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Our Mentors

Kathrin Hassler

Finance

Kathrin Hassler is a finance professional with a deep commitment to impact and sustainable investing as a catalyst for change. She has spent most of her career in the financial services industry working for a top-tier consulting firm and a global bank in Zurich and Hong Kong. She also spent a fellowship year in Haiti, working for a social enterprise in finance and business development.

Currently, at the Jacobs Foundation, Kathrin manages relationships with EdTech venture capital funds across the USA and EU and actively participates in impact advisory committees. She also developed a concept for direct investments and spearheaded the structuring of a results-based financing transaction in Ghana.

Ksenia Kurileva

Climate

Ksenia Kurileva is an innovation consultant working with corporate and government entities. She specializes in developing innovation strategies and initiatives for decarbonization, advancing the circular economy, and implementing climate technologies. Leveraging her startup background, Ksenia serves as a mentor on startup programs across EMEA, supporting founders with sales, pilot projects, and scaling. She’s also a Fellow at the Newton Venture Program, a joint venture by London Business School and LocalGlobe VC, and Climatebase, a program dedicated to mission-driven professionals in the climate sector.

Jeffrey Khater

Strategic Growth & Software

Jeffrey Khater is a Senior Consultant based out of Montréal, Canada, with extensive expertise in B2B Software Sales and Product Development. With a BSc in Information Technology, 14+ years of experience in Software Sales and Verticalization, and wide knowledge in psychology, Jeffrey brings the perfect combination of backgrounds for tech companies and others to scale and grow. Some of Jeffrey’s closed  deals have +1,000 users and +1M$.

Christophe El Khoury

Technology

Christophe El-Khoury is a builder, advisor, CTO, and execution partner working across startups, SMEs, and venture-backed ecosystems. His work focuses on transforming complexity into clarity – designing the operational, cultural, and leadership systems founders need to move from survival to scale. 

With a deep background in software engineering, a passion for psychology and social impact, and years of hands-on experience building technical teams, Christophe brings a rare combination of vision, strategy, and pragmatism to the table. He has mentored and advised founders in sectors ranging from mental health and leadership development to education and agriculture.

Most recently, he has been building The Entity, a high-impact executive consultancy and execution partner for founders, investors, and entrepreneurs, and has founded and is leading The Collective, a national initiative aiming for high-integrity collaboration to advance Lebanon’s tech and innovation ecosystem.

Christophe is especially passionate about supporting underrepresented and women-led teams navigating high-stakes, under-resourced markets. His approach focuses on removing execution bottlenecks, restoring leadership clarity, and helping founders reignite their original fire, without burning out.

Marc Al Najjar

Sales & Marketing

Marc Al Najjar is a seasoned sales and marketing expert with a strong foothold in the Arab region. With over 9 years of industry experience and as the driving force behind Typecta, Marc has a proven track record of driving growth and innovation through data-driven strategies and culturally influenced campaigns. He specializes in creating and executing marketing initiatives that connect with diverse audiences, helping brands not only reach but engage and convert their target markets.
Throughout his career, Marc has partnered with a range of businesses, from startups to established regional leaders, to enhance their market presence and achieve substantial business milestones. His expertise spans digital marketing, traditional and online sales strategies, and integrated brand communications, all due to his extensive knowledge of the unique market dynamics within the Arab region.
Beyond his strategic experience, Marc is a mentor and thought leader. He regularly shares insights and practical experiences with emerging talent, promoting an environment of innovation and continuous improvement. Marc’s strength lies in effectively addressing market challenges and consistently delivering impactful results. To explore the brands Marc has collaborated with, visit his personal website.
 

Gilbert Kofi Adarkwah

Fundraising

Gilbert K. Adarkwah, LLM, PhD is a Professor of Strategy and International Business at HEC Montreal and a Research Fellow at the International Institute of Economic Diplomacy. With a multidisciplinary background in business, economics, and law, Gilbert has been instrumental in shaping financing institutions focused on investments in emerging markets. He has a proven track record of fostering business growth and impact across Africa, Scandinavia, and Canada. As the co-founder and former Chief Financial Legal and Risk Officer at Pangea Accelerator,  he led initiatives that empowered African startups through strategic partnerships and access to capital. Prior to Pangea, he served as Vice President of Strategy at Peacan Energies and as a Trade and Investment Attaché at the United Nations, where he focused on advancing sustainable economic development in emerging markets.  

Currently, Gilbert is the founder of Gilbert and Partners, an Oslo-based venture capital firm investing in high-potential startups across Scandinavia, Africa, and Canada. He is passionate about leveraging research to drive sustainable economic growth and foster inclusive business ecosystems.

Sarah Fayad

Fundraising

Sarah Fayad is a Vice President in the Client and Product Solutions team at CVC Capital Partners, a global leader in private markets. Based in Dubai, she is responsible for fundraising and investor relations across private equity, private credit, secondaries, and infrastructure platforms.
Prior to joining CVC, Sarah spent eight years at Goldman Sachs in London in the Investment Banking Division, where her work spanned advisory, financing and risk management in EMEA.
Sarah is interested in collaborating with founders and early-stage teams, and is keen to contribute where her background and perspective may add value. She looks to leverage her experience to support others in their journey and has also been involved in various community initiatives, including volunteering with disability and youth programs in Sri Lanka and contributing to corporate social impact efforts.

Noemí Otazu

Strategic Marketing 

Noemí Otazu is an Argentinian biochemist turned strategic consultant with 25+ years of experience spanning healthcare and telecommunications. Having transitioned from Formosa to Madrid, she spent 15 years in Strategy divisions at Spain’s leading telecom operator, Orange, as an in-company strategy and marketing consultant supporting cross-functional teams in achieving business priorities. Now running her independent consulting practice, Noemí specializes in strategic marketing & planning, mentoring, and leadership development. She’s passionate about empowering female entrepreneurs and creating social impact through strategic guidance and expertise sharing.

Namita Anish

Digital Marketing

Namita Anish is a brand and digital strategist with six years of experience shaping narratives for a diverse portfolio of key accounts across the region on social media. Currently serving as Associate Account Director at digitalfarm, a digital marketing agency in Abu Dhabi, she leads a team of creatives in developing thoughtful, insight-driven campaigns. Namita brings clarity, creativity, and purpose to every project, helping brands show up meaningfully in the digital space. She believes the most powerful stories are human-first; told with intention, grounded in empathy, and delivered with kindness.

Karen Grace Libao

Marketing

Karen is a digital marketing professional based in Abu Dhabi, with nearly a decade of experience in social, content, and digital marketing. She holds a degree in Communication Research (Cum Laude) and has worked with startups and advertising agencies across Southeast Asia, the United States and Australia. 
 
Currently, Karen works as Associate Director of Social at digitalfarm, where she leads social strategy and content development for multiple accounts across diverse industries, including humanitarian organisations and purpose-driven entities, helping them amplify their impact through strategic digital storytelling.

Kali Hailegiorgis

Impact Investing

Kali Hailegiorgis is an MBA candidate at NYU Stern Abu Dhabi specializing in Finance and Business Analytics and an investment professional at the intersection of sustainability, strategy, and early-stage capital. With a multidisciplinary background spanning angel investing, ESG consulting, and business development, she has driven growth and impact across Asia, Europe, North America, Africa, and the Middle East. As Head of Programming and Investor Relations at SWITCH, she oversaw ~$400 k in SPV transactions and managed programming that deepened engagement across the women angels network. Prior to SWITCH, Kali spearheaded market expansion at an intangible-asset start-up, adding more than 200 enterprise clients throughout the EU, US, and Asia, and advised global corporations on emissions reporting, ESG risk, and decarbonization strategies.
 
Currently, Kali supports impact-focused deal flow at a regional VC firm while continuing to guide SWITCH’s syndicate investments, leveraging data-driven insights to channel capital toward sustainable, high-growth opportunities. Beyond work, she finds balance through surfing and enjoys exploring theology and historical fiction.

Nina Mehrez

Marketing

Nina Mehrez is a Chief Marketing Officer, digital marketing specialist, mentor, and trainer with extensive experience supporting startups, solopreneurs, and small businesses across Europe and the Middle East. She works closely with founders to develop brand positioning, go-to-market strategies, and content systems that are both effective and sustainable.
She is the founder of ELSCEDRES, a boutique marketing agency that offers tailored 360° marketing solutions, from strategy to execution, helping early-stage businesses grow with structure, clarity, and impact.
In parallel, Nina launched the Lebanese Entrepreneurs Network (LEN), a global community focused on connecting and supporting Lebanese entrepreneurs, particularly during times of crisis. Through LEN, she champions knowledge-sharing, partnerships, and access to expert resources for business resilience.
Nina also provides mentorship and training for entrepreneurs and early-stage teams, bringing a hands-on approach to brand building and business growth. 

Salma Sidki

Trade Marketing & E-Commerce

Salma Sidki is an Egyptian marketing, trade marketing, and e-commerce expert with over 15 years of experience at top FMCG and OTC companies across the Middle East. She also holds a Master of Science in Marriage, Couple, and Family Counseling, blending strategic business insight with a deep passion for human connection.
Salma is especially committed to empowering female entrepreneurs and enjoys mentoring others as part of her pay-it-forward philosophy, inspired by the impactful leaders in her own journey. She loves being able to share how she found her way in a traditionally “ruthless” corporate world to show up with authenticity and empathy. 
In her spare time, she runs her own small family business, a screen-free, back to basics card games brand designed to help people in all kinds of relationships connect through play. She also loves podcasts and has been finding a lot of great ones covering business stories. Through these, she’s fascinated by how businesses grow, what their struggles are, and what can be learned from their journeys.

Ricardo Gomez

Strategic Marketing & Branding 

Ricardo Gomez is an award-winning Creative Director and Product Strategist with 20+ years of experience building impactful brands and storytelling platforms. He has led creative efforts for Coca-Cola (as CCO) and Nestlé (as consultant), directed a Super Bowl ad, and produced Mexico’s first 3D animated film. Most recently, he founded Hope Seed, an educational platform blending animation and philosophy – now launching in Nigeria through MTN, the country’s largest telecom provider.

Lara Wehbe

AI & Tech 

Lara Wehbe is an AI Architect, educator and entrepreneur building the next generation of AI talent and solutions in the MENA region. Through her work, she empowers individuals, startups and institutions to unlock the power of artificial intelligence – saving time, reducing costs and accelerating innovation.

After a career in software engineering and AI system design, Lara founded The AI Engineers, a fast-growing training program with over 300+ members across the region. She also advises startups and businesses on building AI-powered products, streamlining operations and deploying GenAI tools effectively – from chatbots and recommendation systems to RAG pipelines and fine-tuned LLMs.

Lara is especially passionate about making AI accessible in under-resourced contexts. Her mission is to bridge the gap between ambitious ideas and technical execution – especially for women, students and emerging founders looking to harness AI for real-world impact.

Maria Antypas

Marketing

Maria Antypas is a creative strategist and innovation specialist with a passion for designing transformative products, services and brand experiences. With a background in Marketing and a Master’s in Design Management, she brings a unique fusion of business acumen and human-centered design to every challenge she tackles.

Over the past decade, Maria has worked across Europe and the Middle East, leading brand strategy, product innovation and digital marketing for startups and growth-stage companies. Her experience spans food & beverage, tech, sustainability and retail – where she has launched new market locations, built B2B partnerships, grown teams and developed end-to-end customer experiences.

Maria thrives in multicultural, interdisciplinary teams and brings a holistic, collaborative mindset to her work. At the core of her approach are four principles: vision, strategy, teamwork and shared goals which she believes are essential for creating impact that lasts.

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