Farkad Mahli is a Career Development Specialist and founder of Step Ahead Global, a career development and training firm based in the UAE. With 18 years of diverse experience across the private, nonprofit, government, and educational sectors.
Farkad earned a Master’s in International Relations from the University of Nottingham (UK) and is currently pursuing a PhD in Management. Fluent in Arabic and English, she has held leadership roles in higher education, including serving as a Career Specialist at Higher Colleges of Technology (HCT)—the largest university system in the UAE, serving over 16,000 students. As part of her work with Silatech (Qatar), she led initiatives focused on empowering youth through employability programs and career coaching. She has contributed to the NCDA-HRDF and King Saud University Project (KSA), further enriching her experience across the GCC region. Farkad has collaborated with prominent nonprofit organizations such as INJAZ UAE (part of Junior Achievement Worldwide), UNDP, Al Ghurair Foundation, and SANAD. She has also partnered with government agencies including RTA, DEWA, KHDA, ADEK, the Ministry of Education, and the Ministry of Youth to enhance career services across sectors. Additionally, she has participated in various task forces, including the creation of an E-Career Library, the development of the Eduverse Career Avatar, and the design of comprehensive career curricula and training models, enriched with quizzes and assessments, and implemented across educational institutions. Farkad has received multiple awards and recognitions for her outstanding work in career development, including the Exceptional Campus Support Award from Higher Colleges of Technology (HCT) in 2019. She has also been featured in media interviews highlighting her innovative contributions to career guidance and training in the region.