From Concept to Responsibility: How INJAZ Changed Students’ Views on Entrepreneurship

May 18, 2026

For many students, entrepreneurship begins as an abstract idea. Through INJAZ (JA in the Middle East and North Africa), it becomes something far more real: a process of building, testing, failing, and learning alongside teammates, mentors, and industry leaders.

In October 2025, Zurich Life Middle East hosted the Dubai stop of the “Building Resilient Futures Together” World Tour with the support of Z Zurich Foundation (ZZF) and INJAZ UAE. This event brought together 130 leaders, industry experts, and HR professionals to explore resilience, well-being, and organizational success with INJAZ students through interactive workshops and discussions. Teams of students set up booths and pitched their startup ideas to a panel of judges.

Many students aimed to gain practical skills, expand networks, and learn how businesses take shape. Khaleel Al-Zamqan of Speak AI said his team sought experience and real insight into starting a business. The program’s resources and workshops clarified key aspects of starting a business, from financial planning to public speaking. “We just wanted to understand how being an entrepreneur works and the journey behind it,” he explained.

For others, the program transformed their view of entrepreneurship. Before the program, Moza Abdalla of the all-women team FIN, which won the Community Impact award, viewed entrepreneurship as one-dimensional. Through the program, she realized it’s more than simply starting a business. “Entrepreneurship now is not just opening a business,” she said. “It’s about practical and impactful ways to solve real-world issues.”

Students also found growth in the challenge of building together. For Adli Nabulsi from Business+, the experience changed how he views turning ideas into reality. Whereas entrepreneurship meant motivation and inspiration before the program, it has come to mean so much more for him. "It’s not just about ideas. It's about executing them and solving real problems," he explained.

Throughout the experience, mentorship and collaboration played a central role. Students described learning from teachers, mentors, and corporate partners who guided them through obstacles and helped them refine their ideas. At the Zurich Life Middle East x Z Zurich Foundation (ZZF) event, students met leaders from Mashreq Bank, Alshaya Group, Dubai Islamic Bank, and National Bonds and gained valuable feedback and insight into professionalism and presentation.

The experience pushed many students outside their comfort zones. Khaleel recalled his and teammate Faris Nasser’s nerves before pitching. But, after hours of practice, they stepped forward and built confidence through action. "That’s part of it," he said. "You step out of your comfort zone." The key takeaway? Stepping beyond comfort enables growth and confidence.

For these students, entrepreneurship is no longer just a classroom concept. It requires resilience, collaboration, and adaptability. Many now see it as a long-term path. Some want to launch startups; others hope to gain industry experience before building their own companies.

They now share a new mindset: entrepreneurship is not defined by a title or idea but by the daily work of creating and the courage to keep improving.