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My Journey as a Young Leader

By Nehme Gerges Melhem


When people ask me how I became a “young leader,” I often pause because I never set out to wear that title. My journey was born from necessity, loss, and an unwavering desire to make a difference.


I grew up in a small village in Lebanon. Life wasn’t easy, my father worked as a farmer, and my family lived off what we planted and limited resources. We had no luxuries; even a simple computer came much later in life. I lost my grandmother at a young age to complications from diabetes. My godfather’s cancer and the suffering of others close to me carved an early understanding that healthcare was not accessible or equitable for everyone.


As a child, I was bullied relentlessly. It left scars, but it also instilled in me a drive to prove that we can all rise above circumstance and lift others along the way.


In 2020, after the Beirut port explosion, I founded Aid Lebanon. I wasn’t a physician or a seasoned diplomat, I was a young person in America, watching my country in pain. With no roadmap, I brought people together across continents, starting with just a few calls and emails. Today, Aid Lebanon leads medical missions, global symposiums, and youth leadership programs.


Soon after, I launched Melhem Scientific, to promote research, fund underprivileged fellows, and bridge innovation between countries. One of the most meaningful moments in this journey was working with prestigious U.S. institutions, genrating remarkable revenue, and launching the inaugural Melhem Young Innovators Grant, through which we gifted over $150,000 to support cutting-edge research and promising young scientists.


But leadership has never been about accolades for me. It’s about people. Whether it’s mentoring a student from Sierra Leone, supporting breast cancer research in Lebanon, or helping a fellow who couldn’t afford their education it’s these moments that define leadership.


Of course, my path hasn’t been without struggle. I faced significant health challenges, both physical and mental. I underwent bariatric surgery after years of battling obesity, and I navigated a long and difficult journey with my mental health. There were moments of failure, financial strain, and uncertainty. But every step taught me humility and that vulnerability is part of leadership too.


I used to fear walking into rooms with important people. Now, I walk in as an equal, because I have learned that one email, one phone call, one meeting can change futures and careers. As an organization, we can move mountains if we stay true to the mission and the people we serve.

Today, I manage two international organizations with 65+ members while preparing for medical school and attending my MSc degree in Information Systems and Artificial Intelegance at Johns Univeristy. The work is exhausting. The sacrifices are real. But when I see one child smile at a medical mission, one fellow launch their research, one NGO partner or an institution gain new strength every effort is worth it.


To every young person reading this: leadership is not about titles, money, or being “ready.” It’s about showing up. It’s about taking that first small step and trusting that your heart and hard work will carry you further than you imagined.


We are never too young, or too broken to lead. The world is waiting.


Nehme Gerges Melhem

President and Chairman


This blog has been refined using AI



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