Zahra Al-Harazi

Zahra Al-Harazi (born c. 1971[1]) was born in Uganda, subsequently moving to Canada where she became an award-winning entrepreneur. She is the founder and director of Foundry Communications.

Early life and education

Zahra Al-Harazi was born in Yemen. She immigrated to Canada in 1996 with her children.[2] Al-Harazi taught ESL at the Yemen American Language Institute until 1995.

Al-Harazi received her Bachelor of Design in Visual Communications from the Alberta College of Art and Design in Calgary, Alberta.

Career

In 2006 Al-Harazi started Foundry Communications, with her business partner.[2] Al-Harazi is now sole owner and Creative Director of Foundry Communications – an internationally awarded[3] [4] marketing and communications studio known for its strategic approach to design.

During her career in the marketing and communications industries, Al-Harazi has been awarded multiple accolades, including Calgary’s Top 40 Under 40 (2009),[5] Business in Calgary's Leader of Tomorrow, Canadian Woman Entrepreneur of the Year by Chatelaine (2011),[6] and has been named one of the most powerful women in Canada by the Women’s Executive Network (WXN).[7] She has also been awarded the Governor General's Diamond Jubilee Medal for making a significant contribution to Canada.

Al-Harazi has given speeches at institutions such as Young Women of Influence,[8] Ace Nationals,[9] The Globe and Mail business conference, the Toronto Board of Trade, Mount Royal University, Women in Philanthropy,[10] Women's Executive Network and Entrepreneurs Organization Istanbul University. She has also been a judge for many national design competitions such as Design Edge, Applied Arts, Elevated HR, New ARs, and the Ace Student Entrepreneurship Awards.

Al-Harazi has written in the Financial Post' about how her experiences and how her identity have shaped her into a successful businesswomen. Her advice to aspiring entrepreneurs is to "celebrate your individuality. In business and in life, it's a competitive advantage like no other".[11]

Personal Accolades

Al-Harazi has received several honors and awards throughout her career. Some of her recent accolades include:

Associations / Memberships

Al-Harazi is a member of several professional associations. She has made many contributions through her charitable work and has garnered respect from her colleagues and the design community at large. She has been asked to judge many national design competitions including Design Edge, New ARs and Applied Arts to name a few. Membership includes:

Board of Directors

Press

References

  1. ↑ 'By Her Own Design', Hers Magazine (Calgary Herald), Fall 2012, page 17. Retrieved 2012-11-05.
  2. 1 2 Drew Anderson, 'Next Up: A Profile of Zahra Al-Harazi of Foundry Communications', Alberta Venture, 15 October 2011. Retrieved 2012-11-05.
  3. ↑ http://www.summitawards.com/winners/winner-search.html?sobi2Task=sobi2Details&catid=0&sobi2Id=6627
  4. ↑ http://marcomawards.com/list2011.php?a=F
  5. 1 2 http://www.avenuecalgary.com/top-40-under-40/zahra-alharazi
  6. 1 2 http://site.chatelaine.com/womenoftheyear/entrepreneurs.aspx
  7. 1 2 http://www.top100women.ca/?w=top100.2011winners
  8. ↑ Woman of Influence keynote Speech
  9. ↑ Ace Nationals Student Entrepreneurship Awards Keynote Speech
  10. ↑ Women In Philanthropy Keynote Speech
  11. ↑ http://www.nationalpost.com/Celebrate+your+individuality/6286468/story.html here
  12. 1 2 http://www.awebusiness.com/pages/home/default.aspx
  13. ↑ http://www.cwc-afc.com/home.cfm
  14. ↑ http://www.gdc.net/
  15. ↑ http://www.sitatthetable.org/
  16. ↑ http://tdc.org/
  17. ↑ http://www.wxnetwork.com/
  18. ↑ http://www.eonetwork.org/Pages/welcome.aspx
  19. ↑ http://www.adrodeo.com/
  20. ↑ http://www.immigrantservicescalgary.ca/

External links

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