Margaret N. Jabara: Executive Business Development Leader | Fundraising Professional | Project & Program Management Specialist | Sustainable Development & Green Entrepreneurship Advocate | Social Businesses and MSMEs Strategist | Business Intelligence Expert | Digital Marketing Consultant | Financial Advisor | Retail & Digital Banking Specialist |
Margaret Jabara stands as a distinguished leader at the intersection of business strategy, sustainable development, and social impact. With over 15 years of experience spanning regional financial institutions, startups, MSMEs, NGOs, universities, social and green enterprises; Margaret has carved a unique path as both a visionary strategist and a compassionate advocate for meaningful and impactful change. Her career embodies a powerful blend of entrepreneurial and intrapreneurial drives, analytical expertise, strategic vision and a steadfast commitment to building systems that foster both economic resilience and environmental stewardship.
A Legacy of Leadership and Impact
Margaret’s professional journey reflects a consistent ability to transform challenges into opportunities and ideas into actionable results. As a Chief Business Development, Partnerships & Fundraising Consultant, she has guided organizations through complex funding landscapes, securing grants, cultivating high-level donor relationships, and forging strategic alliances with international stakeholders. Her expertise extends across grant acquisition and corporate sponsorships, where she consistently delivers innovative fundraising strategies that align with global development priorities.
In her recent leadership role as Director of Projects and Programs at Fondation Diane and the Chair of Education on Eco-Citizenship and Sustainable Development (CEEDD) at Saint Joseph University (USJ), Margaret spearheaded transformative initiatives rooted in sustainability, eco-citizenship, and social empowerment. She successfully directed 10 large-scale projects with her team in less than 18 months, advancing critical UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) under the EU at Fondation Diane (SwitchMed II, Blue Economy, Asfari YLEAP 3.0, InvestMed, Refit, TESSA and under USAID at the Chair CEEDD located in USJ (CSP Water Awareness, CSP Waste Awareness in Amioun District and Batroun District, WSC Water Sanitation and Conservation). These programs were on energy efficiency, waste and water conservation, waste management and sorting at source, green and blue economies, education and awareness campaigns that reached underserved communities across Lebanon. She also led the proposal writing and application submission process of more than 30 projects in less than 18 months.
Her efforts also facilitated a landmark two-year strategic partnership with Oxfam LB, further expanding regional collaboration through the EU Interreg NEXT MED program alongside partners in Greece, Cyprus, Egypt, and Palestine.
Championing Social and Green Entrepreneurship
Margaret’s passion for social and green impact and sustainable economic growth led her to co-found CHREEK Association and Volunteer for Lebanon (VFL)—two organizations dedicated to empowering youth, women, and marginalized communities through civic engagement, job creation, and environmental advocacy. Under her mentorship, CHREEK won prestigious awards, including the Nabad Social Entrepreneurship Award and the Berytech Social Venture Award, demonstrating her ability to build organizations with a social purpose and impact.
Her work with social enterprises like ART.CAGES sarl further highlights her entrepreneurial expertise. In just two months, she secured two major grants, enabling the creation of branding collaterals and the development of a fully functional e-commerce platform, positioning the company for sustainable growth.
A Pioneer in Business Intelligence and Banking
Before transitioning into the “Startup” MSME, NGO, university, and green and social enterprise sectors, Margaret spent over 15 years excelling within the financial services industry, particularly at Group Bank Audi sal, one of Lebanon’s leading regional banks. Rising from entry-level roles to managerial roles, she ultimately established and led the Group Business Intelligence Unit for the Retail Banking Department across seven countries, including Lebanon, Turkey, Egypt, Jordan, Syria, Sudan, and Iraq. In parallel, co-led field missions and contributed to market feasibility studies and business plans for various other markets such as Algeria, Tunisia, and Yemen.
In this capacity, Margaret designed and implemented advanced Business Intelligence frameworks for market and marketing intelligence, customer and competitor analysis, financial benchmarking, and strategic insights that informed the bank’s product development and digital transformation. Her innovative initiatives included regional benchmarking for online and mobile banking services, mystery shopper programs for quality monitoring and enhancement, and large-scale customer satisfaction studies. Her work not only enhanced operational efficiency but also reinforced customer trust and brand positioning.
One of her notable accomplishments during this period was integrating Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) into the bank’s customer satisfaction surveys and raising new funds in a short timeframe. By linking each survey response to a charitable donation, Margaret not only achieved a significant increase in the response rate across four countries but also enabled donations to NGOs, blending business objectives with social good.
Mentor, Educator, and Thought Leader
Margaret’s influence extends beyond her executive roles into the realms of education and mentorship. At the Saint Joseph University of Beirut (USJ), she developed and taught an interactive master-level course to Bio-Marketing students entitled “Business Intelligence”, which applied data-driven decision-making frameworks to industries such as healthcare and pharmaceuticals. Her role as an educator reflects her belief in empowering future leaders with practical skills, strategic thinking, and ethical business practices.
She has also chaired multiple committees over five years—including PR & Media, Projects, Membership, and Treasury—at the Rotary Club Beirut Cedars, where she spearheaded initiatives promoting social welfare, education, and community development.
A Vision for the Future
Margaret’s professional ethos is rooted in the conviction that sustainable development, economic growth, and social responsibility are not mutually exclusive but are instead mutually reinforcing pillars of success. She continues to advise “Startups, MSME’s NGOs, universities, and social enterprises on business development, with a particular focus on empowering women-led MSMEs in rural communities. Her expertise in building multi-sector partnerships, securing donor funding, and driving innovative projects positions her as a trusted leader capable of shaping the future of social and green impact and entrepreneurship in Lebanon and beyond.
Education and Credentials
Margaret holds both a Master of Business Administration (MBA) and a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from the Lebanese American University (LAU). She is also certified in Advanced Leadership and Management from the American University of Beirut (AUB), in Sustainable Businesses Leading to Economic Growth from the Saint Joseph University in Beirut (USJ), in Advanced Negotiations and Conflict Resolution from the Lebanese Conflict Resolution Network (LCRN), and in Leadership in Community Development from the British Council. Her professional certifications include Lebanese Financial Regulations and Train the Trainer (ToT), reinforcing her versatility and commitment to continuous learning.
Margaret is a member of the Eco-Switch Coalition, the Lebanese Entrepreneurs Network (LEN), and supports various women-led NGOs such as the Lebanese League of Women in Business (LLWB), Fifty/Fifty (50/50), Women in Front (WIF), and Women in Politics (WIP). She also advises various social and green enterprises and MSMEs, such as From Leb With Love, Le Joyau d’Olive, Food Sight, Executive-Women Global Ltd, and Highworth Cyprus Ltd.
Beyond Professional Accomplishments
Beyond her professional accomplishments, Margaret finds deep joy and balance in the rhythms of life. Whether through the discipline and strength of weight-lifting, the expressive freedom of dancing, or the serenity of swimming and hiking in nature, she nurtures both body and mind with intention. Her love for photography allows her to capture fleeting beauty, while music remains her constant companion, fueling inspiration, reflection, and joy. Committed to personal well-being, Margaret embraces every experience as a path toward growth, resilience, and authentic living.
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