Bridging Gaps: Collaborative Paths for Women and Men in Finance

Dr. Doaa Salem

Senior Director, Outreach and Partnerships Unit, the School of Continuing Education -The American University in Cairo

Ahmed Sayed

Director, Grants & Special Programs, AUC's School of Continuing Education

A’laa Samy Rizk

A’laa Samy Rizk is an Executive, Team, and Financial Coach with over 22 years of experience in Information Technology, including two decades in the oil and gas sector. She is an Associate Certified Coach (ACC) and an Advanced Certified Team Coach (ACTC), both accredited by the International Coaching Federation. A’laa has delivered more than 600 coaching hours, specializing in business transformation, digital change, customer experience design, and team dynamics. She is also a certified Positive Discipline Educator and a Thomas Personal Profile Assessor. In addition to her coaching practice, she served as the past president of the ICF Egypt Chapter.

Ahmad Mkhallati

Senior Director, IMA® (Institute of Management Accountants) – Middle East and Africa Operations

As IMA’s Senior Director, Ahmad Mkhallati leads the strategic growth and operational management of IMA across the Middle East, and Africa. In this capacity, he oversees all aspects of regional operations, including strategic partnerships, government and regulatory relations, and training partner engagement. A graduate of California State University, Sacramento with a degree in International Business, Ahmad began his career in the United States, where he spent over a decade in roles focused on business development and professional education. Upon returning to the region, he joined one of the largest finance and accounting training institutes in the Middle East as Executive Director. In this role, he was in charge of product and country expansion, driving significant business growth. He also played a pivotal role in educating and guiding more than 80,000 finance professionals on their journey to certification and career advancement.

Ahmad joined IMA in 2014 as Partners’ Relations Manager and steadily rose through the ranks, serving as Director of Regional Partners’ Relations before his promotion to Senior Director in 2022. He is widely recognized for his deep expertise in adult learning, finance and accounting training, international development, and regional market strategy. In addition to his operational leadership, Ahmad is a key driver of IMA’s regional expansion strategy. He has successfully led market entry and growth initiatives across diverse geographies, fostering high-impact partnerships and building ecosystems that support the long-term development of the management accounting profession. His high-touch, partner-focused approach has been instrumental in establishing IMA as a trusted thought leader and professional resource throughout the region. Ahmad’s strategic insight, combined with a hands-on leadership style, continues to advance IMA’s mission of empowering finance and accounting professionals through certification, education, and advocacy.

Chaïma Tayssir

Chaïma is a seasoned professional with over 28 years of experience in DEIJB, Communication, Public Relations, and NGOs. As the CEO and Founder of Dream Catcher, she creates safe spaces for personal and professional growth, focusing on empowering women, youth, and neurodiverse individuals. Chaïma is a recognized leader in the global coaching community, serving as the Board President of the ICF Egypt Chapter and authoring two books on personal development. Her dedication to fostering empowerment and mental wellness has earned her numerous accolades, making her a transformative force in coaching, mentoringand leadership.

Dianna Steinbach

Dianna Steinbach is IMA’s chief growth and marketing officer. As an executive who has been responsible for critical finances in many different roles throughout her career, Dianna is a champion of telling a business’ story through its numbers. She sees strategic finance as the foundation that enables an organization to achieve its goals as well as the place to measure progress and success. Dianna is a Certified Association Executive (CAE) and an international operations expert who has managed associations as well as for-profit industry and event entities for more than 20 years. Her experience includes growing and diversifying operations and events in Asia Pacific, the Americas, Africa, Europe, Eurasia, and the Middle East. From launching new programs to opening new business units to overseeing mergers and acquisitions, Dianna has a passion for helping organizations find the right path toward maximum success. She is the programming chair and board member for the European Society of Association Executives (ESAE) and a member of the American Society of Association Executives (ASAE) International Associations Advisory Council. She regularly speaks and writes about association management topics for a variety of organizations. She also has been a faculty member for the Membership Marketing School and a past member of the IBTM World Association Leaders Forum Advisory Board. Dianna holds an Executive Master of Business Administration degree.

May Said

May Said is the Director of Public Sector for Egypt, Lebanon and Iraq, Business Development at Mastercard Egypt, bringing over 19 years of extensive banking experience across Egypt and the UAE. A digital transformation and FinTech innovation leader, May is Six Sigma-certified and a passionate advocate for conscious technology. Her diverse background includes roles at HSBC, ADIB Egypt, and as a founding team member and Chief Business Officer of Tamweely Microfinance. At the Central Bank of Egypt, she was instrumental in the FinTech and Innovation Department, leading key initiatives and contributing to regulatory frameworks. May holds a Cambridge FinTech and Regulatory Innovation Certificate and is dedicated to creating impactful solutions that leverage technology for positive change.

Mervat Gabal

Mervat Gabal is a Strategy and Human Development Consultant committed to empowering women-led businesses and advancing sustainable practices. As the visionary leader of Gabal Consult and La Maison Treize, she offers strategic resources and mentorship to women and young entrepreneurs through a team of experts. Both organizations foster supportive environments for female entrepreneurs, enhancing business operations with a focus on women's leadership and success.

Ahmed Nabil

Ahmed Nabil is the General Manager of Investor Relations at Ezz Steel Group, where he oversees the group’s listed companies in both Egypt and London, and is responsible for producing equity, sectoral, and economic research. He also serves as a Board Director at Al Ezz Dekheila Steel Company (EZDK). Until 2018, he held the roles of CEO, General Manager, and Board Director of Al Ezz Flat Steel Company (EFS), having joined the group in 1999 and holding various senior positions in treasury, corporate finance, and investment. Mr. Nabil holds a BSc in Civil Engineering from Ain Shams University and an MSc in Project Management from the Georgia Institute of Technology (Georgia Tech). With over 40 years of experience in project development, investment, and project finance, he has played key roles in structuring, advising, negotiating, and syndicating major project finance deals in Egypt and the Middle East, representing both lenders and borrowers. He also serves as a non-executive Board Director and member of the Executive Committee at Baraka Bank, Sudan, and at Baraka Insurance Company, where he is a member of the Investment Committee. Mr. Nabil has authored several papers on project and regional finance, which he has presented at international conferences across the Middle East. Additionally, he has developed and delivered numerous courses on project finance, credit, and treasury management throughout the region. He is the author of AUC’s Project Finance & Syndication course and proudly introduced AUC’s banking credit course graduation project, known as “the Desk,” back in 2007.