Thukhur

The idea of Thukhur came about from the Mid-Range Development Plan passed in 2010 by the Kuwaiti Parliament, which established as policy that the private sector should lead the economy in 2035. Since then, Thukhur has introduced three leadership and entrepreneurship development programs. The first one, called Executive Leaders, was made available to everyone in the country and generated 750 applicants. A rigorous selection process identified 150 who took part in Thukhur and attended Cornell University for a customized leadership development program. The second program, called Promising Leaders, was supported by the Korean conglomerate SK Group, and launched specifically to develop leaders between 25 to 30 years of age. In 2013, Thukhur introduced its third program: the Entrepreneurship and Corporate Innovation (ECI) program, designed for Kuwaiti entrepreneurs who want to start their own businesses and Kuwaitis currently employed by (or members of) Kuwaiti corporations. All three programs are in sync with the development plan of the country, trying to push the private sector toward growth. A new agreement with the Korea Foundation for Advanced Studies was signed in 2015 to enable both newcomers to Thukhur and existing alumni to start introducing real development initiatives for the country. The Thukhur Prosperity Initiatives Program is focused on improving Kuwait’s performance in the global Prosperity Index rankings. “Thukhur is creating a community of leaders from different sectors who all speak the same language and share the same passion for development. Graduates of the program are forming a natural network for collaboration and innovation. It’s different from any NGO, because in the NGO there is a specialization. In Thukhur, you can find people from all walks of life.”