3/17/2011 I've been in Jordan for over a week now participating the Middle East Leadership Academy (MELA) as a guest facilitator and presentor. While my enlisted roles have been to present on topics ranging from successful Internet and social media strategies and to help this inaugural class build a functional mentor network, what's struck me during my time here is how much I've learned about myself, about the United States' role in world affairs, while attending seminars focused on such topics as leadership, conflict resolution and simply understanding people.

From new friends like Sarah Al'Ayed, my SBIF colleagues and I are learning things about the Middle East and its people that both surprise and excite me. So much of our past as a society is rooted here in the Middle East, and so much of the future hinges on what will emerge from this region in the years to come. Unfortunately, we in the Western world operate our day-to-day lives with no real knowledge of this corner of the world, only vague generalizations that are borne of prejudice and ignorance. Over the years the media has served only to exasperate and sensationalize this misinformation and general lack of engagement, for Americans in particular.

Based on the changes sweeping across this region today, I see a very near future that includes the Middle East becoming the next China in terms of evolving into a place where business opportunities abound and growth potential soars. And yet, if those of us residing Stateside want to play any type of positive roll in tomorrow's Middle East, we have to dedicate ourselves to a fundamental change in the way we view the region and her people ... we must open our minds and let go of past suppositions. Otherwise, we may just find ourselves on the outside looking in when the
"next big thing" emerges.

- Brice Bay
CEO, EnVeritas Group, Inc.

3/10/2011 As I sit here in JFK preparing to board a plane for Jordan to help work with and teach a group of Arab business leaders about the power of employing successful Internet Strategy, I can't help but wonder about the incredible and difficult changes that are taking place in Middle East. It seems that so many Middle Eastern countries are now sitting on the precipice of great political and social change. These stories have dominated headlines and captivated the globe for the better part of two months now. Change is happening at a pace and scale that's unprecedented in this region, and I'm truly overwhelmed with excitement by the small part I may play in it.

What I know and believe is that information (particularly, access to it and lack of it) is driving change while at the same time challenging our understanding of today's world. The power and need for a well-thought out strategy is paramount in driving (and achieving) effective change - this is true whether you're talking about re-vamping a website or a country's entire political mechanism. It's no wonder that a freed Google executive is credited with much of the momentum this latest change movement has received. I know local leaders already understand the power of using the Internet to educate, empower and engage the world. Still, it's stunning - almost shocking - how instantly online engagement can alter how the world perceives an event or even an individual ... just look how fast Charlie Sheen has changed his life by tapping into the power of the Internet!

- Brice Bay
CEO, EnVeritas Group, Inc.