Besides, to rise within the party, neophytes are expected to get administrative experience in the provinces.

CNN: A MAN FOR ALL SEASONS

The past radicalism of Lula and his Workers' Party (PT), and the new president's lack of any administrative experience, made investors fear that Brazil could follow its big neighbour Argentina into bankruptcy.

ECONOMIST: Lula's balancing act

Dr. Billal has 28 years of scientific and administrative experience in research and management to his credit and has the honour of implementing more then 1200 scientific programmes and projects around the world, covering a broad category of areas like science policy and innovation system, science education, technology capability building, environment protection, climate change, and water management programmes among others.

UNESCO: Education

"He had a lot of finance experience, and he really wanted to gain some more administrative and executive background to round out his experience, " recalls classmate Kelly McDonald, an information technology consultant and conservative party member.

WSJ: Relying on Classmates for Career Advice

That experience helped him leap from an administrative role onto the U.N.

FORBES: Careers