The Inspirational Journey from Refugee to LG Sonic CEO Acknowledged in the European Parliament
Yousef Yousef's journey from refugee to CEO received recognition in the European Parliament for his determination, passion, and leadership. The European Commissioner Carlos Moedas named Yousef "a great ambassador for the EU."
ZOETERMEER, Netherlands, Dec. 5, 2018 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- The incredible life story of former refugee and LG Sonic CEO Yousef Yousef was last week paid tribute to in the European Parliament by Carlos Moedas, the European Commissioner for Research and Innovation.
In his November 27th speech at the High-Level Conference EU Research and Innovation in Our Daily Lives, Commissioner Moedas spoke at length of Yousef's life and journey, citing the man who convinced him of the power of European science and innovation to change lives.
The European Dream
In 1996, Yousef Yousef (1983) arrived in the Netherlands from Syria as a refugee together with his mother, brother and sister. For almost seven years they lived together in a refugee camp, afraid each day would be the one that they learn they will be deported.
The inspiration to become an entrepreneur came from his father Qaury Yousef, who was a successful businessman. His father passed away when Yousef was two years old, leaving his mother to raise three children by herself. She decided to take her children to Europe, and Yousef's dream of entrepreneurship accompanied him to Europe. To achieve his goals, he started following educational programs in the refugee camp. After ten years Yousef was granted the Dutch residency which allowed him to enroll in The University of Leiden.
Protecting the World's Water
In 2011, Yousef became CEO of LG Sonic, a company with the mission to eliminate chemical usage in the water industry, doing so by controlling algal blooms with ultrasound technology.
Many people doubted this technology, but Yousef and co-founders Lisa Brand and Rick Kaper never stopped believing in their goal: protecting the world's' water from chemicals. With EU funding for the FP7 program they developed a technology that combines water quality monitoring with ultrasound technology to control algal blooms. The company serves industry-leading drinking water companies in the United States, United Kingdom, Colombia and New Zealand.
In 2015, LG Sonic was the first European company to be named Certified Innovation Partner of American Water, the largest public utility in the United States, and the cooperation stands to this day.
From Entrepreneur to Recognition Throughout Europe
In his speech, Commissioner Carlos Moedas addressed how he was moved by the story of Yousef. It was the conversation he had with Yousef that helped crystallize the meaning of the European Dream, stating, "not only is he (Yousef) a great entrepreneur, but he is also a great ambassador for the EU".
The commissioner's faith in the power of European science was bolstered due to the work Yousef and LG Sonic are doing. Yousef has shown what a person can achieve when pushing themselves to excel and fulfil their dreams. The entrepreneur's path from refugee to cutting-edge innovator is a story millions of the world's population should hear.
LG Sonic
Yousef Yousef is CEO of LG Sonic, a leading international manufacturer of innovative water treatment systems. LG Sonic products provide an environmentally friendly solution to effectively control algae in large water surfaces such as lakes and reservoirs. With its international distributor network, more than 10,000 LG Sonic products have been successfully installed in over 50 different countries.
- Coordinator of several European FP7 projects: ClearWater PMPC and Dronic (€3.2 million)
- Official Innovation Partner of American Water, U.S. largest water and wastewater utility
- Winner of several innovation awards: Aquatech Innovation Award (2015), Global TAG excellence award (2015), WssTP Water Innovation Award (2014)
SOURCE LG Sonic
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