In 2014, Malaysia Airlines Flight 370 mysteriously disappeared somewhere -- it is believed -- in the Indian Ocean. There was a broad-based search for the plane but to date, the airliner has not been discovered and no generally accepted reason has been proposed for its disappearance. In the United States, over the past decade or so, planes have been disappearing too -- as routes and flights have been eliminated or cutback. The apparent reason for this is due to a lack of competition. The … [Read more...]
Articles
Frank blogs regularly for the Huffington Post and writes occasional columns and articles for publications such as the International Business Times and The Economic Times of India.
Frank writes on a wide variety of topics that are critical to shaping the future of America and the American dream and to making the United States and the world a better place. These include: Business; education; poverty and inequality; politics and public policy; immigration; manufacturing; innovation; leadership; citizenship; and social commentary.
Frank’s most recent blogs are highlighted on this page. To read other blogs or articles by Frank, click on the categories or publications links on the left.
Squeezing the Yahoos: The Airline Business Model
Squeeze the yahoos. Squeeze them till it hurts. That appears to be the current airline business model for customer pricing, seating, luggage storage, amenities, service, and communication management. While the model might be very unpalatable for the majority of us "yahoos" who have to fly today's unfriendly skies, it has been wildly profitable for the airlines. We wish that we could take credit for the "squeezing the yahoo" phraseology. To our knowledge, however, that phrase was first used … [Read more...]
Philanthropist Frank Islam gives keynote address at Aligarh Alumni Association meet in Maryland
Education empowers the mind and uplifts the soul: Islam. WASHINGTON, DC: The Washington Aligarh Alumni Association organized a successful fundraiser for educational activities on June 27 at James Blake High School in Silver Spring, Maryland. “Education is the gift that keeps on giving. Education empowers the mind and uplifts the soul. It is a powerful equalizer opening door to all to lift themselves out of poverty. Education is the best investment we can make to build next generations of … [Read more...]
Hillary Clinton’s platform will be a progressive one
Entrepreneur Frank Islam wears many hats - he heads the FI Investment Group, is the general trustee of the board of trustees of John F Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, and is a philanthropist and civic leader as well. He serves on the boards and advisory councils of the US Institute of Peace, the Woodrow Wilson Center and Brookings Institution and various universities including Johns Hopkins University, American University and George Mason University. In this candid interview with The … [Read more...]
Interdependence Day: A Proposal Revisited
In September of 2010, in one of our first Huffington Post blogs, we called for establishing Interdependence Day as a new national holiday "to celebrate the 'Us' in USA." We reiterated that proposal in our 2013 book, Working the Pivot Points: To Make America Work Again. Given three watershed events of the past two weeks, we think it is appropriate to revisit that proposal and to advance it once again. Those events were: The tragic shootings of eight African Americans at the Emanuel African … [Read more...]
Neighborhoods: Stepping Stones or Millstones for Kids
In 1969, Elvis Presley had a hit song titled "In the Ghetto." The song tells the heartbreaking story of a child born to grow-up, live and die a violent death trapped in a neighborhood and a cycle of poverty from which he couldn't escape. The song dramatically illustrates how place and circumstances impact a kid's future and potential. The song was true back then. And, as recent studies by Harvard economists Raj Chetty and Nathaniel Hendren, and by Chetty and Hendren with Lawrence Katz show, … [Read more...]
USIP Iftar celebrates Muslim women leaders
WASHINGTON, DC: Tributes were paid to Muslim women leaders from different eras and different parts of the world at the second annual Iftar party hosted by the US Institute of Peace on June 25. Scores of diplomats, government officials, academics and community leaders attended the event, which was held at the organization’s headquarters in Foggy Bottom. “From Malaysia to Egypt, Yemen to South Africa, I have witnessed firsthand…the power women have been able to tap into through their faith, … [Read more...]
Entrepreneurs are made, not born: Frank Islam, Indian-American entrepreneur
Alumni donations once again grabbed headlines as Harvard University received one of the largest donations in history -a $400-million contribution from hedge fund manager John Paulson. On the other hand, few Indian universities find such support from their alumni network. Last month, Frank Islam, an Indian-American entrepreneur, became an exception by pledging $2 million to his alma mater Aligarh Muslim University. He talks to Chidanand Rajghatta about the generous contribution. Tell us the … [Read more...]
Frank Islam becomes one of the biggest donors, releases first instalment to AMU
ALIGARH: A US based non-profit organization “The Frank Islam and Debbie Driesman Foundation” (FIDDF) has released a sum of Rs. 1.5 crore as the first installment to the Aligarh Muslim University for the construction of a new Management Complex which will house Frank and Debbie Islam Department of Management and Faculty of Management Studies and Research. Mr. Frank Islam is an alumnus of this University. AMU has already earmarked three acres of land near its founder’s house. The total project … [Read more...]
Frank Islam and Debbie Driesman Foundation releases first installment of $2 million commitment to AMU
It will support new management complex at Aligarh, endowed chair. By Raif Karerat WASHINGTON, DC: The Washington area-based Frank Islam and Debbie Driesman Foundation has donated $222,000 to Aligarh Muslim University in India, as part of its $2 million commitment for the construction of a new management complex at the 140-year-old institution. The $2 million donation was first announced in January by its founder and prominent Indian American entrepreneur and philanthropist Frank … [Read more...]