Rania Hoteit
Detroit,MI
Summary
Rania Hoteit is a multi-award winning serial entrepreneur, impact leader, advisor and international speaker with recognitions from The White House, United Nations, United Kingdom Houses of Parliament, The Global CEO Excellence Award, and other prestigious honors. Throughout her career, Rania held senior executive positions in technology, business and social innovation. She is a goal-driven strategic thinker that brings an excpetional track record of success and an outstanding background managing multiple businesses from ideation to market launch, to profitable monetization, to exit and successful acquisition. With the depth of her expertise and passion for entrepreneurship education, she is a sought-after expert who guides innovation transformation, human development and business growth for startup companies worldwide. Rania has been featured in notable publications including Forbes, HuffPost, Inc, Entrepreneur, Le Commerce Du Levant, Thrive Global, and Disrupt Magazine where she was named with Oprah Winfrey among "7 Disruptive Women Paving The Way For Success in 2022".
As Founder and former CEO of ID4A Technologies, Rania built a global company whose cutting-edge developments revolutionized manufacturing processes and creating significant environmental, economic and social impact. Under her leadership, ID4A was recognized by the White House Office of Science and Technology for 'Fostering The Development of Advanced Manufacturing in the US as The World'; ranked on Entrepreneur 360's list of the “Best Entrepreneurial Companies in America”; honored on Inc. 5000 List of “America’s Fastest Growing Private Companies”; received Real Leaders “100 Top Impact Companies” Award and other global honors, including Fast Company's World Changing Ideas Awards and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce's 2021 Citizens Awards for "Best Economic Opportunity and Empowerment Program.”
Over the last decade, Rania made significant contributions and created successful initiatives tackling diversity, inclusion and equality gaps in education, technology, and leadership. Through her commitments to the UN SDGs, over 2000 businesses adopted sustainable practices. Additionally, she contributed to reducing labor exploitation in global production pipelines by improving the skills and working conditions of over 2 million industrial workers. With her strong entrepreneurial spirit and forward-thinking, Rania is willing to take on new challenges that leverage her experience to empower the next generation of entrepreneurs.
Overview
17
17
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Chairperson of The Board Of Directors
ID4A Technologies
San Francisco, CA
01.2016 - 01.2024
- Organized and chaired board meetings to ensure all agenda items were discussed in a timely manner.
- Provided leadership in the development of policies and procedures governing board operations.
- Provided leadership guidance to ensure that strategic objectives were met in a timely fashion.
- Developed and implemented strategies to increase board effectiveness.
- Reviewed financial statements, reports, and other documents prior to board meetings.
- Oversaw the recruitment, selection, orientation, and evaluation of new board members and monitored their performance.
- Advised senior management on key issues related to organizational structure, finances, investments, personnel decisions, and legal matters.
- Collaborated with executive team members to develop long-term objectives for the organization.
- Provided guidance on corporate social responsibility initiatives.
- Participated in negotiations related to mergers and acquisitions activities.
- Directed regular monthly business meetings of Board of Directors for decision-making on budget expenditures, strategic planning and personnel issues.
- Provided organizational leadership and collaborated with executive partners to establish long-term goals, strategies and company policies.
- Created program to promote new managers from within, leading to cohesive leadership structure.
Founder and Chief Executive Officer
ID4A Technologies
San Francisco, CA
01.2011 - 06.2022
- Developed and implemented a comprehensive business plan to launch the company.
- Drove company vision with collaborative employee engagement techniques and strategic leadership.
- Hired, trained and mentored over 365 staff members to ensure that operational goals were met.
- Developed long-range plans for business growth, resulting in 321% growth rate and $12M USD in yearly revenue.
- Eliminated company bottlenecks, reduced financial obstacles and addressed work constraints to promote overall growth.
- Provided leadership support during times of organizational change or uncertainty.
- Oversaw all aspects of operations including product development, marketing, sales, customer service and finance.
- Identified potential partnerships to expand the reach of the business.
- Developed strategic initiatives to increase market share and revenue growth.
- Built relationships with key stakeholders in industry associations to promote brand visibility.
- Led cross-functional teams in developing innovative solutions for customers needs.
- Collaborated with internal teams on projects related to digital transformation efforts.
- Maintained up-to-date knowledge of relevant laws, regulations, best practices and industry developments.
- Monitored company performance by measuring and analyzing results and minimizing impact of variances.
- Determined revenue and profit impacts of market strategies and led business direction toward profitable channels.
- Delivered speeches and attended industry conferences to promote company image and engage with buyers.
- Conducted presentations to outside groups to drive programs, policies and company objectives.
- Reviewed employee reports before submission to recommend changes or give approval.
- Generated large-scale operations, budget or expense reports to organize and analyze data.
- Conducted thorough interview processes to appoint new department heads.
- Provided organizational leadership and collaborated with executive partners to establish long-term goals, strategies and company policies.
- Implemented strategic offerings to enhance company's suite of products and services.
- Exceeded sales goals through upselling and cross-selling within existing client base as well as strategically attracting new business.
- Improved profitability by accurately maintaining P&L to meet prime fiscal responsibility.
- Created program to promote new managers from within, leading to cohesive leadership structure.
- Promoted brand awareness by increasing market penetration in global markets.
- Developed and implemented strategic business plans to increase company profitability.
- Created and maintained relationships with key stakeholders, including customers, suppliers, government agencies, and other industry partners.
- Overseen the daily operations of the organization and ensured compliance with applicable laws and regulations.
- Managed executive team members to ensure successful execution of projects in a timely manner.
- Directed long-term research initiatives to identify new markets for growth opportunities.
- Maintained open communication channels between departments to maximize efficiency and productivity.
- Assessed financial performance of the organization on a regular basis and identified areas for improvement.
- Facilitated board meetings and provided leadership guidance to senior management.
- Recruited, trained, mentored, and managed employees at all levels within the organization.
- Analyzed market trends and customer data to inform decision-making processes.
- Established policies and procedures that promoted an ethical work environment.
- Negotiated contracts with vendors to secure competitive pricing for goods or services.
- Cultivated relationships with external organizations to build partnerships that benefited both parties.
- Implemented technological solutions designed to improve operational effectiveness.
- Monitored budgetary expenditures across multiple departments to ensure fiscal responsibility.
- Reviewed current systems and processes regularly for potential improvements or upgrades.
- Represented the organization at conferences, events, networking activities., as needed.
- Introduced innovative approaches that improved efficiency while reducing costs.
- Spearheaded internal initiatives designed to foster collaboration among staff members.
- Led organization by establishing business direction and actualizing operational plans to meet goals.
- Built strategic business partnerships by cultivating relationships with employees and experts.
- Negotiated and approved contracts between company and distributors, suppliers and other external entities.
- Established and oversaw strategic business actions and streamlined operations.
- Oversaw budgetary and financial activities and implemented strategies to grow business and profits.
- Drove revenue up by [Number]% by cultivating successful client relations.
- Increased company revenue by $[Amount] within first year.
- Spearheaded new facility expansion with $[Amount] in capital funds.
- Brought in more than $[Amount] in new business each quarter.
- ID4A Technologies is a multi award-winning global B2B technology company specializing in the design and development of automation solutions to accelerate manufacturing processes. The company leverages AI, 3D printing, machine vision, machine learning and industrial robotics to increase efficiency, scalability, accuracy, productivity and flexibility across the entire manufacturing cycle while reducing cost, time, and waste and driving significant environmental, economic and social impact. ID4A also provides end-to-end product development services from design, to manufacturing and distribution to market, collaborating with Fortune 500 companies, corporate R&D labs, and SMEs in over 22 countries. Through our impact initiatives and commitments to the Sustainable Development Goals 5, 8, 9, 10 and 12, we impacted over 2000 manufacturing businesses and 2 million industry workers around the world. ID4A Technologies garnered numerous accolades and honors that are included in the executive summary. The company was acquired in June 2022, and it’s no longer operating in North America.
Vice President Board of Directors
Mindworks Collaborative
Riverdale, MD
01.2024 - Current
- Developed and executed strategic plans to support the vision of the organization.
- Formulated policies that improved operational efficiency and productivity.
- Directed business development initiatives.
- Managed financial operations, overseeing budgeting, forecasting and financial analysis activities.
- Established performance standards for staff members in order to drive productivity levels up.
- Maintained relationships with key stakeholders by attending meetings and responding promptly to inquiries or requests for information.
- Analyzed market trends to identify opportunities for growth within existing markets or new ones.
- Advised senior executives on approaches for resolving complex issues impacting operations.
- Delivered strategic input into business decisions and deals.
- Determined performance goals and offered tactics for achieving milestones.
- Made recommendations to senior leaders on business strategy and initiatives.
- Collaborated with executive team members on major decisions regarding company-wide initiatives.
- Reviewed reports from functional areas to assess progress towards organizational goals.
- Cultivated a culture of collaboration among department heads to facilitate cross-functional project execution.
- Mindworks Collaborative is a Special Education organization that optimizes how specialized learning teams work together to individualize instruction and services, advancing educational liberation for every student, and empowering diverse neurodivergent youth. We partner with systems and other organizations to grow, connect and retain a diverse high-quality special education workforce who dramatically improve the educational options and outcomes of culturally and linguistically diverse students with special needs.
Board of Advisors Member
AI 2030
Washington, DC
02.2024 - Current
- Developing entrepreneurship education materials and activities for the AI 2030 Accelerator Program.
- Prepared reports summarizing activities related to entrepreneurship development initiative.
- Reviewed applications submitted by aspiring entrepreneurs looking to join the program and provided feedback as needed.
- Cultivated relationships with external stakeholders to support the success of the organization's mission.
- Collaborated with other board members to identify potential areas for improvement within the organization.
- Contributed expertise on various topics during presentations given by Board members or external speakers.
- Brainstormed new business policies and directed program operations.
- Stayed abreast of trends and issues affecting organizational decisions.
- AI2030 is a global initiative aimed at harnessing the transformative power of AI to benefit humanity while minimizing its potential negative impact. We seek to shape global AI agendas and foster public-private collaboration in the responsible development and use of AI, driven by our belief in the power of diverse perspectives to create positive change and ensure AI's positive impact on society.
Board of Directors Member
AMP Global Youth
Washington, DC
07.2023 - Current
- Provided strategic guidance and oversight to the Board of Directors.
- Facilitated group activities to promote learning.
- Developed and delivered educational engagements focused on youth entrepreneurship and leadership.
- Collaborated with other directors to develop strategies for improving our educational programs.
- Advised on corporate governance policies, organizational strategies and business decisions.
- Collaborated with senior management teams to develop short-term plans for achieving organizational goals.
- Monitored performance metrics for effectiveness of operations within established parameters.
- Utilized networks and resources to inspire collective action and achieve organizational goals.
- AMP Global Youth is a training and leadership development organization that supports youth who are eager to tackle global challenges and make a positive impact in the world. Together we are building a movement of visionary leaders and bold changemakers through The Global Scholar experience, a program that gives youth the deep knowledge, game-changing skills, and powerful network to launch a lifetime of change making. Over 100,000 youth have participated in our programs since we were founded in 2002, and our alumni continue building skills and making an impact through year-round opportunities including virtual trainings, leadership positions in the AMP Global Youth network and access to grants.
Board of Advisors Member
Electus Global Education Co, Inc
Tampa, FL
09.2022 - Current
- Cultivated relationships with external stakeholders to support the success of the organization's mission.
- Contributed expertise on various topics during presentations given by Board members or external speakers.
- Served as a liaison between internal staff and external stakeholders, effectively communicating updates when necessary.
- Performed data analysis to evaluate impact of organizational programs.
- Approved organizational strategies and business decisions.
- Served as advisor to CEO regarding strategic plans, stakeholders and board resolutions.
- Tracked progress of company programs and highlighted potential barriers to success.
- Maintained confidentiality in regard to internal organizational affairs and information.
- Facilitated communication between internal staff, external stakeholders, and other Board members.
- Reviewed financial records and reports prior to Board meetings as needed.
- Electus Global Education Co, Inc. is an edtech / fintech organization with globally patented revolutionary technologies that empower children aged 3 to18 to learn financial literacy, entrepreneurship, and career skills (FLEC). Eelctus developed LifeHub Jobs, a platform that focuses on AI/ML and experiential learning techniques to build positive, lifelong behaviors and entrepreneurial skills. Life Hub Jobs aims to catalyze social impact, partnerships, collaboration, and coordinated action grounded in experiential real-world learning and evidence-based strategies that create measurable value and impact in the lives of students.
Advisory Council Board Member
California State University
Oakland, CA
07.2021 - 07.2023
- Provide advice to the California State East Bay Transformative Leadership in Disruptive Times training and certification program.
- Helped participants navigate a turbulent environment where so many models and principles no longer apply—or work as effectively.
- Provided coaching to participants to improve their skillsets while developing a unique roadmap to use in their organizations and emerge from the program with a competitive advantage.
- Facilitated communication between board members during decision-making processes.
- Tracked progress of program and highlighted potential barriers to success.
- Participated in various committees to meet specialized goals.
- Fostered collaboration and development of new practices by business leaders.
- The Transformative Leadership in Disruptive Times Certificate Program is an Executive Program at Cal State East Bay Continuing Education, offered in partnership with the Zschool to help senior executives and young leaders innovate through digital transformation by identifying the value in emerging technologies, business models, and resources at their organizations.
Expert Mentor and Career Development Coach
SheSharp Accelerator
Amsterdam, Holland, Netherlands
04.2024 - Current
- SheSharp is a non-profit foundation that makes it easier for all women and non-binary people to enter, stay, and grow in the Tech industry. SheSharp runs an annual Mentorship Program to support people of underrepresented genders in the technology industry. The program provides opportunities to accelerate growth and entry into Tech, and facilitate career progression by celebrating and connecting to a diverse group of people.
Program Creator, Masterclass Teacher and Speaker
ICAURUS AI E-Learning
Los Angeles, CA
02.2023 - Current
- ICARUS AI is an ed-tech company that combines e-learning, AI, and P2P courses. Knowledge is the currency of the future. ICARUS AI makes learning accessible to everyone, everywhere and at any time. The platform applies that latest ed-tech insights combining the best of open source and proprietary technology customizable for colleges, institutions, high schools and businesses.
Expert Mentor and Deep Tech Advisor
Intel Ignite Accelerator
Boston, MA
11.2022 - Current
- Intel Ignite is an internationally renowned acceleration program for early stage deep tech startups with a vision to shape the future of technology. The 12-week program helps turn cutting-edge ideas into industry-disrupting technologies by giving ambitious entrepreneurs the hands-on mentorship, technical support, and business acumen they need to build world-changing companies. Launched by Intel Corporation, Ignite’s mission is to fuel a global ecosystem of deep tech innovation by empowering a diverse network of founders, world-class mentors, experts, and investors to co-create enduring, industry-defining tech companies.
Expert Mentor and Startup Business Coach
Black Valley Accelerator
London, UK
08.2022 - 10.2022
- Black Valley is a dynamic community of founders, innovators, investors and experts dedicated to make the future of tech inclusive for black people by incubating and supporting exceptional Black Founders within the UK's startup ecosystem. Through Black Valley’s Founders Programme, a London-based extensive 8-week program, black founders with innovative ideas are provided with: 1) Social Capital through access to a community of successful business leaders and global experts; 2) Access to Funding by being connected with pre-seed VCs, angel groups and syndicates, and award grants; and 3) Resources through bespoke mentorship, weekly workshops, playbooks and fireside chats with industry experts.
Expert Mentor and Startup Coach at EON Accelerator
European Union
Beirut, Lebanon
08.2023 - 12.2023
- EON (Entrepreneurship Opportunities Network) is a ‘From Innovation to Creation’ project funded by the European Union in collaboration with Bloom and SPARK. The EON Accelerator program aims to increase the competitiveness, internationalization, and financial resilience of early-stage social enterprises in Lebanon through: a) an Accelerator track for 10 early-stage social enterprises that receive technical, financial, and mentorship to support the enterprise’s needs and potential impact; b) a Mentorship track for 30 enterprises that do not receive funding but receive technical support and mentorship to improve the growth and sustainability of their business.
Expert Mentor and Advisor
Newchip Accelerator
Austin, TX
11.2022 - 11.2023
- The Newchip Accelerator Program was developed to operate like an Executive MBA, designed in 24-week long programs to provide startups CEO and startup training, mentorship, and coaching from world-class serial entrepreneurs and investors who represent the top 3% of business leaders with IPOs, millions raised, M & A, and experiences in building successful startup ecosystems. Based on the company's stage, founders enroll in one of 3 programs: The Ignite Incubator Program, The Series Seed Accelerator Program, or The Series A Growth to Exit Program. Mentors and advisors impact the entire network, helping founders solve real world problems and guiding them to achieve business success.
Executive Judge and Expert Mentor
Black Ambition Prize
Los Angeles, CA
05.2023 - 10.2023
- The Black Ambition Prize is founded by Pharrell Williams to provide mentorship and funding for early-stage startups led by Black, Hispanic, and HBCU-affiliated entrepreneurs to empower underrepresented voices and foster a more inclusive entrepreneurial landscape. Ventures in consumer products and services, media and entertainment, healthcare, technology, and Web 3.0 compete to win up to $1M in funding.
Expert Mentor and Advisor at ACSI Accelerator
The Asfari Foundation
London, UK
01.2023 - 06.2023
- The Asfari Challenge For Social Innovation (ACSI) is a 4 months virtual business accelerator powered by The Asfari Foundation and Bloom where 10 selected early-stage social enterprises receive intense training, mentorship, financial support, and connections with world-class experts and global leaders to help them maximize the impact of their solutions.
- The Asfari Foundation is a UK-based charity that focuses its efforts in the Levant and United Kingdom. Through grant-making programs, the Foundation supports the sustainability of a resilient civil society infrastructure and innovative youth, who can collectively lead a transformational positive change in their communities and countries.
Expert Mentor and Business Coach
HerMeNow Accelerator
Dubai, UAE
10.2022 - 02.2023
- The HerMeNow Accelerator is an ecosystem for women social entrepreneurs around the world that supports women-led social enterprises in MENA and Africa with financial, technical, and mentorship to grow their impact and scale their businesses.
- HerMeNow is powered by Bloom, a startup and project development organization that helps teams, cohorts, classes, and organizations to apply best practices for personal and team effectiveness (through online / offline training, facilitated mentorship, and a powerful activities database.
Expert Mentor and Career Development Coach
Abdulla Al Ghurair Foundation
Dubai, UAE
09.2022 - 01.2023
- The Abdulla AlGhurair Foundation's Career Mentorship Program gathers world-class expert mentors with engineering, technology, education, consulting, entrepreneurship, business development, media and research backgrounds to impact the economic lives of students and young graduates by enhancing their professional awareness and providing effective career development coaching.
- The Abdulla Al Ghurair Education Foundation is one of the largest privately funded philanthropic education initiatives in the Arab world devoted to equipping Arab youth with the knowledge and skills they need to become future leaders. The AGFE programs target youth who demonstrate academic and leadership merit but do not have the financial means to pursue a quality education.
Expert Mentor at Unreasonable Impact Accelerator
Unreasonable Group
Boulder, CO
10.2019 - Current
- Mentored entrepreneurs on professional development topics such as communication skills, problem-solving and goal setting.
- Facilitated group activities to build relationships and foster collaboration with mentees.
- Created an atmosphere of mutual learning by offering constructive criticism in a supportive environment.
- Established meaningful connections between mentees and potential partners through networking activities.
- Engaged consistently with mentees through designated contact points using various methods.
- A strategic collaboration between Unreasonable Group and Barclays, Unreasonable Impact is a global initiative dedicated to scaling up growth-stage entrepreneurs operating at the nexus of advanced technology, global impact, and profit. We are actively accelerating business solutions dedicated to solving pressing global challenges. The Unreasonable Impact programme spans across the Americas, Europe, and Asia Pacific, supporting ventures that have collectively raised more than $10bn+ in financing, have mitigated 80m+ metric tons of CO2 equivalent from our atmosphere, and are actively supporting more than 19,000+ full-time employees.
Executive Judge, Expert Mentor and Speaker
Hult Prize Foundation
Washington, DC
06.2018 - 10.2018
- Hult Prize Foundation provides a year-long global accelerator and competition program that challenges young people and university students to solve the world’s most pressing issues through social entrepreneurship. Hundreds of teams pitch their solutions to panels of experts at Hult Prize Summits and winners join the Global Accelerator, where they work and learn with world-class experts and coaches to develop their ideas into viable businesses.
- At the end of the Accelerator, six teams get selected to participate in the Global Finals to pitch their social ventures to a panel of distinguished judges at the United Nations where every year one team receives $1M USD in funding.
Judging Review Panelist For Women Make Awards
The Manufacturing Institute
Washington, DC
11.2021 - Current
- Women MAKE Awards (formerly known as the STEP Ahead Awards), organized yearly by The Manufacturing Institute to recognize women in science, technology, engineering and production careers who exemplify leadership within their companies. This national honor identifies top talent in the manufacturing industry and further encourages award winners to mentor and support the next generation of female talent to pursue modern manufacturing careers.
- The Manufacturing Institute builds a resilient manufacturing workforce prepared for the challenges and opportunities of the future through implementing groundbreaking programs, convening industry leaders and conducting innovative research.
Fellow at Unreasoasobale FUTURE
Unreasonable Group
Boulder, CO
03.2019 - Current
- A unique collaboration with Fossil Foundation, Pearson and Accenture, Unreasonable FUTURE is aligning the promise of leading edge technologies with the future of inclusive work and social equity by championing the world’s most impactful growth-stage entrepreneurs who are at the forefront of supporting and disrupting the very nature of work. This ecosystem of investors, policy-makers, executives, and thought-leaders aims to scale the efforts of the Unreasonable FUTURE entrepreneurs and collaboratively work on this grand challenge together.
- Unreasonable Group is a holding company with an ambition is to serve as a catalyst for entrepreneurship in the 21st century and harness its collective power to address the greatest challenges of our time.
Co-Founder and Executive Judge
Laudato Si' Challenge
Washington, DC
05.2019 - 08.2020
- The Laudato si’ Challenge 2019 aimed to prevent forced displacement by empowering one million families to remain in their homes in support of the vision of the Sustainable Development Goals “as a human dignity narrative, that leaves no one behind.” With the emphasis on prevention, we addressed the crisis of forced displacement at its root causes such as poverty, persecution, conflict, and environmental degradation by securing commitments to impact and scaling proven growth-stage enterprise solutions and measurable initiatives.
Mentor, Speaker and Executive Judge at DSCUP Pitch
V2V Summit
Chicago, IL
10.2019 - 11.2019
- The V2V Summit & DSCUP International Entrepreneurship Pitch is a high- quality and broad “Entrepreneurship+” platform that connects US-based innovators and entrepreneurs with international investors, corporations, and strategic partners with 1.8 billion USD in total funds. Top 3 US winners get invited on a sponsored trip to compete in China's finals where they receive Entrepreneurship workshops, brand promotion, policy consultation, investment and financing connections.
Expert Mentor, Speaker and Judge
Girls Leadership Academy (GLAM)
San Francisco, CA
07.2018 - 07.2018
- The Girl's Leadership Academy Meetup (GLAM) equips girls across the globe with the skills and confidence to seek leadership roles, feel power within their voice, and create positive change in the world. GLAM aims to bridge the gender gap, reduce gender bias, and increase diversity through mentorship in STEM, business, and leadership for global impact. Our STEM education and leadership programs empower, encourage, and inspires girls aged 8 to 12 to become self-confident young women and the leaders of tomorrow.
Executive Judge & Mentor at InnoStars Competition
US China Innovation Alliance
Atlanta, GA
04.2018 - 09.2018
- InnoSTARS is a platform that connects US-based technology companies with Chinese investors, corporations, and strategic partners through pitch competitions. The participants access valuable coaching programs from industry experts, mentors, high-caliber business advisors, suitable partners and investors in the US and China.
- The US China Innovation Alliance (UCIA) is a non-profit organization that aims to promote the exchange of ideas and collaboration in innovation between China and the United States.
Executive Judge at Zimvest Startup Competition
Parazim and The Founder Institute
San Francisco, CA
11.2017 - 11.2017
- Zimvest Startup Pitch competition series is an initiative by Parazim in conjunction with the Founder Institute to solve gender parity issues in Silicon Valley by providing female founders a platform to pitch their startups before top business leaders, investors, and startup advisors and access funding opportunities.
Executive Judge, Expert Mentor and Speaker
The Expat Woman
San Francisco, CA
09.2017 - 09.2017
- The Global Career Summit and All-Women Hackathon pitch competition is organized by The Expat Woman to support young female students and entrepreneurs who are focused on creating innovative solutions for career development such as apps, websites, games, and community platforms.
Executive Judge, Expert Mentor and Angel Investor
Startups Showcase Group, Inc.
San Francisco, CA
07.2016 - 07.2017
- "Live Sharks Tank" pitch events are organized by Startups Showcase Group, an investment management company that backs businesses across verticals: software, hardware, apps (iOS, Android, Native and Web), and other product services. During these live events, startup founders pitch to highly selected industry experts VCs and Angel Investors where they get funded on stage. Winners also receive premium mentorship and coaching from top-notch Silicon Valley experts in the network to grow their businesses.
Expert Mentor and Executive Judge
WeMENA and World Bank
San Francisco, CA
01.2017 - 04.2017
- WeMENA, a bold initiative by the World Bank, Voyaj Inc and YouNoodle that aimed to accelerate 200 women-led businesses with top-notch mentorship, business skills, training, and a chance to compete for a $150,000 prize
- The initiative supported solutions that helped eight cities across the Middle East and North Africa build resilience and better adapt to chronic stresses and shocks in order to provide economic opportunities for all.
Expert Mentor and Judging Review Panelist
United States Department of Education
Washington, DC
04.2016 - 10.2016
- Reviewed students' designs and provided guidelines for the creation of affordable, scalable, and replicable makerspaces.
- Monitored and evaluated students' progress, providing feedback and guidance to ensure success.
- Mentored students and educators during the CTE Makeover Bootcamp, a 6-week program that offered participants resources to develop designs for their makerspaces.
- Provided expert guidance on various topics including educational programming, design, and community engagement.
- The U.S Department of Education's CTE Makeover Challenge is a national competition and part of the President's Nation of Makers initiative in 2016, an all- hands-on-deck call to give students access to new technologies that will enable them to design, build, and manufacture just about anything. Over 600 schools entered the challenge by submitting a design for a CTE makerspace: a facility that provides resources, materials, and equipment to enable hands-on leaning approaches and encourage students to create through the process of manufacturing, testing, and demonstrating their ideas, while learning essential 21st-century career skills, such as critical thinking, planning, problem-solving and communication. Prize winners were announced at the White House Champions of Change for Making event in June 2016, and more than $200,000 in prizes were distributed to 10 winners to turn their vision into a reality.
Executive Judge, Expert Mentor and Speaker
AngelHack's Global Hackathon Accelerator
San Francisco, CA
08.2015 - 08.2016
- The Global Hackathon Accelerator Series is a year- long hackathon odyssey with developer related programs by AngelHack that spans over 100+ cities worldwide. In each city, innovation and creativity converge as teams gather to hack, ideate, and build solutions poised to change the world. The series culminates in a grand finale, where champions from across the globe on the Global Hackathon Series leaderboard converge to showcase their innovations, vie for top honors, and etch their names into the annals of global innovation.
- AngelHack is a global leader in developer relations bringing together diverse developers from across the world to push the boundaries of tech, develop more innovative ideas and make positive change happen. With innovation at its core, AngelHack provides opportunities for its global developer community to elevate their skills, work on emerging technologies and work alongside renowned corporates that bring interesting challenges to the table. At the same time, it helps corporates drive open innovation for products and brands by connecting them to the smarts, scale and speed of the world’s best talent.
Executive Judge, Mentor and Speaker
The Global Women in STEM Conference and Awards
Dubai, UAE
10.2016 - 10.2016
- The Global Women in STEM Conference and Awards 2016 was organized in Dubai under the patronage of the UAE Minister of Culture and Knowledge Development, his excellency Sheikh Nahyan Bin Mubarak Al Nahyan. The event gathered the most powerful global STEM leaders from all over the world to meet, network and speak to an audience of investors, scientists, engineers and entrepreneurs who are taking risks to create a new future with technological advances. The event concluded with The Global WiSTEM Startups Pitch Competition to highlight women entrepreneurs and facilitate investments in their businesses.
Post-Graduate Program's Co-Professor
Southern California Institute of Architecture
Los Angeles, CA
09.2013 - 12.2013
- Creating a new curriculum for students in the Emerging Systems, Technologies and Media Post-Graduate Program at Southern California Institute of Architecture based on my graduate thesis research.
- Developed and implemented course materials, such as syllabi, lectures, readings, assignments and exams.
- Contributed expertise to assist with departmental expansions and course changes.
- Directed full classrooms of students to develop various kinds of research.
- Supervised post-graduate students in their research projects.
- Participated in departmental committees that address curriculum development, assessment strategies or technology initiatives.
- Organized seminars, workshops or other events related to topics within the discipline.
- Adapted methods of instruction and classroom materials to address individual student needs.
- Worked closely with library personnel to ensure access to relevant resources.
- Delivered course lectures using modern technology to enhance student comprehension.
- Designed collaborative learning exercises to capitalize on students' resources and skills.
- Integrated technology into regular classroom use for student engagement and learning.
- Maintained student engagement through creative subject delivery and learning activities.
- Mentored and motivated students to increase class participation.
- Evaluated student performance through tests, quizzes and other assessments.
- Collaborated with head professor to manage education projects from start to finish.
- Trained students in technical areas such as Computational Design and Robotics and managed collaborations between students from diverse academic and professional backgrounds.
Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer
SKU
Los Angeles, CA
11.2009 - 12.2011
- Led SKU® the world's first web-based technology platform and online community to connect users with global suppliers and manufacturers anywhere, and provide educational tools on the cutting edge of 3D printing technologies for the development of innovative products across industrial applications.
- SKU made a successful exit and was acquired by a global company that engineers, manufactures and sells 3D printers, 3D printing materials, and 3D scanners.
Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer
Anoxic Labs Inc
Santa Monica, CA
10.2007 - 10.2009
- Led Anoxic Labs, a product development and design technology company specializing in the development of product design, prototyping, manufacturing, user experience, materials and trends research, and product branding tools.
- Anoxic Labs made a successful exit and was acquired by an American multinational software corporation that makes software products and services for architecture, engineering, construction, manufacturing, education, and entertainment industries.
Lead Design Strategist and Managing Intern
Steelcase Inc
Grand rapids, MI
04.2007 - 09.2007
- Initiating design research, concept development, user experience, technology alignment and business strategy.
- Developed and implemented strategies to optimize customer experience.
- Collaborated with other departments to ensure effective execution of strategies.
- Created presentations to showcase strategy results, insights, and recommendations.
- Conducted research on competitors and their marketing activities.
- Designed and executed comprehensive market surveys to identify customer needs.
- Led cross-functional teams in brainstorming sessions to develop innovative solutions.
- Researched emerging technologies that could be leveraged for competitive advantage.
- Synthesized complex information into actionable insights for decision makers.
- Presented findings from data analysis in a clear, concise manner that was easily understood by stakeholders at all levels of the organization.
- Developed concepts to offer well-rounded solutions for new ways of working across new markets and geographies.
- Launched Workspring (www.workspring.com), the world’s first platform by Steelcase that aimed to provide human-centered experiences and transformative environments that support the way people work and collaborate effectively.
- Steelcase is a Global Company and a leader brand in furnishing the work experience in office environments.
Education
Master's Degree - Architecture
Southern California Institute of Architecture
01.2013
Master's Degree - Production Design
Art Center College of Design
01.2011
BS - Environmental Design
Art Center College of Design
01.2009
BA - interior design
College for Creative Studies
01.2005
Skills
- Entrepreneurship
- Executive Leadership
- Organizational Structuring
- Corporate Governance
- Enterprise Resource Planning
- Business Planning and Management
- Startup Incubation and Acceleration
- Training, Coaching and Mentoring
- Design Thinking and Optimization
- Innovation Leadership and Management
- Impact Strategy and Assessment
- Strategic Thinking and Problem-Solving
- Creativity, Adaptability and Flexibility
- Cross-functional team management
- Interdisciplinary Collaboration
- People Leadership and Culture building
- Revenue Generation and Growth
- Operational planning and Oversight
- Financial Planning and Oversight
- Risk Mitigation P&L Management
- Stakeholder & Investor Relations
- Strategic Partnerships and Alliances
- Mergers & acquisitions
- Market strategies and Expansion
- Public and media relations
- Excellent Communication Skills
- Excellent Interpersonal and Social Skills
- Motivational and Inspirational Speaking
- Writing and Story-telling
- Large group presentations
- Entrepreneurship Education
- Interactive teaching and learning
- Curriculum planning implementation
- Negotiation and Conflict Resolution
Certification
- Licensed 'Honored Listee' by Marquis Who's Who in America
- Women's Entrepreneurship, Certificate by Bank of America Institute at Cornell University
- CPI-Certified Management of Innovation by The International Association of Innovation Professionals
- CPI-Certified Professional Innovator by The International Association of Innovation Professionals
- CPI-Certified in Design Thinking and Innovation by The International Association of Innovation Professionals
- Developing Communication Skills for the Boardroom, Certification by The Exec Ranks
- Being an Effective Director, Certification by The Exec Ranks
- Strategic Communication in the Boardroom, Certification by The Exec Ranks
- The Board's Role in Long-Term Growth, Certification by The Exec Ranks
- What To Know When Interviewing For A Board Position, Certification by The Exec Ranks
Languages
English
Native/ Bilingual
French
Native/ Bilingual
Accomplishments
- The Global Woman of Choice Awards 2023 - Prize for "Entrepreneurial Success", awarded by SHE LEAPS Foundation ‘to honor the outstanding contributions and achievements of global women in leadership, entrepreneurship, innovation, and social impact.’
- The Global Business Insights Awards 2021 - Prize for "Most Outstanding Automation Technology CEO", awarded by GBI 'to acknowledge outstanding businesses across various industries, highlighting excellence in innovation and exceptional leadership.'
- STEP Ahead Awards 2020 - Honoree, awarded by The Manufacturing Institute to recognize women in science, technology, engineering and production careers who exemplify leadership excellence within their companies and careers.
- The Globant Awards 2020 - Nominee for "Tech Executive of The Year", presented by Women That Build Edition 'to recognize women who have made their careers in technology leadership, who successfully manage innovation and collaboration, and promote diversity and inclusion.'
- The Global CEO Excellence Awards 2019 - Prize for "Best Automation Technology CEO", awarded by CEO Monthly 'to commend the CEOs who demonstrate unmatched levels of dedication in their role and serve as inspiration based on their accomplishments, reputation, and ability to illustrate commitment to their missions and values in business.'
- Top 100 Impact Leaders - 2019 Honorees List, recognized by Real Leaders "Top 100 Impact Companies" Awards 'for leading a business that makes significant positive social and environmental impact'.
- Lebanon Impact Awards 2018 - Nominee, presented by Hult Prize Foundation and The Global Changemaker Festival 'to honor global impact pioneers, entrepreneurs and business leaders.'
- Certificate of Award for "Outstanding Achievement in Her Career and Her Contribution as A Migrant Woman in The USA", awarded in 2017 by The Global Woman Network and The United Kingdom House of Parliament.
- Ambassador of The Year 2016 Award, awarded by Blossom Wealth Management and Baker Botts 'for Propelling Entrepreneurship, Innovation, and Women Empowerment in Business.'
- Champions of Change - 2016 Honoree, presented by The White House Office of Science and Technology 'for advancing technical education and industry innovation in the United States as the World.'
- Nominated Change Maker - United States of Women 2016 Honoree, presented by The White House 'for her commitments to improve the lives of women and girls around the world, initiating changes that target key gender gaps and equality issues in society that make a powerful difference in our collective future.'
References
References available upon request.
Timeline
Expert Mentor and Career Development Coach
SheSharp Accelerator
04.2024 - Current
Board of Advisors Member
AI 2030
02.2024 - Current
Vice President Board of Directors
Mindworks Collaborative
01.2024 - Current
Expert Mentor and Startup Coach at EON Accelerator
European Union
08.2023 - 12.2023
Board of Directors Member
AMP Global Youth
07.2023 - Current
Executive Judge and Expert Mentor
Black Ambition Prize
05.2023 - 10.2023
Program Creator, Masterclass Teacher and Speaker
ICAURUS AI E-Learning
02.2023 - Current
Expert Mentor and Advisor at ACSI Accelerator
The Asfari Foundation
01.2023 - 06.2023
Expert Mentor and Deep Tech Advisor
Intel Ignite Accelerator
11.2022 - Current
Expert Mentor and Advisor
Newchip Accelerator
11.2022 - 11.2023
Expert Mentor and Business Coach
HerMeNow Accelerator
10.2022 - 02.2023
Expert Mentor and Career Development Coach
Abdulla Al Ghurair Foundation
09.2022 - 01.2023
Board of Advisors Member
Electus Global Education Co, Inc
09.2022 - Current
Expert Mentor and Startup Business Coach
Black Valley Accelerator
08.2022 - 10.2022
Judging Review Panelist For Women Make Awards
The Manufacturing Institute
11.2021 - Current
Advisory Council Board Member
California State University
07.2021 - 07.2023
Expert Mentor at Unreasonable Impact Accelerator
Unreasonable Group
10.2019 - Current
Mentor, Speaker and Executive Judge at DSCUP Pitch
V2V Summit
10.2019 - 11.2019
Co-Founder and Executive Judge
Laudato Si' Challenge
05.2019 - 08.2020
Fellow at Unreasoasobale FUTURE
Unreasonable Group
03.2019 - Current
Expert Mentor, Speaker and Judge
Girls Leadership Academy (GLAM)
07.2018 - 07.2018
Executive Judge, Expert Mentor and Speaker
Hult Prize Foundation
06.2018 - 10.2018
Executive Judge & Mentor at InnoStars Competition
US China Innovation Alliance
04.2018 - 09.2018
Executive Judge at Zimvest Startup Competition
Parazim and The Founder Institute
11.2017 - 11.2017
Executive Judge, Expert Mentor and Speaker
The Expat Woman
09.2017 - 09.2017
Expert Mentor and Executive Judge
WeMENA and World Bank
01.2017 - 04.2017
Executive Judge, Mentor and Speaker
The Global Women in STEM Conference and Awards
10.2016 - 10.2016
Executive Judge, Expert Mentor and Angel Investor
Startups Showcase Group, Inc.
07.2016 - 07.2017
Expert Mentor and Judging Review Panelist
United States Department of Education
04.2016 - 10.2016
Chairperson of The Board Of Directors
ID4A Technologies
01.2016 - 01.2024
Executive Judge, Expert Mentor and Speaker
AngelHack's Global Hackathon Accelerator
08.2015 - 08.2016
Post-Graduate Program's Co-Professor
Southern California Institute of Architecture
09.2013 - 12.2013
Founder and Chief Executive Officer
ID4A Technologies
01.2011 - 06.2022
Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer
SKU
11.2009 - 12.2011
Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer
Anoxic Labs Inc
10.2007 - 10.2009
Lead Design Strategist and Managing Intern
Steelcase Inc
04.2007 - 09.2007
Master's Degree - Architecture
Southern California Institute of Architecture
Master's Degree - Production Design
Art Center College of Design
BS - Environmental Design
Art Center College of Design
BA - interior design
College for Creative Studies
- Licensed 'Honored Listee' by Marquis Who's Who in America
- Women's Entrepreneurship, Certificate by Bank of America Institute at Cornell University
- CPI-Certified Management of Innovation by The International Association of Innovation Professionals
- CPI-Certified Professional Innovator by The International Association of Innovation Professionals
- CPI-Certified in Design Thinking and Innovation by The International Association of Innovation Professionals
- Developing Communication Skills for the Boardroom, Certification by The Exec Ranks
- Being an Effective Director, Certification by The Exec Ranks
- Strategic Communication in the Boardroom, Certification by The Exec Ranks
- The Board's Role in Long-Term Growth, Certification by The Exec Ranks
- What To Know When Interviewing For A Board Position, Certification by The Exec Ranks
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