With the arrival of a new year, some choose to continue along familiar paths, while others press the reset button at the starting line of time and begin again. At AEBS, we witness young talents from different countries redefining themselves within the coordinates of a global world.
Nezar Ourahay, known in Chinese as Lihai, is one of them.
From Africa to North America, and then to Asia, his story began with a choice that was anything but conventional.
Stepping Off the Predetermined Track: When Choice Becomes Courage
Nezar Ourahay was born in Marrakech, Morocco, into a family of doctors. For generations—grandparents, parents, relatives—medicine had been both a profession and a calling. Respect for the white coat and a deep commitment to professional rigor were values naturally passed down in his family. In the eyes of many, his life path required little deliberation: study medicine, pursue advanced training, begin practice—stable, respectable, secure.
Yet when he first told his family, “I don’t want to study medicine,” the room fell silent for a few seconds. It was not an act of rebellion, but a deeper affirmation of self. He did not question the value of medicine; rather, he recognized with clarity that he longed for something broader. He wanted to understand cultural differences, to stand at the intersection of technology and business, and to find his own coordinates on the global stage. And so, he left Marrakech.
The meaning of a new year is never merely the turning of time—it is the resetting of direction. That year, he chose for himself a path that was uncertain, yet infinitely wider.
Across Three Continents: Rebuilding the Self in a Global World
The winter snow of Montreal could not have been more different from the sunlit warmth of Marrakech. Differences in language, culture, and pace of life allowed him, for the first time, to truly experience the complexity and diversity of the world. Later, he arrived in Shanghai—this fast-moving global metropolis once again expanded his horizons.
He initially majored in mathematics and physics. Rational thinking, logical structures, and verifiable systems of formulas shaped the clarity of his analytical mind. Yet through continuous observation and reflection, he came to realize that technology alone is never enough. It must connect with markets, with people, and with real-world needs in order to create meaningful value. And so, he turned toward business and economics.
Within the Master in International Business program at AEBS, he found a more comprehensive framework for growth — one that preserves the rigor of technical training while systematically developing global business acumen and cross-cultural management skills. Classroom case discussions and the exchange of perspectives among peers from different countries make “internationalization” not merely a concept, but a daily experience.
Today, he focuses on AI automation while continuously refining his sales and communication capabilities. He hopes to both write code and step confidently into the marketplace; to understand algorithms as well as human behavior. He believes the future belongs to those who can connect technology with business, logic with vision.
He speaks six languages. Yet to him, language is not simply a tool for communication—it is a bridge for building trust and collaboration. In multicultural environments, he has come to deeply appreciate an African proverb: “Alone you go fast. Together, we go far.” One may move quickly alone, but it is together that we truly go the distance.
At AEBS, this kind of global collaborative competence is not exceptional—it is part of everyday life.
Moving Forward in the New Year: From Personal Choice to Global Connection
At night, Shanghai shines brilliantly, the lights of the Huangpu River reflecting the city’s glow. Nezar often looks back at the path he has traveled—from the streets of North Africa, to campuses in North America, and then to business classrooms in Asia. Each move was never an escape, but a conscious step toward a bigger world. The farther he went from home, the more he understood the meaning of family; the wider he traveled, the more he valued honesty, responsibility, and support. He did not follow the family path in medicine, yet he inherited the respect for professionalism and the sense of responsibility toward others.
His daily life is simple yet disciplined: training, learning, and practicing every day. He believes that discipline builds confidence, and consistency shapes the future. From Africa to the world, from STEM to business, from family tradition to self-definition—this is not rebellion, but a conscious departure.
At AEBS, such departures are happening every day. Young people from diverse cultural backgrounds are building global perspectives, understanding business logic, and learning to collaborate and grow in a multicultural environment.
In the new year, some continue along familiar paths, while others choose to step onto a larger stage. For Nezar, this journey is just the beginning. For more young people aspiring to reach the world, AEBS may well be the new starting point.
