Our Founders
Who Are We?
Carmen and Lina work together to unlock the analytical power of organizational psychology and political studies, offering organizations a rare blend of insight on how individuals behave and how institutions perform. Their combined experience spans leading academic roles as well as consulting in business, public administration, and civil society – working across stable economies, emerging markets, and crisis-prone contexts. Together, they model what Soltara stands for: leveraging diverse perspectives to build sustainable, enduring futures.
By uniting organizational psychology’s deep understanding of human dynamics with political studies’ expertise in institutions and governance, they offer organizations the tools to learn and thrive.
Dr. Lina Daouk-Öyry
Dr. Lina Daouk-Öyry is a distinguished scholar-practitioner in organizational psychology, leadership, and workplace inclusion, with a proven track record of bridging academia and industry.
As an Associate Professor at BI Norwegian Business School, she brings a unique combination of theoretical expertise, teaching excellence, and practical experience to her work.
With a PhD in Psychometrics, she specializes in leadership development, employee engagement, and organizational performance. Her research has had a lasting impact across industries such as healthcare, banking, telecommunications, and entrepreneurship. Passionate about fostering socially sustainable and inclusive workplaces, she equips leaders with data-driven strategies to drive change.
She is also a widely published academic, with research appearing in top-tier journals such as the Organization Studies, Journal of Personality Assessment, British Journal of Management, Journal of Nursing Management, and Journal of Personality and Social Psychology.
Her interdisciplinary approach draws from multiple fields to create actionable solutions for businesses and organizations striving to optimize performance.
With over 15 years of experience in education and consulting, she has designed and delivered university courses, executive education, and mentorship programs worldwide, including in Lebanon, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, China, Norway, Finland, and the UK. In recognition of her impactful research, she received the 2020 Distinguished Scholar Award from the Arab Fund for Social and Economic Development.
Dr. Carmen Geha
Dr. Carmen Geha is a scholar, entrepreneur, and international consultant specializing in public sector reform, nonprofit organizations, and social development.
With a PhD in International Relations from the University of St. Andrews, she has been a Visiting Scholar at Harvard University, Brown University, the Institute for Advanced Study, and the University of the Witwatersrand. Her research focuses on the intersection of public administration, institutional reform, and civic engagement, with a strong emphasis on workplace inclusion and leadership development. She has advised business associations, regional organizations, international agencies, government institutions, and civil society organizations across diverse political and economic contexts.
Carmen has been awarded prestigious fellowships, including the Fulbright Award from the United States and the Maria Zambrano Award for international scholarly talent in Spain. She was previously a tenured Associate Professor of Public Administration at the American University of Beirut. She now teaches Gender and Globalization at the Barcelona Institute for International Studies.
With over 12 years of experience in higher education, she has designed and delivered executive training programs for senior executives across the Arab region. Her research has been widely published in journals such as the Journal of Middle East Law and Governance, Journal of Women, Politics, and Policy, Middle East Journal, British Journal for Middle Eastern Studies, and Journal of Refugee Studies.
Beyond academia, she has deep expertise in strategic communications and project management, equipping organizations with the tools to drive meaningful change.