About Me
Where I’m From & What I Do
I’m Yassine Sellami, a Moroccan‑American technologist turned higher‑education changemaker. I grew up in Oued Zem, then moved to the Lavillette neighborhood of Casablanca, where tinkering with second-hand computers ignited a fascination with how systems can unlock—or limit—human potential. That curiosity carried me across four continents and into senior IT roles at Dell Technologies, IKEA Sweden, Apple, and now Drexel University in Philadelphia.
Today, I serve as Director of Research Systems & Analytics at Drexel, an R1 research powerhouse. For the past five years I’ve translated complex compliance, funding, and data challenges into intuitive digital workflows that let scholars focus on discovery rather than paperwork.
My leadership philosophy is straightforward: see the entire system, speak candidly, and develop tools that simplify people’s work—and lives. I draw on 18 years of global IT experience, doctoral research in higher‑ed leadership, and a deep belief that technology should serve people, not distract them.
Outside work, you’ll find me cycling Philadelphia’s river trails with my kids, recording reflections on complexity theory for my podcast, or volunteering with local non-profit organizations supporting education for the underserved.
The Catalyst
Colleagues describe me as a calm catalyst—someone who spots patterns in chaos and rallies teams to act. I’m known for:
- Seeing the system, not just the symptom – translating tangled processes into clear, human‑centered roadmaps.
- A “radio voice” that steadies the room – inviting candid dialogue across cultures and disciplines.
- Strategic empathy – listening beyond words to design win‑wins for faculty, administrators, and technologists alike.
- Cross‑cultural fluency – switching effortlessly between English, Darija, and French, and between boardroom strategy and bike‑trail reflections.
- Quiet humor & straight talk – cutting through jargon without cutting down people.
Whether I’m guiding a multi‑million‑dollar research‑systems rollout or mentoring an emerging leader, I show up with curiosity, rigor, and an insistence on leaving the system better than I found it.
Things I love
- Sunrise bike rides along the Schuylkill River Trail
- Weekend hikes in State Parks with my family
- My son's soccer games and cheering from the sidelines
- My daughter's Olympics and the pride of raising a leader!
- Digging into complexity theory and Islamic philosophy over a pour‑over coffee
- Writing—short reflections on leadership, technology, and education.
- Cooking tagines (and perfecting the balance of preserved lemons & olives)
- White‑board sketching messy systems until the pattern clicks
What I love the most
Dad & Husband First — Weekend pancake chemistry with the kids, sideline coaching at Jad’s matches, selling girls scout cookies with Lily, and late-night debriefs with my wife keep my compass steady. Family life reminds me that real leadership starts at home: listening first, celebrating small wins, and turning every setback into a teachable story. The patience, humor, and perspective I practice around our kitchen table shape how I guide teams and steward complex projects beyond it.
Justice-Minded Systems Thinking — During long weekend rides or quietly mapping ideas over my morning coffee, I’m always circling the same questions: Who benefits? Who’s left out? I lean on Rawls’s veil of ignorance, critical theory, and complexity science to expose hidden power dynamics and design fairer, more resilient institutions.
Stay Tuned for Upcoming Articles & Publications
I’m always exploring new ideas at the intersection of systems thinking, leadership, and innovation. Look for upcoming articles, research insights, and exclusive publications that explore higher education, technology, and global complexity.
🔹 New essays & thought pieces on emerging trends
🔹 Research updates from my doctoral journey
🔹 Exclusive content for subscribers