Founding Advisors
Dr. Rita Stephan
Dr. Rita Stephan is a Senior Leader in the United States Federal Government with a track record of pioneering programs and initiatives that foster connections among government, business, academia, and civil society organizations. She currently is the Chief of the Continuing Education Training Division in the Office of Knowledge Management of the Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL).
Dr. Stephan also served as the Regional Coordinator for Religious and Ethnic Minorities at the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), where she oversaw an interdisciplinary team responsible for promoting the rights and well-being of religious and ethnic minorities in the Middle East.
Prior to joining USAID, Dr. Stephan held a series of senior positions at the U.S. Department of State, including Director of the Middle East Partnership Initiative, Founder and Deputy Director of Data Analytics in the Executive Secretary’s Office, Strategic Planner at the Global Engagement Center, Senior Data Analyst at the Advanced Conflict Analytics Team, and Senior Analyst for Syria and Lebanon at the Bureau of Intelligence and Research.
Dr. Stephan holds Ph.D. in Sociology from the University of Texas at Austin and a B.A. in International Affairs and Jewish Studies from American University. She is also a research fellow at North Carolina State University and a published author of several books and articles on women’s movements in the Middle East and the Middle Eastern community in the U.S. census.
Dr. Stephan’s expertise and experience make her an invaluable asset to any organization seeking to understand and navigate the complex dynamics of the Middle East. Her ability to bridge the gap between data and policy makes her a key player in promoting peace and stability in the region. She is a widely published author in leading academic journals and policy publciations. Her latest edited book on “Covid and Gender in the Middle East” was published by University of Texas Press (2023). She is the co-editor of Women Rising: In and Beyond the Arab Spring and Beyond (New York University Press, 2020) and In Line with the Divine: The Struggle for Gender Equality in Lebanon (Warwick, RI: Abelian Academic 2015). Her academic publications focus on women’s movements in the Middle East and the Middle Eastern community in the U.S. census.
Dr. Charlotte Karam
Dr. Charlotte Karam, a tenured full professor at the University of Ottawa, is a leading authority on inclusive human resource (HR) systems, empowering businesses to cultivate diverse and thriving workplaces. Her exceptional expertise, spanning leadership, women’s equality, development-oriented CSR, and models of business ethics, has garnered international recognition and acclaim. Dr. Karam has been highly commended by The Financial Times for being one of the world’s best academic research with societal impact, for her scholarship and advocacy on sexual harassment in Lebanon.
Dr. Karam’s groundbreaking research has secured over $11 million in funding from esteemed institutions like UN Women, UNDP, Governments of Canada and Sweden, and the U.S. Department of State Middle East Partnership Initiative. As the project lead, she has spearheaded the development of groundbreaking indices, including The KIP and Lived Experience Indices, which serve as the first sector-based measures assessing women’s recruitment, retention, and promotion in Middle Eastern and North African workplaces.
In a pivotal move in 2021, Dr. Karam spearheaded The SAWI Project, a multi-sector initiative focused on mobilizing decision-makers and leaders to implement localized strategies for cultivating inclusive HR systems and fostering supportive workplace cultures. Her visionary leadership and unwavering dedication to workplace inclusion have been recognized twice (2018, 2022) as AACSB International Innovations that Inspire.
Beyond the academic realm, Dr. Karam’s influence extends far and wide. Her global recognition includes being named a Global Gender Champion by the U.S. Department of State and being featured among the 100 Most Influential People in Gender Policy by Apolitical. Her contributions were also acknowledged in Bath University’s Thinklist 30, a testament to her impact on the global stage.
Dr. Karam’s prolific research has been published in top-tier international journals, and she currently holds the esteemed position of area editor of Feminism(s) at the Journal of Business Ethics. Her commitment to community engagement extends to her founding role in Khaddit Beirut, an initiative established in response to the tragic August 4th, 2020 Beirut explosion.
Bridging the gap between academia and the business world, Dr. Karam has demonstrated unwavering dedication to workplace inclusion and her ability to translate theoretical frameworks into practical solutions have made her an indispensable asset to organizations and models of executive education seeking to foster diverse, equitable, and thriving workplaces. Her work is essential reading for business professionals seeking to navigate the ever-evolving landscape of inclusive HR practices.
Dr. Zeina Zeidan
Dr. Zeina Zeidan, is a leading force in corporate governance and ESG practices both regionally and globally. She has spearheaded transformative change at as an international corporate governance consultant for multi-national companies around the world. Her diverse experience and proven track record make her an internationally sought-after advisor and board member. She has held board positions in emerging sectors including automation equipment manufacturing.
A trailblazer for women in business, Dr. Zeidan shattered glass ceilings as the first woman to chair a major financial institution’s board in the MENA region. She currently serves on the board of Lafarge-Holcim, a publicly traded cement company, leveraging her strategic expertise to drive sustainable growth and innovation.
Prior to Stanton Chase, Dr. Zeidan’s financial acumen as CFO and CEO for a leading retail multinational across MENA, Turkey, and Cyprus propelled organizational success and market expansion. She continues to play a leading role in shaping the future of business as a Corporate Governance consultant for the Harvard Business Club of the Gulf Cooperation Council.
Dr. Zeidan is an educator committed to advancing good governance and gender equality in academic institutions. She has served as Chair of the Audit department at the Holy Spirit University of Kaslik (USEK) for multiple years. She has been a pivotal advisor to the the Gender Lens Investing Initiative and the Knowledge is Power (KIP) index at regional programs at the American University of Beirut. Dr. Zeidan regularly teaches Executive Management of Business Administration (EMBA) courses, and was also an Adjunct Professor at the American University in Dubai.
Her leadership roles prompted the International Finance Corporation (IFC) to select her as a trailblazer for their 2021 “We Rise: Insights from Women Business Leaders on Managing Through Crisis, Resilience, and Recovery” project.
Dr. Zeidan holds a PhD from from Paul Cézanne University Aix-Marseille and double a master’s degree with a double major in finance and audit. She completed a masterclass for Business Angels at Go Beyond in Geneva, which focused on the knowledge and entrepreneurial economy. She was trained at IUP of Management and New Technologies, University of Panthéon – Assas, and at HEC Montreal. She has numerous certifications, the latest being Training of the trainers from the International Finance Corporation (IFC) Corporate Directors Certification program and Women on boards and in Leadership roles.