Instead of focusing on the differences between local citizens and expats, the iBuilt initiative aims to highlight the common ground. “It’s the shared passion for technology”, says Ankita Durani. “Expats and locals have the same drive, which we will build on rather than just focusing on the differences.”
iBuilt – an acronym for International Business & Innovation Leaders in Tech – is a community for expat leaders and entrepreneurs to develop their careers and grow their companies. The platform, initiated by Ankita Durani and Joseph Zekry, aims to connect professionals in the Eindhoven area “so that they can develop, collaborate, and learn from each other”. On September 19, the community will have its official launch event for the first edition of the Common Ground for Innovation Awards, an accolade for impactful expats in the region. The event takes place in the NatLab theater in central Eindhoven.
Nominations are open
What can people expect from iBUILT? Zekry: “They should expect something that a company or a social club can’t give: a place to connect with people experiencing similar challenges. Our goal is to bring all possible resources (network and knowledge) for expats to grow at a comparable pace as the locals.” An award show, highlighting individuals and organizations that enable diverse leadership as well as tech start-ups led by international leaders within the Brainport region, is part of the event. The iBuilt team has opened up a form to nominate candidates for these prizes. “We hope lots of people – expats and locals – will grab the opportunity and fill in the form”, Durati adds, “so we can really honor the leaders of our community.”
More was needed
The event and the awards originated from a feeling that expats needed a push in the back. Durani: “ Even though I am part of a community of young professionals within ASML, where I bonded with people and connected with the city, I felt something more was needed on a higher level, especially for expats. When they come here, they have ideas of growing in their career and their business. But where is that one community that they can fall back on to discuss their career growth or build their own companies? Then I met Joseph, who had the same feeling, and we started working on it.”
Zekry adds: “During the executive MBA I’m studying, I was challenged to use my knowledge, status, and network to give back to society. So I thought: ‘What would I have needed from this ecosystem five, six, or ten years ago? Companies tend to sketch borders, and it can be limiting. So the idea is to bring people from all nationalities together, remove as many barriers as possible, learn from each other, and give expats a community where they can feel at home.”
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