It is hard not to love a place like Oman, says TED speaker Drew Dudley

Muscat: Former coordinator of one of the largest university leadership development programmes in Canada, Drew Dudley, has arrived in Oman to deliver a speech at B2B (Back-to-Business), the largest networking event in the Sultanate, which will be held today at the Grand Hyatt Muscat under the theme “Leadership.”
“There is a unique kind of beauty that is evident in this region. It is hard not to love a place like Oman,” the international TED speaker told the Times of Oman in an exclusive interview.
Dudley said that although he delivers speeches more than 100 times a year, it never stops being a compliment to be invited to perform in front of audience and organisers, who spend so much energy and effort to have him come here.
Asked about how international speakers can tell stories about a misrepresented region like the Middle East to western societies, Dudley explained that no person can change the international perception.
However, Dudley stressed that the key to sharing a true narrative about the Middle East is to continue on an individual level to be the kind of person you want people to see when they think of a Middle Eastern.
The founder or chair of several organisations dedicated to supporting scholarship funds, social entrepreneurship and charitable initiatives, announced that he is going to publish a new book by early 2017, which will feature stories of Drew’s trips to the Middle East and about the value it added to his life.
“I smile when I hear the word Middle East,” Dudley said, while smiling.
“It’s a beautiful country and to be here in February in 28 degrees Celsius weather is a Canadian’s dream,” he said, adding that he felt something humbling about being a part of the world that is “pretty much as old as it gets.”
While the Sultanate is going through economic challenges due to the drop in oil prices, Dudley said change may be scary at first, but there is an excitement to see what can emerge from this.
“Giving any kind of help to individuals on how to build a better future for themselves and their businesses is uplifting,” he said ahead of his speech, which is expected to be attended by more than 500 people.
“I am happy to be able to contribute to a place that very quickly impacts you with its beauty, kindness and energy,” Dudley said.
He also pointed out that entrepreneurs need courage, not confidence. “Confidence is acting like nothing can scare you, while courage is acknowledging things that scare you and facing them.”
Drew has helped raise over $5 million as the founder or chair of several organisations dedicated to supporting scholarship funds, social entrepreneurship and charitable initiatives, including a record-breaking term as the National Chair of Canada’s largest fundraiser for post-secondary students, “Shinerama: Students Fighting Cystic Fibrosis.”
Drew has spoken to over 250,000 people on five continents, and has been featured in the The Huffington Post, Radio America, Forbes.com, and TED.co.