Building Leadership through Integrity: Insights from WUST Chancellor Abubokor Hanip
Leadership is about drawing from the foundation of values, morals, and ethics you've cultivated over time, enabling you to guide others effectively. This was the central message delivered by Engr. Abubokor Hanip, Chancellor of Washington University of Science and Technology (WUST), as he shared his extensive experience in educational entrepreneurship in the USA, alongside his 30-year career as an educator, trainer, technology expert, and business owner.Addressing a distinguished group of professors from the National Defence University of Saudi Arabia, who completed a two-week special course at WUST, Mr. Hanip elaborated on the core principles of leadership. The participants, all senior officials in the Saudi Armed Forces, included Brigadier General Rafaa Alanizi, Brigadier General Naved Almutairi, Colonel Sultan Abbogami, Colonel Mohammed Alamri, Colonel Fahad Alshahrani, and Colonel Abdullah Aljohani.In his presentation, Mr. Hanip emphasized that leadership is akin to a bank account: only by making consistent "deposits" of integrity and ethical behavior can leaders "withdraw" respect, trust, and influence. These values, he noted, are critical for guiding teams, especially during challenging situations.The participants expressed deep satisfaction with Mr. Hanip’s leadership insights and praised his dedication to establishing WUST as a premier educational institution in the USA. They also commended the course instructors, acknowledging the value of the training they received and its relevance to their work at the National Defence University in Saudi Arabia.In response, Mr. Hanip thanked the participants and explained how WUST’s courses are designed to benefit all students and participants. He highlighted the university’s "Triple Mission" of integrating degree programs, skill-building, and career preparation. This mission is achieved by bridging the gap between industry and academia, involving industry experts in teaching, and simulating real-world workplace environments in the classroom."We guide our students from the moment they enroll, prepare them for the job market through-out the course. That’s the Return on Investment (ROI) model we follow at WUST," Mr. Hanip added.During his presentation, titled "Empowering Leadership: Key Qualities for Impactful Leaders," Mr. Hanip stressed the importance of identifying solutions to social problems, stating that WUST has targeted youth unemployment and underemployment by focusing on skill-based education.He also outlined key leadership factors, including staying committed to the organization’s vision and mission, developing long-term strategies, executing plans with confidence, making informed decisions, upholding ethical standards, and empowering team members with autonomy.In his concluding remarks, Mr. Hanip reiterated the importance of "depositing" values to earn team loyalty, noting that the more one invests, the greater the return.The event concluded with Chancellor Hanip presenting course completion certificates to the Saudi military participants, followed by a group photo session.