Joanna Lahham
About Joanna Lahham
Joanna Lahham serves as the Lead for Business Engagement in the Middle East and Africa at the World Economic Forum, where she has worked since 2019. She has a background in hospitality and international business, with previous roles at notable organizations including The Ritz-Carlton and EF Education First.
Current Role at World Economic Forum
Joanna Lahham serves as the Lead for Business Engagement in the Middle East and Africa at the World Economic Forum. She has held this position since 2019, contributing to the organization's initiatives in the region for five years. In her role, she manages engagements specifically in the UAE, Egypt, Oman, and Bahrain. Lahham consults with top leadership and C-suite executives to align their corporate priorities with the Forum's initiatives. She also designs business development strategies that focus on the unique needs and opportunities within Africa and the Middle East.
Previous Experience in Hospitality
Prior to her current role, Joanna Lahham gained valuable experience in the hospitality industry. She worked at The Ritz-Carlton Hotel de la Paix in Geneva as a Front Desk Agent for five months in 2012. Additionally, she served as a Sales & Marketing Trainee at Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts for four months in 2010. Her background in hospitality has contributed to her understanding of client engagement and service excellence.
Education and Expertise
Joanna Lahham holds a Master's degree in International Business from Grenoble Ecole de Management, where she studied from 2013 to 2015. She also earned a Bachelor of Business Administration with a focus on Marketing from Les Roches Bluche International School of Hotel Management, completing her studies in 2012. Her educational background provides her with a solid foundation in business principles and marketing strategies, which she applies in her current role.
Career Progression
Joanna Lahham's career has included various roles that demonstrate her expertise in business engagement and client success. After her time at The Ritz-Carlton, she worked as a Marketing Communications Coordinator at Magna Hotels and Resorts for seven months in 2013. She then transitioned to EF Education First as a Client Success Manager, where she worked for three years in London from 2014 to 2017. Lahham's experience at the World Economic Forum began as a Specialist in Business Engagement for the Middle East and North Africa from 2017 to 2019 before advancing to her current leadership position.