Hassan El Hajj

I help people build what lasts, whether that's a resilient organization, a meaningful career transition, or simply the clarity to take the next right step.
I'm a strategic IT leader, cybersecurity practitioner, and prospective PhD researcher with 17+ years navigating high-pressure environments, from keeping broadcast networks running 24/7 for millions of viewers, to founding a cancer care nonprofit that's delivered life-saving support to dozens of families.
What I've learned applies far beyond IT:
From IT operations → I learned that systems thinking saves lives. When failure isn't an option, you build redundancy, monitor relentlessly, and plan for what can go wrong. This applies whether you're scaling a startup, managing a team through crisis, or redesigning your personal systems for sustainable success.

From founding a nonprofit in a resource-constrained environment → I learned how to mobilize communities, recruit and retain 300+ volunteers, negotiate with institutions, and turn constraints into creative fuel. I've sat with cancer patients and their families in their darkest hours, that teaches you what leadership actually means: showing up with competence and compassion when people are counting on you.

From building secure systems against intelligent adversaries → I learned strategic thinking under pressure. Cybersecurity is about understanding human behavior, anticipating failure, and staying three steps ahead, skills that translate directly to navigating competitive markets, managing stakeholder conflicts, or making high-stakes personal decisions.

From preparing for doctoral research → I learned how to transform messy, real-world problems into structured approaches. Whether you're launching a business, pivoting careers, or solving a persistent life challenge, the ability to break down complexity, test assumptions, and iterate systematically changes everything.

As a mentor, I work with:

IT professionals and technical managers seeking to move from execution to strategy, from "putting out fires" to building systems that prevent them

Nonprofit leaders and social entrepreneurs navigating resource constraints, volunteer management, donor relations, and mission-driven scale

Career transitioners moving between sectors (corporate ↔ nonprofit ↔ public), climbing the leadership ladder, or pivoting into new domains

Startup founders and small business owners building operational foundations, security/compliance strategies, or simply seeking a sounding board from someone who's built organizations from scratch

Anyone facing a complex transition who needs strategic clarity, accountability structures, or simply someone who's been through it and can help you see the path forward

What you can expect from me:
I don't sugarcoat, but I show up with care. I ask hard questions and help you build practical frameworks, not just motivation, but methods. I've managed teams through organizational chaos, negotiated with institutional bureaucracies, delivered bad news to stakeholders, and rebuilt systems after catastrophic failures. I've also trained marathon distance, raised three kids, and studied religious ethics for two decades, so I understand that sustainable success requires integrating all of who you are, not just optimizing one dimension.

I believe leadership begins with self-mastery and ends with service. Whether you're building a company, transitioning careers, strengthening your team, or simply trying to figure out what's next, I'm here to help you build something that lasts and matters.