Interviewer: Sara Abdelghany
“The organs in the human body coordinate and collaborate to make us what we are. So why not be like our human bodies, why not be one homogeneous society that helps one another”
Reem Al Olaby
About the Interviewee
Dr. Reem Al Olaby, a renowned young researcher, with a Bachelor of Pharmacy from Ain Shams University 2007, an MSc (2010) and PhD (2014) in Biotechnology from The American University of Cairo. Along with the title of scientist, she holds many others, such a wife, a mom, and a role model to all of us. Reem is also a public speaker in many events, one of them was TEDxAUC.
Currently Dr. Reem Al Olaby is pursuing her second Master’s Degree in Public Health from George Washington University.
THE INTERVIEW
1- HR Revolution Middle East Magazine: Dr. Reem, I want to thank you for giving us some of your valuable time to answer our questions, let’s start from the very beginning, when did you know that you want to become a scientific researcher, and how did you use this idea to progress forward?
Reem Al Olaby: It is a pleasure to take part in this interview with you Sara.
My passion for science started since an early age. I was 9 years old when I asked for a microscope as a birthday gift. Since then, with the help of my parents I started expanding my knowledge in science. My first choice was to get enrolled in faculty of pharmacy after finishing my high school. Back then Faculty of Pharmacy, Ain Shams University took the highest grade all over Egypt. I was truly blessed to have got the exact minimum grade they accept which is 97.8% and I got enrolled in FOPASU in 2002. The 5 years I spent in FOPASU empowered me with different set of skills. I learnt how to be a team player, aim high, and to take part in organizing student initiatives at a professional level. We were the first to start the Student Conference on Pharmaceutical Studies in 2006 and now it is the 11th generation. We took part in different competitions that involved reviewing different scientific breakthroughs. Through these activities my passion to science grew more specially towards biotechnology. I recall presenting about monoclonal antibodies, marine drugs, obesity and other topics. I also had the pleasure to work in the “Ain Shams Scientific Pharmaceutical Student Association” and then leading it in 2006. I have learnt a lot from my professors and colleagues. Those 5 years changed my way of thinking, mentality and attitude. Most importantly, my passion towards HCV started then.
2- HR Revolution Middle East Magazine: Your PhD thesis was on identifying drug leads against Hepatitis C and malaria, can you please explain (especially to those who lack a scientific background) how you reached different drug leads, and will those drugs ever make it to the market?
Reem Al Olaby: The idea came from an approach developed by Dr. Rod Balhorn and his team. They generated what is called Selective High Affinity Ligands (SHALs) against Non Hodgkin Lymphoma. I do recall Dr. Hassan Azzazy (M.Sc. and PhD Adviser – AUC) encouraging us to start looking for ideas and potential collaborators. I started fetching for ideas, until I read about SHALs approach and I felt that such an approach is very suitable for targeting HCV and other infectious diseases. I started communicating with Dr. Rod Balhorn who later became my M.Sc. and PhD thesis co-adviser and mentor. Since 2009, I started establishing collaborations with Scripps Research Institute, UC Irvine, UC Davis Medical Center, Stanford University, Caltech, John Hopkins University and Rutgers University in USA and Institute Pasteur De Lille in France. Without the help of my great advisers and the significant contribution of the collaborators, we wouldn’t have had 2 peer reviewed papers, and 3 full US PTO patents. I am trying with the help of my advisers to find source of fund to continue working on the drug leads and progress to clinical trials because they have shown promising results in vitro.
3- HR Revolution Middle East Magazine: In HR Revolution Middle East Magazine, we like to look at our guests as a whole. What do you do for fun and how do you reach a life-work balance?
Reem Al Olaby: I love hanging out with my family (husband, 7.5 years old daughter, 4.5 years old son). I love travelling, playing tennis, cardio, cycling and above all socializing. I believe that the person can never function properly in his professional life without having fun, and spending good amount of time with the loved ones. Also there should always be a space to spirituality and religion practice.
4- HR Revolution Middle East Magazine: Many young scientists fall into the trap of being engrossed heavily in their scientific field, forgetting about other parts of their life. What do you recommend scientists to do in order to maintain a healthy lifestyle?
Reem Al Olaby: They should always remember that even computers sometimes shutdown if it was overwhelmed with data and ongoing processes. So what would be the case if we are dealing with human bodies? Our bodies have all the right to relax every now and then, our brains need a break, as they can’t function properly without having a little bit of fun, meditation, and even staring at a blank wall and thinking of nothing.
5- HR Revolution Middle East Magazine: By looking at your inspiring CV, I’ve noticed that you’re a Project Management Professional (PMP) holder, what inspired you to take the step of applying for that certification, and how does it relate to your work? Especially that many people think that science and business/management are two different worlds.
Reem Al Olaby: The main inspirer was my husband. He is the one who taught me all about the importance of project management, and I learnt from him about project management institute in USA and what it has to offer. He got the PMP, Pg-MP, OPM3 and RMP from PMI followed by a M.Sc. in project management from George Washington University. So this was my main trigger, simply to have a common ground between both of us; something to discuss and expand our knowledge together in. Additionally, I felt that PMP will give me the set of skills needed to manage any scientific project I handle in a very efficient way. Project management is a very important discipline that enables people to think in an organized and productive way to achieve the deliverables successfully.
6- HR Revolution Middle East Magazine: As an employee, what do you need from the HR of your organization, in order to excel at your job?
Reem Al Olaby: I simply need trust, honesty and a healthy working environment lacking any toxic behaviors such as backstabbing, gossiping, etc. It is always great to have space for creativity from your boss/leader.
7- HR Revolution Middle East Magazine: You have two beautiful children (God bless them); how do you manage being a mom, a wife, and a prominent scientist?
Reem Al Olaby: It is simply a blessing from Allah, he gave me great parents who helped me a lot, a great understanding husband who have backed me up and supported me throughout my postgraduate life. And now, I have 2 lovely children who understand the nature of their mum’s career and are engaged with me 🙂 I do have them wear lab coats and make simple experiments every now and then. I discuss with them the different roles of scientists and what they do.
8- HR Revolution Middle East Magazine: What are the most important skills and morals you try to instill in your children?
Reem Al Olaby: The most important thing is to believe in God, become aware that He is there watching over, because through that they will always try to do their best. Through that, they will try to increase their good deeds, excel in what they do, help others, try to be role models, and above all be honest, kind and disciplined.
9- HR Revolution Middle East Magazine: If you had the chance to talk to the whole world, what would your message be?
Reem Al Olaby: Life is short, and as human beings we were mainly created to construct this world, not destruct it. We were created humans in the first place, no races or ethnicities. So why do we continually try to make this world darker instead of making it a better place for ourselves and the future generations? Why do we need wars, greed, racism, hate, and violence when we have peace, unity, love, and sharing? I hope that one day people would understand that when we die, we all decompose into dust, which means that we will have neither a skin color nor ethnicity! We are all one, Human Beings!
10- HR Revolution Middle East Magazine: You’ve recently started a new charity group in the USA, may you please tell us more about it?
Reem Al Olaby: The idea was sparked from our children. They saw several homeless people carrying cardboards that had “I need help” written on it. They told us that we need to help them. So from there came the idea of United Public. We wanted to create an organization that aims at uniting people of different ethnicities, races and backgrounds towards a noble cause. We are still working on it. The first initiative aims at blending with the homeless and showing them that we care, we are not afraid of them and we want to hear what they have to say.
11- HR Revolution Middle East Magazine: How did your medical background assist you in creating this charity?
Reem Al Olaby: The medical background is supposed to make the person more humane, more thoughtful. It simply shows the person how weak he/she is. It shows you how the organs in the human body coordinate and collaborate to make us what we are; seeing, speaking, breathing, talking, etc. So why not be like our human bodies, why not be one homogeneous society that helps one another.
HR Revolution Middle East Magazine: Thank you again, Dr. Reem for your time.
