TEDxAUB

Speakers

Speakers may not be confirmed. Check the event website for the latest lineup.

• African Club

  Founded a decade ago as the first African cultural club in the region, the African Club at the American University of Beirut (AUB) is a student organization that celebrates and promotes African culture, unity, and identity within the AUB community. It brings together students from across Africa and beyond to share traditions, organize cultural events, and foster mutual understanding and friendship. The club also aims to highlight Africa’s diversity through music, food, dance, and discussions, creating a welcoming space for Africans and non-Africans alike to learn from each other.

• Caroline Labaki

  Filmmaker

  Caroline Labaki is a Lebanese writer, director, actress, and producer whose work is defined by expressive storytelling and a deep engagement with social themes. A graduate of Saint Joseph University in Beirut (2002), she studied theater, audiovisual arts, and film. Her performances in the internationally acclaimed Lebanese films Ghadi (2013) and Where Do We Go Now? (2011) established her as a versatile and compelling screen presence. As a filmmaker, Labaki gained recognition for #175, part of the Emmy-nominated anthology Beirut 6:07, which powerfully portrayed personal accounts from the 2020 Beirut port explosion. In 2025, she made her feature directorial debut with BornStars — a daring cross-cultural film that bridges Lebanon and the United States through a story of ambition, chaos, and resilience. With this work, Labaki affirms her standing as one of the most distinctive and socially attuned voices in contemporary Middle Eastern cinema.

• Christelle Zeidan

  Student

  Christelle Zeidan is a Biology premedical student minoring in International Law at the American University of Beirut. As President of the Biology Student Society (BSS) and the Transformative Education Club, she has been a driving force in promoting student engagement, academic reform, and the integration of science with social responsibility. Through her work in student leadership, she has actively championed initiatives that support educational equity, sustainability in healthcare, and community-based learning. Alongside her leadership roles, Christelle is a research assistant in neurobiology and cell death, exploring how the mechanisms that govern cellular life and death can reveal deeper truths about healing, regeneration, and human resilience. Her research reflects her belief that science, at its best, is an act of empathy, one that connects the molecular to the meaningful.

• Farah Ghanem

  Leadership Goal & Speaker

  Farah Ghanem is a professional development trainer, business and leadership coach, and management consultant who helps professionals become confident leaders through emotional intelligence and project management mastery. She is the founder of CNSLT Lab, a consulting firm reimagining learning and leadership through gamified experiences, and the founder of Karakna.lb, Lebanon’s first Karak Chai concept, built on connection, community, and purpose. From building structures as an engineer to building mindsets as a coach, Farah has spent the past decade empowering thousands of youth, entrepreneurs, and executives around the world to lead with self-awareness, empathy, and authenticity. Her work bridges strategy with a human-centric approach, reminding us that in an era dominated by AI, the future isn’t artificial, the future is emotional.

• Husein Farhat

  Entrepreneur

  I’m a filmmaker, traveler, and creative entrepreneur from South Lebanon. I’m the founder of The Creative Hub, a platform that empowers young creators to master videography, storytelling, and content creation, helping them turn their creativity into real opportunities for growth and impact. My story began early. I started trekking when I was young, drawn to nature and the feeling of exploration. In 2018, I picked up a camera for the first time, and that same year, I filmed Lebanon’s parliamentary elections. It was then that I discovered how powerful visuals can be in shaping narratives and connecting people.

• Jack Jendo

  Entrepreneur

  Jack Jendo is an entrepreneur, digital transformation strategist, and UN Senior Fellow for Human Rights. He leads Brain Digits, an AI and innovation company empowering governments, entrepreneurs, and communities to thrive through leadership and technology. With experience spanning Beirut, Dubai, Riyadh, Sydney, and Washington, DC, and appearances on global media and stages from the United Nations to TEDx, Jack works at the intersection of human and artificial intelligence, helping people rebuild systems of thinking, leadership, and hope in times of change. At TEDxAUB 2025, Jack explores a timely truth: in an age overflowing with data and artificial intelligence, critical thinking is no longer optional, it is the structure upon which human progress will stand.

• Jad Fakhani

  Entrepreneur

  Jad is one of the most influential entrepreneurs in the region. Eight years ago, after his family lost their business, Jad lost everything and had to start from scratch. Through relentless work and determination, he not only rebuilt himself but went on to make millions and achieve financial freedom through the power of ecommerce. From there, he went on to build The Engine Program, now the biggest business education program in the Middle East — empowering over 6,000 students and uniting a community of more than 180,000 members. He is also the Founder and CEO of Beycom, the powerhouse of e-commerce solutions driving growth for businesses across the region. Recognized on Forbes 30 Under 30 in 2024, Jad is now on a mission to guide others who seek the same freedom and independence he fought for and achieved.

• Najla Sadek

  Najla Sadek is a top-ranking Computer Science and Engineering student with a minor in Applied Mathematics at the American University of Beirut. A classically trained opera singer with a baccalaureate degree in classical piano, she is the voice of signature events at AUB and beyond. She bridges technology and art through her AI research worldwide and, more recently, through music collaborations with CERN and BMW, performing for audiences that witness how innovation and artistry can inspire one another.

• Rayan Hayek

  Public Figure

  Rayan Hayek began his career at the age of 12, creating funny and relatable videos on Instagram. At a time when influencers were still few—especially in Lebanon and before platforms like TikTok existed—Rayan stood out as one of the first of his generation (2018–2019). By that time, he had reached over 100,000 followers, an impressive milestone for the era. In Ramadan 2021, during the COVID-19 lockdown, Rayan shifted gears by interviewing celebrities who were already following him on Instagram. Over 30 episodes, he featured big names such as Badih Abou Chakra, Amir Saoud, Paula Yacoubian, Tony Issa, Aline Lahoud, and Yazbek Wehbe. These interviews established him as a natural host and a skilled conversationalist.

• Shirin Khalaf

  Meet Shirin Khalaf — a dynamic singer, songwriter and all around powerhouse who turns every performance into a story. With her voice, vibrant energy and stage presence, she brings music to life in the most unforgettable way.

• Yasmina Zaytoun

  Actor

  Yasmina Zaytoun, Miss World First Runner-Up, Miss World Asia 2024, and Miss Lebanon 2022, is a passionate young woman who inspires her generation while focusing on humanitarian advocacy to support her community, empower women and children, and raise awareness on social issues.