Hessah Aljiran

When Hessah Aljiran immigrated from Kuwait to San Francisco in 2017, she brought with her a vision of pursuing the freedom and opportunities she had long envisioned while making a meaningful impact on social justice causes. As a business leader, tech entrepreneur, and advocate with international experience spanning the Arab world and United States, Aljiran is dedicated to advancing immigrant rights, women's rights, civic engagement, and social change.

Her commitment to advocacy stems from formative experiences that shaped her worldview. Aljiran's earliest memories include the 1990 Iraqi invasion of Kuwait, which instilled in her a lifelong commitment to peace and civic engagement. Growing up under strict cultural and religious constraints on women's rights further motivated her dedication to fighting for her freedom and that of other women.

Civic engagement became central to Aljiran's identity during high school in Kuwait, where she led an international collaborative project with a Swiss school exploring the contrasts between war and peace. She later deepened her involvement by volunteering for human rights, civil rights, health advocacy, and women's rights causes.

This foundational work along with a Bachelor's degree in Business Management led to significant impact through organizational leadership. Aljiran co-founded two impactful NGOs: one focused on volunteer recruitment and skills matching for nonprofit organizations, and another dedicated to advocating and raising awareness for celiac disease. She also led successful campaigns that raised funds to build Kuwait's only children's hospice and launched environmental awareness initiatives.

In 2012, the U.S. Department of State selected Aljiran for the American Council of Young Political Leaders program. This intensive program marked her first experience with internal U.S. politics through an internship with Senator Luz Robles Escamilla's re-election campaign in Utah, where she conducted grassroots organizing and community outreach.

Building on this international recognition, Aljiran became a member of the Middle East Leadership Academy, a prestigious network of Arab world leaders in business and social change. She represents Kuwait in leadership development and networking initiatives throughout the region.

As a tech entrepreneur, Aljiran has founded a tech consultancy and most recently launched a startup that offers specialized AI models, bringing inclusive perspective to technology development.

Currently, Aljiran continues to advise on women's rights in Kuwait while working on her first book, "Blueprints to Freedom," which documents her journey and provides guidance for others pursuing similar paths of liberation.

Through her appointment to the immigrant rights commission, Aljiran aims to make immigration processes more accessible and supportive, protect and advocate for immigrant rights, and open doors for immigrants to build prosperous lives in their new communities. Drawing on her fluency in Arabic and growing Spanish proficiency, she works to ensure all immigrant voices are heard and represented. Her vision extends beyond policy reform to creating systemic change that honors the dignity and potential of every immigrant.

Her guiding philosophy centers on collective empowerment: "We all have more power than we think we do. We can change the world, but we have to start from where we are, however small our circumstances or contributions may seem—if there is anything we can do to make the world better, then we have the responsibility to act on it.”