Ahmad Ashkar is the Founder of the Hult Prize Foundation, the world’s largest platform for impact startups, engaging over 50,000 entrepreneurs each year. Named Esquire’s Entrepreneur of the Year in 2016, he has launched and advised ventures in 100+ countries, including Falafel Inc. and The Red Bird, bringing global expertise in entrepreneurship, innovation, and venture philanthropy to guide emerging founders.
Muna AbuSulayman, named among the 500 Most Influential Muslims, is a leading Arab media personality, humanitarian, and Social Impact Investor. She heads Directions Consulting and Partner 3S, focusing on unemployment and entrepreneurship. Formerly Secretary-General of the Alwaleed Bin Talal Foundation, she advanced poverty alleviation, women’s empowerment, and Islam-West dialogue. She also co-founded Kalam Nawaem, the Arab world’s most popular TV show.
Omar Altalib co-founded Forerunners and has served as Director of Growth, Partnerships, and Strategy at Amazon Web Services before shifting his focus to helping people and organizations discover their unique strengths and purpose. With over 25 years of leadership experience, he has built and led high-performing teams and organizations generating billions in revenue through value-based methodologies and culture, and now helps founders build ventures that contribute meaningfully to society.
Awais Sheikh co-founded Forerunners and has led strategic planning for Amazon Web Services’ largest Public Sector sales organization, advising executives on multi-billion-dollar goals. At MITRE, he drove innovation through design thinking and lean startup practices. Passionate about empowering founders, Awais shares his management expertise with local Muslim organizations and now mentors emerging entrepreneurs to build ventures with lasting impact.
Dr. Omar began his career in management consulting with A.D. Little, Inc., leading organizational transformations and development projects across 26 countries. In the 1990s, he co-founded several Islamic finance startups in the U.S. and Gulf region, including Takaful and Unicorn Investment Bank, and served on multiple Shariah advisory boards. He is an internationally recognized speaker and author, and mentors FinTech and social impact startups while developing gamified learning tools and apps.
Kathleen Rogers, President of Earth Day Network, has over 20 years of experience as an environmental attorney and advocate, shaping international and domestic policy. She has held senior roles with the National Audubon Society, the Environmental Law Institute, and U.S. Olympic Organizing Committees, and has led programs on biodiversity, international trade, and migratory species, representing the U.S. in global initiatives. She inspires founders to integrate purpose, impact, and sustainability into their ventures.
Shy Pahlevani, Ernst & Young’s 2020 Entrepreneur of the Year, is a D.C.-based serial entrepreneur who co-founded LiveSafe, a mobile safety platform backed by tech titans and later acquired by Vector Solutions. He went on to co-found HUNGRY, an innovative food-tech platform revolutionizing office catering with investors like JAY-Z, Kevin Hart, and Usher. Recognized as one of D.C.’s Top Young Entrepreneurs, Shy continues to drive ventures that create real impact.
Saafir Rabb is a Baltimore-born business strategist, community activist, and founder–CEO of Interculture, advising organizations on cultural competency. He served on President Obama’s transition team for public diplomacy work and has promoted social enterprise by supporting addiction recovery, low-income housing, and reintegration of ex-convicts. He’s also actively engaged in nonprofit governance—serving on boards like Educate Girls Globally and Bayan Claremont—bringing deep experience in purpose-driven leadership.
