised myself before arriving that I wouldn’t just spend the year moving between lectures and my accommodation. I joined the University’s weekly hiking trips, which quickly became one of my favourite activities. They gave me the chance to explore the Yorkshire countryside while spending time with students from different backgrounds. I also joined the University’s archery club, something I had never imagined myself doing before. It was completely outside my comfort zone, which is exactly why I wanted to try it. The Students’ Union was another huge part of my experience. There always seemed to be something happening, from cultural celebrations and networking events to social activities that brought people together.

How did you find adjusting to living and studying in the UK?

Moving to a new country was a little intimidating at first, but the University of Leeds made the experience feel surprisingly easy. I was also fortunate to be a Saïd Foundation scholar, and having the support of both the Foundation and the University made the transition much smoother. One moment I will never forget was arriving at Manchester Airport and being welcomed by the University team. They had even arranged temporary accommodation before we moved into our chosen residences. After a long journey, that small act of kindness made a huge difference.

What professional skills and experience did you gain?

When I first joined the programme, I thought I already had a solid understanding of innovation. After several years working with start-ups and entrepreneurs, I had seen ideas grow into real ventures and had worked across different innovation programmes. What I didn’t realise was how much more there was to learn once you looked at innovation through the lens of strategy.

Throughout the year, every lecture and seminar challenged me to think differently. Instead of looking only at the solution, I found myself asking better questions. Why does this business work? Why do some innovations scale while others don’t? How do organisations build innovation into their culture instead of treating it as a one-off initiative?

How did your time at Leeds prepare you for the future?

Leeds gave me the missing perspective I was looking for. It helped me understand how large organisations think, how strategy shapes decision-making, and how innovation can move from being a great idea to becoming part of an organisation’s long-term direction. One of the biggest changes was in my confidence. I left Leeds feeling able to contribute to conversations with executives, challenge ideas and think more strategically about complex business problems. Soon after graduating, I stepped into a role at a regional innovation company where I worked closely with both start-ups and established organisations, shaping innovation programmes and supporting organisations as they explored new ways of growing and collaborating.

How has your career progressed since leaving the Business School?

Since graduating from Leeds, my career has taken me across the region and, in many ways, brought me full circle. After completing my Master’s, I moved to Riyadh, where I worked with organisations on corporate innovation, venture building and start-up ecosystem development. It was an exciting chapter because I was applying the concepts we had debated in classrooms at Leeds to real organisations facing real strategic challenges. I later returned home to Jordan to join Arab Bank as an Innovation Manager. It is not a role that most people associate with banking, and that is exactly what makes it exciting.

My work sits at the intersection of strategy, innovation, start-ups and investment. I spend a lot of time meeting founders, understanding emerging technologies, and exploring how start-ups and large institutions can create value together. Sometimes that means designing partnerships that help start-ups scale through the bank’s regional presence. Other times, it means evaluating investment opportunities as part of our Corporate Venture Capital efforts.

What are your ambitions for the future?

One thing I’ve learned over the past few years is that my ambitions have become less about chasing a particular title and more about the kind of impact I want to create. I hope to continue building bridges between worlds that do not naturally come together, whether that is connecting start-ups with large organisations, helping corporations embrace new technologies, or supporting entrepreneurs with the right partnerships and investment.

The Middle East is going through an incredible period of transformation, and I feel fortunate to be building my career at a time when innovation is becoming a strategic priority across the region. I see myself continuing to work at the intersection of corporate innovation, venture capital, strategic partnerships and entrepreneurship.

What was your biggest highlight of studying at Leeds?

One of the greatest privileges was experiencing Leeds not only as a Master’s student, but also as a Saïd Foundation scholar. At Leeds, I was challenged academically by classmates and professors from around the world, while the Saïd Foundation connected me with young leaders from the Middle East who shared a belief that education should be used to create positive change.

If there is one thing that makes me smile every time I think about Leeds, it is the people. Somewhere between lectures, hiking trips, late-night study sessions and spontaneous conversations, our flat slowly became a place where people gathered. I discovered that I genuinely loved cooking, and before long it became something of a tradition. Friends, classmates and sometimes people we had only met a few days earlier would come over to cook together, share food from different cultures or simply spend the evening talking over dinner before ending the night with a movie.

Professionally, Leeds marked one of the most important turning points in my life. My dissertation remains one of the achievements I am most proud of. Long before artificial intelligence became part of everyday conversations, I explored emerging technologies, innovation theory and strategic management, reading countless papers, questioning assumptions and trying to connect ideas that initially seemed unrelated.

Would you recommend Leeds University Business School?

Without hesitation, yes. My biggest piece of advice is simple: do not let fear decide how you spend your year.

Say yes to the hiking trip. Join the sports club you have never considered before. Go to the Students’ Union events, even if you do not know anyone yet. Start conversations with classmates from countries you have never visited. Invite people over for dinner. Explore the city. Take the train to somewhere new. Your degree is important, and you will learn a lot. But you are also building friendships and discovering new interests.