Why Syrian and Conflict-Impacted Talent
The Untapped Power of Resilience, Skill, and Global Perspective
Our founder and Managing Director was born and raised in Damascus, Syria, relocating to complete his studies in the U.S. after they were cut short by war. Since then, he’s pursued a prestigious Master’s fellowship, worked across industries, served on multiple boards, and founded both a nonprofit and a company. So, we’ve seen it and lived it firsthand. We know that working with a team of conflict-impacted Syrians around the world is our superpower. We are innovative, adaptable, and rich in global insight. And we believe these superpowers could benefit your company, too.
The Mismatch
There are more than 100 million people displaced globally, with many still living in active conflict or crisis zones. Yet, the rise of remote and digital work is creating new opportunities, new “access points.” At Sabeel, we’ve been watching this space closely and are encouraged to see companies expanding their teams across borders through digital tools and services. But we’ve also seen how conflict-impacted professionals are too often overlooked. There’s an abundance of skill, but systemic barriers to opportunity remain.
What makes Syrian and conflict-impacted exceptional?
The list below is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to how Syrian and conflict-impacted talent can help you grow and strengthen your organization.
Adaptability: Navigating instability builds agility and problem-solving. Who better to tackle an unsolvable problem (or bring calm to chaos) than someone who’s done it in real life?
Multilingual and multicultural skills: Many of our team members have lived and worked across different countries, cultures, and languages. They know how to step into new environments and thrive.
Strong work ethic and motivation: Our talent is often highly qualified yet underemployed. They deeply value every opportunity to contribute and grow.
Educational depth: Whether formally or informally, our professionals have pursued learning with depth and dedication. They are architects, engineers, data scientists, computer scientists, and more.
The barriers they face and how Sabeel bridges them
Despite their strengths, conflict-impacted professionals face numerous barriers to entering the workforce, from visa restrictions and credential recognition to biased hiring systems. Many struggle to even get through the door. In effect, they are “invisible” to the global market. Limited access to professional networks compounds the challenge. Some companies also hesitate to hire conflict-impacted talent due to misconceptions about reliability, communication, or “fit.”
This is where Sabeel comes in. We screen, match, and support conflict-impacted professionals so they can not only be seen but also succeed in their global roles. We train for communication and soft skills, ensuring “fit” is never a concern. And while not every organization sees beyond geography, we make sure we partner with those who do.
Inclusion as strategy
Hiring conflict-impacted talent isn’t an act of aid, though it absolutely builds economic power around the world. It’s a strategic advantage. Conflict-impacted professionals bring resourcefulness, loyalty, drive, and perspective to global teams. Companies gain cultural intelligence, stronger collaboration, and a reputation for walking the talk when it comes to impact.
Global talent exists everywhere. Sometimes, we just need better bridges to reach it. That’s what we’re building at Sabeel: a “path” to global opportunity and untapped excellence. We help both sides of the equation win.
Imagine if lived-experience was one of your hiring criteria: how much could your team accomplish?