Dr. Riad Makdessi
Summary :
- PhD in Business Sciences
- Professor and Scientific Researcher
- Employability, Innovation & Entrepreneurship Coach
- Eco-sustainable Development Trainer
- Business Consultant
- International Expert
- Highly motivated and driven to succeed
- Passion to help others be more successful in business and in life
- Coachable with a willingness to learn, grow and develop new skills
- Desire to give back by mentoring and teaching others.
Relevant Experience:
- SMEs Trainer & Project Consultant: The Trade & Investment Facilitation (TIF) a USAIDfunded, DAI-implemented project aimed at enhancing economic opportunities in Becharre’s district sectors.
- Business Consultant: Al Sayyidat NGO for opening a Career Center in Bcharre’s District
- Career Readiness Trainer: WAYNorth project, part of the Local Development Programme for Urban Areas in North Lebanon (UDP_NL), implemented by the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH in partnership with INJAZ Lebanon and the Ministry of Social Affairs.
- Manager, Consultant & Trainer: TakeOFF Accelerator. The Lebanon Growth Accelerator (LGA), an initiative to empower, boost MSMEs from different fields/industries/backgrounds and the entrepreneurship ecosystem in Lebanon.
- Business Coach – Initiate NGO to empower SMEs and Startups
- Employability, Innovation & Entrepreneurship coach – HECD program, EDC – USA, Challenge to Change NGO, Solidarity for Sustainability, Centre MINE, Initiate NGO…
- Consultant and Supervisor for feasibility studies and turning ideas into startups – Lebanese University
- MSMEs Brand and image consultant
- MSMEs consultant – Byblos Bank SAL
- International Expert at the 2nd UfM Forum on Green Innovation and Careers for Empowering the Mediterranean Youth, Amman – Jordan
- Eco-sustainable Development Trainer by Fondation Diane
- Member of The Global Entrepreneurship Network. GEN operates an array of programs in 200 countries aimed at making it easier for anyone, anywhere to start and scale a business.
- International Expert, member of University Business Cooperation (UBC) network by Directorate General for Education, Youth, Sport, and Culture (DG EAC) of the European Commission.
- International Expert at the first live skills lab network of experts in Italy. Foreseeing the unpredictable: how new skills needs can be anticipated in times of high uncertainty and change. Funded by ETF European Training Foundation.
- Selected for a three-week International Credit Mobility (Erasmus+ International Staff Weeks) funded by the European Commission) at Vilinus Tech University (Lithuania), Open University of Cyprus (Cyprus) and University of Granada (Spain)
- Career Center Visiting Director, study tour hosted by the Learning Systems Institute and the Florida State University Career Center in Tallahassee, Florida – USA.
- Member of Skills Lab Network of Experts – European Training Foundation
- Advisor Board Member at makesense NGO
- Advisor Board Member at CSGE Center for Sustainability and Gender Equality
- Employability, Innovation and Entrepreneurship coach, by EDC – USA
- Finance Board Member at the Faculty of Business – Lebanese University
- Expert, Member of the Technical Committee at the Ministry of Education and Higher Education, Lebanon
- Organizer of Hultprize Challenge at the Lebanese University
- Co-Founder and Director of Centre MINE at the Lebanese University (Careers, Innovation and Entrepreneurship Center)
- Co-Founder and Director of IMPACT Spot, a social media agency
- Delegate at the Association of Full-Time Professors at the Lebanese University
- Director of Nudge Unit at the Lebanese University
- Chairman of the Accounting and Audit department – Lebanese University
- Winner of 3 months Fulbright Junior Faculty Development Program, Visiting Professor, University of Illinois – USA
- International Visiting Professor, University of Craiova – Romania (3 months)
- Relationship Manager MSMEs at Byblos Bank SAL, Commercial loans and Kafalat’s approvals, financial and feasibility studies, risk management, business management…
- Trainer at Byblos Bank Syria (opening of new branches, launching new products); Introduction to the banking’s world workshops; Coaching new recruits.
- Financial controller and strategic planner – Lebanese Red Cross Koura
Academic Credentials:
- Research Supervisor at Lebanese University, AUST, IUL, Jinane for BA. Master & PhD
- Full time Professor at the Faculty of Economics and Business Administration, Lebanese University – Tripoli, Lebanon. BA 3rd year & Master II courses: Marketing of Financial Products, Banking Operations, Financial Establishments Management, Small Business Finance, Small Business Management, Banking risks management, Insurance advanced techniques, Banking regulations
- Part time lecturer at the Faculty of Business Administration, Holy Family University – Batroun, Lebanon. Master I courses: Organizational engineering, Economic strategies and management.
- Part time lecturer at the Faculty of Business Administration, University Of Balamand – Koura, Lebanon. Master I & Master II courses: Analytical Accounting I & II, Financial Analysis.
Professional Qualifications:
- Ranked First over 10 HE Lebanese institutes according to Education Development Center – USA (76,952 beneficiaries – Centre MINE (increase 214.86%))
- Awarded a commitment recognition 2021 by Education Development Center in USA for attending a series of TOT and delivering a large number of workshops.
- Best Practice 2020 by Unimed – Italy in recognition of developing the skills of students and young graduates, and their professional integration into the Mediterranean labor market.
- Member of EcoSwitch Coalition for Eco-sustainable Development
- Member of The Global Entrepreneurship Network -GEN
- Member of the Lebanese Network of Erasmus+ CBHE Project
- Expert, Member of University Business Cooperation (UBC) network
- Expert, Member of Skills Lab Network of Experts
- Expert, Member of the Technical Committee at the Ministry of Education and Higher Education, Lebanon
- Advisor Board Member at makesense NGO
- Advisor Board Member at CSGE Centerfor Sustainability and Gender Equality
- Finance Board Member at the Faculty of Economics and Business
- Administration third Branch – Lebanese University