August Newsletter: New Leadership, New Community, New Platform
A New Chapter of Leadership
Effective August 13, 2026, the LebNet Board of Directors is proud to announce the unanimous appointment of Jeanine Akiki as President of LebNet.
Jeanine succeeds LebNet co-founder Georges Akiki, who led the organization for 27 years, most recently as President. Through their close partnership, they expanded LebNet from 10 to 16 communities and grew its network by 200%.
Georges will remain closely involved with LebNet in an advisory role, helping guide the organization into its next chapter.
Thank you, Georges! Mabrouk, Jeanine!
A Message from Jeanine Akiki
“I am honored and excited to take on this new role. I am deeply grateful to the LebNet Board, our officers and executive team, and outgoing President Georges Akiki for this opportunity, their trust, and their continued support.
It has been a privilege to serve our global community of Lebanese in tech, and I look forward to all that lies ahead.
Our work is fueled by this incredible community, and I invite you to join me in advancing our vision: A world where every Lebanese in tech has a pathway to succeed and lift others along the way.”
Introducing LebNet Community Hub
We're excited to give you a first look at LebNet Community Hub, our new home for the LebNet network. Built to bring members, communities, mentors, and opportunities into one place, the Hub will make it easier to connect with fellow members, discover events across all 16 communities, and stay closer to the programs and people that make LebNet what it is.
- Instant Peer Connections - a searchable global directory with smart keyword search
- Centralized Member Updates - one feed for member news, announcements, and community updates
- Hyper-Focused Sub-Communities - interest - or region-based groups
- Active Topic Discussions - organized forums
- Secure Private Messaging - direct messaging without sharing personal contact info
Your invitation to join is coming September 15. Stay tuned!
Program News
Tech Fellows Program Wraps Up
Over the past 10 weeks, LebNet’s 218 Tech Fellows have explored artificial intelligence, from foundational concepts and applied techniques to autonomous systems, ethics, safety, and governance, guided by our Early in Career professionals.
Graduation eligibility will be announced soon, with graduates celebrated on September 18. Thank you to all our fellows for their dedication and hard work!
LebNet Houston Community Launches!
We’re excited to launch the LebNet Houston Community, uniting Lebanese professionals, entrepreneurs, and students across technology, science, and engineering. As a hub for energy, healthcare, aerospace, logistics, and manufacturing, Houston offers opportunities for connection and collaboration.
At the heart of this community is a leadership team whose experience, local knowledge, and commitment to LebNet will help shape its direction. Together, they aim to create programming, foster valuable relationships, and open doors for Lebanese talent across Houston’s leading industries.
Interested in joining? Join the Houston WhatsApp group
Member Spotlight
"Responsible AI is not a document, a committee, or an annual risk assessment—it is an operating capability that needs to exist in real time."
Meet LebNet member Zahra Timsah, Co-Founder & CEO of i-GENTIC AI and author of The AI CEO: How Women Leaders Win the Next Decade. With over 17 years across AI, healthcare, and digital transformation, Zahra is redefining AI governance by building execution controls directly into machine workflows.
In this spotlight, she shares:
- How i-GENTIC AI translates policies into real-time guardrails before an action occurs
- Why women must move from tech users to tech owners, builders, and decision-makers
- How her Lebanese roots drive her resilience, leadership, and commitment to mentoring the next generation of global tech talent
Events recap
Pacific Northwest, Meet & Mezze August 22
The LebNet Pacific Northwest community gathered for Meet & Mezze, a relaxed midday gathering filled with great food and meaningful connections.
As one attendee shared, “It was a good event; people connected, food was great.”
Thank you to everyone who joined and to the PNW leadership team for making it a success
Upcoming Events
Toronto, Networking Event
A relaxed evening of drinks, conversation, and
connection. Meet fellow Lebanese
professionals, reconnect with familiar faces,
and make new friends.
Arizona, Community Mixer
An evening of connection and conversation. Meet fellow Lebanese professionals, learn more about LebNet, share your ideas, and help shape our community.
Montreal, Breaking into Your Career Panel
Join us for a practical panel on navigating the transition into the workplace, followed by speed mentorship offering direct connections, career guidance, and insights from experienced professionals.
London, AI in Practice Masterclass
Join LebNet London with Elie Matta for a practical look at AI in today's professional environment, a chance to learn, exchange ideas, and connect with fellow Lebanese professionals shaping the future of technology.
New York, Community Picnic
Join us for a picnic in the heart of Manhattan! Meet fellow Lebanese professionals and community members, enjoy some man’oushe and Bonjus, and take a break and catch up.
Chicago, Save the Date
Save the date for an engaging LebNet Chicago conversation exploring how AI is reshaping retail, advertising, brands, and media strategy. More details coming soon!
LebNet Job Board
Opportunities From Our Community, for Our Community
Looking to hire? Post your company’s job and internship openings on the LebNet Job Board and connect with talented professionals across our community.
Looking for your next opportunity? Explore job and internship openings shared by the community and updated weekly.
Founders Spotlight
Two LebNet-network founders making headlines this year
HAQQ Legal AI, co-founded by Antoine Kanaan and Abbas Kabalan, raised $3M to scale its AI-powered legal operating system, combining legal drafting, research, and practice management into one platform now used by thousands across 200 countries.
Revilico, led by Lebanese co-founder and CEO Christopher Korban, closed its seed round to build an end-to-end AI platform for pharma R&D, connecting computational chemistry, biology, and lab validation to speed up drug discovery.
Both founders pitched at the LebNetxLIFE June 2026 Bay Area Pitch Night. Proud to see them growing!
Partners' Corner
The LebNet community is invited to TechWadi’s Annual Forum, bringing together more than 400 founders, investors, executives, and tech leaders from across the MENA community. This year’s program features several Lebanese speakers, offering a great opportunity to connect, learn, and collaborate.
10% off with code: TWLEBNET1
Following successful conferences in Dubai and Beirut, AI in Washington comes to American University on October 5–6. Join leaders from across the U.S., including opening keynote speaker Dr. Kamal Shehadi, Lebanon’s Minister of State for Technology and AI.
Complimentary invitations are extended to LebNet members.
Join Us
LebNet is powered by its members. Whether you're just getting started or ready to go deeper, there's a place for you.
Student --> Free
Early in Career --> $25/year
Professional --> $200/year
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