The above Executive Magazine article is about Elie, Jad and their Woopra, not about Munjid Musallam.

There is no software product that I am aware of, that was developed in this part of the world, which can be compared with Woopra’s innovativeness, timeliness, quality and potential!

The above article was written by a first-class veteran journalist who chose to interview me via email, while I was on a one year leave of absence in Austin, Texas!

It was my feeling that one of the primary issues that this veteran reporter wanted to address was “Brain-Drain” in Lebanon: Why are all the brilliant, hard working and talented Lebanese youth leaving their country? After an exchange of questions and answers, the report ended up to be what it is: that Woopra’s evolution is natural and similar to that of Google, Yahoo, Facebook, Youtube, etc.

Rather than the theme of “Brain Drain “, this report eventually took a different direction, that of a positive hope so badly needed in these days and specifically in this part of the world! It is too sad that “Mr. or Miss Anonymous” has nothing but ignorance and jealousy to share with the world; I believe that if you, Mr or Miss Unknown, knew Elie, Jad, a very tiny bit about their Woopra, and the background of the above Executive Magazine report, you would be a much kinder person!

As for the Lecturer issue: Here is a copy/paste of the first of eight questions that the reporter asked me along with the very first paragraph of my response to this question:

1) Could you briefly introduce yourself? Your position at LAU, what course(s) you give? Are you working in Austin or is that a holiday? And what courses did Jad and Elie take with you?

I am a lecturer in the Computer Sciences Department at LAU-Byblos. I have a PhD-ABD (All But Dissertation) from the University of Texas at Austin (Computer Sciences Department).

I left UT-Austin in 1987 to join Schlumberger’s Austin Systems Center in Austin, Texas, where I worked for several years before being expatriated to Etudes et Productions Schlumberger in Paris (Clamart), France.

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By the way, it seems that “Mr. or Miss Anonymous” doesn’t know that there are Professors without PhD’s and that there are Lecturers with PhD’s!!!

But what does it have to do with Woopra?

Finally, as far as I am concerned, I am very proud of my students, and I am very glad that most of them are also my friends (long after they graduate). How many professors are lucky to have someone like Elie writing what he wrote above in his reply to “Unknown”?

Who cares right?As long as my teacher has a Ph.D!
Be a little more Optimistic and try to Accomplish a fraction of what they did

I respect your opinion and thank you for sharing your thoughts on my blog. You don’t believe it will survive? No one knows, but what I know is that Jad and I have tried at least, and dug hard to make this project successful. It would be nice from you if you show us what you have achieved!

About Professor Munjid Musallem, obviously when you work with a person like him, you will definitely forget about the stupid titles that we all Lebanese care only about. He is a high level instructor, mentor and of course a very good friend.

Prof. Musallem left his Ph.D. because he knew that the title was not really important, and knew that being a part of a major company in the US is even more important than that title. He started his Ph.D but never completed it. Why would that make a change if he’s a VERY knowledgeable person in the theory and technology sides of Computer Science.

It’s so sad to read such comments today because that proves to me that some Lebanese are still way from being mature.

Anyway thank you for your comment and it would be nice if you reveal identity.

ps. Munjid is a Lecturer and did not have a Ph.D.

respect ..
c u soon in byblos

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