Reflecting on Dowling Street's Most Important Evening
By Nadir Ahmad, CEO at Dowling Street
As we recently celebrated Dowling Street's 12th anniversary, I found myself thinking back to an evening two years ago that crystallized what this work is really about.
CEO Nadir Ahmad introduces Paul Rusesabagina in his first public appearance after his release from 939 days of false imprisonment. (Credit: Adam Ninyo/Dowling Street)
On March 21, 2024, we gathered in New York City to mark our 10th anniversary. But this wasn't a typical milestone celebration. It was a chance to honor our firm's most important work to date, and to hear from a man whose story embodies the very principles we've built our practice around.
Paul Rusesabagina, the human rights activist depicted in the 2004 film Hotel Rwanda, made his first public appearance since his release from 939 days of imprisonment in Rwanda. For those unfamiliar with his story, Paul sheltered and saved more than 1,200 refugees (both Hutus and Tutus) during the 1994 genocide that claimed upwards of 700,000 lives. As manager of the Hôtel des Mille Collines, he used only his wit, charm, and courage to protect those who sought refuge.
Paul Rusesabagina arriving at Nyarugenge Court of Justice in Kigali, Rwanda, on Oct. 2, 2020. (Credit: Simon Wohlfahrt/AFP via Getty Images)
But Paul's extraordinary life didn't end with the genocide. After fleeing first to Belgium and then to the United States, he became a vocal advocate for human rights and a critic of injustice in his homeland. In August 2020, believing he was boarding a chartered flight to Burundi, Paul was instead diverted to Kigali, where he was arrested on terrorism charges. What followed was 939 days of imprisonment, a trial he refused to attend on principle, and an international campaign for his freedom that ultimately succeeded in March 2023.
Dowling Street was honored to play a role in the campaign that secured his release.
A Conversation About Courage
Paul Rusesabagina speaks in New York on his experiences during his imprisonment and his perspectives since his release. (Credit: Adam Ninyo/Dowling Street)
The heart of the evening was an hour-long fireside conversation with Paul. We spoke about the abduction, the genocide, and the future. His responses revealed a resilience that went beyond mere survival and a clarity of principle that has guided him through the darkest circumstances. When I asked what brings him joy now, his answer was both simple and profound: being with his family, with his children and grandchildren, tending to his garden, and being in community with his neighbors. After everything he's endured, these quiet moments reminded us all why this work matters.
Looking Forward
Dowling Street's first decade brought us to places and projects we couldn't have imagined when we started. But as I reflect on 12 years now, that evening with Paul crystallized something essential about who we are and aspire to be. Our work isn't just about strategy and organizational effectiveness. It's about using those tools in service of something larger: combating injustice, creating space for difficult conversations, and supporting leaders who are willing to stand for what's right even when it costs them everything. The most meaningful impact shows up in moments like these: gathering as a community to celebrate courage, resilience, and the belief that even in the darkest circumstances, one person's actions can save lives and inspire others to do the same.
Thank you, Paul, for trusting us to share your story with our community. And thank you to everyone who joined us that evening to celebrate not just what we've accomplished, but what we continue to strive toward.
