Following the conclusion of the main stage program, attendees are invited to continue networking and visiting the exhibition area from 5:55 PM to 6:15 PM. This marks the official close of Day 2 programming.

The Networking Break is the perfect opportunity to recharge and connect between sessions. Enjoy a selection of refreshments and light snacks while engaging in casual conversations across the networking areas. Use the Web App to plan quick meetups, exchange ideas, and expand your professional connections before the next session begins.

In an era defined by geopolitical volatility, shifting power structures, and rapid technological disruption, the traditional frameworks of diplomacy are being reimagined. Meredith Preston McGhie, an internationally recognized peacebuilding leader and Secretary-General of the Global Centre for Pluralism, brings decades of experience working in conflict zones, negotiating with armed groups, and advising governments, corporations, and international institutions. Her keynote invites C-suite leaders to explore a powerful reality: business is no longer a bystander in global peace and stability – it is an indispensable actor.

As markets stretch across borders and supply chains intersect with fragile states, the private sector now sits at the crossroads of geopolitics, ethics, and economics. Preston McGhie will illuminate how companies can strategically engage in multi-layered diplomacy: a growing model where government, civil society, corporations, and multilateral actors collaborate to prevent conflict, strengthen governance, and foster sustainable peace.

She will challenge leaders to consider not only corporate resilience and compliance, but their influence as convener, investor, communicator, and trusted stakeholder—roles once reserved solely for states and diplomats.

Drawing from her years negotiating in some of the world’s most complex conflicts, Preston McGhie will share highly transferable skills for leaders navigating uncertainty, geopolitical pressure, and shifting alliances.

Internationally acclaimed comedian Nemr brings his signature humor to the Beirut Business Forum with a special stand-up set crafted for the occasion. In a world where everything from work to communication feels upside down, Nemr explores how humor connects people, bridges cultures, and helps us find balance in the chaos of change.

The Networking Luncheon offers a vibrant space to connect, recharge, and engage. Enjoy a diverse buffet with hot and cold dishes, dedicated seating areas, and casual high-table zones designed for easy conversation. Unwind in the Relaxation or Gaming Rooms, grab coffee and refreshments throughout the venue, and make the most of our Web App to book meetings and connect with fellow attendees.

Economist and author of The Bitcoin Standard, Dr. Saifedean Ammous explores how sound money principles can help leaders and institutions navigate an era of uncertainty, inflation and technological disruption. He examines how Bitcoin, decentralized systems and long term thinking are reshaping finance and economic governance. This keynote invites leaders to reconsider what value, trust and responsibility mean in a world of rapid change, and how adopting a sound foundation can build resilience in both business and society.

We live in an age of infinite information, where the sheer volume of podcasts, news, social media, and AI-generated content has reshaped how we consume knowledge. Yet, while we are consuming more than ever, few people are actively cultivating a practice that allows them to process, integrate, and apply what they learn in a meaningful way.
As AI-driven tools become more powerful, the ability to engage in critical thinking, creative problem-solving, and deep learning is becoming a competitive advantage. However, if we are not intentional about how we engage with these technologies, we risk passively accepting AI-generated outputs rather than developing the skills to challenge, refine, and build upon them.

Rahaf explores how individuals and organizations can build an Adaptive Knowledge Practice—a structured approach to learning that ensures curiosity, critical thinking, and strategic knowledge application remain at the core of professional development. She delves into the cognitive shifts needed to transition from passive consumption to active mastery, offering insights on how leaders can foster a culture of deliberate learning and intellectual agility.

Exploring how leaders can build learning cultures that honor identity, connection and humanity, where reflection and growth are as valued as performance.

Gather in the auditorium as we officially open the Forum. Our MC will guide the session with a warm introduction, followed by remarks from the Forum’s Founder. Attendees will also receive a brief overview of the two-day agenda, highlighting the themes, speakers, and key experiences ahead. Please proceed to your designated seating area according to your ticket tier.

Start your Forum experience with a seamless check-in at the registration area. Collect your personalized badge, event materials, and get set for the day ahead. Enjoy complimentary breakfast and coffee while you network with fellow participants and take your first look at the Exhibitor Hall, where partners and innovators will be showcasing their offerings. This is also a great moment to explore the venue and get familiar with the Forum app for networking and live agenda updates.

Set within the historic Sursock Palace in Achrafieh, one of Beirut’s most elegant landmarks, The Private Forum Dinner offers a refined evening for First Class guests, partners, and speakers. Surrounded by the palace’s gardens and timeless architecture, guests will enjoy the flavors of Lebanon through a curated menu that celebrates local heritage, accompanied by live music.

It will be an evening to connect, reflect on the day’s insights, and share meaningful conversations in a setting that captures the spirit and sophistication of Beirut.

Following the conclusion of the main stage program, attendees are invited to continue networking and visiting the exhibition area from 6:40 PM to 7:00 PM. This marks the official close of Day 1 programming.

In this conversation, Patrick Chalhoub reflects on the principles and practices that have shaped a culture rooted in humanity, excellence, and long-term purpose across a multigenerational family business. He explores how values are preserved while leadership evolves, how an organization grows without losing its identity, and how trust, continuity, and shared responsibility guide decision making during times of change. Through candid insights, he reveals what it takes to nurture teams, adapt to new market realities, and build a company where culture is not only a heritage but a living asset that empowers the next generation to lead with confidence and vision.

The Networking Break is the perfect opportunity to recharge and connect between sessions. Enjoy a selection of refreshments and light snacks while engaging in casual conversations across the networking areas. Use the Web App to plan quick meetups, exchange ideas, and expand your professional connections before the next session begins.

From visionary architecture to bold reinvention, Mohamed Hadid has built more than landmarks, he built a life defined by risk, creativity, and perseverance. In this conversation, he reflects on what it means to dream at scale, create spaces that embody identity and emotion, and lead through cycles of success and reinvention. His story explores how beauty, purpose and courage intersect in a rapidly changing world, and what leadership looks like when vision becomes both business and art.

AI is no longer just a breakthrough technology. It is becoming an essential infrastructure layer that will reshape every industry. New AI-first companies and the AI supply chain that support them are poised to create significant value. At the same time, there is an even larger opportunity ahead: how incumbent businesses will apply AI across their organizations and capture much of the value.

This session explores why incumbent businesses are positioned to capture much of AI’s value, and what it takes to do so. Drawing on his experience across Brightstar, Sprint, T-Mobile, Claure Group, and Brightstar Capital Partners, Marcelo will share his perspective on deploying AI at scale, including what is required to move beyond pilots and make AI adoption successful.

Internationally acclaimed comedian Nemr brings his signature humor to the Beirut Business Forum with a special stand-up set crafted for the occasion. In a world where everything from work to communication feels upside down, Nemr explores how humor connects people, bridges cultures, and helps us find balance in the chaos of change.

The Networking Luncheon offers a vibrant space to connect, recharge, and engage. Enjoy a diverse buffet with hot and cold dishes, dedicated seating areas, and casual high-table zones designed for easy conversation. Unwind in the Relaxation or Gaming Rooms, grab coffee and refreshments throughout the venue, and make the most of our Web App to book meetings and connect with fellow attendees.

AI is advancing at an exponential pace. Mo Gawdat shows how leaders can turn uncertainty into opportunity by embracing adaptability, upholding ethics and using technology to solve humanity’s greatest challenges.

This keynote offers a blueprint for turning impossible challenges into inevitable outcomes. The world feels unstable and fast changing. Entire communities are living through uncertainty while technology and AI rapidly expand what humans can build. Some experience this moment with security. Others face realities that turn creativity into a survival skill. Born as a Black child in communist Czechoslovakia, Yemi’s path led him from the margins of possibility to creative partnerships with Apple, Mercedes Benz, Google, and the world’s biggest stages including the VMAs, Saturday Night Live, and Coachella, and eventually led to his selection as a civilian for a SpaceX mission. Through this journey he developed a leadership practice that aligns head, heart, and gut into one coherent source of action. The keynote also highlights the work of young leaders within the Moonshot community who embody this mindset every day and invites audiences to develop the clarity, courage, and disciplined imagination needed to create change wherever they stand.

When Rola Dagher first came to Canada as a young refugee, she didn’t speak the language and had no formal education. Beginning her career in Bell’s telemarketing department, she hustled her way to the top, earning senior sales leadership roles at Bell Canada and Dell. Most recently, she was the global channel chief at Dell Technologies after a groundbreaking tenure as President and CEO of Cisco Canada. With over two decades of experience in the technology industry, Dagher credits her leadership philosophy, “learn it, earn it, return it™” for fueling her success, both individually and as a leader.

In this story-driven keynote, Dagher shares her powerful journey from a childhood in war-torn Lebanon to boardrooms around the world, breaking down her philosophy — “learn it”, embracing continuous growth; “earn it”, relentless hustle, determination, and resilience; and “return it”, the mentality of lifting others up — and illustrating how it creates leaders who don’t just succeed, but build world-class teams, drive transformational change, and achieve sustained excellence.

Key takeaways include:

• The three-phase framework that turns adversity into advantage.
• How to hustle with heart while maintaining authentic leadership.
• Why “returning it” amplifies your impact exponentially.
• How to transform systemic barriers into stepping stones for yourself and others.

Gather in the auditorium as we officially open the Forum. Our MC will guide the session with a warm introduction, followed by remarks from the Forum’s Founder. Attendees will also receive a brief overview of the two-day agenda, highlighting the themes, speakers, and key experiences ahead. Please proceed to your designated seating area according to your ticket tier.

Start your Forum experience with a seamless check-in at the registration area. Collect your personalized badge, event materials, and get set for the day ahead. Enjoy complimentary breakfast and coffee while you network with fellow participants and take your first look at the Exhibitor Hall, where partners and innovators will be showcasing their offerings. This is also a great moment to explore the venue and get familiar with the Forum app for networking and live agenda updates.