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Mosa Rahimi

MBA Candidate at The Wharton School & MPA Candidate at the Harvard Kennedy School of Government

Mosa Rahimi is an individual who has faced and conquered challenging circumstances arising from war, insecurity, and poverty. With a dedicated focus on creating lasting social impact, Mosa is on a career path in consulting with extensive experience in project management and thriving in high-pressure environments. Drawing from a background rich in overcoming adversities, Mosa aims to reshape perceptions regarding refugees and immigrants from less developed nations.

Mosa's educational journey includes a Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) with a specialization in Finance from The American University of Afghanistan, a Police Sergeant training in Border Police at Kabul National Police Academy, an MBA with concentrations in Finance, Business Analytics, and Management from The Wharton School, and a Master of Public Administration (MPA) from Harvard Kennedy School.

Throughout Mosa Rahimi's career, he has contributed his expertise to various organizations like the Refugee Investment Network as a Summer Intern, CyraCom as a Video and Over the Phone Interpreter, and as an Audio Transcriber and Translator Freelancer for Volunteer and freelance translator. Mosa has also served in significant roles such as Adviser and Senior Program Assistant at DOJ/ICITAP/EngilityCorp/Counter Narcotics Police of Afghanistan Development Unit, Cultural Adviser and Interpreter at US Army Central Command Counter Narcotics Advisory Program, and Executive Assistant at Afghan Border Police.

Highlights

Jun 4 · linkedin

#World #Refugee #Day, observed on June 20th, is a time to honor the resilience and courage of millions of #refugees worldwide who have been forced to flee their homes due to conflict, persecution, and violence.

As a former refugee for 19 years who found a new home in the #United #States nearly ten years ago, I am keeping up with my obligation to help 14 of my family members who arrived in the United States as #refugees. With the fall of #Afghanistan, the lives of many of my family members were at risk because of their association with me. My alma mater, The Wharton School and Harvard Kennedy School, especially the #Veteran communities of both schools, have helped me with the safe arrival of my loved ones, leaving me with life-long gratitude and obligations to make a meaningful impact on their lives.

I have supported them above and beyond my capabilities for the past two years. However, housing is the biggest challenge that I need help with.   Because of this, I am launching a fundraising campaign to provide a safe shelter for my 14 family members. I am calling on all my #friends, #colleagues at Amazon, and other organizations, as well as #generous #donors who have asked me how they can help to join this vital cause. Your donations will help provide essential resources for their #housing and #employment support, ensuring they can rebuild their lives with #dignity and #hope in the United States.

Join us in making a difference this World Refugee Day by contributing to our cause and spreading the word about the critical needs of refugees.

Jun 30 · linkedin

Personal Observation on Supreme Court’s Rule on Affirmative Action:

In her public statement, former first lady, Michelle Obama, mentions: “So often, we accept that money, power, and privilege are perfectly justifiable forms of affirmative action, while kids, growing up like I did, are expected to compete when the ground is anything but level.”

On that note, my ground was not only unlevel and uneven but also my chances at the start of my long journey were billions of chances below average candidates to these top schools.

If Affirmative Action has anything to do with earning my place and owning my destiny, I am so happy that such a rule was in place. Without it, I would not have read about those who have gone before me, and my dedication and hard work would not have been validated.

Before applying to universities such as the University of Pennsylvania (The Wharton School) and Harvard Kennedy School, I knew little about Affirmative Action. In the meantime, after earning my place and starting my studies, I, too, never felt I didn't belong.

I worked very hard to earn my place. Living and working as a Tractor Driver in #Iran and as a 20 years old #Hazara refugee from #Afghanistan, my #Sanity would be questioned If I told anyone in May 2000 that one day I would graduate from The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania and Harvard Kennedy School.

Even after arriving in #America in October 2014, my biggest dream was to study for my master's in an #American university, to be perfectly honest, #any American University. It was never written in that dream The Wharton School and Harvard Kennedy School.

Reading about underrepresented, low-income, and ethnic/racial minority students who had earned their admission before me, I started to believe that I could do it too and that I belonged too.

During my studies, I have had the honor and privilege of meeting and knowing graduates from different walks of life from around the U.S. and the world. I was impressed by their talents and hard work. In the same way, they were indeed impressed by my journey after realizing how hard I worked and how long I stayed committed to it – 20 years.

I must also mention that I have met a few who have demonstrated the same level of longevity and tenacity, the only personal trait I am perfectly happy with.

In short, I am so heartbroken that I can’t advise many young men and women, especially from Afghanistan, never to give up. This decision made the playing field anything but level, making it more accessible to those with power, privilege, and money while making it harder and more unlevel for the rest.

Note: I share these three photos of those days to keep the same tenacious fighting spirit alive.

Mosa Rahimi
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Location

United States