Member Since May 2021
Skills
About
Saana Azzam known as a “Chief Inspirational Officer” for businesses globally, Saana Azzam is an international award-winning economist, Forbes contributor, and CEO of The Middle East leading speaker’s bureau, MENA Speakers. In addition to providing keynotes to conferences and events around the world, Azzam has become the region’s number one expert on public speaking. Her success is grounded in helping businesses in The Middle East select the right speakers for their events from talent in the region and around the world. MENA Speakers’ clients trust the company’s recommendations because of her insightful analysis from her training as an economist and strategic thinker; who works closely with event planners to assist them in understanding the cost-benefit analysis tied to selecting a speaker for any event. Born to a Palestinian refugee, Azzam has pushed herself far beyond her humble beginnings. She’s a graduate from the esteemed Stockholm School of Economics with a Master’s in Economics. She earned the prestigious title of “Female Economist of the Year” in 2010. Through Harvard University’s extension courses in Boston, USA, she focused her studies on Leadership Communication. Later on she complete a course in Neuro Linguistic Programming (NLP) training so she could learn the traits of highly successful people. Today, Azzam is a fellow at The Vital Voices GROW, a leading business program whose founder leaders are Hilary Clinton and Madeleine Albright. Recently, she was named one of the top 10 most influential leaders of 2020 by Insights Success. Azzam also has distinguished herself as a keynote speaker, embracing her passion for impacting the lives of others as a professional speaker since 2010. She has been speaking for the likes of Spotify, The Kellogg Company, UAE University, and many more. Recently, MENA Speakers launched a new tech platform, www.Experts.Market, a marketplace for speakers to be booked for events, sell their books, online courses, advisory and market themselves more effectively. Azzam’s goal is to position Experts Market as a leading speakers’ destination and the ultimate ecommerce shop for speakers. With a boundless amount of energy, creativity and determination, Azzam is continuously expanding MENA Speakers to become an even more globally-recognized brand, helping to bring more global talent to the region, and establishing it as the key global hub for speakers to learn how to monetize their platforms.
Saana Azzam
Published content
expert panel
The digital marketing industry has seen an influx of growth over the past few years. More businesses than ever are adapting to the digital arena brought on by the global pandemic. This change of pace has spurred new digital marketing trends that have replaced previous outdated strategies. Below, 10 members of Young Entrepreneur Council explained which recent digital marketing trends they're most excited about and why. Here's what they believe the future of marketing will look like, and how these trends have already impacted their own efforts.
expert panel
Members of Young Entrepreneur Council share alternative fundraising solutions for entrepreneurs not looking for investors. Entrepreneurs may have many reasons for not seeking out investors for their startups, not the least of which is the desire to maintain total control of their companies. New entrepreneurs may not realize that other options are available that can be just as effective for getting a business started without all the cons of an investor. Below, a panel of Young Entrepreneur Council leaders list some alternatives to investors that entrepreneurs can explore in order to fund their projects. Whether you choose to pursue one or a combination of these suggestions, effective fundraising solutions exist for every type of business.
expert panel
When an entrepreneur starts a new business, it's never with the intention to give up on it one day. The sad truth, however, is that running a business unfortunately doesn't always equate to success, and a particular business venture may not work out how you’d planned. After trying so hard to make your business successful, it can be difficult to think about moving on to something else or to know exactly when to throw in the towel. To provide some guidance, eight members from Young Entrepreneur Council shared a few of the signs that will show you when your business may no longer be worth your time.
expert panel
No employee is immune to burnout—not even your "A" players—and especially not during trying times. As an employer, you may sometimes notice that the employees who are always on their game have been reaching a point of exhaustion. Some employees may even seem bored with their work and like they are craving something new. If your top performers need a little extra motivation, try these tips recommended by the members of Young Entrepreneur Council. Below, nine of them give their best advice to employers who want to reverse team burnout and get their staff back on track.
expert panel
Email marketing can be extremely effective for advertising products, whether through sale announcements or updates highlighting new items. But this marketing channel can also be leveraged in a number of other ways to connect with customers on a more direct and personal level, ultimately leading to more purchases. If you're looking to expand your current email marketing efforts, it's important to explore and execute the right strategies for your business. Below, nine members of Young Entrepreneur Council shared some of their favorite email marketing strategies that go beyond just selling a product.
expert panel
Employees want to feel valued, included and represented at work. Not only do they want to receive encouragement from supervisors and support from upper management, but they also want to be able to express themselves and their opinions freely with colleagues without fear of retribution. Leaders have an important role to play in creating an accepting, comfortable work culture that benefits employees. To help you fulfill this role, 10 Young Entrepreneur Council members share one simple step any business leader can take today to create or encourage a more equitable and inclusive work culture.
Company details
MENA Speakers
Company bio
The Power of Words – They can create world leaders and they can create global shapers. A mother’s gentle words, a teachers story or a strangers speech can sometimes echo so loud that it makes us alter our path. We at MENA Speakers believe in empowering, educating and entertaining our audience using strong and intelligent voices throughout society. Our main aim is to facilitate that interaction between speaker and different forums and to make sure that the right voice is matched to the right audience. Our background comes from standing on stage and speaking to thousands and also from listening to thousands and we at MENA Speakers know a great speaker leaves you empowered, entertained and educated.