#369 From Refugee Camp to CEO — What 40 Jobs Taught Him About Leadership - Ali Mahlodji

About this episode

Ali Mahlodji shares his journey from a refugee camp to becoming a CEO, discussing the lessons learned from his diverse work experiences and the importance of inner work in the age of AI.

▶️ Connect with Richard on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/richardatherton-firsthuman/ Have you ever thought that the hardest things you’ve faced might actually be preparing you for the life you’re meant to live? In this episode of Being Human, Richard Atherton talks with Ali Mahlodji, CEO of futureOne, keynote speaker, five-time author, and guest lecturer at the University of Cambridge. As a toddler, Ali found himself in a refugee camp in Austria. At 13 he started stuttering and didn’t stop until he was 22. He left school early, worked more than 40 jobs ranging from floor cleaner to carpenter, and taught himself software engineering using library books. After 70 application letters to OG Silicon Valley giant, Sun Microsystems, Ali lands himself his first tech role. What made the difference for him was something his mother did every day, no matter how tough things got: she told him she loved him just as he was. Not for his grades or achievements, but simply for being himself. Now, through futureOne’s Heroes programme, he helps people in 40 countries break free from old patterns. In this conversation, he shares why, with AI on the rise, doing this inner work is more…

People in this episode

Host: Richard Atherton

Guest: Ali Mahlodji

Topics covered

• leadership
• overcoming adversity
• personal development
• technology
• mental health

Keywords

• leadership
• refugee
• technology
• personal growth
• mental health
• futureOne
• Ali Mahlodji

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: futureOne, Sun Microsystems, University of Cambridge

Places: Austria, Iran

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