“We begin in a world we didn’t choose — but the journey of life is to grow beyond our past and awaken to who we can become.”
I was born in Sulaymaniyah during a heavy snowstorm that blocked the roads — the youngest of nine siblings in a family where curiosity was our native language. From my earliest memories, I was surrounded by philosophical debates, scientific wonder, and the powerful pull of stories — both spoken and lived.
My journey began in hardship, but it was shaped by relentless discovery.
A Child of Curiosity
As a young boy, I was more interested in understanding how the world worked than memorizing textbooks. I once tried to create my own geometry theorem in grade 9 — and my teacher believed I had. My grades never reflected my intellect, but my imagination never stopped. Repairing appliances in my teens meant mastering welding, cooling systems and even Japanese motor design.
Along the way, I taught myself how to repair TVs, rewire radios, and program with BASIC on an Aquarius computer.
A Life Shaped by Turning Points
The 1991 Kurdish uprising and our family’s escape to the Iranian border taught me the value of knowledge. After we returned, I dedicated myself to education — not just to learn, but to uplift. I studied mechanical engineering, but secretly taught myself computing in another college’s lab.
That curiosity became a calling.
A Pioneer in Technology & Media
In late 1997, I joined Khak TV with no title, just a belief that media could be smarter, more humane. Under the leadership of Mrs. Hero Ibrahim Ahmed, I introduced the region’s first digital color separation using CorelDRAW. I built one of Iraq’s earliest LAN networks and launched teletext and subtitle program that allowed people to send messages on-air — possibly one of the earliest forms of text-based social media via mass broadcast.
Viewers didn’t just consume media; they participated in it. Later, Kurdsat TV founded in one of Khak TV's rooms and I designed its now-iconic daffodil logo and very first animation of the test broadcast. Training staff, digitizing production and introducing new formats like, names under news presenters, and non-paper news reading were part of that work.
The ripple effects shaped how Kurdistan’s media evolved.
Building Telecom from Scratch
At Asiacell, I helped launch Iraq’s first GSM network. That work included configuring the first internet connection in Sulaymaniyah. We opened Iraq’s first internet café and printed its first prepaid internet cards. I established first contact with Huawei in 2003, helping Asiacell scale from 5,000 to 70,000 lines — a bold leap that laid the groundwork for modern telecom infrastructure.
Entrepreneur, Educator, Change Architect
I later founded Dar Al Iraqiun and introduced Iraq’s first electronic voucher distribution system. The country’s first Toastmasters public speaking club followed. I built Ava Media, a transformative creative agency that led in VAS, content production, and innovation.
A Spiritual Shift
The most transformative chapter of my life began with a journey to India, where I met my spiritual master, Guru Ji. With him, I found what I had been searching for all along — truth, inner clarity, and the courage to align my life with service. My panic attacks faded. My heart opened. I began to see the world — and myself — differently.
Now, I live to spark change — through leadership, mentoring, education, and the quiet power of lived example. This is not the end of my story. It is only the middle.
Highlights from my journey
- 🌐 Connected the first internet connection in Sulaymaniyah (1998)
- 💻 Built Iraq’s first internet café and introduced prepaid internet cards
- 📺 Created Iraq’s first teletext-style viewer interaction program (Khak TV)
- 🖥 Digitized printing for Khak Magazine using CorelDRAW — a national first
- 🧑🏫 Launched Iraq’s first Toastmasters public speaking club
- 📱 Helped deploy Iraq’s first GSM network (Asiacell)
- 🎨 Designed the Kurdsat TV logo, now an iconic media symbol
- 🎓 Completed the first MBA cohort at AUIS
- 🌟 Became a Harvard Business School alumnus (PLD9, AMP)
- 🤝 Founded Dar Al Iraqiun, introducing Iraq’s first EVD system
- 📢 Founded SPARK, a youth initiative blending ancient wisdom with modern education
- 📚 Mentored dozens of change-makers and led seminars across Iraq and beyond
Reflections from collaborators
I had the pleasure of working with Alan in Kurdistan/Iraq, especially in public speaking skill development. Alan is one of those leaders who combines few talents and which allowed him to be a special leader in his community: amazing skills including and not limited to leadership, relationship, competence, visionary, entrepreneurship. Alan approached technology from a social position, contributing greatly to the development of his nation. I would highly recommend Alan to any local or international organization.
Dr. Rabee Fares Executive Coach & Leadership Advisor, Founder of IBEE
Alan Ali worked for me as Operations Director for Asiacell GSM operator in Iraq when I was CTO in that organisation in 2004/2005. Alan was a dedicated and hard-working Engineer and Manager who achieved the respect of his subordinates, superiors and peers in his role. Alan showed a wisdom and common sense attitude unusual for his position. Alan has a deep knowledge both of the technology and the Iraq environment and provided a very valuable service to the company. In addition, Alan has a good relationship with the Telecommunication vendors providing infrastructure to Asiacell. I have no problem in recommending Alan for any similar position in the Telecoms industry.
Phil Moyse Former CTO, Asiacell | Telecom Executive
Mr. Alan Ali has an entrepreneur personality, and always looking for new challenges in business and telecommunication technology, it is a joy to work and face new challenges with him. Also, working with him is really an exciting experience as you will feel like working with a friend rather than a manager or an executive person, and he will assist with whatever knowledge or capabilities he has. He is a shrewd person as you can sense this from his calm and serious way of managing and leading tasks. I had worked with him in my early years in Telco, and it will be an honor to work with him again.
Muhammad Tawfiq Experienced IT & Business Leader | PMP & ITIL Expert
Stay in touch
For collaboration, mentorship, consultation or a conversation about SPARK, contact info@alanali.com.