Forbes Middle East unveils its prestigious list of the Top 100 Most Powerful Businesswomen for 2024, showcasing the influential women shaping the business landscape. The list features trailblazers from various industries, highlighting their remarkable achievements, leadership, and impact on the regional and global economy.
The ranking recognizes women who have demonstrated exceptional leadership skills, innovative thinking, and a commitment to driving change. From corporate executives to entrepreneurs, these women have shattered glass ceilings, paving the way for future generations.
Here are 9 Lebanese women who made it to the list:
1. Samia Bouazza
Bouazza founded Multiply Marketing Consultancy in 2003, evolving it into Multiply Group by 2021. As of the initial nine months in 2023, the group amassed revenues totaling $244.3 million alongside a net profit of $148.7 million. Responsible for over 3,000 individuals, Bouazza spearheads the company’s strategic evolution, manages its investment endeavors, and ensures the sustainable expansion of its subsidiary entities.
Additionally, she holds board positions in various firms, including TAQA, Arena Events Group, and Emirates Driving Company.
2. Elda Choucair
Choucair stepped into her current position in 2021, transitioning from her prior role as COO. She supervises a workforce of more than 1,031 individuals. The company’s footprint expanded into Saudi Arabia in 2023, concurrently launching TRKKN, a Google agency network. With two decades of industry experience under her belt, Choucair holds significant roles, including Vice Chair at the Advertising Business Group and advisory council membership at the Middle East Inclusion and Diversity Council.
Moreover, she serves as a board member for the Interactive Advertising Bureau MENA and Endeavor in the U.A.E. Notably, she is a founding board member of the Unstereotype Alliance by UN Women, committed to eliminating detrimental gender-based stereotypes in advertising.
3. Leila Serhan
Leila Serhan, Senior VP and Group Country Manager for Visa’s North Africa, Levant, and Pakistan region, oversees operations across 15 countries from five regional offices. Her focus is on driving Visa’s business growth in the region by collaborating with key clients, partners, and government entities. With over 20 years of experience, including leadership roles at Microsoft, Leila has spearheaded digital transformation initiatives in various sectors. She is a staunch advocate for women’s empowerment, founding and leading the Women in IT Association in Lebanon.
Additionally, she supports startups in the region as an active Business Angel. Leila holds a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from the American University of Beirut.
4. Rima Assi
Assi commenced her journey with McKinsey & Company in 2006. By 2019, she ascended to the position of Senior Partner and Managing Partner for Abu Dhabi. In 2022, she further expanded her role as the Global Leader for Social, Healthcare, and Public Sector Institutions. Among her notable contributions is the creation of the Qiyada Emerging Leaders initiative, a transformative 10-month program aimed at nurturing young Emirati leaders.
Additionally, she spearheaded Forward, a complimentary online learning platform by McKinsey, boasting over 270,000 active participants. Recognized as a Young Global Leader by the World Economic Forum, Assi exemplifies dedication to leadership development and societal impact.
5. Leila Hoteit
Hoteit boasts 19 years of industry expertise. She spearheads the Education, Employment, and Welfare (EEW) global practice, overseeing the completion of more than 650 projects in 2022-2023.
Collaborating with the Saudi Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development and 14 prominent organizations such as Saudi Aramco and McDonald’s, Boston Consulting Group is leading the charge on the National Training Stimulus Program. This initiative aims to revolutionize Saudi Arabia’s workforce by fostering the adoption of new skills.
6. Lana Khalaf
In 2018, Khalaf assumed the role of general manager at Microsoft Qatar, while Arif took on the position of general manager at Microsoft Egypt in March 2020.
Khalaf’s journey with Microsoft commenced in 2006 as an academic developer evangelist, progressing to roles such as education and public sector director over the years.
7. Olfat Sami Berro
Berro began her tenure at Roche in 2003 and transitioned to her current role in 2019. In 2022, Roche inked a collaboration deal with the King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Center in Riyadh, fostering a strategic alliance in healthcare sustainability. The following year, Roche launched the Roche Levant Summer Internship Program, in line with the objectives of Roche’s Global Internship Program in Innovation & Sustainability.
Berro also serves on the executive committee for PhRMA Middle East & Africa and is a member of the Middle East Inclusion & Diversity Council.
8. May Nasrallah
Nasrallah established the regional boutique advisory firm deNovo Partners in 2010, offering counsel to regional sovereigns, corporates, family groups, and private equity funds on corporate sales, acquisitions, mergers, and capital raises, both intra-regional and cross-border.
Additionally, she serves as ADNOC’s independent financial advisor for international acquisitions. Notably, in 2022, Nasrallah facilitated a $1.5 billion investment in digital media and education in India by the Qatar Investment Authority, advising James Murdoch and Uday Shankar’s Bodhi Tree. Before deNovo, she spent 15 years at Morgan Stanley in New York, Hong Kong, London, and Dubai.
9. Pia El Hachem
El Hachem joined Uber in 2018, assuming her current role in 2021, where she supervises operations in the U.A.E., Jordan, and Lebanon. In July 2023, Uber adjusted its pricing for green rides in Dubai to match UberX rates, enhancing accessibility to environmentally friendly transportation. By November 2023, the company pledged to achieve 25% emission-free kilometers in the city by 2026.
Additionally, in December 2023, Uber tripled the number of electric vehicles available on its platform. With over a decade of industry experience, El Hachem previously held positions as the strategy and planning manager for the Middle East and Africa at Uber and as an associate at Booz & Company.
Related: 14 Lebanese Ranked Among Forbes Middle East’s 30 Under 30
