Razan Bashiti: Opportunity, Growth, and Global Leadership

June 17, 2026

Razan Bashiti

Over Razan Bashiti’s ten years as Executive Director of INJAZ United Arab Emirates, she built a strong, stable organization. Her staff operated with confidence and autonomy, creating space for her to focus on broader strategic challenges. In turn, her team prompted her to think about the next stage of her own growth as a leader. Then along came LEAD.

JA Worldwide introduced the Leadership Exchange and Development (LEAD) program in 2025 to support professional growth and deepen leadership impact for Executive Directors and CEOs of JA member organizations. “LEAD came into my life at the right time,” Razan explained. “I needed to challenge myself differently. And the fact that this was global got me super excited.”

The program offered the kind of challenge Razan had been seeking. The yearlong LEAD journey included immersive retreats, virtual leadership circles, and collaborative learning with peers and mentors. It also offers space for reflection, innovation, and strategy. Most importantly, it builds a strong and supportive global network of leaders committed to advancing the JA mission in their communities and around the world.

While Razan already had strong connections across the JA network through regional gatherings and the biennial JA Global Leadership Conference, LEAD offered something different: the opportunity to build deeper relationships with JA leaders outside the Middle East and North Africa region.

Razan entered the program curious about what the experience would look like. “I was like, ‘Okay, what is it going to be? Is it going to be training? Do I really want to have a formal kind of training?’” But rather than a traditional, formal training format, she discovered a highly collaborative experience built around conversation, reflection, and relationship building. “This has been a different and wonderful experience because it was more intimate relationship building. We share personal stories and share our journeys as part of JA.” Those conversations created space for participants to share both professional challenges and personal experiences, deepening relationships across the cohort.

One of LEAD’s defining features is its partnership model. Each leader pairs up with another JA executive from a different region. Weekly conversations and an in-person visit, which allows them to job shadow and observe each other’s operations firsthand, reveal similarities, spark inspiration, and enable deeper conversations about problems and opportunities.

Razan and LEAD partner Sunah Lee, Executive Director of JA Korea, discuss everything from organizational structure and staffing to program quality and opportunities for collaboration. “I love the days I get to speak with Sunah. Whether it was a very bad day and I’m sharing my concerns with her, or if it was a great day where I’m sharing good news with her and we celebrate together.” Conversations with Sunah and the rest of the cohort have influenced how Razan thinks about the future of INJAZ UAE and the role global collaboration can play in creating new opportunities for students. “These would not have happened if we didn't have LEAD . . . I think the thinking process itself is just beautiful.” LEAD challenged Razan to step outside familiar routines, build new relationships, and imagine new possibilities for INJAZ UAE. In the process, it helped her rediscover what growth can look like at every stage of leadership.