Biographies

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Participants

🇯🇴 Jordan

Raheed Binmahfouz

That curiosity and love of learning has always driven me explore many different paths and has taught me to not be defined or restricted within the confines of a specific construct.

I always strive to grow and become the best version of my authentic self.

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Moataz Azar

A human who believes globally in peace, nationally in justice and personally in respect to leave the world a better place.

Noora Nobani

I help people change the narrative inside their heads; their story, their association with their past and the emotions that run their lives....

Noora Nobani

To get here, it took me a near death experience and a very interesting life journey, I needed to unlearn what i thought i knew about myself and the world, and to consciously choose who i was becoming, i am still doing it everyday, it is a process.
At heart I'm an RTT (Rapid Transformational Therapy) practitioner, a certified hypnotherapist, healer, Reiki master, who took everything i learned and used it to co-found an app for personal transformation called "Sukoon awakening", with Arabic recorded audio sessions offering meditations, hypnosis breath-work and affirmations. Yet i'm also a banker; Arab Bank, Global Treasury ALM manager, I'm an entrepreneur who happens to have a day job, a single mom of one beautiful 11 year old daughter called Joud.

My daughter is the reason why I currently live in two worlds. For as long as remember, i was the girl with one mission, excel in life, make money so i can build a happy life away from a bad childhood, prove to the world and my father that i am good enough, even though I was born a girl. I graduated top of my class in Finance, passed CFA level 1 exam, then got married. But everything changed when i gave birth to my daughter on the night of 14th April 2011, i was only 24y old, something went wrong, i had a very rare complication, something called uterine atony complicated with DIC, doctors have an interesting association of DIC; Death Is Coming.

I was not supposed to survive that night, I actually died a couple of times in the OR, but instead i went into a coma for 10 days, interesting how spending some time on the other side can change a person.

i woke up not able to move a muscle, it took me 2 months to take go up the stairs, yet i also had clarity i've never experienced before, a love for life and a deep understanding that we are guided and supported. i woke up a different person, I started learning Reiki, meditation then hypnosis, traveling the world in search of answers, Bali, Egypt, Italy, Scotland, and many more, I wanted others to taste the serenity i felt, to see what a beautiful life we had to experience, i wanted others to appreciate their own power, and to choose to create a future that is not a continuity of their past.

I had a wellness center with a partner that i closed during covid, short after started Sukoon, i also got my divorce, moved to my own place, i continue to evolve, dream and choose to embody my best version, most of the time.

i also continue to face my shadows, the next chapter of my life is here, asking me to take a leap of faith, to trust life, so i can serve and make more impact.

We might not choose our childhood or some difficult events that we go through , yet we are always able to choose what we do with it.

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Mirna Fakhoury

Mirna Al-Fakhouri has versatile professional with a strong background in project management and business development....

Mirna Fakhoury

Currently, she is working with a project for an international development agency, where she is responsible in supporting SMEs and Startups throughout their growth journey to allow them to reach to their full potential and access global markets.

Celebrated as a forward thinker when designing and implementing the projects, aspires to be a contributor to initiatives that can change the Jordanian economic scenarios.

She is passionate about female business ownership and Jordanian business promotion. Where among her outstanding accomplishments, the establishment of the first of its kind Women Export Unit (Wexport) in Jordan is one of the most noteworthy.

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Mashhoor Al Jazy

I’m Mashhoor Al Jazy, General Manager at Al Jazy Shipping, a 3rd Generation family business, Which I gladly joined in 2005. Born and raised in Amman...

Mashhoor Al Jazy

Jordan with and IT Major from Jordan University and an MBA in Management from German-Jordanian University.

Through out my career, I can proudly say i have assisted our firm achieve growth and increase its expertise in the Government Services Section, While personally I was also able to start a few businesses in the outdoors and adventure sector.

I personally enjoy logistical challenges and always looking for the next puzzle to solve. My goal for the next decade is to grow and structure the company, in the region and make it ready and robust to hand over to the 4th generation.

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🇸🇦 Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

Samia Bagdady

My Name is Samia Bagdady – The CEO of the Saudi Sailing Federation. The Saudi Sailing Federation (SSF) is a newly recognized governing body...

Samia Bagdady

Under the Saudi Olympics Committee along-side the Ministry of Sport.

My goal working in the federation is to establish nationwide awareness of the benefits of sailing for oneself, the community, and the marine environment; to encourage and to support local sailing entrepreneurships, sailing capacities in national and international championships; and to pave the way for establishing a professional KSA Olympic sailing league.

As a woman in the kingdom, I am proud to have worked on changing Border Guard regulations to allow the
practice of sailing sports in an otherwise highly restricted environment. Additionally, through establishing a solid
internal team, we have managed to introduce the first Saudi Paralympic Sailing team, who competed and won
third place in The Arab Sailing Championship.

Prior to working with the federation, I worked in a local investment bank in Jeddah, SA. Moreover, I worked with various non-profit projects, which helped hone my skills for logistics, event, and project management.

My MBA was earned at the University of Massachusetts as well as an MS in International Management.

I am a Saudi/American with a passion for the outdoors.

I am the first Saudi female kitesurfer to practice in the
kingdom. I am also involved in many sports including tennis, sailing, and horseback riding.

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Mohammad Al Gabani

As an energy columnist in multiple media outlets including Maal, he is a success-driven business development leader...

Mohammad Al Gabani

recognized for building and maintaining strategic business relationships across both the government and private sector key players to identify opportunities and support exponential business growth.

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Layan Al-Saud

Cultivating ideas to create a positive impact on her environment has been the driving force behind Layan’s academic and career pursuits...

Layan Al-Saud

Studying Architecture instilled in her a solid foundation in creative thinking and problem solving. These skills were carried out throughout her professional career.

She was selected to work on a housing complex stemming from the "Saudi Spanish Youth Forum".

It was an opportunity for her to understand different cultures and perspectives as well as find ways to integrate the best of both.

While working at UN-Habitat (KSA), Layan led the Advocacy and Stakeholders’ Engagement activities.

She went on to pursue an MA in Narrative Environments at Central Saint Martins (UAL, UK), which aims to design spaces that tell stories in multidisciplinary teams.

Adding to that, she interned at Futurecity (UK), a cultural placemaking agency.

Driven by her interest in promoting community engagement and participatory planning, Layan is motivated to continuously gain knowledge, adapt, evolve and serve communities locally and globally through the Accelerator Labs.

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Hashem Baroom

Hashem has been a Chief governance and compliance officer at IKK group for almost five years; he joined the IKK group...

Hashem Baroom

as head of human resources and administration and was promoted to his current position in June 2021. Hashem holds a master degree in Global Human Resource Management from Liverpool University.

Throughout his professional career, which spans 20 years, he has worked for a number of local and multinational companies, which have sharpened his skills and evolved his personality. His track record includes developing comprehensive human resources systems and programs that range from employee development, succession planning, total rewards programs, performance management, restructuring and establishing new functions & departments, setting compliance and control programs, etc.

In his current role as Chief Governance and Compliance Officer, Hashem is passionate about establishing a comprehensive compliance and control system in the IKK group and its subsidiaries companies and embedding a culture built on standards and adherence to structured processes.

Aside from his professional career, Hashem enjoys sports, playing Arabic guitar (Oud) and cooking.

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Fahad Al-Safadi

In the construction industry since the start of my career mostly with Kabbani Construction Group. 19 years of experience.

Raheed Binmahfouz

I’m a smart, organized, competitive individual. Who is incredibly curious and has an insatiable thirst for knowledge and learning...

Raheed Binmahfouz

I’m a smart, organized, competitive individual. Who is incredibly curious and has an insatiable thirst for knowledge and learning. That curiosity and love of learning has always driven me explore many different paths and has taught me to not be defined or restricted within the confines of a specific construct. I always strive to grow and become the best version of my authentic self.

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Fouad Bahmadian

I am a clinical pharmacist at King Abdullah Medical City and deputy director of Pharmaceutical Care Services in Mecca's Healthcare Cluster...

Fouad Bahmadian

I completed my Doctor of Pharmacy degree (Pharm.D.) at Ohio Northern University. My passion for leadership and change management got ignited during my post-graduate training. Which made me pursue a residency training in Health-System Pharmacy Administration and Leadership (HSPA-L). Bringing more awareness to healthcare leadership is my inspiration

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🇦🇪 United Arab Emirates

Kassem Younes

Kassem Younes is a Senior Managing Director at Ankura Consulting leading the Saudi practice. Kassem has a broad range of experience in commercial disputes, both in litigation and international arbitration...

Kassem Younes

He was appointed as an accounting expert witness on numerous cases involving the quantification of damages in contractual disputes, shareholder disputes, and transaction related disputes.

As a certified fraud examiner, Kassem has also led onsite teams in conducting large and high profile financial investigations and forensic reviews in various sectors across the Middle East and North Africa region. These included a variety of cases involving corruption, kickbacks, money laundering, embezzlement, asset misappropriation, and financial statement fraud.

Prior to joining Ankura in 2018, Kassem worked in Deloitte for over 9 years within the forensics, transaction services and financial audit departments.

Kassem is Chartered Accountant (FCCA & UAECA), Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE) and holds a bachelors degree in Accounting and Finance.

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Eman Shehada

I’ve been working in the IT industry for around 20 years, between Canada & Dubai. I have a very strong academic background. I did my undergrad in Information Systems at McGill University...

Eman Shehada

and graduated with great distinction (top 10% of students university wide). Before my graduation, I started my career as a developer, which I did for about 7 years, and then realized I was ready for a change. In 2009, I started my Masters in E-Business Technologies at the University of Ottawa, with a full scholarship.
Since then, I moved to project management and business analysis roles. With a main focus in business analysis for the past 10 years, where I truly found my passion. In those roles, I’ve managed and was part of projects of different types, sizes, and in different industries such as loyalty, tourism, retail, customer service, airline, financial regulations, and entertainment.
In my career, I’ve had various experiences which included both the private and public sectors, a product company, a service provider and lastly working at the client side, where each of those positions shaped my role and experience in different and enriching ways.

I moved to Dubai in 2014, after 16 years in Canada, to start a new and very exciting chapter of my life. I lead a very busy schedule with 2 boys, 2 cats and full-time job. I enjoy socializing and fitness including multiple activities such as running, yoga, gym and swimming.

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Malek Osseiran

Malek Osseiran, LinkedIn Head of Startups and MM in MENA Based in Dubai, LinkedIn’s MENA headquarters, Malek is responsible for managing and leading LinkedIn’s business in MENA for startups...

Malek Osseiran

as well as the mid-markets by building the ecosystem and growing the business.

Malek is an experienced individual and leader with a proven track record with over 18 years in the Fintech and Tech space.

Malek was one of the founding members of LinkedIn in the Middle East Joining in February 2013, Malek has spent 10 years with LinkedIn taking on several key roles.
Prior to this Malek took on various roles in Thomson Reuters where he helped empower the major Financial Institutions in the UAE.
Malek holds a BA in Business Administration. His passion for how people interact with technology allowed him to pursue a MSc in Cyberpsychology in where he will be one of the few and early graduates to hold such a degree.

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🇶🇦 Qatar

Ardag Kaplanian

Dedicated marketing and sales leader with over 17 years of experience delivering plans, projects, and programs to meet business objectives...

Ardag Kaplanian

Skilled communicator with aptitude for developing and marketing materials to maximise brand exposure. Motivational leader with a solid track record of leading teams on a local and international market.

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🇵🇸 Palestine

Fuad Jarrar

Service excellence manager-Quds bank More than 17 years of professional experience in marketing and communication and customer care. Results oriented with a track record in successful...

Fuad Jarrar

business development, customer relations management, supply chain management, and staff management. 
Jarrar has a bachelor degree in media and political science, and a masters degree in business administration from Birzeit University
Married and A father of two.
I like to travel and to do sports.

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Ahmed Al-Haj Qasem

Ahmed Al-Haj Qasem, ‎ Finance Manager, Masrouji Group. ‎ Around fifteen years of working experience in financial management. I’ve started my ‎career at the word leading audit...

Ahmed Al-Haj Qasem

firm PwC, capitalizing‎ on my University GPA at ‎accounting.‎
At the age of 25.5 years. I’ve shifted my career from audit and financial consultancy to ‎the field of real business operation by Joining Nakheel Palestine (The biggest ‎Agribusiness in Palestine) as a Financial Manager. During my years of work at Nakheel I ‎was exposed to many challenges and new experiences. The most challenging part ‎was to lead a full engagement toward obtaining a senior international business loan, ‎needed to finance a business acquisition, through (Proparco), during its first transaction ‎in Palestine.‎
After Nakheel I’ve chased a new challenge with one of the most reputable business ‎groups in Palestine by joining Masrouji Group. This time at a bigger portfolio and ‎exposure. Being a part of a big business group bared for me a lot of challenges that ‎enriched both (my personality and experience).‎

As a challenges chaser, I believe that there is a big opportunity for further career bath ‎development with my company, that will positively affect my company and collogues, as ‎well. ‎
I’ve earned an MBA from Indiana University of Pennsylvania Indiana, and a Bachelor ‎degree of accounting from Birzeit University. ‎

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🇴🇲 Oman

Mohammed Al Salmi

Mohammed Abdullah Al Salmi, Senior Development Manager working for Omran Group. Holding Bsc in architecture Engineering and Msc in Construction projects management...

Mohammed Al Salmi

Currently involved in developing The Sustainable city - Yiti and specifically the Nikki beach hotel.

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Saif Rezaiqi

In the Oil and Gas industry since the start of my career mostly with Petroleum Development Oman. Holding many positions from construction, project management and contract management

Issam Al Kindi

Issam Al Kindy, father of two (Maysam & Omar). Sr. Manager Corporate Strategy and Performance Management, with 23 years of experience. Self driven and motivated, and like to explore new ideas...

Issam Al Kindi

Besides work, I like to travel and explore different cultures. Though you might not get the impression when you first meet me, I am Friendly, easy going, open minded and inclusive.

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Sora Al Rowas

American trained internal medicine consultant with a proven track record in physician leadership and change management. Co-Founder of Al Sorat...

Sora Al Rowas

Consulting, Stanford certified faculty developer, Master's in research from McGIll University. Long track record in philanthropic organizations including leadership positions.

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Said Balushi

HR Practitioner with an objective to achieve and sustain professionalism and lifelong learning. Moreover, to participate and share experiences to...

Said Balushi

Said Al Balushi is HR Practitioner with an objective to achieve and sustain professionalism and lifelong learning. Moreover, He participate and share experience that add value to his stakeholders. He applies continuous professional development to enrich his knowledge and innovation. Said researches in subjects that touch the bigger picture and create value and believes that every challenge can be turned into an opportunity.

He has professional experience of 17+ Years within the Human Resources Development and Management and have worked in different Organization within the Oil and Gas sector in Oman. Currently He works for Petroleum Development Oman as Omanisation (Localization) Lead and he is a Board member at The Omani Society for Human Resources Management (OSHRM). Said holds MBA from the University of Liverpool and currently undergoing his DBA program with the University of Central Lancashire – UK. Said holds professional accreditation that include being recognized as Chartered Fellow by CIPD.

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Najim Al Musallami

Carrying over 14 years of Management, Engineering and Project experience across varies fields including marine, oil & gas services, construction etc...

Najim Al Musallami

Prior to joining Deyyar and eventually becoming a partner in the company, was briefly associated with Oman Shipping Company holding different positions in the various departments of engineering, sailing and procurement. After that joined National Crystal Marine and Oil & Gas division serving as Business Development Manager.
Qualification: Phd from Binary University Malaysia, MSC Engineering Management at Brunel University, MCA & Bachelors in Marine Engineering

Hobbies : Soccer, movies, reading and music

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Halima Al Kindi

Portfolio Analysis & Planning Manager/Asset Manager – OMRAN Hospitality Halima Al Kindi is an experienced real estate professional with 15 years of industry exposure; covering multiple positions ...

Halima Al Kindi

Portfolio Analysis & Planning Manager/Asset Manager –
OMRAN Hospitality

Halima Al Kindi is an experienced real estate professional with 15
years of industry exposure; covering multiple positions across the
sector. Her primary expertise is in hotel investments and asset
management, she has also been involved in other real estate asset
classes including residential and mixed-use developments.

Halima began her career at Ernst & Young as a Business Executive in
the Transaction Real Estate Services department, involved in
providing financial feasibilities and market research advisory on
numerous real estate and hospitality projects.

Halima is currently overseeing the largest hotel portfolio in the
country including 20+ hotels of various categories, sizes and locations
and is involved in all stages of the asset lifecycle. Over her tenure at
OMRAN, Halima has been part of the business development, strategy
and asset management divisions.

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Abdelkader Kibboua

14 years of dynamic experience toward organizational strategy, performance management and culture in the human resources department within Telecommunication...

Abdelkader Kibboua

, Oil & Gas and Banking industry.

Highly dedicated strategic professional towards demonstrating operational effectiveness associated with competent in Learning & Development, recruitment selection strategy, workforce planning, Organization Planning enhancement, ERP development & Auditing.

Excellent interpersonal skills including key capability to communicate at all levels, able to work well using initiative whilst demonstrating the organization with capability to achieve tight deadlines. Adapt quickly building at reports, gaining credibility, and eliciting peak performance with profound creative and innovative solutions to problems.

Enjoy being part of a challenging organization, as well as managing and motivating, a successful and productive team thriving at highly pressurized and challenging working environments.

Achieved spontaneous turn over to unprofitable functions, visionary of new concept in future trends on Recruitment, Future of Jobs, Employee benefits & Compensation to the advantage of the organization.

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🇹🇳 Tunisia

Amine Chouaieb

From the Internet of Things to mobile telephony, the world of technology no longer holds any secrets for this tennis and sports enthusiast. At the age of 7, Amine...

Amine Chouaieb

spent hours teaching himself computer skills. Later, through his hard work, he had the opportunity to be accepted into the most prestigious universities such as Stanford, Berkeley, and ESCP Europe.

In 2011, Amine decided to start his own business. He created his first startup, specializing in the Internet of Things and Machine to Machine technology, which he named Chifco. Over time, the startup grew from 5 employees to 30, working with major business players such as Microsoft, Tunisie Telecom, Philip Morris International, Monoprix, Ooredoo, and others. In 2016, Amine was received at the Elysée Palace thanks to Chifco's success as the most innovative startup during the French Tech Ticket.

Nine years later, and still with the desire to go further, Amine took over Cellcom, the largest smartphone and mobile phone manufacturer in Tunisia. At the age of 33, he became the youngest CEO of a publicly traded company.

Today, Amine is a member of the executive board of Solutions for Youth Employment (S4YE) at the World Bank. He is also a member of the board of directors of French Tech Tunis, Vice President of INFOTICA, ambassador of Challenge 22, and executive member of CJD. Among his awards are the Microsoft Startup Performance Award in 2012, Finalist of the Intel Global Challenge in 2012, the Energy Efficiency Award from the Tunisian Government in 2013, the Climate Shape Award in 2014 at the World Economic Forum, and the Best CEO Award in 2015 from CJD. He was also a semi-finalist in the French Tech Ticket 2016.

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🇱🇧 Lebanon

Rima Azar

General Manager of Sea Sky Services sarl and the director of Sea Sky Services UK Ltd. Rima has more than 25 years of experience in logistics and supply chain management & was an elected board...

Rima Azar

member in the Lebanese Forwarder’s syndicate for 3 years . Since the beginning of the Lebanese crisis, she has been promoting the need to build a Long term National export plan to reach a healthy economy focused on export and Import replacement. Rima and her team have given more than 50 hours of free consultations to startups and SMEs on export compliancy and readiness to export since 2020.
She opened Sea Sky Services UK Ltd in London in 2021 and is a partner in “LEVANTINE LIVING” a company that provides Access to Market services to Brands from Lebanon and the Levant to the European and UK markets.
She holds an MBA from AUB , a Law degree from Arab University of Beirut, and a degree in Strategic management and Leadership from George Washington University. Rima has received numerous certificates in the fields of consulting, inclusion ,diversity & equity and is an activist in promoting women empowerment.
She is a member of the GLI program( Gender Lense Investment in the Mena Region), a trainer in the “Lebanon Export Academy “ and a consultant with the UNDP and UNIDO on a project to Increase exports from lebanon .
She is also a business advisor in the World Bank Group project Access2Booster for WSME’s in Lebanon

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Fadi Iskandar

Born in Lebanon on December 28, 1989, I am the eldest of three siblings. I graduated from Saint Joseph School in 2007 on top of my class and was later accepted into the Lebanese...

Fadi Iskandar

Military Academy, where I became a Lieutenant in 2010.
After ranking first in the Police Academy, I taught the Lebanese Law to more than 1000 cadets for three years. Later, I worked in the VIP protection unit of the special forces, followed by a transfer to the investigation bureau of the intelligence department, where I worked on top cases related to national security for three years.
In 2017, I graduated with a Master’s in International Business Law from the Lebanese American University, where I ranked at the top of my class.
Wishing to pursue my dreams of being an entrepreneur, I resigned from the police force with the rank of Captain and joined Crumble, our family-owned sweets factory, where I am currently the Managing Director. I led the business through difficult times during the Lebanese Economic crisis, secured major deals with key clients and distributors and did a lot of restructuring on the legal and operations level.
I also founded BLTZ protein bars, a local Lebanese brand in 2021.
I am fluent in Arabic, English, Spanish, and French, and have received several commendations from the General Director of the Security Forces for my work. My hobbies include skiing, cycling, research and playing the piano.

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🇪🇬 Egypt

Mahmoud Sabae

Mahmoud Sabae is a tech entrepreneur and learning facilitator. He is a co-founder, board member and advisor at Garment IO. Garment IO is a Software as a Service (SaaS) startup..

Mahmoud Sabae

that enhances productivity in garment factories by gathering live data from all production activities and uncovering inefficiencies using predictive analysis and live reporting. To date, Garment IO serves over 7,000 daily active users in over 25 of the top factories in Egypt and KSA. Every second of at least 10 hours a day, Garment IO enables decision makers at every level to make the right decisions and enhance every aspect of garment manufacturing.

He is the founder and Managing Director of eSEED. eSEED is a web, mobile and software development company. To date, eSEED has worked with over 140 clients in over 20 countries from international organisations to Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs), government entities, startups and NGOs.

As a learning facilitator, Mahmoud has delivered learning sessions and workshops to over 10,000 people across 11 countries in NGOs, international organizations and companies.

Mahmoud is a competitive Ultimate Frisbee player and co-founder of the Zayed Nar Ultimate Frisbee team. He is an AIESEC & CISV alumnus and an Art of Hosting practitioner.

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Speakers

Bill Starnes

Mr. Starnes is retired but maintains an active role as a volunteer with the Society of International Business Fellows (SIBF) and its activities around the world. Having joined SIBF in 1998, Mr. Starnes has served SIBF in a variety of ways...

Bill Starnes

Mr. Starnes is retired but maintains an active role as a volunteer with the Society of International Business Fellows (SIBF) and its activities around the world.  Having joined SIBF in 1998, Mr. Starnes has served SIBF in a variety of ways, including Managing Director from 2001 to 2005, volunteer Curriculum Director and faculty member for SIBF’s Global Academies, and a past Chairman of the Board.

 

From 1984 to 2000, Mr. Starnes was with the Trammell Crow organization based in Dallas, Texas. He became a partner in 1989 and Co-Managing Partner in 1997 of Trammell Crow International, which developed, owned, managed and leased real estate in Europe, Latin America and Asia with assets totaling over $350 million at that time. Mr. Starnes was responsible for determining overall business strategy, opening new markets, entering into joint ventures, approving new investments, and selecting new partners as well as overseeing the overall administration of the business from its headquarters in Dallas. He has traveled extensively to Asia, Europe and Latin America, and oversaw the opening of new offices in Japan, China, the Netherlands and Hungary.

 

Mr. Starnes began his career in academics as an Assistant Professor of Economics at Williams College in Massachusetts. He also taught at Rice University and the University of Houston. After leaving academia, Mr. Starnes spent three years in general management for a small, family-owned wholesale distribution company before joining Trammell Crow. His personal interests include travel, reading and going to movies. Mr. Starnes lives in Dallas with Donna, his wife of 42 years. They have one son, Jon, and a granddaughter, Lexi.

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Paulette Pidcock

Paulette Carnicelli Pidcock is a certified Executive Leadership Coach, global Facilitator, and speaker. She serves as Founder and President of Pidcock Coaching Partners, LLC. Drawing on her decades as a successful corporate lobbyist...

Paulette Pidcock

Paulette Carnicelli Pidcock is a certified Executive Leadership Coach, global Facilitator, and speaker. She serves as Founder and President of Pidcock Coaching Partners, LLC. Drawing on her decades as a successful corporate lobbyist and leader in Washington DC, Paulette has created her coaching business to make a difference in the lives of her clients. 

She brings extensive, real-life experiences and expertise to her strategies, skills and knowledge of what contributes to effective and transformational leadership. Paulette partners with her clients in their journey to being an authentic values-based leader with purpose, and vision – inspiring trust while working for change.

Paulette spent her corporate career as a government relations executive for three multi-billion dollar energy and utility holding companies (PPL Corporation, PG&E Corporation and Baltimore Gas & Electric Company), where her leadership skills, policy expertise and relationship prowess earned her respect within her corporations, industry associations, professional organizations, and on Capitol Hill.

Paulette earned her Leadership Coaching Certificate from Georgetown University and is a member of the International Coach Federation. She holds a Master of Arts degree from the University of Maryland. 

As a Member of the Society of International Business Fellows (SIBF) she has served as a Volunteer Leadership Facilitator in international transformational leadership programs in South East Asia, Central Eurasia, and the Middle East – as well as in the United States.

Throughout her professional career, Paulette has served in numerous leadership positions in industry and in professional organizations.

Paulette has lived her interest and passion for experiencing other cultures - through her travel to many regions of the world.  

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Rabih Radwan

Rabih is a strategy & business consulting director with a demonstrated experience in Government and Public Sector. For the past 15 years, he supported a wide range of his clients on their transformational projects by focusing on strategy...

Rabih Radwan

development & evaluation, business planning, market & economic research and analysis, data analytics, enterprise risk management, design thinking and risk-enabled strategic decision making. He is MELA 7 and assumed several roles in 4 various chapters since 2016: Lebanon, Qatar, KSA and UAE.

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John Coyle

John is one of the world's leading experts in Design Thinking as well as an Olympic silver medalist, Stanford d.school grad, Kellogg MBA, NBC Sports analyst, Professor of Innovation, and award winning author. As a speaker and writer, John’s talent is...

John Coyle

weaving facts, examples and intellectual principles into engaging stories which bring his topics to life, and leave you with actionable ideas.

In his presentations, John shares real-life stories from his experiences of finding his own strengths and resilience as an Olympian, innovator and father. His metaphors and practical guidelines empower his audience to take extraordinary action to innovate their lives and careers to achieve breakthrough performance and create meaning in the process.

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Joni Peddie

As a Behavioral Strategist …. I love all things ‘people’ and especially how… As humans we ‘Think, Feel &Act’. We are dealing with challenge, change and adversity. Human beings never ‘bounce back’. We need to find ways to Bounce FORWARD...

Joni Peddie

with mental, physical and emotional agility. 

 

Who is Joni?

  • A professional keynote speaker working in South Africa, and Globally;
  • An Executive Coach. In Partnership with Courageous Leadership Hub, in Australia
  • Associative Faculty at GIBS Business School
  • Board Member of GSF: Global speaker Federation 
  • Network Leader for Six Seconds International: The Largest EQ Network in the world 
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John King

John King is the founding partner of Lead From Your Current Position, Inc. Lead From Your Current Position, Inc is an education oriented consulting firm focusing on leadership, strategy and cultural change issues, and the strategic training and development..

John King

of key executives. Prior to founding Cultural Architecture, Inc., Mr. King was founding partner of Cultural Architecture and founding partner and president of CultureSync LLC, a boutique consulting firm that specializes in providing tactical solutions for mid and upper management.

Mr. King is co-author of The Coaching Revolution, from Adams Media, presenting best practices in the field of business and executive coaching. His second book, the best-selling Tribal Leadership, published by HarperCollins, underlies a web-assisted training program entitled “Leadership Intensive”, rigorous multi-year training for leaders, executives and managers that leads to certification as an Associate, Member, and ultimately, Fellow & Examiner of The Cultural Architecture Institute.

Mr. King is in demand as a keynote speaker and is internationally recognized as a senior teacher, coach, and program leader. His executive clientele have been featured on all major television networks and in The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, and Forbes.

Mr. King is a facilitator of The Samurai Game®, conducts an intensive seminar regarding the establishment and sustainability of Communities of Honor entitled “The Gatherings”, and is currently developing his next book, Lead From Your Current Position, Radiate Greatness. He lives in Albuquerque, New Mexico.

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Facilitators

Ernst W Bruderer

Ernst W Bruderer, educated in Switzerland with a BA (in economics) from the University of St. Gall and with a JD from the University of Zurich, spent the first part of his career with Jacobs-Suchard AG...

Ernst W Bruderer

Ernst W Bruderer, educated in Switzerland with a BA (in economics) from the University of St. Gall and with a JD from the University of Zurich, spent the first part of his career with Jacobs-Suchard AG, a Swiss multinational company, working as a member of the legal team as well later as part of the management team.

He worked for the group in Switzerland, USA and Italy in various management capacities. He then started his entrepreneurial life with farming operations in Tanzania, East Africa, real estate development (commercial) in the USA, car dealership and banking.

Mr. Bruderer is presently a Director Coastal States Bank as a founding member of this local community Bank. He is also the Chair of the Executive Committee of Synco Inc a commercial real estate developing company, in Charlotte, NC and serves as Chairman of Lowcountry Motors in Bluffton, SC. He is also an active member in the Society of International Business Fellows (SIBF) and participates in leadership academies in the Middle East (MELA) and CentralEurasia (CELA).

Mr. Bruderer was a Vistage International Chair, the world’s leading CEO organization with over 26,000 members and facilitates monthly meetings with a group of CEO’s from the Savannah/Hilton Head Area.

Ernst is a SIBF member. 

ernstbruderer@gmail.com / +1-843-290-1206

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Ahmed Yehia

Ahmed is a passionate traveler who also happens to own and run his own Ecotourism investment business named: “Eco Group”. Before starting his current business, Ahmed enjoyed diversified...

Ahmed Yehia

Ahmed is a passionate traveler who also happens to own and
run his own Ecotourism investment business named: “Eco Group”.

Before starting his current business, Ahmed enjoyed diversified career, from being an architect, then studying and working in: Computer science, Facilitation, training & development, and finally 8 years of Marketing & Strategies inside Multinational Telecom company (Vodafone Egypt)!

Going through the Master’s degree of “Cultural Heritage Management” in UFE was a life-changing experience for Ahmed, it inspired him to quit corporate life and start his own new business in Ecotourism, Hospitality, and handicrafts. Now he feels living his passion.

Ahmed graduated from MELA masterclass 7, and managed to participate in all masterclasses afterward,
first as a lecturer during MELA 8 & MELA 9, then as a facilitator during MELA 10, MELA 11, and MELA 12.
He was also part of MELA curriculum committee since 2018 till now.

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Sofio Chachava

Sopho is consultant, certified trainer, practicing Mediator and Professor helping and working with governmental and private institutions to equip top and middle managers with effective...

Sofio Chachava

skills and create effective systems within the organizations to prevent disputes and/or resolve them in the peaceful way. For that cause, she with her partner founded non-profit organization “resolve”. Sopho enjoys working with students, as the process enables learning both sides.
Sopho is very passionate about advancing mediation culture in Georgia. Since 2013 she mediates business, labor, family, commercial disputes and collective bargaining cases in Georgia.
In the capacity of board member of Mediators Association of Georgia she is contributing to develop mediation system, by law and best practices in Georgia.
in the capacity of supervisory board member in Legal Aid Council and New Vision insurance She is working on reforms, designing communication systems and conducting training for advancing effective communication skills, developing by law.
Sopho is conducting trainings in mediation, negotiation, effective communication and different fields of area of law for judges, notaries, public servants, managers, lawyers, mediators, etc. She was inspired working as a consultant and trainer in mediation for Judges in Ukraine, conducting series of trainings and TOT, designing an online training program as well.
Sopho loves connecting with people from all over the world and try and learn new things; She served as a Judge/Expert at international mediation competition’s on INADR, CDRC and ICC and at CSR business competition, MELIORA. She was honored to conduct workshops and classes in mediation/negotiation - at TU University Wildau, Berlin. Germany and Vives University Kortrijk, Belgium;
Sopho is believing, that teaching effective communication skill’s should start from early age, therefor she designed and successfully conducted a summer school in effective communication, negotiation and leadership for teenagers in Georgia, that she will definitely keep doing every summer.
She is loving mother of three. Loves classic music, dancing, socializing and swimming.
Sopho is certified Mediator by the Frank Evans Center for Conflict Resolution (STCL) She is CEDR accredited mediator; Internationally certified and accredited Trainer. Holding PHD Degree in Law.

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Farhed Karamally

With almost 3 decades of global experience in training and consulting, Farhad Karamally is an Organization Development (OD) consultant, leadership facilitator, published author, a habitual entrepreneur – in short ‘a catalyst for transformation...

Farhed Karamally

He specializes in unleashing human genius through leadership, creativity, team culture & change management initiatives that assist in architecting excellence in organizational cultures and bridge strategy to results. Farhad uses wit and humour with appreciative inquiry to get results and is renowned for facilitating strategic meetings with management & leadership teams.
His clientele includes leading global brands and industries ranging from financial institutions to healthcare, to FMCGs and automobile to academia, oil and gas & beyond. He is often invited by his clients to act as an objective advisor, suggesting ‘flip-thoughts’.

By education he is a Chartered Institute of Management Accountant (UK) finalist and holds Certificate and Advanced Certificate in Marketing from Chartered Institute of Marketing (UK). He is a Certified Practitioner HBDI (Whole Brain Thinking) & Master Practitioner Neuro Linguistic Programming. In 2021 he got licensed to carry out DISC profiling as a DiSC Certified Trainer by Wiley. He has also been rewarded Professional Doctoral Certificate by European International University - Paris

Farhad is a Fellow of the International Centre for Compassionate Organizations located at the University of Louisville and a board member of Charter for Compassion Pakistan since 2010. He actively works in the space of Compassion in Business

As an entrepreneur, Farhad is Founder & CEO Funverks Global, Funverks Media, Partner FK Squared, Funverks Holidays, & Co- Founder Pakistan South East Asia Business Forum (PSEABF). He has also served as a Board Member (2017-2020) of the South East Asian Leadership Academy (SEALA). Farhad has recently become a Member of FPCCI Central Standing Committee on Diplomatic Affairs -Year 2022-2024. He is also part of the International Advisory Committee of Global Encounters based in Portugal.

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Ketty Makharashvili

Ketevan Makharashvili graduated from Ivane Javakhishvili State University and obtained a degree in International Law (1998). In 1994 she graduated from Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia...

Ketty Makharashvili

United States and obtained BA in Political Science.
From 1996 to 1999 Ketevan Makharashvili was working as a Project Assistant and then a Lawyer
in several transport related projects within the framework of the EU TRACECA program.
From 1999 to 2003 she was working as Rule of Law Specialist at the USAID/Caucasus Mission,
managing $13 million portfolio supporting Judicial and Administrative reforms in Georgia. From
2003 to 2004 Ketevan Makharashvili was working as a lawyer at “BLC Law Office”.
In the period from 2004 to 2008 she was a Member of the 6th convocation of the Parliament of
Georgia. Throughout her tenure, she was a member of Sectoral Economy and Economic Policy
Committee and Legal Issues Committee. Ketevan Makharashvili was also a member of the
Supervisory Board of the Millennium Challenge Account, Council of Tax Appeals, and
Temporary Investigative Commission on Violations in the Energy Sector. In addition, Ketevan
Makharashvili served as Coordinator of the Gender Equality Advisory Council under the Speaker
of the Parliament of Georgia.
From 2008 to 2012 she was a consultant engaged in various international programs and
projects in Georgia. From 2012 to 2016 she was working as a UNDP Program Manager of the
UN Joint Programme for Gender Equality in Georgia.
In 2016 Ketevan Makharashvili was appointed as a Director of LEPL Zurab Zhvania School of
Public Administration. 2019-2020 was appointed as Advisor to the President of Georgia on
International and Local Organizations, Minority and Gender Issues.
From 2021 Ketevan joined TEAMBOAT Ltd. that prepares programs and facilitates corporate retreats
and workshops. Simultaneously, since May 2022 she assumed the role of the Executive Director of the
Association of Law Firms of Georgia.
Ketevan Makharashvili speaks fluent English and Russian.

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Makrita Avjyan

About 20 years of progressively growing and expanding experience in development and corporate management, of which the first 5 teaching at University, following by the next 15+ years...

Makrita Avjyan

in various
development projects in Armenia, in the field of Project Cycle Management with practical experience of
managing teams and projects. Monitoring & Evaluation & Learning with theoretical knowledge and
practical skills in the M&E System development and implementation area. Training/Capacity Building
Advisory with deep insight into training and capacity building design and organization with following
impact evaluation design and implementation, with particular focus on inclusion of vulnerable groups.
Communication/PR with stress on creating, developing and maintaining the communication on the
project(s) with and among various stakeholders, with the stress on inclusivity of communication.

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Arpi Karapetyan

Dr. Arpi Karapetyan (www.arpikarapetyan.com) is an Internationally Certified HR Professional (SHRM-SCP, SPHRi), Internationally Certified Professional Certified Coach (PCC), trainer, speaker, and consultant...

Arpi Karapetyan

Dr. Arpi Karapetyan (www.arpikarapetyan.com) is an Internationally Certified HR Professional (SHRM-SCP, SPHRi), Internationally Certified Professional Certified Coach (PCC), trainer, speaker, and consultant. She is the Founder and General Manager of Cascade People & Business (www.cascade.am) that offers one-stop complex HR solutions, the Founder & Chairman of Armenian HR Association (www.hrcommunity.am) that offers a platform for HRs for networking, and the Initiator of Annual Regional HR Conference (www.hrconference.biz) that brings together internationally recognized professionals, experienced and inspiring guest speakers from more than 20 countries every year. Has developed jobbit (www.jobbit.online) tool, a fresh approach with a novel methodology in the field of salary market research that is aimed at ensuring fast pace and flexibility through a simplified questionnaire with a complete and comprehensive analytical report for any selected position. Besides, Arpi is the Founder and Program Developer of zoom in! career orientation program (www.zoomin-now.com) designed to help the participants cognize their personality, identify their strengths, aspirations, capabilities, and come up with an action plan on how to develop further.

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Saman Imtiaz

Saman Imtiaz is an international education specialist with over 24 years of experience. Most recently she led the British Council’s International Education Services portfolio for eight years at Pakistan...

Saman Imtiaz

Malaysia, Indonesia and Singapore. Prior to that she has spent more than 16 years in the private education sector at Pakistan working as teaching faculty member and leading programme/campus management. Her experience in education includes working as Regional Communications Manager-North, leading all marketing and communications for over 50 campuses for Beaconhouse School System Northern Region. She also initiated an in-house career guidance and college placement programme at Beaconhouse leading to prestigious pilot collaborations for students with Nobel Laureate Grameen Bank at Bangladesh. Saman has a comprehensive view of the education process, both secondary and tertiary, having served in leadership roles at leading national, international and global education networks and organisations

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Debra Hays

Debra Hays is the Chief Executive Officer of ConcertIDC, a custom software development firm with four offices in the U.S. and eight offices in India. Headquartered in Birmingham, ConcertIDC offers full stack...

Debra Hays

development for mobile apps, enterprise applications, cloud software projects and more. A talented executive with 25+ years of management experience, Debra offers a wealth of expertise with particular strengths in operations management, business process improvement, strategic direction and channel management. She has worked with multiple technology start-ups across an array of industries, including healthcare, public safety, manufacturing and software development. She was COO of Vituro Health, a healthcare company providing advanced ultrasound technology, and Emergency CallWorks, a leader in the transformation of public safety 911 call taking and incident management. She served on the board of the Nashville Technology Council and was both a board member and board president for the Vestavia Lacrosse Organization. Debra was a member of the 2005 class of the Birmingham Business Journal’s “40 under 40,” and was honored by that publication again in 2020 as one of the “Top Birmingham Women.” She is also an alumnus of the Women Unlimited LEAD program. Debra holds a Bachelor of Science in Finance from the University of Tennessee.

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Ashok Mittal

Ashok Mittal serves as a mentor to second-generation entrepreneurs and as a management advisor to several family owned businesses. Previously he was co-founder and managing director...

Ashok Mittal

of Semco Electric and Ultratech Metals (I) Ltd, manufacturers of precision metal and plastic products, parts and sub-assemblies, Exporting 100% to the US market.
Ashok is also a certified facilitator for Personalysis (a personality assessment tool) where he provides employee assessment and coaching for the creation of high-performing teams, change and transition management, and personal development to a wide range of clients.
Ashok is one of the founding members of South East Asian Leadership Academy , known as SEALA, it was voted the best leadership program in the entire region of South and Southeast Asia by Forbes magazine. He also Facilitates these academies.
Ashok received his Bachelors in Engineering from Birla Institute of Technology and Sciences Pilani, in the year 1981.
He is also on board of trustees of Foundation for Communities of Learning and Maadhyam Charitable Trust, both work in the space of improving the quality to education for the underprivileged. Along with other activities, he loves to travel, Scuba dives in various destinations around the world, and is a hobbyist photographer.

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Salma Al Shuhail

Business Development Consultant for Family Business (Coffee) An INSEAD certified Executive leadership coach, a youth and leadership consultant since 2017. Currently, working as business development...

Salma Al Shuhail

consultant with her siblings in the coffee business on expanding across
different regions.
Prior to that, Salma worked as Chief Delivery Officer at the Jordan Media Institute on facilitating the
transformation process for 19 months. Before that, she worked as a consultant on leadership programs for
Jordan’s youth as part of the IDG (Inspirational Development Group, UK) team for developing youth programs
in the region and developed curriculum for leadership programs for grade 9-12. She also assisted the Youth
Leadership Programs as an associate of IDG for public and private schools in Jordan since 2016.
From 2001-2017, Salma has spent 16 years in the Royal Office of His Majesty King Abdullah II of Jordan at
The Royal Hashemite Court of Jordan. Her last post was in The Office of the Chief of The Royal Hashemite
Court as an assistant to the Chief on different files.
Salma obtained a B.Sc with a double major in Political Science & Economics with a minor in Political
Philosophy from Boston College, Massachusetts. Her Master’s degree was in Conflict Resolution (with a focus
on the role of leadership in negotiations) from the Diplomatic Institute of Jordan as the first class of conflict
resolution in the Middle East in 2002.

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Kholoud Saad

Ms. Kholoud Saad is the former CEO of Esri North Africa responsible for Egypt, Libya, Sudan, South Sudan and Chad. Esri is the global market leader in geographic information system...

Kholoud Saad

(GIS) software, location intelligence, and mapping.

Ms. Saad holds a Master of Science in GIS from Ain Shams University, Cairo, Egypt and has previously worked within leading international agencies: Dutch Kadaster (Netherlands’ Cadastre, Land Registry and Mapping Agency), Swedesurvey and Lantmäteriet (the Swedish national mapping, cadastral, land registration authority). Ms. Saad has 25 years of experience in GIS implementations which included working internationally in many countries: Saudi Arabia, Azerbaijan, Libya, Kosovo, Jordan, Moldova, UAE, Namibia, Lebanon, Bahrain, and Botswana. Ms. Saad is a strong supporter of women rights. In 2000, she was the first female consultant to be employed by ESRI Northeast Africa. In 2014, she was the first female consultant to work within the Ministry of Justice in Saudi Arabia.

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Admins

Rima’ AlKashef

Rima’ brings with her over 20 years of hands-on experience in Strategy Building, Marketing and Communications, as well as Business Development of different operations...

Rima’ AlKashef

Rima’ brings with her over 20 years of hands-on experience in Strategy Building, Marketing and Communications, as well as Business Development of different operations with major focus on FMCG. She has a broad experience in Brand Building, Mass Communications, One-to-One Marketing, Advertising and Media, Consumer Research and Pricing.
 
Reporting to the Chairman of the Board, Rima’ is tasked with leading Mela on a strategic level with the aim of securing its position as the preeminent business leadership community in the MENA region, and with continuously nurturing partnerships with organizations and individuals who share common values. She will be overseeing the team of management and volunteers to ensure taking Mela to the next level and taking the lead responsibility for the sustainability of Mela and the success of its ongoing leadership and professional development programs and events. Rima’ holds a Masters degree in Marketing from Huddersfield University – UK and a Bachelor’s Degree in French Literature from the University of Jordan.
 
Rima'  is a Mela 3 graduate.
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Dina Dahabra

Dina Dahabra is a managing partner at NUR Lights, a concept lighting and design company based in the heart of Amman, Jordan. The company aims at bringing together a blend of international brands...

Dina Dahabra

Dina Dahabra is a managing partner at NUR Lights, a concept lighting and design company based in the heart of Amman, Jordan. The company aims at bringing together a blend of international brands that focus on creating harmony with nature through the use of beautifully handmade designs merged with modern sustainable technology (LED). Dina is a graduate of Concordia University, where she received a degree in Political Science.

After graduation, Dina started her career with a leading telecom service provider; Info2Cell, where her role as a Senior Accounts Manager enabled her to explore a magnitude of cultures throughout the Middle East and North Africa (MENA). She excelled at designing, and launching multiple projects for leading telecom operators in the MENA region.

After nine years in telecom world, she took a leap of faith and started her own non-profit initiative Ana Biddi. The ANA Biddi initiative was founded in 2014 with a focus on making the unprivileged kids dreams come true. The Intiative began when Dina volunteered at a children’s hospital in Montreal, Canada. As a citizen of the world, we can help others get through these challenges and contribute to bringing joy and happiness into their lives. This wake-up call served as a realization that there is always time to give back. The arabic term ‘ANA Biddi’ means ‘I want’, which is an expression constantly used by many.

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Boushra Hassanieh

Boushra is a driven and creative individual with a background in content creation, digital marketing, and social entrepreneurship. She has worked in advertisement at Leo Burnett Dubai and as a...

Boushra Hassanieh

Marketing Specialist for the USAID Agricultural & Rural Empowerment project. Back in 2019, Boushra founded Teabah, a local Lebanese tea company that reflects the goodness of Lebanese nature while empowering women and farmers in rural areas. She holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from Lebanese University and has received several awards and accomplishments, including Jawa2ez GIL for Social Entrepreneurship by Unicef in 2020. Boushra has a strong skillset in marketing, strategy and planning, social media content creation and art direction.

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