I'm Lebanese by origin, shaped by many places: raised in Saudi Arabia, spent my formative years in Beirut, found my independent identity in New York, matured in the GCC, and put down roots in England. I'm a mother of two very energetic girls who keep me grounded and curious.

My career has always been entrepreneurial. I started at a health finance social enterprise in New York, designing an insurance product to accelerate delivery of health goods across Sub-Saharan Africa where I structured a $10 million payment guarantee facility and collateral fund. That experience taught me early that aid can cause as much harm as good and pushed me toward markets as a more natural mechanism for change.

I spent four years at PwC in Dubai, project managing multimillion dollar government innovation and economic growth programs, before making the leap into venture capital. I joined Womena, an angel syndicate in Dubai, where I doubled revenues in six months by revising their business model.

From there, I joined Raed Ventures in Saudi Arabia as their second investment hire. I reviewed hundreds of startups and invested in numerous, leading due diligence on deals that went on to become unicorns, including the brilliant Tabby. Watching early-stage founders grow from scrappy hustlers into category leaders, and a nascent ecosystem become a leading hub in the SWANA region, taught me that growth is not rocket science. It is creativity, grit, perseverance, and opening doors.

After moving to the UK, a stint in London's fintech world reinforced what I already believed: venture capital is a tool, not a destination. When that chapter closed, I started my own bootstrapped retirement planning fintech. Over two years, I found myself pulled back toward SWANA. It's where my deepest roots, relationships, and passion lie. Watching the region bear the weight of decades of conflict while living in comfort changed me permanently. I knew I had to work within my area of influence to create opportunity and pride where the world sees devastation.

Joining Zeytoon has been a privilege. Meeting the hardworking founders building the most exciting startups in the world brings real hope and joy. I can’t wait to see where we will take Zeytoon.