The Speakers

Dana Malaeb
Co-founder & Chief Partnerships Officer at Pipp
A Lebanese entrepreneur based between Beirut & Abu Dhabi, she is passionate about shaping scalable opportunities and fostering innovation across the Middle East. Dana is an award-winning fashion designer, fashion expert, consultant, TV host, and instructor, merging creativity with business acumen.

Ahmed Khalifa
Founder Social Month
Ahmed Khalifa is the Managing Director of Social Month, a leading digital marketing agency specializing in social media marketing, performance marketing, and content production. With expertise in viral content creation and AI-driven campaigns, Ahmed has generated millions of views and worked with government and corporate clients across the region

Christiana Maxion
Co-founder and the CEO of MAXION
Christiana Maxion is the founder of MAXION, the UAE's first licensed matchmaking app for expats. In 2025, MAXION scaled rapidly: growing MAU by 266%, driving a 63% drop in CAC, and reaching a 3.7x LTV:CAC ratio. The company became profitable in August 2025, and is now expanding into Abu Dhabi and Riyadh whilst building new features like AI matchmaking and group dates.

Yana Dabaghie
Regional Manager, Middle East & North Africa – Hult Prize Foundation
Yana specializes in mindset development, training, and research, enabling young people to grow as entrepreneurs and changemakers. Through partnerships with universities, incubators, and ministries, she has helped thousands of students transform ideas into impactful ventures, strengthening the MENA entrepreneurial ecosystem.

Rasha Alazem
Strategic communications leader with 21 years of experience
Former Creative Business Partner at Google, she serviced 80+ strategic clients across five countries, optimizing assets for Google platforms and delivering tailored training sessions to craft impactful communication solutions and drive brand growth.

Anthony Abou Antoun
Founder & CEO of Artists & More Entertainment & AndMore Ventures.
Anthony Abou Antoun is a Lebanese entrepreneur, built a multi-brand entertainment group that produces large-scale shows, immersive festivals, and touring productions across the Middle East and beyond. His teams have delivered 2,500+ shows in 20+ countries.

Ralph Gharios
Co-Founder of Tick'It - Forbes 30 under 30
Ralph is the brilliant Co-Founder of Tick'It and a proud member of the Forbes 30 Under 30 list! He's a visionary in the music and events industry, constantly pushing boundaries to create unforgettable experiences.Get ready to hear his inspiring journey and insights on innovation and entrepreneurship at our event!

Lea Malaeb
Marketing Specialist
As a highly skilled Marketing Specialist at PIPP, Lea brings a fresh and innovative perspective to the world of brand strategy and audience engagement. Her expertise helps businesses connect and thrive.Don't miss the chance to gain valuable insights from Lea at our upcoming event!

Sara Hammoud
Founder of Heaven Beauty
Sara Hammoud is the founder of Heaven Beauty, a beauty influencer, and an award-winning content creator with a powerful community of over 4 million followers across platforms. Recognized as Best MENA Creator in Beauty Content 2025, Sara is known for redefining the beauty space by blending creativity, purpose, and emotional empowerment.

Marwan Arban
Marketing Specialist
Marwan Arban is a Lebanese Australian entrepreneur, strategic advisor, and the Founder & CEO of ORIGIN, a regional consultancy operating across Riyadh, Dubai, Manama and Beirut with a mission to empower transformation through brand, technology, and growth solutions. ORIGIN is an award winning studio, harnessing the latest in strategy, brand and technology in the region.

Diana Mahmoud
Life and Relationship coach
With a background in leadership, social-educational management, and human behavior, Diana integrates proven coaching frameworks with strategic mindset work to help clients overcome limiting patterns, strengthen communication, and build aligned relationships that support professional growth.

Myriam Bou Faysal
Founder of Meerath
Miryam is the founder of Meerath and a Shark Tank Lebanon participant who secured investment from all five sharks. She leads a premium Lebanese chocolate brand redefining heritage through innovation. A food industry engineer specialized in responsible food marketing in France, she brings hands-on experience in production, management, and chocolate development. Her work has driven international visibility, investor traction, and partnerships across multiple markets, positioning Meerath as a modern luxury brand rooted in authenticity, craftsmanship, and impact. Her passion lies in innovation driven by sustainable impact.

Fidele El Achkar
award-winning entrepreneur & consultant
Fidele El Achkar will share insights on how startups from Lebanon and the region can scale sustainably while maintaining their cultural and community roots. Drawing on her work across the agro-food, innovation, and policy ecosystems, she will discuss how to transform local challenges into global opportunities through strategic collaboration, digitalization, and value-driven leadership.

Ghassan Halawi
Co-Founder & CEO, AHL
Ghassan Halawi is a Growth & Innovation Strategist and the Co-Founder & CEO of AHL. With over 15 years of experience across SaaS, media, Web3, and consulting, he helps companies scale through leadership, communication, and AI-powered transformation. Ghassan is a regular guest on TV, speaking about emotional resilience, the future of work, and personal reinvention.

Rudy Shoushany
Keynote speaker, Entrepreneur, Podcaster
Author, 9xAward-winning & technology strategist with 25 years of experience in Digital Governance, Artificial Intelligence, Blockchain, and Cybersecurity, with a focus on Digital Transformation & Strategies. Recently selected as one of the top 50 Global Thought leaders and influencers in Technology, Top 100 Leaders in Governance in digital transformation innovations, and Best Podcast in the Middle East.

Paolo Khayat
serial entrepreneur and interviewer
Paolo Khayat is a serial entrepreneur and interviewer. Having founded and exited his first marketplace startup in end 2024 after being listed on Forbes 30 Under 30 and securing a deal on Shark Thank Dubai, he came back to Lebanon to found The Kelshi Podcast and The Creator Summit.

Lynda El Achkouty
Certified Business Coach-Assistant Professor @ UA
Lynda Achkouty Mouawad is certified business coach , EFQM assessor, Assistant Professor (Antonine University) and moderator based in Lebanon. With over 15 years of experience, Lynda is passionate about serving entrepreneurs, small businesses and startups to grow and achieve higher income by considering social and environmental impact.

Reine Metlej
Consultant @ Forbes 30Under30
Reine Metlej is a Business, Sustainability, and Management Consultant recognized for her work with startups and organizations across the Middle East. She designs and delivers high-impact training programs for accelerators, incubators, and entrepreneurship initiatives regionwide. Reine leads major sustainability projects with well-established firms, supporting the development of resilient, future-ready solutions. Her consulting portfolio spans multiple sectors — from MSMEs and social enterprises to public institutions — where she provides strategic guidance, operational support, and sustainability-driven development plans. She is also a frequent regional panelist and speaker on innovation, entrepreneurship, and sustainable growth.

Elie Sarkis
Co-Founder of IntoAct
Elie Sarkis is the co-founder of Intoact, a digital marketing consultancy and training company focused on practical, results-driven solutions. With a strong background in social media and digital marketing, he helps individuals and businesses bridge the gap between theory and real-world execution. Through hands-on training, consultancy, campaign management, and SEO services, Elie has empowered professionals and organizations to achieve measurable digital growth and build sustainable online success.

Ursula Hage
Director of the Career Services and Entrepreneurship Center at Saint Joseph University of Beirut
Ursula is Director of the Career Services and Entrepreneurship Center at Saint Joseph University of Beirut, and a board member of The Rural Initiative. An EFQM Global Award Assessor, she has evaluated over 100 organizations in 10 countries across the private, public, and education sectors. Previously, she led the Innovation Office at the Presidency of Ecuador. She holds an Executive Doctorate in Business Administration from Paris Dauphine University–USJ.












