General Assembly's Ahlam Oun on Powering Human Potential

Gulf Insider

3 days ago

Ahlam Oun, Director and Global Leader at General Assembly Middle East, tells us how the institute is reshaping education, championing local talent, and preparing the workforce for a rapidly evolving tech future. From co-creating curricula with leading companies to building confident hires, this interview dives into the heart of an upskilling revolution in Bahrain.
Now in its third edition, Business Leaders in the Middle East brings together sharp insights from across the region. These aren't mere interviews; they're windows into how leadership is evolving in a world shaped by rapid digital transformation. Technology touches nearly every industry now, and these leaders show us how to navigate change with purpose.
When we launched General Assembly Bahrain, the mission was never to replace traditional education – it was to complement it. We work alongside universities and institutions to build on strong academic foundations, bridging the gap between formal education and the rapidly evolving needs of today's job market. Our focus is twofold: elevating technical skills in high-demand fields like tech, data, and design, and evoking internal transformation through structured career coaching. Thriving in today's world isn't just about mastering tools- it's about building confidence, clarity, and the mindset to lead. That's why our commitment goes beyond the classroom. We extend outcomes and career support for up to nine months after graduation, understanding that navigating the job market and venturing into the future takes more than just skills – it takes mentorship, direction, and a community that walks with you. At the heart of it all is our belief in the power of Bahraini talent – to become the confident, capable, and preferred choice for employers both locally and across the region, all while advancing Bahrain's broader vision of a future-ready, diversified economy.
2025 marks our third year in Bahrain, and what a journey it's been. In just the past two years, we've trained and graduated over 1,500 learners through our full-time, part-time, and accelerator programmes in UX Design, Software Engineering, Data Analytics, and Career Development. Behind every number is a story of resilience, ambition, and transformation. We've built strong partnerships with universities, banks, institutions, and employers who share our belief in the power of up skilling. From launching employer-sponsored accelerators to hosting four major tech career fairs, we've actively connected our talent with real-world opportunities. Over 80% of our graduates have been enabled in roles across full-time jobs (70% of them), part-time positions, internships, and one-year training programmes. What we're especially proud of: 35% of them came from non-tech backgrounds and successfully shifted careers through our bootcamps, proving what's possible with the right support. Through workshops, speaker sessions, and industry collaborations, we continue to embed ourselves deeply in Bahrain's tech ecosystem. And this is still just the beginning.
One of the most challenging yet defining moments for us has been navigating the space between talent and industry – catering to both, while elevating expectations on both sides. We've always operated as double agents, speaking two very different languages. One is the language of dreams: individuals, often from non-tech backgrounds, looking to break into a field they never thought possible.The other is the language of needs: organisations, local and global, seeking top-tier tech talent that delivers from day one. Speaking both languages, was never simple. Despite the challenge, it led to some of our proudest breakthroughs. We've seen companies take a chance on potential, not just pedigree. We've witnessed Bahrainis rise – some with completely different experiences than what they aspired to – proving that grit, determination, and the right training can bridge even the widest experience gap. What felt like a difficult balancing act at first has become our edge – and our purpose.
Resistance is just another form of feedback – it's information. We don't push change for the sake of it; we take the time to explain why it's needed, and we make space to listen. Most of the time, resistance isn't about the change itself – it's about how it's introduced, or fears around what it might mean. That's why, when we set out to revamp our Java training and elevate tech talent in that space, we didn't do it in isolation. We went straight to the source – top-tier companies – and asked them exactly what they were looking for. Then we brought them in to co-create the curriculum with us, making sure it wasn't just aligned with market demand, but directly shaped by it. Change only works when people can see themselves in the outcome. More often than not, what starts as resistance turns into alignment because people don't resist progress, they resist not being part of it.
At General Assembly Bahrain, we don't just build talent, we build belief and pipelines for the future. We understand where the market is heading, how economies are shifting, and what industries need, not just today, but tomorrow. That's why we've become a trusted pillar for governments, international institutions, and companies looking to future-proof their workforce with real, ready, and resilient tech talent. We see people beyond their CVs, beyond their current roles or past experiences. We see what they'recapable of becoming. That belief is embedded in everything we do.We don't just train, we co-create with employers, we coach with intention, and we stay in it with our graduates long after they complete the programme. We've made outcomes- not enrolments – our measure of success. We've bridged the gap between ambition and industry and turned career shifters into confident hires. It's not transactional. It's not surface-level. It's deep, personal, and transforming the region's tech workforce – one life, one role, and one future at a time
AI isn't on its way – it's already here and it's reshaping how we think, work, lead, and grow. That's why we built General Assembly's AI for All Academy- a first-of-its-kind offering in the region designed to close the AI skills gap and prepare every role, at every level, to thrive in an AI-powered world. We didn't build a one-size-fits-all programme; we built an entire ecosystem. One that speaks the language of leaders making strategic decisions, data teams building infrastructure, and business professionals driving daily operations. Our programmes are role-specific, expert-led, hands-on, and customisable, with real use cases tied to your industry and workflows.From half-day sessions to deep-dive accelerators, we take teams from AI-enabled, to AI-augmented, to AI- superpowered and we do it in a way that delivers true Return on Learning.This isn't about tech for tech's sake. It's about preparing your people, transforming your business, and staying competitive in a world that's moving fast. Governments and global companies have already trusted us to up skill their teams
One of the most notable shifts we've seen is that learners are no longer just coming to us for skills – they're seeking clarity, direction, and a sense of reinvention. Today's talent is highly intentional. They want programmes that align with their pace, lifestyle, and aspirations – whether that's through flexible formats, micro-certifications, or hands-on, real-world projects. What's been most striking, though, is the growing importance of belonging. When learners feel genuinely seen, supported, and part of a community, the transformation goes far beyond technical skills – it becomes personal, lasting, and deeply impactful
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