Marc Chaya had early interests in art, architecture, and literature, but his parents encouraged him toward business. He began his career at Ernst & Young, quickly rising to partnership and becoming Global Telecoms Markets leader at 32. It was at that time that he met celebrated perfumer Francis Kurkdjian and was instantly taken by how little space and recognition the fragrance industry had, even for the most talented perfumers.
Chaya started advising the perfumer on a strategy and roadmap to bring him at the center of the stage. In 2009, they cofounded Maison Francis Kurkdjian, with Marc Chaya leading the Company as CEO and Francis Kurkdjian bringing the vision and talent behind his eponymous fragrance collection.
Chaya established Maison Francis Kurkdjian as a leading global player in the luxury high-end niche fragrance market, with a presence in over 52 countries. The fragrance House is a member of Comité Colbert since 2016 and was acquired by the LVMH Group in 2017. Chaya holds a BA in economics from Saint Joseph University in Beirut and a Masters in Management from EM Lyon, a leading European business school. Born in 1973, he is dual French and Lebanese citizen.
Chaya was distinguished for his achievements and made a knight in the French National Order of Merit (“Chevalier de l’Ordre National du Mérite”) in 2019. He is treasurer at Comité Colbert and co-president and co-founder at LINK, an endowment fund for the fight against HIV. He founded the Aleph-Marc CHAYA endowment fund in 2021.
Joseph G. Audi is Chairman of Interaudi Bank. Born in Saida, Lebanon from a family of bankers tracing its heritage back over generations, Joe founded the bank in New York in 1983 at the age of 33. Combining conservative banking traditions with innovative technology, the bank provides unique and personalized services on a global scale from its offices in New York and Miami. Over 40 years the bank has thrived despite turbulence in the world at large, from the savings and loan crisis in the 1980s, to the recession of the 1990s, to the great financial crisis, to the Covid pandemic and the SVB crisis of 2023. The bank and its affiliates offer personalized banking and asset management services to an international clientele hailing from every continent. In an age of faceless megabanks, Interaudi has maintained its identity as a global bank with a family touch. Joe is a graduate of HEC Paris.
Sarah Beydoun is a Lebanese social entrepreneur whose vibrant and distinctive bags encapsulate the essence of Lebanese cultural elements. In May 2000, Beydoun launched Sarah’s Bag with the aim of empowering underprivileged
women and female prisoners in Lebanon. Her inspiration originated from extensive field research during her graduate studies in sociology at the Université Saint Joseph in Beirut. While collaborating with Dar Al Amal, a local non-governmental organization dedicated to rehabilitating at-risk women and female ex-prisoners, she recognized the critical need to provide these women with opportunities for employment and financial independence. The stories of resilience she encountered deeply resonated with her, propelling her into action.
Empowered by the connections she formed with the prisoners, Beydoun embarked on a mission to provide tangible support by teaching incarcerated women embroidery skills. She initiated training programs in traditional embroidery and hand-beading crafts. Collaborating with a skilled handbag artisan, she breathed life into these canvases, skillfully transforming them into luxurious handcrafted bags. Notably, she established a groundbreaking system that enabled the women prisoners to offer training and employment to their friends and family in their hometowns after their release, thus creating clusters of artisans led by former prisoners. This innovative approach not only elevated their status but also facilitated their successful reintegration into society.
Drawing inspiration from Beirut's iconic graffiti, pop culture, 1970s psychedelic art, and vibrant prints, Beydoun's creations have gained widespread recognition. Her designs have been featured on prestigious platforms like Net-A-Porter and Matches Fashion. Influential figures including HRH Queen Rania of Jordan, Beyoncé, and Amal Clooney have elegantly adorned her designs.
In 2016, Sarah Beydoun received the prestigious "Business for Peace Award" in Oslo, honoring her significant contribution to trust, stability, and peace-building through her business endeavors. This recognition underscored her unwavering commitment to peace.
Amidst the challenges posed by the Lebanese economic collapse in 2019 and the Beirut Blast in 2020, the international luxury fashion house Chloe sought a collaborative partnership with Sarah’s Bag. This alliance not only demonstrated the brands' shared commitment to social empowerment but also solidified their dedication to the craft.
Beydoun's journey stands as an inspiring testament to those who aspire to effect meaningful change through their passions and pursuits. Her impactful approach serves as a guiding light for anyone seeking to make a positive impact on the world. Beydoun's achievements have played a transformative role in the lives of more than 250 Lebanese underprivileged women, showcasing the enduring power of compassion.
Ambassador Sahar Baassiri is a distinguished diplomat, journalist, lecturer and author. In 2017, She joined the Lebanese diplomatic corps and was appointed as the Ambassador and Permanent Delegate of Lebanon to UNESCO, where she currently serves. She held various leadership roles within UNESCO, including Vice President of the General Conference since 2021- present, Vice President of the International Program for the Development of Communication, Vice President of the Intangible Cultural Heritage Committee from 2018 to 2020, and Vice President of the UNESCO Executive Board from 2018 to 2019. Prior to her diplomatic career she worked at An-Nahar newspaper (1981-2009) as a feature writer, columnist, and foreign editor and served as the Beirut correspondent for United Press International (UPI) (1989-1991). Her expertise and experience in journalism also extended to teaching. She worked as a part-time journalism professor at the Lebanese American University's Arts and Communication Division (1989-1990 and 2005-2006). Additionally, she has authored two books in Arabic: "Lebanon on Hold" and "The Wandering Arabs." Ambassador Baassiri holds an MS in Journalism, Graduate School of Journalism, Columbia University, New York (1987) and a BA in Political Science, American University of Beirut (1980).
George Altirs is a Lebanese self-made entrepreneur and businessman with a degree in software engineering, residing in Saddle River, NJ.
Born and raised in Mejdalaya-Zgharta, North Lebanon, George moved to New York in the late 80’s. In 1990, he and his brother, Massoud Altirs, established GMA Accessories/Capelli New York, a New York City based hair accessories design and manufacturing company.
In just a few years the company grew to become one of the biggest players in the U.S. fashion industry. 30 years later, George now manages one of the largest privately held fashion group in the world in the following categories for all genders in apparel, footwear, socks, cold-weather goods, hair accessories, jewelry, handbags, luggage, home products and gift items. The company owns five manufacturing plants in China and two in Bangladesh, allowing for a total vertically integrated business plan. GMA Accessories also holds major licenses such as Disney, Skechers, Marvel and Head and distributes to retailers such as Nordstrom, Macy's, Walmart, Target, Costco and Amazon plus more.
George continues to grow his business and add global acquisitions to his real estate portfolio. In 2011, George and his wife Elisabeth co-founded Capelli Sport, an innovative sports apparel and fitness equipment company. Capelli Sport now sponsors and equips youth and pro-level soccer clubs and organizations worldwide, including the national basketball and football team of Lebanon. In the same year he also founded Cedar Stars Academy, a youth soccer club with multiple divisions, all playing in the highest competitive league in the United States. Cedar Stars Academy provides a platform for kids in need to go to college or pursue the route of becoming a professional soccer player. In addition to youth clubs, George also owns sports complexes and professional soccer clubs for men and women in Germany, Denmark, Monaco and Ghana.
Among his many philanthropic endeavors, George is a supporter of numerous foundations and organizations. He currently serves as the chairman of the board of trustees of the Holy Spirit University of Kaslik (USEK) and is on the Dartmouth Athletics Advisory Board. Additionally he is a member of the U.S. Soccer Champions Circle, which is the Federation's national philanthropic leadership group to support and drive the future of soccer in the United States. Lastly, he is a member of SEAL, an organization formed to assist underserved Lebanese individuals, focused on community-driven economic development, and funds projects all over Lebanon.
Geoff Johns is an award-winning and New York Times bestselling writer, film and television producer and showrunner, known for re-imagining superheroes and other iconic mythologies, past and present. Johns is best known for his work on properties such as Green Lantern, Aquaman, The Flash, Shazam!, Superman and Justice Society of America. Since the beginning of his creative career, Johns' hallmark has been writing heroic and inclusive characters, including teenage hero Courtney Whitmore aka Stargirl, inspired by his real-life late sister; the Shazam Family, which he re-imagined into a diverse modern family of today; and the first Arab American Green Lantern, Simon Baz, as well as the explosive multi-colored Lantern mythology that defined his decade-long bestselling Green Lantern run, among many, many others. Johns created and is currently showrunning the critically acclaimed Stargirl series (in its third season) for The CW and HBOmax. Additionally, Johns has written for and/or executive produced hit television shows Doom Patrol (HBOmax), Titans (HBOmax), The Flash (The CW), Superman & Lois (The CW), Robot Chicken (Cartoon Network), Arrow (The CW), and Smallville (The CW), as well as the upcoming Green Lantern for HBOMax. Some of Johns' film credits include the hits Wonder Woman (executive producer), Wonder Woman 1984 (also co-writer), Aquaman (also story) and Shazam! (executive producer), which was based on his graphic novel. Born in Detroit to a Lebanese father, Johns was honored with his own permanent section at the Arab American National Museum in Dearborn, Michigan in 2012. Most recently, he launched the hit creator-owned series Geiger for Image Comics and his company Mad Ghost, centering around a mysterious radioactive family man named Tariq Geiger and opening the door to an entire new universe of characters and worlds.
Lea Baroudi is a Lebanese citizen working to foster cultural and religious pluralism through peace-building activities that focus on art, culture and human rights. She is a founding Member and Director of MARCH, a Lebanese non-profit organization that seeks to strengthen civil rights, engender tolerance, foster diversity and social stability, and promote equality in Lebanon. Under her leadership, MARCH lobbied for laws to lift censorship and mobilized public support for freedom of expression. A certified professional mediator, Ms. Baroudi specializes in inter-faith and sectarian mediation and has initiated and worked actively on peace-building projects that use art, culture and economic development to resolve conflict and counter radicalization among youth in Lebanon. In 2016, she was granted the Reagan-Fascell Fellowship at the National Endowment for Democracy during which she researched ways to develop unconventional methods in peace building and conflict resolution. She was recently awarded an MBE (Member of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire) by Her Majesty the Queen for services to peace building and civic rights in Lebanon.
Rabih Kayrouz is a Lebanese fashion designer. Having migrated to Paris at the age of 16 to study and then train in the workshops of design houses Dior and Chanel, Kayrouz returned to Beirut In 1995. He quickly developed a reputation for designing evening gowns and wedding dresses. In 2008, Kayrouz returned to Paris to open his own design house, Maison Rabih Kayrouz. Since 2009, Kayrouz has been a guest designer for the Chambre Syndicale de la Haute Couture, with his seasonal collections included in the bi-annual Paris haute-couture fashion shows. In 2011, Kayrouz was selected by ELLE Magazine as an “Emerging New Talent”. In 2012 he began to focus on ready-to-wear, creating a capsule collection for the French mail order brand La Redoute. Kayrouz co-founded in 2008 a non-profit organisation called STARCH which helps launch emerging Lebanese designers and promote their work, selecting four to six young designers each year.
The founder of Souk el Tayeb, Lebanon’s first farmers market, Kamal Mouzawak is the son of farmers and producers, who grew up in gardens and kitchens, tasting life, food and fruits at their source. Having majored in graphic design, Kamal followed career paths as a food and travel writer, a macrobiotic cooking teacher, a healthy cooking TV chef – all of which led to closer engagement with achieving social and environmental transformation. Since its first days in 2004, Souk el Tayeb’s vision was to celebrate food and traditions that unite communities, promoting small-scale farmers and the culture of sustainable agriculture. Today, Souk el Tayeb is an institution that includes a weekly farmers’ market, regional festivals, education and awareness programs and the latest project of Tawlet, the farmers’ kitchen.
“As the Middle East fractures under the weight of disparity, the Beirut Marathon continues to unite.” Debra Witt, Runner’s World
In 2003, May El-Khalil, a local sports official, decided that it was time to start a marathon in Beirut, open to all, as an antidote to sectarianism. And despite ongoing political and security pressures, the Beirut Marathon, now entering its 12th year, has become not only the largest running event in the Middle East, but a powerful force for peace.
El-Khalil was inspired to start the marathon after a personal tragedy: a near-fatal running accident. Doctors told her she would never run again. She was hospitalized for two years and had to undergo a long series of surgeries. But the resolve from this personal struggle created an event that, each year, draws runners and fans from opposing political and religious communities in a symbolic act of peace. Just last November, more than 36,000 athletes from all over the world ran for Lebanon.
A Lebanese music composer, songwriter and producer. He has composed music scores for several films, including After Shave, Caramel, and Where Do We Go Now?. In 2008, he recorded Les Champs Arides, his first solo album as a singer and songwriter.
Mouzanar studied under Boghos Gelalian – an Armenian-Lebanese composer. His work is rooted in various music genres, including classical, jazz, Mediterranean, and oriental melodies. His compositions are also influenced by Brazilian choro and Argentinian tango.
Maxime Edgard Chaya was born and raised in Beirut until the year 1975 when the civil war saw him and his family take refuge abroad. He pursued his education overseas in Greece, France, Canada and the United Kingdom, graduating with a Bachelor of Science Honors degree from the London School of Economics (LSE).
Chaya then spent a year as a trainee at Republic National Bank of New York's head office on Fifth Avenue before foregoing post-graduate studies and returning home to take over the family's Foreign Exchange business. In 1999, he founded his own company VO2max, and through it, organized races and competitions for Lebanese youth of all ages. Cycling, both road and Mountain Bike, triathlon, road running, trail-running, rock climbing, ski touring and freeride were all part of the VO2MAX challenge series of events from 1999 to 2003.
Besides organizing events for others, and the youth in particular, Chaya showed great interest in competing personally, and seemed to excel in every discipline he would adopt. Despite the lack of professional training and advice (his country was at war), his rigorous training, coupled with unfailing determination, perseverance and willpower won him several awards and trophies in a host of disciplines both at national and international level.
Chaya now resides in Lebanon with his two children: Edgard and Kelly. Despite work and family life, he has kept his fitness level at the very top but has gradually put down his rackets, skates, and various balls to take up more open air sports such as trail running, biking, backcountry skiing, and climbing.
Since his partnership with Bank Audi on the “Seven Summits Project” in January 2003, it has been one successful expedition after another for Chaya, acquiring experience, knowledge and wisdom, while discovering new limits within him, and ‘Growing Beyond His Potential’ summit after summit.
Recently, on August 5, 2013, Chaya beat the world record in rowing the Indian Ocean. The three adventurers, Chaya, the Faroese Livar Nysted and the British Stuart Kershaw crossed 5,801 kilometers (3,132 nmi) from Geraldton in the east of Australia and rowed alternatively, during 57 days, 19 hours, 25 minutes and 52 seconds exactly. They were also the first crew of three to cross the Indian Ocean.
Reem Acra studied at the American University of Beirut Medical Center, where her parents both worked. Her mother, Nadia, worked in the family medicine department, and her father, Aftim, was a prominent and distinguished academic, professor, public health expert, and an amber collector. She grew up with three brothers, Michael, Max, and Sari, in Beirut.
While a teenager, she joined the fashion club at the American University in Beirut where she graduated in 1982 with a business degree. She held a fashion show in June 1982 that attracted 2,000 people.[6] In 1986, she graduated magna cum laude from the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York and won the Fashion Design Department’s award for her year. After graduating from FIT, Acra studied at the École Supérieure des Arts et Techniques de la Mode design school in Paris.
Acra left Beirut in 1983, relocating to New York City, during the peak of the Lebanese Civil War.
After her studies at ESMOD in Paris, Acra took mainstream fashion design positions in Hong Kong and Taiwan. At the age of 25 she was overseeing a $30 million project, but left after seven years to start her own line in New York.
