Nagham Bou Daher: Empowering social change through business

What led you to choose the Cambridge MBA? 

Studying at Cambridge has been a dream of mine for years. What drew me to Cambridge Judge Business School is its concentration on sustainable business, giving me the chance to specialise in driving positive societal change. Anyone who knows me knows that social impact has always been at the heart of what I do, whether through designing national non-profit strategies, championing women’s inclusion in underrepresented fields, or helping to make housing more affordable across the Middle East. Cambridge gives me the platform to deepen that passion, surrounded by a global community that values purpose, collaboration and change-making. 

What has been your biggest career accomplishment so far? 

I am especially proud of my previous journey and work with AllGirlsCode, an award-winning initiative promoting STEM education for young women across Lebanon. What began as a volunteer role quickly became a purpose-driven journey as I advanced to Development Advisor, where I led the executive team to deliver workshops on programming, professional development and communication. It was an experience that combined my values of education, empowerment and equity and remains one of my most rewarding accomplishments, despite happening at an early stage of my career. 

How do you feel about receiving your scholarship? 

I feel incredibly grateful and humbled to receive this scholarship. For me, it is not only financial support but also recognition of the values I stand for. It motivates me to push harder, create more impact and ensure I pay this generosity forward by empowering others along my journey. 

What do you hope to gain from the MBA over the next year? 

I look forward to immersing myself in the Sustainable Business concentration and using it as a platform to develop and test large-scale, impactful solutions to social challenges.  Beyond academics, I am equally excited to connect with classmates from all over the world, enjoy the unique Cambridge experience and build relationships that will enrich me personally as much as they do professionally. 

Where do you see the MBA taking you in your future career? 

In the short term, I see the MBA as a platform to apply new knowledge and hands-on experience to real-world social issues in the Middle East. My ambition is to use the skills I gain at Cambridge to design and implement strategies that address challenges in areas like education, healthcare and housing, building on my past work in non-profit strategies and social development. In the long term, I aspire to move from advising change to leading it, taking on senior leadership roles that allow me to shape national and regional agendas and create lasting, systemic impact across the region. 

What does Cambridge mean to you? 

To me, Cambridge is more than a university; it is one of the world’s oldest and most globally renowned institutions, with a legacy of people who have used their knowledge to shape societies for the better. It represents centuries of academic rigor and intellectual leadership that I deeply admire, as well as a tradition of service and innovation that I aspire to carry forward by applying what I learn here to create lasting impact in the Middle East. 

Something few people know about you… 

Something few people know about me is that I am a passionate pianist and once competed and reached the semi-finals in Lebanon’s National Piano Competition. Music has always been a source of inspiration for me and today my pet bird, Blue, who is actually orange and yellow, often keeps me company while I play.