Layal Jebran - Personal Website

I'm a digital nomad who works remotely, and ...

Sun, 21 Oct 2018 07:44:48 -0700

I'm a digital nomad who works remotely, and here are a few things that consist a normal Working day

While the world shifts from the 9-5 desk-bound work norm. This generation is finding itself more and more of a nomad, digital nomads to be exact. We're going back to our original humanity, where humans wouldn't stay still and remain in one place.

What's a digital nomad you say?

Digital nomads according to Wikipedia, is a type of people who use telecommunications technologies to earn a living and, more generally, conduct their lives in a nomadic manner. Such workers often work remotely from foreign countries, coffee shops, public libraries, co-working spaces, or recreational vehicles. This is usually accomplished through the use of devices that have wireless Internet capabilities such as smartphones or mobile hotspots.

Photo credit: Fast Company

I, myself have been on the DN road for three years now, and here are a couple of things only someone who works remotely would relate to:

- Most of your calls are done either wearing your PJ's, or sthg you'd never wear outside your house.

- Perfecting the receive your lunch order on time, before that meeting starts.

- Midday showers become a thing. Because you woke up, and just started working.

- Getting good at maneuvring your social life, because now you know where you're going to be and at what time.

- Laundry days, are no longer Saturday and Sundays.

- Not turning on your camera for a meeting, because you're not camera ready for that 6 AM call.

- Meeting your friends for a drink at 8 PM. You're tired? BUT, BUT, you work from home most of your time. YES, but that doesn't mean I linger and slouch all day, I get as much work as the other dude, perhaps more!

- You get bored in a months time from all the menus on...Read More

2023 Cybersecurity chronicles: unveiling the year's major dilemmas

Mon, 08 Jan 2024 02:58:25 -0800

The year 2023 unfurled as a stark reminder of the evolving and increasingly perilous landscape of cybersecurity. This year, we witnessed a sophisticated dance of digital duress, where cybercriminals, armed with advanced tactics, turned routine technologies into gateways for large-scale data breaches.

Through the lens of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' October report, we see a troubling picture: healthcare data breaches impacting over 88 million individuals, a 60% jump from the previous year. This alarming statistic, however, only scratches the surface, leaving the final quarter's data shrouded in uncertainty.

The year's cyber incidents are a testament to the growing complexity and severity of cyber threats:

1. Fortra's GoAnywhere Exploitation: The year began with a stark example of a zero-day exploit, a nightmare in cybersecurity parlance. Hackers discovered and leveraged an unknown vulnerability in Fortra’s GoAnywhere software, affecting over 130 organizations. This incident underscored the relentless pursuit of cybercriminals to exploit even the slightest security lapse

2. Royal Mail Ransomware Attack: The UK's Royal Mail fell victim to the LockBit ransomware group, a painful reminder of how cybercrime can disrupt essential services and compromise sensitive information, including employee and operational data.

3. 3CX...Read More

Digital Security 101:

Sun, 05 Feb 2023 08:36:43 -0800

Digital security hygiene refers to the set of best practices that individuals and organizations should follow to ensure the protection of their digital assets and personal information from cyber threats such as hacking, malware, and data breaches.
1. Strong Passwords: The use of strong and unique passwords is the foundation of good digital security hygiene. Passwords should be at least 12 characters long and consist of a combination of letters, numbers, and symbols. Avoid using easily guessable information, such as your name or date of birth, and consider using a password manager to generate and store complex passwords.
2. Regular Software Updates: Software updates often include critical security patches that address vulnerabilities in the software. Regularly updating all of your devices and applications helps to prevent cyberattacks and keeps your digital assets secure.
3. Two-Factor Authentication: Two-factor authentication adds an extra layer of security to your accounts by requiring a secondary code or device in addition to your password. This makes it much more difficult for a hacker to access your accounts, even if they have your password. It is recommended to use two-factor authentication whenever it is available.
4. Avoid Public Wi-Fi: Public Wi-Fi networks are often unsecured and can be used by hackers to access your device or steal personal information. To protect your privacy and security, avoid accessing sensitive information while using public Wi-Fi and instead, use a Virtual Private Network (VPN) to encrypt your data.
5. Be Cautious with Emails:...Read More

What Product Management is Really About:

Sat, 04 Feb 2023 04:12:47 -0800

Product management is a crucial role in the development of a successful product. It's not just about gathering requirements and dictating what the developers should do. It's a complex and multi-faceted discipline that requires a deep understanding of the market, the business, and the customers. In this blog post, we'll explore what product management is not and what it is about.
Product management is not about:
Asking customers about the requirements: While customer feedback is important, product management goes beyond that. It requires a deep understanding of customer needs and desires, not just what they are asking for.
Writing detailed specifications: Product management involves much more than documenting requirements. It requires a holistic view of the product, from ideation to launch.
Creating prototypes instead of designers: Product managers should not be creating prototypes. That's the job of designers. Product managers should collaborate with designers to ensure the prototypes meet customer and business needs.
Instructing developers on what to do: Product management is not about dictating what the developers should do. It's about leading the development team and ensuring that the product is delivered on time, within budget, and meets customer needs.
Verifying and accepting the work of others: Product management is not about micromanaging the work of others. It's about ensuring that everyone is working together to achieve the common goal of delivering a product customers love.
Obsessing over velocity, deadlines, and roadmaps: While deadlines and roadmaps are...Read More

Surviving the Beirut Explosion: A Story of Resilience and Revolution

Thu, 01 Oct 2020 05:19:32 -0700

On a normal Tuesday morning, I woke up and went about my day, unaware of the life-changing events that awaited me. My involvement in Lebanon's ongoing revolution turned my simple hobby of photography into a trusted role as a photojournalist. Little did I know that fate would lead me to the Ministry of Energy and Water, where I would witness one of the most devastating moments in Lebanon's recent history.

The Occupation of the Ministry:

At 12:45 pm, I arrived at the Ministry, where the riot police were violently clashing with protestors. Amidst the chaos, the courageous women were leading the occupation, demanding their basic rights in a country that had stripped them of so much. As tensions escalated, the news of a fire at the nearby port started to circulate, and confusion filled the air.
These photos were taken moments before the explosion
While the riot police were running after rebels, lawyers, and activists, we heard the news of a fire in the port nearby.
As we looked to the skies and then watched the videos, there didn’t seem to be anything there!
Until...
The Moment of Disaster:

While discussing the situation with a friend, I noticed an unusual sight in the sky—a big silver translucent bubble. Before we could process this anomaly, the unthinkable happened.

A massive explosion engulfed the area, shattering everything around us. Chaos reigned as the aftermath of destruction set...Read More

Women who rule the web: Layal Jebran

Wed, 30 Sep 2020 05:11:10 -0700

Layal Jebran is the type of person who can give an interview on the phone, while giving directions to her friends, while walking through the streets of New York City looking for Thai food.
She’s the type of person who can start multiple companies while traveling the world giving motivational speeches and accepting awards. To call her a multitasker would be an understatement. In the startup world, she’s more like a superhero.
'I started as an activist when I was 12 years old,' Jebran said. 'And my first startup happened in my second year in college.'
That successful startup used the Internet to connect freelance advisers to clients who needed them in the Middle East, but like many entrepreneurs, Jebran didn’t stop there. Lyl Big Designs led to other projects, and she continued developing several different ideas into reality, one after another after another. Why does she do it? Because she can, and because someone has to.
'Everyone told me I couldn’t do it. I come from a very small town, and no one believed in me, so I showed them,' Jebran said. She is a real example of success and achievement through the Internet in business in the Middle East, and she’s doing her best to make sure her home region soon catches up.
As countries around the world face a digital revolution, the Middle East has an opportunity to develop the Internet in a way that produces its content, services, and even infrastructure, if the countries in the region come together to make sure no one is left behind. In a new report, the Internet Society’s Middle East Bureau is reminding governments, corporations, tech experts, and society as a whole that we can’t underestimate the fundamental changes that faster, more affordable access to the Internet has brought and will continue to bring to humanity.
It sends the clear message that to build a prosperous digital future in the Middle East, humans need to be at the heart of the Internet.
Right now, people in...Read More