Building Entrepreneurial Communities: Ahmed Ali’s Role in Advancing Innovation at NC State

For Ahmed Ali, director of the Albright Entrepreneurs Village (AEV), entrepreneurship has always been a part of his life. He grew up surrounded by small business owners like his father. From running a pizza shop in Durham to operating a cargo and logistics business in the Middle East, he saw his family use business as a way to connect and support the community.

Taking the EI 201: Exploring Interdisciplinary Entrepreneurial Thinking course, taught by Jennifer Capps, during undergraduate studies, had a profound impact on Ahmed, specifically when the late Marshall Brain spoke to his class. Here, he was introduced to an entrepreneurial mindset. He took the skills learned from this course and went on to do work in an area he was passionate about, STEM education. 

After graduating from NC State in 2014 with a degree in international relations and a minor in Middle Eastern studies, Ahmed went on to a career in public education. He worked with nonprofits in the New York City public school system for over five years. Later, he returned to North Carolina to receive his master’s degree in Education, Innovation, Technology and Entrepreneurship from UNC Chapel Hill.    

Ahmed brings a unique perspective to the program as he followed a non-traditional path to his professional career in higher education. He utilizes entrepreneurial skills to make things happen for the team. His flexibility, resiliency and solution-oriented skills help him to adapt quickly, while keeping the student experience at the forefront of the work he does. Although Ahmed is new to higher education, his experience in youth development allows him to work with and encourage student entrepreneurs.  

His role at NC State Innovation and Entrepreneurship is multi-faceted. As the AEV director, he works alongside University Housing to keep a thriving entrepreneurial living and learning community on campus. He leads the growing game development community through events, such as Triangle Game Jam, that introduce students to an entrepreneurial mindset as well as networking opportunities with industry professionals. Ahmed also works closely with the Innovation and Entrepreneurship leadership team to spread the word about the program to students, staff and faculty at NC State. In addition to these roles, he is also supervising the reinvigorated ambassador program and the Miller Fellowship.

Working at Innovation and Entrepreneurship is special for Ahmed because he feels the staff get to live the philosophy that is taught. “We have to be entrepreneurial — move quickly, test something and if it does not work, we do not dwell on it. Instead, we use it as a learning experience and move forward,” he said. 

Throughout his time at NC State, he has worked with talented peers and students at a growing institution. “We have so many cool opportunities here, and my job is to connect students, whether that is at Innovation and Entrepreneurship or any other unit and initiative. I want students to make the most out of their time at NC State — if that results in them starting their own company, even better,” said Ahmed. 

The future is bright for NC State students, and Ahmed is excited to support students as they pursue opportunities that can lead to successful businesses but also have a positive impact on society as a whole — particularly in the EdTech space. With his background in public education, he is thrilled that students at NC State are using their technical skills to help close achievement gaps in that sector. 

In addition to helping students pursue opportunities, he hopes to bring the Engineering Entrepreneurship Program (EEP) to other colleges across the university. This capstone-type course allows students to create interdisciplinary teams and work on a senior project, equipping them with the skills and confidence needed to be successful in the workplace or to start their own business.