Space Traveler, entrepreneur visits ADWC

An immigrant to the U.S. from Iran, Anousheh Ansari is the Chief Executive Officer and co-founder of Prodea Systems, an IT company. Her previous technology company, founded with her husband, was sold in 2001 for over $700m. Besides her IT and business achievements, Ms. Ansari is only the fourth private space traveler ever. She spoke to a large crowd of students, many of them representing ADWC's IT program, about her motivations, the obstacles in her path, and how she has overcome them.

Ms. Ansari arrived in the U.S. from Iran as a teenager who knew no English, eventually earning engineering degrees from George Mason University and George Washington University. She is currently pursuing another master's degree, in astronomy, from Swinburne University of Technology.

ADWC students responded with enthusiasm to their guest. "I am amazed at what she has been able to do," said one student. "I feel inspired when I hear her story." Dr. Bradley Cook, Director of ADWC of HCT, stated, "It is an honor for our campus to host a woman of such accomplishment. Our students, hearing her story, have seen how limitations can be overcome with determination and family support."

Ms. Ansari spent ten days in late 2006 at the International Space Station, where she conducted experiments, including work related to Prodea Systems' technology. Before traveling to space herself, Ms. Ansari's family helped fund the $10m 'Ansari X Prize,' offered by the X Foundation to spur the development of inexpensive, reusable private spacecraft. The award was granted in late 2004 to the team of Paul Allen (co-founder of MicroSoft) and Burt Rutan (space pioneer).

Abu Dhabi Women's College is part of the Higher Colleges of Technology. All media references to the organization should be noted as the Higher Colleges of Technology's Abu Dhabi Women's College or Abu Dhabi Women's College of HCT.