At USSS, we believe in the power of partnerships and collaboration to offer the best training experience to our participants. Based on our long history of collaboration with WHO, we are delighted to highlight the experiences of three former distinguished from the online cohort of emerging leaders of the fall 2025.
During seven weeks, these participants got involved with leading professionals and experts in the field of leadership. This experience helped them refine their leadership and management skills while allowing them to apply key behavior described in the leadership of the United Nations system.
Arshad Altaf is a doctor and a doctor, with a third cycle diploma in public health. With a long career in WHO, he is currently a technical manager of the Research Promotion and Development Unit (RPD) at the WHO Regional Office for the eastern Mediterranean.
Edwina Zoghbi is the national officer of non -transmitted and mental health at the Lebanon Pays Bureau who. She has training in nutrition and dietetics and also in psychology and psychopathology, a master's degree in public health, and is currently doing a doctorate in health and governance systems.
Alba Llops-Golde is a technical manager for nursing care and midwives and the technical data manager and evidence on health workforce at the WHO Regional Office for Europe with professional training in health policy and strengthening the system. She is a nurse with a specialty in pediatrics, and a master's degree and a doctorate in public health.
In this interview with Spotlight with Juan Pendavis, each of the three alumni share their UNSSC learning experience and its impact on their professional career
Juan: How did the Learning program for the emerging leaders of the United Nations support your professional development in leadership?
Arshad: When I started as an acting technical manager at the WHO Regional Office in Cairo, I faced many external challenges by effectively using my leadership and management projects. This program greatly helped me to face these leadership challenges while helping me to identify my forces and my areas of development. My favorite lesson was emotional intelligence. This helped me slow down and realize that when challenges occur in your work, they are not always directed against you personally; Sometimes it's just a question of your perception.
Edwina: I have been working in Lebanon for 11 years, where the accent is put on versatile and horizontal tasks rather than specialization. Although I work as a general practitioner, I recognize that I cannot be an expert in everything. While I consider my next career move, I see the need to strengthen my management and leadership skills. Although I currently supervise a team, I lack formal training in these areas. This program has a precious opportunity to improve my understanding of the leadership of the United Nations.
Alba: Recently, Antonio Gutierrez, the secretary general, visited the United Nations city in Copenhagen and stressed that the principles of the United Nations, international law and territorial integrity of the State are threatened, but “are not for sale”. In these difficult times, all UN staff recognize the importance of multilateralism for our common future. This program is essential to develop value -based leadership, which is crucial to promote human rights, peace and security, poverty reduction and climate action. Efficient leadership training is essential for us to respect our mandates.
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