Beyond Borders: Stories of Syrians in Data (Expert Series 001)

As the community matured, a clear gap surfaced during the early meetups: access. Many participants wanted to understand what a data career could look like beyond Syria’s borders, and more importantly, how Syrians had actually navigated that path.

This need led to the launch of Beyond Borders: Stories of Syrians in Data, the first expert series by Syria Data Science.

The session was designed to bridge two worlds. It brought the local community into direct conversation with accomplished Syrian data professionals working internationally, turning distant success stories into practical, relatable experiences. The format itself reflected that intention: a hybrid event, held in person in Damascus while simultaneously connecting online via Zoom to speakers based in Europe and the UK. The Syria Data Science team facilitated the discussion, ensuring an active exchange between the room and the virtual space.

Four distinguished experts shared their journeys across different global data ecosystems. Rather than focusing on titles or prestige, the conversation centered on reality: how they built skills, the obstacles they faced, how they adapted to new markets, and what they would do differently if they were starting again from Syria today. Topics ranged from navigating international work cultures to making smart choices about tools, learning paths, and specialization.

The impact was immediate. Participants saw pathways that felt attainable rather than abstract. Questions turned into dialogue, and dialogue into ambition. The session did more than inspire; it established a foundation for mentorship, ongoing collaboration, and a stronger connection between Syrians inside the country and those working abroad.

Beyond Borders set a precedent for the community: learning does not stop at geography. When experience is shared openly, borders become context—not limits.

Speakers: Fuad Raja – Elie Abboud – Feras Shamshan – Karam Haddad

Moderated by: Joud Khattab – Abdulrahman Al-Shaar

Key takeaways: The Beyond Borders series addressed the community’s need for international perspective, connecting Syrians in Syria with data professionals abroad to make global career paths tangible and relatable. It fostered dialogue, mentorship, and ongoing collaboration, showing that learning and opportunity extend beyond geographic boundaries.