Executive Director, Pearl Initiative
Ranya Saadawi is the Executive Director of the Pearl Initiative, a Gulf business–led non-profit promoting a corporate culture of accountability and transparency as key drivers of competitiveness and sustainable economic growth across the Gulf region. Ranya has extensive experience in the field of social entrepreneurship, impact investment and international development, with a particular focus on the Middle East & North Africa. Previously, at Expo 2020 Dubai, she led the grant management and deployment of a $100 million fund into 140 social enterprises in 76 countries. Ranya has worked and consulted for social sector organisations, including Ashoka Arab World, The Gerhart Center at the American University of Cairo and Education For Employment (EFE). Ranya started her career on Wall Street, where she consulted for companies in consumer-packaged goods, life sciences and manufacturing industries. Ranya holds an MPA from the London School of Economics and a B.A. from Barnard College, Columbia University in Political Science and Middle Eastern Languages.
