She is ranked as the Most Influential Arab Woman in the World in Social Media by Klout and Top 100 Arabs

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Willis Jennings
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1 MUNA ABUSULAYMAN Due to a diverse cross-sectors work experience over the past 16 years, AbuSulayman is selected as one of the Most Influential and Powerful Arab women in various lists from AbuSulayman has successfully launched, managed, and scaled multiple businesses and foundations throughout her career and is continuously placed in lists naming her one of the most influential Arabs in the world. She is internationally recognized as an expert in the fields of Management, Education, Sustainable Development, Communications, Middle East, and Female Empowerment. She is ranked as the Most Influential Arab Woman in the World in Social Media by Klout and Top 100 Arabs AWARDS AND ACHIEVEMENTS - UNDP Goodwill Ambassador KSA Arab Media Achievement Award, Siltech, Global Ambassador, Avon Middle East Ambassador for Stopping Domestic Violence Abuse, UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador for Tetanus in Middle East with Pampers Social Innovation Award, George Mason University (2011) - Award for Female Empowerment, Women in Leadership Foundation (2011) - Top Middle East Female Social Media Influential (Feb. 2011) - Colin-Morely Award for Philanthropy (2010) - One of the 500 Most Influential Muslims in the World (2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013) - One of The Most Influential Arab Women, Arabian Business Magazine (2010,2011,2012,2013) - One of the Most Influential Arabs in the World, Arabian Business Magazine (2010,2011,) - Distinguished Arab Woman Award by The Arab Women s Studies Center (2009) - Young Global Leader by World Economic Forum (2007) EDUCATIONAL BACKGROUND PhD in English Literature, ABD, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia (2004) M.A. in English Literature, George Mason University, Virginia, USA (1996) B.A. in English Literature, George Mason University, Virginia, USA (1995) PHILANTHROPY Director, Directions Consulting 2011-present Directions Consultancy is a boutique consultancy firm for innovative impactful philanthropy. Directions work centers advising social and non-profit sector leaders, CSR departments, foundations and individuals on philanthropic effectiveness through: - Creating, Identifying, Evaluating, Scaling sustainable and innovative projects - Building private/public suitable relationships

2 2 Secretary General, Alwaleed Bin Talal Foundations AbuSulayman is the founding Secretary General of one of the most well-known and effective Philanthropic Foundations. She developed and successfully implemented the mission, vision, and operations for both the local and global Alwaleed Foundations. Her work and funded projects won numerous awards and recognition. During her tenure, she oversaw the grant making process, day to day operations, as well as all strategic expansion in partnerships. The Foundations focused on the following tracks: Economic and Community Development (KSA, Africa, ASEAN, MENA) AF identifies and funds innovative economic revitalization programs that create balanced economic growth in 65 developing countries. AF works with social sector partners to ensure best practices and significant transfer of knowledge to local organizations for sustainable impact. A major focus area for Community Development is leveraging all resources and skills in order to assist the social sector and NGO/NPO service providers build their core capacity to reach maximum effectiveness, become cost effective, and achieve acceptable international standards of operations. Another important track for AF is supporting emerging leaders, and empowering women in the Developing World through educational scholarships, professional fellowships and work internships. A comprehensive list of projects funded by the Alwaleed Foundations is available at Natural Disaster Aid AF funds immediate and long-term reconstruction efforts in disaster areas. AF teams work on providing immediate Aid to third world counties natural disasters within a maximum of 72 hours of occurrence. By preemptively establishing local and international networks known to operate in potential disaster areas such as countries resting on earthquake fault lines, or regions prone to tornedo/tsunami incidents, AF is able to deliver the help that is needed when it is needed most. Recent work in Somalia, Haiti, Egypt, Yemen and Pakistan focused on a new track: Post Disaster Refugee and Immigration which directly impact long term recovery plans in the affected countries. AF work continues post disaster in order to help victims regain their lives back or that viable alternatives are provided for the displaced population. Interfaith and Islam/West Dialogue One of AF s core missions is to help bridge the gap between the East and West through supporting top academic university centers, Arab and Islamic organizations working in the West, and Muslim leadership programs that focus on Interfaith, and Conflict Resolution. AF s greatest success is creating a large network of academic centers and programs with international partners that include Harvard, Georgetown, Cambridge University (and several other top universities) to help dispel cultural and religious misunderstanding.

3 3 KEY PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE Co-founder, Meedan.com present Meedan.com aims to aggregate and translate news from around the world to Arabic in order to provide localized global news to its readers. Partner and Board Member, Glowork present Glowork is the first MENA staffing and recruiting company dedicated to women and their economic empowerment. The agency operates, and is fully functional, through both a website and physical office locations. The unique website full service model helps Saudi women bypass daily logistical obstacles that face them, especially for the first time job seekers or due to cultural and familial constraints. Moreover, Glowork provides training, coaching, and mentoring service to ensure long term employment and career advancement of the client. Lastly, the Glowork team works with the HR department to upgrade employment policies to reflect the female employee s needs. Founding Executive Director, Alwaleed bin Talal Foundations The Global and Local Alwaleed Foundations, formerly known as Kingdom Foundation, were established in 2006 to manage Prince Alwaleed Bin Talal s global philanthropic initiatives; the name change occurred in late AbuSulayman successfully: Led the organizational efforts to create and implement a charitable foundation for HRH Prince Alwaleed Bin Talal s philanthropic activities in KSA and around the world. Strategically directed sustainable philanthropic giving through grants to strengthen core operations and capacity building in selected organizations that fulfill AF s criteria for development. Oversaw and stream lined all global philanthropic activities, projects, and donations of HRH Prince Alwaleed Bin Talal. Developed the criteria selection model for the Foundation and Kingdom Holding company grants. Overhauled the Low-cost Residency program for KSA for 10,000 villa units. Created the PR necessary and exceeded Kingdom Co. KPI requirements. Executive Manager of Strategic Studies, Kingdom Holding Company Kingdom Holding is one of world s most successful and most diversified business investment groups. AbuSulayman s work at the Strategic Studies Department (SSD) was to: Create the CSR and Strategic Studies departments at the company. Initiate the creation of the international academic, medical, and educational programs at Harvard, Georgetown, University of Edinburgh, Cambridge University, Exeter University, and The American University of Beirut and the American University of Cairo.

4 4 Strategically locate, support, and work with foundations and organizations that can facilitate higher standards of learning and leadership in Saudi Arabia. Create several programs to advance ethical leadership in the Muslim, and developing worlds Develop assessment, evaluation and background checks that comply with post 9/11 KSA and International laws. Lecturer, King Saud University, English Department AbuSulayman taught freshman to senior level courses ranging from Essay Writing to American Literature. MEDIA Ms. AbuSulayman s extensive media experience began as a founding co-host of the most successful and longest running Arab TV program Kalam Nouam (KN) on MBC, the leading Arab Media Channel in the Middle East. Focusing on Arab social, economic, cultural, education and gender issues, the show s social reform efforts propelled it to international renown during her tenure from Ms. AbuSulayman continues to engage with the media through frequent guest appearances on talk show hosts, and periodic co-hosting stints on various news shows. She has, throughout the show, developed social, legal, and educational reforms themes for Middle Eastern and Muslim women. For example, in the focus was on family/women legal rights in Islam. By utilizing a segment each month to highlight scholarships, advice, success stories in order to help shift public perceptions to create actionable goals that are doable/measurable (i.e. gaining right in family courts to free legal representation, or allowing Saudi female lawyers to practice in court). She is considered one of the most influential Arabs in Social Media --reaching no. 1 spot of Influence in the MENA region in several statistical based listings. During the past 10 years, Muna AbuSulayman has strongly championed public and media campaigns: on: Stopping Domestic Violence in the Middle East, The UNICEF/Pampers Tetanus Vaccine, Literacy for Women, and also Reading as 1 st Step for Child Education. Additionally, AbuSulayman is starting a new media company Meedan.com to help translate great content from around the web into Arabic. SPEAKING ENGAGEMENTS Ms. AbuSulayman is asked to speak on issues relating to Societal Issues, Work/life Balance, Monetization of Motherhood: Gendered Economics, the Middle East, Islam, and Philanthropy. Some of her recent key speaking appearances occurred at: National Transitional Council s Youth Forum in BenGhazi 2012 British Council Global Citizenship Forum in Islamabad 2012

5 5 World Bank Open Forum panel with Robert Zoellick on Gendered Economics, 2011 World Economic Forum meetings at Davos, The Dead Sea, and Sharm Al Sheik Arab Ministers of Social Development Forum Jordan Conferences such as: Brookings Institute (Doha), Alliance of Civilizations (Madrid), and National Council on U.S.-Arab Relations (DC) Paley Center for Media (NY) Universities such as Harvard (US), Kingston (UK) and Dar Al Hekma (KSA) TEDxDeadsea Gender and Economics Talk, 2011 Dubai International Humanitarian, Aid and Development Conference (UAE) Harvard Arab World Conference (UAE) KEY MEMBERSHIPS World Economic Forum Young Global Leader (YGL) Advisory Member of King Abdulaziz University Employment Council 2013 Executive Committee for Artisan and Productive Families Majed Society 2013 Founding Board of Friends Autism 2013 Board Member of The Gerhart Philanthropy Center (AUC), from 2009 Advisory Board Member, World Congress of Muslim Philanthropists (WMPC), 2012 KSA Task Force, OECD KSA Women s Enterprise Fellow at Aspen Institute Middle East Initiative, from 2008 Fellow at Yale Global Fellowship, from 2009 Member of the World Economic Forum Global Agenda Council in Media Leaders 2009,2010 Member of the World Economic Forum Global Agenda Council in Interfaith Leaders 2008,2009 Member, Young Presidents Organization (YPO) from 2009 Advisory Board Member, Peaceful Families Project (PFP), 2011, 2012 Member, Saudi Media Association Judge, MIT Arab Business Plan Competition, Advisory Board Member, Global Partnership for Women and Girls, USA Board Member of Alwaleed Bin Talal University Centers at Harvard, Cambridge University, Georgetown University, Edinburgh University, American University of Cairo, American University of Beirut Advisory Board Member, Women In Leadership Initiative Forums 2010-present Director of the Board Meedan Project e-translation 3.0 P. O. Box Riyadh mabu4@yahoo.com.

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