Chris Haroun, the CEO and founder of Haroun Education Ventures, has had a diverse career journey that led him to discover his true passion. After working at prestigious companies like Goldman Sachs and Citadel, he found himself feeling unfulfilled despite his success. It wasn’t until he started teaching that he realized where his true passion lay.
During his time at other companies, Chris always found himself drawn to mentoring and helping others, even if it meant sacrificing some of his own time. This innate desire to assist and guide others eventually led him to teaching. In 2016, while still working in venture capital, Chris started teaching in East Palo Alto and found immense joy in helping students succeed.
One of the pivotal moments in Chris’s career was when he created a course called “MBA in a Day” for under-resourced student-athletes through the LEMO Foundation. This course, which he recorded and uploaded to Udemy, became a massive success, selling close to 500,000 times and generating a significant passive income stream. Chris now has 72 courses on Udemy and nearly two million students worldwide.
Despite the financial success, Chris’s primary goal is to help others. He dedicates a significant amount of time to assisting students, answering questions, and providing support. The profits from his courses go towards building schools in developing countries, such as Rwanda and Kenya, further solidifying his commitment to making a positive impact through education.
Chris believes that the traditional education system is ripe for disruption. He criticizes MBA programs for not teaching practical skills like selling, networking, and managing personal finances. He sees online platforms like Udemy as the catalyst for change in the industry, where more people can access valuable education at a fraction of the cost of traditional universities.
One of Chris’s core beliefs is that everyone has something to teach. He highlights the story of Teresa Greenway, a Udemy instructor who found her passion for baking bread after leaving an abusive marriage. Teresa’s story exemplifies how anyone can share their knowledge and make a difference in the lives of others.
In conclusion, Chris Haroun’s journey from corporate success to fulfilling his passion through teaching and online education is a testament to the transformative power of following one’s true calling. His dedication to helping others and his vision for the future of education serve as inspiration for aspiring educators and entrepreneurs alike. Through his work, Chris is not only changing lives but also reshaping the landscape of education for the better.
