The Rotary Club of Salmaniya welcomed Jack Selby, renowned entrepreneur, investor, and philanthropist, to a special luncheon event held on Wednesday, October 22, 2025, in the Kingdom of Bahrain.
Selby is best known as one of the original members of the famed “PayPal Mafia” — a group of early PayPal executives and founders who went on to shape the next generation of Silicon Valley innovation. Following his success at PayPal, he co-founded Clarium Capital, a global macro hedge fund, alongside Peter Thiel, and today serves as Managing Director at Thiel Capital. He is also the founder of AZ-VC, the largest venture capital fund in Arizona, which supports high-growth technology companies across the region.
Beyond his achievements in technology and finance, Selby has made a mark in the film industry as a Hollywood producer, with projects featured on Netflix, Miramax, and other major platforms, including collaborations with Academy Award-winning actor Matthew McConaughey and other leading names in cinema. His multidisciplinary journey reflects the intersection of creativity, innovation, and enterprise.
💡 A Thought-Provoking Discussion on Artificial Intelligence
During his talk, Selby shared insights on artificial intelligence (AI) and the future of global investment trends. He cautioned that the current AI investment surge may carry the hallmarks of a financial bubble, with many valuations outpacing long-term sustainability. Nevertheless, he emphasized AI’s transformative power and its potential to redefine human progress.
The event also highlighted Selby’s professional connection with Hanadi Al Ansari, President of the Rotary Club of Salmaniya, who first met him through shared work in the finance and investment sector. Their collaboration brought an exceptional dialogue on innovation, ethics, and global transformation to Bahrain.
💬 Inspiring Reflections from Rotary Leadership
Speaking at the event, Hanadi Al Ansari offered a heartfelt reflection on the role of innovation in Rotary’s mission:
“Innovation is not only the evolution of technology—it is the evolution of intellect. It is the ability to see progress beyond what exists today and to envision a future that redefines how we serve humanity. By welcoming global visionaries like Jack Selby, we are not only connecting Bahrain to the world of technology, we are connecting ideas to purpose.”
She went on to highlight how AI can bridge compassion and progress:
“True innovation is born not from power but from imagination and empathy. Artificial intelligence, for instance, holds the potential to serve humanity—helping the blind to see through enhanced vision, the deaf to experience sound, and children with Down syndrome to express themselves with greater confidence. It can even assist cancer patients through more precise diagnostics and care. AI can create a world where technology becomes the language of inclusion.”
🌍 Bridging Global Ideas with Local Vision
The gathering provided Rotarians, business leaders, and members of Bahrain’s innovation community with valuable insight into the rapidly evolving digital economy.
Through such initiatives, the Rotary Club of Salmaniya continues to demonstrate its commitment to community engagement, education, and global collaboration, reaffirming the Rotary mission that “service, when guided by vision and compassion, can truly shape the future.”
