Leadership, Leadership Quote of the Week

Do not underestimate your strengths when you are faced with failures.

Sir Nasser D. Khalili

Yesterday, on Sunday 21st May, we celebrated the World Day for Cultural Diversity. To mark this moment, we are featuring a quote from Sir Nasser D. Khalili, a British-Iranian scholar, philanthropist and founder of the Khalili Foundation.


Sir Nasser D. Khalili (1945-) is a British-Iranian scholar and philanthropist. He is a committed proponent of cultural diversity and maintaining constructuve interfaith relations. Born in Iran, Khalili moved to the US after completing his national service to complete his undergraduate degree at Queens College, City University of New York. He subsequently moved to the UK, where he received a PhD from SOAS, University of London.

A lover of art, Khalili has assembled eight art collections to date, collectively known as the Khalili Collections. These include the largest private collection of Islamic art and a collection of Japanese art rivalling that of the Japanese imperial family.

Khalili is also a committed philanthropist. His philathropic activity is presently delivered through the Khalili Foundation. This organisation aims to use the power of art, culture and education to bring people together and promote interfaith and intercultural relations. He is also a UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador for the promotion of intercultural dialogue and peace through education and culture. In 2020, he received a knighthood in the Queen's Birthday Honours for services to interfaith relations and charity.

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