Her ambition was simply to become a news anchor. But a decade after graduating from SIM–University at Buffalo (SIM-UB), Laila Humairah has achieved more — from reporting on Donald Trump’s state visit to Qatar and seeing her own programme featured as in-flight entertainment worldwide. Here is how she trailblazed her way up to being a Presenter and Executive Producer at Euronews.
Growing up, Laila watched journalists such as Christiane Amanpour, Arwa Damon and Hala Gorani on CNN, Lyse Doucet on the BBC, as well as Al Jazeera English. Through them, she saw how journalism was not just about reporting facts but about telling stories responsibly and shaping how audiences understand the world.
Searching for a communications programme that reflected that belief, she enrolled in SIM–University at Buffalo’s Communication course in 2009. Her time in SIM further cemented her conviction to pursue journalism as a career.
“I still remember the course name: COM398 Journalism with Ms Khadijah Seron,” Laila recalls, adding that she remains in touch with the professor, whom she credits as the single most important person in shaping her professional journey.
Through the course, students were tasked with finding real stories, interviewing real people and working in a classroom that mirrored a newsroom.
“It felt as close to real-life journalism as you could get while still being in university,” Laila says.
Beyond the classroom, Laila served as Editor-in-Chief of the student magazine, where she was exposed to leadership opportunities while honing her writing skills.
“It was my first real experience managing people,” she says. “That responsibility stayed with me.”
Later, through seniors she met at SIM-UB, Laila secured her first internship, which eventually led to her first job at ESPN.
“These opportunities may never have come my way if not for my time at SIM-UB,” Laila affirms.
GOING PLACES
Laila started as a news assistant at CNBC in 2014. Four years later, she moved to Istanbul after securing a role at TRT World. From there, she relocated to Qatar to help build Euronews’ presence in the region.
“When I arrived in 2021, Euronews was still unfamiliar to Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) audiences,” Laila explains. “Getting interviews was tough because people simply didn’t know the channel.”
Progress came through persistence.
“After years of networking and producing consistent, credible content, organisations now approach us when they have important messages to share.”
For example, in May 2025, Laila was part of a selected media pool and the only one from her channel to gain access to cover US President Donald Trump’s state visit to Qatar.
Today, Laila works as an Executive Producer and Presenter at Euronews. While it is slightly different from her initial dream of being a news anchor, she goes on air the same way a news anchor would, fronting her own culture series with full editorial control, Qatar in Motion. Another programme she presented, Qatar 365, would also go on to be part of Qatar Airways’ in-flight entertainment.
LIFELONG LEARNING
While her career has grown, Laila’s commitment to learning remains unchanged. Alongside presenting, she now hosts and moderates international conferences, expanding her skillset beyond the newsroom.
“An open mind never stops learning; I love dipping my toes into anything that allows me to learn something new,” she shares. “Standing on global stages as a Singaporean Malay Muslim woman has been deeply meaningful.”
This adaptability has become more important than ever with the rise of artificial intelligence (AI).
“Not only do I have to compete with younger, fresher-looking presenters, but also with AI presenters who are programmed to look perfect and never make mistakes,” Laila notes.
That said, she does not see technology as something to be avoided. AI, for example, can be used for transcription and brainstorming for media strategies. However, media outlets need to be transparent and accountable to their audience.
“Some channels have started to use AI voiceovers and AI-generated videos,” Laila shares. “All these can be done if each outlet is transparent about what technology is being deployed.”
“The last thing we want to do is to mislead the audience about how they are getting this information.”
LOOKING FORWARD
For Laila, success has never been about a single role or moment, but about consistency.
“I’ve been fortunate,” she reflects. “But every opportunity came from hard work and building a strong reputation for professionalism.
Her advice to juniors? Keep an open mind.
“Seize as many opportunities as you can and try as many things as possible,” Laila encourages. “Don’t be afraid of rejection or failure. Be confident in what you bring to the table — and when you do get a seat at the table, own it and never make yourself feel small.”