The Center for Women in Business at the Suleiman Al-Olayan School of Business at the American University of Beirut hosted
an open discussion with Sarah Mankara, former U.S. Special Advisor on International Disability Rights.
The event was organized in collaboration with the Lebanese Association of Businesswomen.
Mankara discussed her leadership experience and her perspectives on diplomacy, inclusive innovation, entrepreneurship, and artificial intelligence.
She also recounted her journey from her Lebanese roots to positions of global leadership.
She explained how to transform personal experiences into a force for change.
The event opened with remarks by the Center’s Director, Nada Khadaj-Subh,
as well as by the dean of the college, Professor Youssef Sidani, and the association’s president, Abeer Shbaro.
The speakers emphasized the importance of partnerships between universities, the business sector, and civil society.
They also stressed that diversity and inclusion are cornerstones of innovation and sustainable growth.
During the session, moderated by Rana Ghandour Salhab, participants discussed the role of inclusive leadership in empowering women and enhancing the economic value of diversity.
The discussion also addressed the responsibility of governments and companies in expanding opportunities for participation.
The session highlighted the role of artificial intelligence in building more inclusive societies,
especially when it places people and diversity at the heart of development.
The event concluded with an interactive discussion and a networking session, reaffirming the commitment to continued collaboration to empower women and create a sustainable impact in Lebanon and the region.
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