John Achkar Returns to IE: Comedian, Entrepreneur and Alumni Inspires Next Generation of Students

IE University welcomed back 2017 IE alumni, comedian and entrepreneur John Achkar, who shared his wisdom, anecdotes and philosophy with IE students during a meet-and-greet and networking event held at the IE Tower.

With millions of likes on TikTok, and an Instagram following of over 400K, Achkar’s seven-year-long career as a comedian is in full bloom. 

"I believe humor has the power to change the world; that’s the why behind what I do," said Achkar, "whether it’s bringing about political or social change, humor allows people to relate, it drives reflection, and having seen firsthand the difference it can make, I take pride in making people reflect over simply making them laugh."

He was received by the Global Alumni Relations team, with GAR Head Sara Lindgren giving him a tour of the IE Tower, which was opened a couple of years after his graduation from the International MBA. 

"We’re very excited to have John back at IE", said Sara Lindgren, Head of Global Alumni Relations, "I really enjoyed hearing him talk about how he focuses on creating an emotional connection on stage, and online, and how he combines that with a business mindset behind the scenes."

Prior to the event, he interviewed with Ines Driesselmann, Vice President of Alumni and Careers at IE University, where he delved into his journey from businessman to comedian, his time at IE, and the higher purpose of his comedy.

Born and raised in Lebanon, with a background in international relations and business, Achkar ultimately earned an International Master in Business Administration at IE to launch his stationery and board game company, Everythink SAL. 

It was during his time at IE that he realized he could earn a living from comedy. He won an award from his peers for helping them navigate the IMBA stress with humor, and his first viral video in 2019 grew from an IMBA anecdote.

Reflecting on his duality as a comedian and entrepreneur, he believes this combined knowledge is paramount to success.

"The most successful comedians deal with comedy as an art form and as a business journey," said Achkar.

However, at the core of his philosophy lies a true belief in connecting with others and the power of meaningful relationships, which he believes is the key to becoming the person you want to be.

During the meet-and-greet, he advised the students to surround themselves with people that support them and help them grow, especially embracing the community at IE.

Achkar spoke fondly of the friendships he built during his IMBA, including the period they spent in Singapore, which opened up his mind to a different cultural ensemble. 

"One of my favourite IMBA moments were the 12 days we spent together in our rooms, working on a case study for 6 to 8 hours a day," he said "we weren’t just studying, we were sharing perspectives, reflecting, and really getting to know each other; it’s a moment I’ll never forget."

If he had to describe his experience at IE in one word, it would be "mind-changing".

Achkar considers he also owes his comedic success to his relationships and drive to pursue meaningful connections. He spoke highly of his team, who support him with research, social media, marketing and performance.

In his comedy, he said he does not aspire to be untouchable and inauthentic; he believes that vulnerability, authenticity and presence are what cultivates a connection with the audience and ultimately drives success.

"Comedians have to be vulnerable," said Achkar, "you may not be able to relate to the story, but you can relate to the feeling, and that’s where the laughing starts."

Equally, he said he believes his best jokes are the ones he comes up with on stage, where presence is imperative to the success of the performance. For him, however, success goes beyond a prolific career.

"My definition of success is having my Ikigai aligned," he said, "aligning your passion, skills, and contribution to the world, and making a living out of it is hard, but it can be done."

Achkar’s visit to IE was applauded by students, staff and the alumni community.

Josef Sfeir, Head of Middle East and Africa for Alumni and Careers, met Achkar in Lebanon 20 years ago, and also pursued the IMBA in 2017, graduating in the previous semester. Him and Achkar regained contact after COVID.

"I'm very proud to have him as an alumni because he is exactly what we preach,” said Sfeir, “I love the fact that he's very real and raw, he doesn't shy away from talking about his personal struggles, and how he learns from them every time." 

Achkar’s remarks were very well-received amongst students and faculty, including professor Joe Haslam, who teaches scale-up courses at IE Business School, and who resonated with many of his comments on authenticity, seeing comedy as an inspiring discipline for professors. 

"I believe all professors should learn as much as we can from comedians about how to get people’s attention and how to work an audience, especially post-pandemic," he said.

Many of the attending students knew Achkar from social media, or had previously seen him live, including Muna Teneh, second year PPLE student, and Zain Abu Rabie, first year BCDM student.

"I did not know he was an IE alumni," said Teneh, "so it was interesting finding out that there is more to him than the shows, and taking inspiration from his unconventional career route."