Yousra Magouri is a leading voice for women’s empowerment, a natural connector, and a proud mother of two. Born and raised in the border city of Bengardene in Tunisia, Yousra’s drive and ambition to pursue her dreams stems from her parents, who helped her underscore the value of education as an avenue to success.
Yousra earned a Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science from the Tunisia Tech University in 2007, and specialized in CRM and digital marketing technologies after moving to the United States in 2008.
Over her 12+ year career, Yousra has held a variety of roles in web development, digital marketing and data management at organizations such as e-Bay, Microsoft, Expedia. She currently serves as a Associate Principal Technology Architect at Salesforce and has independently published a number of articles on Medium about topics such as parenting, growth mindset, and the importance of social-emotional skills.
In 2008, Yousra moved from Tunisia to the United States. This shift in residence sparked a newfound motivation to both connect with other Tunisians living abroad as well as reach out and offer support to fresh university graduates.
Over the past decade, Yousra has spent significant time and energy providing mentorship and connection to students and young professionals. A firm believer in adding value by giving back in an intentional manner and creating genuine connections, Yousra observed a gap – fresh Tunisian graduates were looking for inspiration and networking opportunities but were unable to connect with tenured, successful Tunisian professionals.
Open Minds Project
It was this discrepancy that, in 2020, led Yousra to found a nonprofit initiative – the Open Minds Project (OMP). The goal of the organization to help provide access to programs that focus on empowering young Tunisian adults to improve their self-esteem, develop key leadership competencies, and advance their careers. The OMP team has created a vast network of successful Tunisian professionals working at some of the most prestigious companies in the world, including NASA, Amazon, and Microsoft.
As one of their first engagement events, the Open Minds Project team introduced a “book swap” concept in an effort to promote a sharing economy and to support the community of active learners. These events are still hosted at Obladi Café and guests are welcome to exchange books they’ve read for a new one from the group’s growing selection.
Open Minds Project members also receive free access to LinkedIn Learning, a leading online platform that offers a massive selection of virtual courses and certification programs – from web design to leadership skills.
Other membership benefits include 1-1 mentoring, internship opportunities, career assistance, and interactive virtual panels that discuss key topics (such as leadership and soft skills).
Under Yousra’s leadership, the OMP strives to create spaces for professionals around the world to give back, find inspiration, benefit from mentorship, and connect with like-minded Tunisians. The ultimate goal: for the platform to continue to grow and reach young adults at universities across the world.
For volunteering, mentoring and Internship opportunities connect with Yousra and the Open Minds Project:
- Open Minds Project: https://openmindsproject.org/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/yousra-magouri/
- Medium: @magouri.yousra
- Instagram: instagram.com/yusrathefirst/
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