Yes, his credentials are impressive. And yes, he is one of the 12 successful professionals selected from the Middle East and North Africa region for the Young Global Leaders (YGL) Class of 2013 by the World Economic Forum – the only Pakistani named from outside Pakistan.

However, accolades alone cannot harness the attention of a truly global fan base.It is his passion to fight poverty, the unique perspective and insight he brings forth, that makes believers out of us – and out of the YGL selection committee.

Drawn from a pool of several thousand candidates, and chosen by a committee chaired by Queen Rania alAbdullah of Jordan, Dr Ibrahim will attend the annual YGL summit in Yangon, Myanmar in June.

The programme will include meetings with government representatives, the business community and civil society; first-hand experience of working with local organisations; and workshops and cross-mentorship initiatives.

Today, Dr Ibrahim is a senior executive at one of the largest Islamic banks in Bahrain, specialising in economic development, finance and Islamic banking. Seemingly, each step to get there required unrelenting determination.

He completed his initial law degree, focused on Shariah and Pakistan law, from the International Islamic University in Islamabad, and then went on to top law schools in the United States, supported by the Fulbright program as the first Pakistani to win the prestigious scholarship for law.