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17
T
alal Shair was born in Beirut
in 1967. After graduating
from IC in 1983, he attended
Princeton University and graduated in
1988 with a Bachelor in Civil Engineer-
ing. He then joined Dar al Handasah
(Shair and Partners) first as an active
member of its Structural Department
and later as the department’s director
after earning his Masters in Structural
and Geotechnical Engineering from
Cornell University in New York, in
1995. Upon his return from the United
States, he branched out into different
roles, undertaking key responsibilities,
and heading up various departments.
In 2000, he was elected Vice-Chairman
of the Board of Directors
,
in charge of
general management and operations as
well as of overseeing subsidiaries of Dar al Handasah’s worldwide.
Talal Shair is also on the Advisory Council of the Business Ad-
ministration School at AUB since 2003. He is also a founding mem-
ber of Bader, a Young Entrepreneurs program which aims to support
young entrepreneurs and promote small businesses.
He is married to Maha Shair, they have four boys: Faisal in First
Middle, Zeid in Fourth Grade, Omar in Grande Section and Karim
born last November. Maha is the head of the IC Parent Committee.
Her dynamism and commitment to the school has greatly contrib-
uted to the successful launch of a variety of programs and activities
at IC
.
Q: You were an IC student from elementary through second-
ary. How did the school/teachers influence your life?
There is definitely an IC culture that influences all students in
some way or another. They tend to be open to new ideas and flex-
ible in attitude and thinking. IC also fosters a spirit of indepen-
dence, something that is crucial to building character and leader-
ship. That helped me adapt quite easily to changing circumstances,
whether University in the U.S or later on in my professional career
in London and Cairo, before returning to Lebanon. Teachers are
the foundation of a good school. Looking back, I would say that
there were a few who certainly influenced the ultimate direction I
took in my education.
Q: Why did you join the Board?
I feel very strongly about IC and its potential as a provider of ex-
cellence in education. As a trustee, there exists then an obligation
to translate this feeling to actual improvements on the ground. I
hope I will be able to make a difference.
Q: Can you describe an incident or an event that has greatly
affected you?
Life has been full of events that have shaped my thinking in one
way or another. But most recently, the assassination of PM Rafik
Hariri (and later killings included) reminded me that it is people
who make history and not vice versa.
Q: If you could change something in your life, what would it
be?
I would have returned sooner to Lebanon.
Q: You have a successful career. Is there anything you think is
absolutely crucial to achieve this success at work?
I think you need to feel passionately about what you do and work
very hard at it.
Q: What you would like to see at IC that doesn’t already exist?
I would definitely like to see first class sports facilities and pro-
grams. When I studied in the US, I was surprised that many excel-
lent Universities offered, and still do of course, sports scholarships
to talented students. When my Nephew went to Harvard, I advised
him to join the rowing team. He did and became a varsity team
rower, ultimately beating Oxford his senior year. Until now, his
fondest memories of Harvard are his rowing days. We should not
underestimate the importance of sports in building character.
New Board Member: Talal Shair
Board News
The Shair family