Maryan ‘Mimi’ Hassan
About Maryan ‘Mimi’ Hassan
Maryan 'Mimi' Hassan serves as a leader at the Obama Foundation and has held various significant roles in international law and trade negotiations. With a background in legal advisory and arbitration, she has worked with organizations such as The World Bank, ICSID, and Harvard University.
Work at Obama Foundation
Maryan ‘Mimi’ Hassan has served as a Leader at the Obama Foundation since 2019. In this role, she has contributed to various strategic initiatives aimed at fostering leadership and community engagement. Her work focuses on empowering young leaders and promoting civic participation, aligning with the foundation's mission to inspire and support the next generation of leaders.
Current Position at The White House
Since 2022, Maryan ‘Mimi’ Hassan has been working at The White House as an African & Diaspora Young Leader. In this capacity, she engages with young leaders from the African diaspora, addressing issues pertinent to their communities and fostering connections between them and the U.S. government.
Professional Experience at International Organizations
Maryan ‘Mimi’ Hassan has extensive experience in international organizations. She worked at the International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID) as a member of the Panels of Arbitrators and Conciliators from 2016 to 2022. Additionally, she served as Chief Trade Negotiator to the WTO during her secondment at the World Bank from 2018 to 2020, focusing on trade negotiations between Mogadishu and Geneva.
Educational Background
Maryan ‘Mimi’ Hassan holds multiple degrees in law. She studied at SOAS University of London, where she earned a Master of Laws (LL.M) in International Law. She also obtained a Bachelor of Laws with honours (LL.B) in International Law from Kingston University. Furthering her education, she completed another Master of Laws (LL.M) at Harvard Law School and participated in the Investor-State Dispute Resolution program at the University of Cambridge.
Leadership Roles and Fellowships
Maryan ‘Mimi’ Hassan has held several leadership roles and fellowships throughout her career. She was the President of the Harvard International Arbitration Law Students Association (HIALSA) from 2021 to 2022. Additionally, she served as a Senior Fellow at the Weinstein International Foundation from 2018 to 2019, where she worked on enhancing international dispute resolution practices.