Sarah Omar Wali

9103 Osprey Ridge LN, Lorton VA 22079

46 Bin Salam St. Apt. 6 Shaab, Kuwait City, Kuwait
US:+1-347-443-8577 KW: +965-66064199
Email: waliosarah@gmail.com Twitter: @sarahnews

WORK EXPERIENCE

Managing Editor ella letter Dubai, UAE

Nov 2017 – Present
Coordinate with freelancers, contributors and partners to develop exclusive content for two weekly newsletters focusing
on millennial women. With editor-in-chief, create an editorial calendar for newsletter and social media. Pitch and write
original stories for the newsletter and social media feeds. Monitor our analytics and metrics to improve audience
engagement and content reach.

Training Manager and Human Resource Strategist Caesar Pack General Trading Kuwait City, Kuwait
October 2016 – Present
Create and implement a plan for a company of 500+ employees that is in line with Caesar Pac’s immediate and long-term
goals and strategies. Create plans to identify redundancies and deficiencies in staff through job evaluations and company
analytics. Create and implement technical training program for employees at all levels. Create and implement soft skills
training for management team of 50. Develop all training material for new corporate culture videos, employee handbooks
and new hire orientation program. Develop the company’s new website and begin implementation of corrugated box
newsletter.

Middle East Correspondent Gulf News Journal Kuwait City, Kuwait

May 2015 – January 2016
Freelance feature writer for business news website covering the Gulf region. Researched and connected with leaders in
industries including aviation, investment, real estate and energy for breaking news and feature stories. Reported on the
technology startup ecosystem with a focus on new projects and large investments in innovative technology. Kept up-to-
date with industry news through government and business press releases, and local news websites, publications and
broadcast programs and contacts in the industries.

Founder and Manager of Digital Content bazaar magazine Kuwait City, Kuwait
September 2013 – Present
Created bazaar.town, the digital arm of Kuwait’s leading English magazine. Lead team of designers and web developers to
create a digital presence that serves both as a showcase of the print publication and an online source of information on
Kuwait. Reworked operational system of reporting and publishing to reflect new media channels. Created a website
manual to ensure new hires and the current team were up-to-date on best practices for the website. Created rate cards
and business models that utilized the new website’s tools and abilities. Continued to pitch and write features and reviews
on social issues, environmental concerns and the Kuwait restaurant industry for both the print publication and website.

Director of Strategic Relations, Co-Founder of Mantiqti EMDP Cairo, Egypt

Founded Cairo’s first hyperlocal newspaper Mantiqti, a newspaper that reflects the lives of people living, working and
shopping in the Egypt’s stock market district. Created business plan, revenue model and editorial structure for proposal to
possible investors. In conjunction with Poynter Institute, developed and implemented a local citizen journalism training
program. Developed program for events hosted by the League of Arab Nations and Swedish Institute Participated in a 10-
day media management workshop in Copenhagen sponsored by the Danish Egyptian Dialogue Institute.

Founder, Product and Operations Manager CitJo Cairo, Egypt

October 2011 – August 2012
Brand creator for new online platform that gave citizen journalists the opportunity to monetize their content. Connected
with both news organizations and contributors to market product and develop site. Lead team of developers and
designers in creation of a website that hosts videos and photos and ensures contributions are in line with journalistic
qualities. Created vetting process and operation procedures to ensure accuracy of content and to verify contributors.
Developed training program for citizen journalists on basics of shooting and reporting.

Producer Thompson Reuters (via Video Cairo Services) Cairo, Egypt

November 2011 – December 2012
Produced 2 to 3 videos per day for Reuters client, adhering to Reuters reporting standards and style. Wrote concise, well
developed scripts based on breaking news and feature stories. Voiced over and edited video packages using Sony Vegas
for sale to Reuters clients and use on the site.
Reporter Freelancer Cairo, Egypt
November 2010 – December 2012
As a freelance reporter and stringer secured, recorded and translated interviews with tortured Libyan prisoner and first
MP to deflect from Syria to Egypt for Radio Netherlands Worldwide’s internationally recognized show “The State We Are
In.” Pitched and wrote business analysis feature articles for Arabic Knowledge @ Wharton, the Wharton Business School’s
Middle East journal.

Production Associate ABC News New York City, NY

January – May 2011
Contract position in the Brian Ross Investigative Unit. Assisted correspondents and producers in all departments covering
the Arab Spring with reporting, translation and background for online, broadcast and radio pieces. Broke story of U.S.
made teargas canisters used on protestors in Egypt. Pitched and produced stories for Brian Ross Investigates, World
News with Diane Sawyer and Good Morning America.

Columbia University Fellow Arabic Knowledge@Wharton, AbuDhabi, UAE

July 2010 –February 2011
Produced both print and broadcast business pieces for the website Arabic Knowledge@Wharton. Investigated business
trends in the Middle East, and researched academic works on story topic. Secured interviews with high-level
businessmen and government officials. Displayed a thorough knowledge of cultural norms and their impact on business
practices in the region.

Staff Writer IBA Media Cairo, Cairo, Egypt

June– December 2010
Researched, reported and wrote at least four feature articles per month on social, political and economic issues in Egypt for
both magazines Egypt Today and Business Today. Investigated high-profile stories to provide untold angle. Reported on
controversial issues affecting Egyptian society.

Fellow Adham Center for Broadcasting, Cairo, Egypt and Doha, Qatar
June 2008
One of two undergraduates selected for an intensive 20-day graduate level journalism fellowship. Reported and wrote a
story on police brutality in Egypt published by the Huffington Post. Interviewed bloggers, government officials and
alleged victims. Gained access to and was expelled from the Ministry of Interior’s Human Rights conference on the topic,
an invitation normally reserved for national papers.

Producer Adham Center for Broadcasting Cairo, Egypt

January - May 2008 Produced all aspects of an award-winning film on Sudanese refugees in Egypt, Mujajaheen (Displaced).
Wrote proposal, secured funding, found and interviewed subjects, filmed in dangerous areas of Cairo under tight police
scrutiny and oversaw editing. The documentary was featured at the Cairo Refugee Film Festival.

OTHER WORK EXPERIENCE

Account Manager, Ultimate Staffing Services, Washington D.C. April 2006 – August 2007
Executive Recruiter, Global Recruiters of Alexandria, Alexandria, VA Feb. 2005 – May 2006
Human Resources Manager, American Halal Meat, Inc., Springfield, VA Sept. 1998 – Sept. 2002

EDUCATION
Columbia University School of Journalism, New York, N.Y. August 2009 - May 2010
Master of Science, digital media concentration with coursework in neighborhood reporting, national reporting, developing
interactive graphics and covering the Middle East peace process.

The American University in Cairo, Cairo Egypt September 2007 - May 2009
Bachelor of Art in Mass Communication and Journalism, journalism concentration with coursework in print, digital media
and documentary filmmaking. Coursework also included Arab media law, Arab history and anthropology, development,
politics and poverty. Transferred from George Mason University.

George Mason University, Fairfax VA September 1998 – May 2000

Undergraduate coursework in law, international relations, computer science and financial accounting.

SKILLS AND OTHER ACTIVITIES

Languages: Speak and read Arabic.
Programs: Adobe Photoshop, Adobe InDesign, MS Office Suite (including Publisher and Excel).
Competency in Java, HTML, C++ programming, Adobe DreamWeaver.
Online tools: Google applications (including Google Webmasters and Analytics), WordPress, Buffer, HootSuite and social
media platforms (Google+, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram)