For two decades, Georgetown University in Qatar has served as a gateway to the world, producing graduates who are consistently sought after by leading institutions, from top consulting firms and sovereign wealth funds to elite graduate programs. Some also use their skills and network to build their own ventures.

A recent look at alumni over the past five years shows success across a wide range of sectors, challenging the stigma that a liberal arts education does not lead to strong career outcomes. Many graduates have moved into competitive roles soon after graduation, reflecting the university’s reputation for producing highly capable professionals.

The consulting fast track

For graduates drawn to strategy and business transformation, the path to elite consulting firms has been strikingly direct. Shaza Afifi (GU-Q ’22), who majored in Culture and Politics, joined Boston Consulting Group as a junior associate just three months after graduation. In the years since, she has advanced through the ranks and now manages client engagements while training aspiring consultants.

“It’s nice to contribute to the development of Qatar by helping to train others, especially women considering a career in consulting,” she said.

Alongside Shaza, shortly after graduating, Adeena Yaqoob (GU-Q ’22) secured a consulting role at PwC, earning a promotion to senior consultant in just two years. Ayesha Iqbal (GU-Q ’22) began her career at Bain, a top global management consulting firm, where she rose to senior associate before moving into a consulting role at Visa. These graduates are just a few examples of GU-Q success stories, further demonstrating that graduates from the university are sought after by major firms due to their track record.

Entrepreneurship

The spirit of inquiry fostered on campus has also led many graduates toward entrepreneurship. Mudassar Raza Shakir (GU-Q ’21) founded Active Arenaz, a sports facility booking app, while Labeeba Ahmed (GU-Q ’22) co-founded AgriCope, a business-to-business food supply chain platform. Labeeba received funding from incubators in Qatar, and during her time as a student at GU-Q, she also explored startup ventures while working as a researcher at Qatar University.

“It took curiosity and a willingness to try something unfamiliar, even before I felt completely ready,” she said.

Academia at world-class institutions

For those whose appetite for ideas led them deeper into academia, the transition to elite graduate programs has been seamless. Fiza Shahzad (GU-Q ’21) is pursuing her PhD at the University of Pennsylvania, while Syed Taha Kaleem (GU-Q ’22) is enrolled at Brandeis University. Both have leveraged their GU-Q foundation to thrive in doctoral programs, where they continue to analyze complex global issues, arriving prepared not just to absorb ideas but to interrogate them.

Top PhD programs in the United States are extraordinarily competitive, admitting only a small fraction of applicants. Multiple GU-Q alumni excelling in them underscores the depth of academic preparation they received.

A range of careers

When people think of a liberal arts education, the stereotype is often that it leads to a narrow career path. In reality, outcomes at institutions like GU-Q point to something else. Graduates move across sectors, applying the same core skills in different ways.

Rather than training students for a single profession, a liberal arts education equips them to analyze complex information, communicate clearly, and solve problems. These skills translate across industries, from business and technology to government.

An online survey by the Association of American Colleges and Universities underscores this point: 93 percent of employers say a candidate’s ability to think critically, communicate clearly, and solve complex problems matters more than the specific title of their major. Four out of five employers also agree that all students should gain broad knowledge in the liberal arts and sciences that can be applied to any career.

Years out, GU-Q alumni are gaining experience while already shaping the fields they enter, underscoring the enduring value of a Georgetown education.

Alumni at a glance

• Shaza Afifi (GU-Q ’22), Consultant, Boston Consulting Group
• Adeena Yaqoob (GU-Q ’22), Senior Consultant, PwC
• Ayesha Iqbal (GU-Q ’22), Consultant, Visa
• Mudassar Raza Shakir (GU-Q ’21), Founder, Active Arenaz
• Labeeba Ahmed (GU-Q ’22), Co-Founder, Agricope
• Fiza Shahzad (GU-Q ’21), PhD Candidate, University of Pennsylvania
• Syed Taha Kaleem (GU-Q ’22), PhD Candidate, Brandeis University