Behind The CEO

In this episode of Behind the CEO, we sat down with Chaker Khazaal: an award-winning Palestinian-Canadian author, global speaker, humanitarian leader, and Executive Chairman of OBCIDO Inc. Born as a Palestinian refugee in Lebanon, he grew up in the Bourj el Barajneh camp in Beirut before immigrating to Canada. Chaker’s journey is one of resilience, creativity, and service. He’s penned six powerful novels and now leads digital transformation and empowerment initiatives across continents.We dive into:- How his upbringing shaped his worldview and leadership style.- Why he uses storytelling to humanize crisis and conflict.- His vision for the Women’s Humanitarian Organization, and how AI and digital marketing are part of that mission.- His recent move to Paris and what this experience brought him.- The balance between writing novels, doing business, and staying grounded.- We also touch on lighter moments — from caffeine-fueled deadlines to airplane writing and the quirks of creative leadership.See all his books here: https://chakerkhazaal.com/BooksInstagram: @chakerkhazaalInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/behindtheceopodcast/Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/behindtheceopodcast Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6M0aIo9zIHFSHgKB8UJpJ4?si=2e9298afd578419f

Welcome to Behind the CEO!In this intro episode, I share the vision behind this new podcast: a space dedicated to leadership and empathy.Behind the CEO is the continuation of my previous series, We Belong, which ran from 2020 and narrated diversity and inclusion across 15 European countries. That series is still available, same links.With this new chapter, I’ll be going deeper into the personal journeys of leaders and entrepreneurs around the world, uncovering the human side of leadership, the challenges, and the values that shape the way they lead.Whether you’re an entrepreneur, an aspiring one, or simply curious about the people behind the title, this podcast is for you.A special thanks to all of our longtime listeners who’ve been with us since We Belong — your support makes this journey possible.Subscribe, follow, and join me as we continue the story — this time, going Behind the CEO.Instagram:  @behindtheceopodcastLinkedin: @behindtheceopodcastYoutube: @behindtheceopodcast© BEHIND THE CEO

Jean-Claude Juncker est l'un des pères fondateurs de l'euro et un pionnier de l'unification européenne. En tant que Premier ministre du Luxembourg, il a été le chef de gouvernement le plus longtemps en poste au sein de l'Union Européenne, avec 18 ans de mandat.Il a été le premier président permanent de l'Eurogroupe et a contribué à définir la réponse à la crise de la dette souveraine en 2009. En 2014, Jean-Claude Juncker a été élu Président de la Commission Européenne.En conversation avec le Président Juncker, nous avons discuté du future de l'Europe, de l'immigration, de la montée de l'extrême droite et de l'importance de promouvoir le dialogue entre les peuples européens.

Meet Salwa Boujour from Belgium, a Journalist, an Entrepreneur and Founder of ADIM, a non-profit that promotes Diversity & Inclusion in Media.Salwa specializes in social issues, particularly in matters related to gender identities and feminism, decolonization and inclusion, as well as the prison system. She identifies as a feminist journalist committed to creating a more inclusive media world.In conversation, with Salwa, we discussed her Moroccan heritage, her experience living and travelling across Europe as a woman wearing the hijab, her commitment to include diverse voices in the Media industry, but also why ahead of the European elections we need to promote dialogue and reach to marginalised communities that live in Brussels and beyond. Episode recorded at A Seat At the Table offices.

Meet Stefano Manservisi, former Director-General at the European Commission. Prior to that, he was the Head of the Private Office of Federica Mogherini, High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs. In 2014, Mr. Manservisi was the Head of the Delegation of the European Union to Turkey. He held different positions at the Commission, including as Director-General for Migration and Home Affairs, and Director-General for Development and Relations with African, Caribbean, and Pacific States. He has also headed the Private Offices of the Commission’s President Romano Prodi and Commissioner Mario Monti. In conversation with Mr Manservisi, we discussed his approach to serve as an inclusive leader: he shared concrete examples of dialogue and intercultural understanding through his European career and he explained why we need a Commissioner from immigration backgrounds for the next European Commission's mandate.Ahead of the European Elections, Mr Manservisi reflects on the urgency of involving youth and immigrant descents in public debates and the importance of promoting peace as the core mission of the European project. Episode recorded with the support of Silversquare.

Meet the MEP Salima Yenbou from France. Born in Seine-Saint-Denis, she worked as a school administrator before her election in 2019. MEP Yenbou is one of only 24 eurodeputies who are people of color out of 705 (cf. ENAR). In conversation with MEP Yenbou, we discussed her commitment for representation in Europe, why she decided to become an elected official and her approach to foster equal opportunities in French suburbs.

Meet Amal Tahir, a renowned feminist author, speaker, sexologist and advocate for women's health and empowerment. With a background in gynecology and obstetrics, she has dedicated her career to promoting a positive and inclusive dialogue surrounding topics such as mental health, body positivity, and sexuality. Through her writings and content shared to more than 100.000 followers, Amal seeks to challenge societal norms and empower individuals to embrace their bodies and identities unapologetically. She is celebrated for her compassionate approach and commitment to promoting understanding, acceptance and belonging in all aspects of life.In conversation with Amal, she shared valuable advice to spot red flags in any type of relationships, she shared her European journey from Italy, Belgium til France, and she gave valuable advice to our young audience.

Meet Daniela Ragni, the Director of the André Losch Foundation.The Foundation has independently supported projects dedicated to young people in Luxembourg, in the fields of education, social inclusion and health. Daniela leads the Foundation on strategic and operational development since 2019. During her career, Daniela has worked for around twenty years within non-governmental organisations active in the social and International Cooperation in Luxembourg, by occupying several management positions, notably at Fairtrade asbl and the Caritas Foundation. In conversation with Daniela, we discussed her inspiring journey from Italy to Luxembourg, what motivated her to start working in the non profit sector and her tips to raise fundings.Episode produced by Cecilia Said Vieira. With the support of André Losch Foundation.

Meet Mina Saidze from Germany, the Author of FairTech, Founder of Inclusive Tech and a Forbes 30 Under 30.She is the daughter of political activists from Afghanistan that fled the country to offer their children a better life. Her family story inspired her throughout her whole life and she is the first woman in her family to graduate university.Mina’s mission is to democratise Big Data and Artificial Intelligence by creating a bridge between tech and business.She decided to found Inclusive Tech to challenge the status-quo in the tech industry. Today, Inclusive Tech is Europe’s first advocacy and consulting organisation for Diversity in Tech and AI Ethics.In conversation with Mina, we discussed her family story, her mission to make Tech and AI accessible to everyone and her aspirations for the next years through her business venture.

Meet Adeola Naomi Aderemi from Greece, a multilingual, multilocal, AfroGreek, and multi-format artist, scholar, curator, and healer. Adeola has been working as a curator, yoga therapist, and editor in chief of Distinguished Diva. Her debut documentary film “I am Afro-Greek” covers the lives and lived experiences of Greeks of African descent. She utilises the integration of holistic healing practices in policy places and modalities of care available on issues around Black women’s liberation, gender justice, women’s health, and equal representation for voices of women of African descent in global media. Her work in various mediums has been featured in publications such as Women Under Siege, New York Times, Ms. Magazine, New Museum New York, Forbes, E-flux, Elle, and Vogue.In conversation with Adeola, we discussed her experience living in Greece (and around the world), her volunteer work for refugees and migrants coming to Greece and her commitment to foster diversity in the media and creative industries through her documentary I am Afro-Greek.

Meet Cecilia Said Vieira from Luxembourg, a Social Entrepreneur, Marketing & Communication Expert and Founder of the podcast 'Ceci, Do You Love Me?'.Cecilia is a Luxembourger with a Brazilian background and during her studies in Berlin she noticed that many Luxembourgers live in a "bubble" from which many don't dare to venture out. She wanted to change this through her successful podcast that deconstructs prejudice and sparkles meaningful conversations across Luxembourg.In conversation with Cecilia, we discussed her target audience and the ways she engages and reaches the Gen Z. As a culture enthusiast, she also hosts and produces the culture podcast "Kulturpur" by culture.lu to provide a platform for Luxembourgish artists.With the support of André Losch Foundation.

Meet Sarah Zitouni from Sweden, the mind behind the 150k followers Instagram account “PowHer Ta Carriere”!Sarah spends 80% of her time working as a Director of Strategy in the automotive sector and 20% of her time coaching women to gain confidence and advance their careers. After years thriving to find her place in a male-dominant sector, today she shares her lessons learned with more than 150k women via social media, she coaches them and she just published a book called PowHer Ta Carriere. In conversation with Sarah, we discussed how she overcame her impostor syndrome as a female engineer and how crucial self-branding is to get promoted and recognised in the workplace.

Meet Salwa Rajaa from France, a Model with Moroccan backgrounds who advocates for inclusivity in the fashion industry. In the past few months, Salwa’s story was covered by several French media where she shared her experience as an Arab model. One day, she found herself having her name changed to “Sylvie” during a casting. For a long time Salwa felt ashamed of her identity, but today she is confident about who she is and bold to speak up to call for inclusion.In conversation with Rajaa, she shared with us the meeting that changed her career and prompted her to become a model, but also the difficulties she faced in the industry and what motivated her to speak up in order to foster change.

Meet Élisabeth Moreno, a French-Cape Verdean businesswoman and politician.Mrs Moreno served as Minister for Gender Equality, Diversity and Equal Opportunities at the French Prime Minister's Office.Previous to that, Mrs Moreno worked for giant tech companies as Dell, France Telecom and she was the Managing Director for HP Africa before receiving a call from the French Prime Minister’s office that changed her destiny.Under Moreno's leadership, the French government successfully introduced a bill intended to protect victims of domestic violence, allowing doctors to break patient confidentiality if they believe a life is "in immediate danger".In conversation with Mrs Moreno, we discussed her journey moving from Cape Verde to France with her family in the late 1970s, her management style as a Female Executive in Tech and her ambitions to bridge the gap between public and private sectors.Her key advice to our listeners is: Dare to try!

Meet Sawsan Chebli, a Palestinian-German Politician who worked in the highest spheres of power in Germany.Sawsan was born to Palestinian asylum seekers in Germany and grew up with her parents and twelve siblings in Berlin.Between 2010 and 2014, Chebli was the first spokesperson for intercultural affairs of Berlin's State Minister of the Interior and Sport. In 2014, she served as deputy spokesperson of the Federal Foreign Office, she was the first Muslim person to hold that post.From 2016 until 2021, Sawsan served as State Secretary for Federal Affairs in the state government of the Governing Mayor of Berlin.In conversation with Sawsan, she shared the challenges she faced as a female politician, the hate she faced as a muslim outspoken woman and what motivates her to keep going despite threats and criticisms.Episode produced in collaboration with Get The Trolls Out.

Meet Nesrine Slaoui, a Franco-Moroccan independent journalist and author.After graduating from Sciences Po in 2018, she has worked for national TV channels such as reporter for ITélé (Canal+) and as host for France Télévisions. She was also the face of the online media Loopsider, carrying out several investigations on domestic violence, police violence and student precariousness.In January 2021, Nesrine published her first novel "Illegitimate" to tell her story and her family immigration journey coming from Morocco and to growing up in a small rural city in France. A book committed to equal opportunities and against all forms of sexist or racist discrimination.Ahead of her upcoming second book “Seule” (Alone), out on January 4, we discussed with her about the struggles she faced at school, her experience in journalism and how she found a way to express herself through writing.

Meet YEИDRY, a Dominican-Italian singer and songwriter.Born in Santo Domingo, YEИDRY recalled her journey of migrating to Italy at age 4, after a year spent apart from her mother, and the tribute she paid to her in the song Nena.YEИDRY composes in Spanish, English and Italian and she collaborated with reggae legend Damian “Jr. Gong” Marley and Congolese-Belgian singer Lous and The Yakuza.For the past year, YEИDRY has been busy working on her debut album in Latin America and in Miami, she shared with us her ambition to experiment different genres and bridge her Caribbean and European cultures through music.She also described her reaction when she learned that she was featured on Barack Obama’s “Favorite Music of 2021” and how this recognition inspired other young women.

Meet Dr. Pierrette Herzberger-Fofana, a German Member of the European Parliament and one of the six elected female MEPs of African descent.In June 2020, in the aftermath of George Floyd’s death and as she was heading to the European Parliament for the adoption of the historical Anti-Racism Resolution, Dr. Pierrette denounced having been victim of police violence on the basis of discrimination.In conversation with Dr. Pierrette, we discussed how she got elected, the importance of having more diversity in spheres of power in order to ensure representation and the need to foster anti-racism policies, based on her personal experience.

Meet Samira Rafaela from the Netherlands, a Member of the European Parliament.Elected in 2019, she is not only one of the youngest elected euro-deputies, but she is also the first Dutch MEP with Afro-Caribbean roots.Rafaela ran on the promise to fight for a strong, social and secure Europe. She strongly believes that the EU is at its best when we work together to diminish inequality and celebrate our diversity.In conversation with Samira, she shared with us her upbringing in the Netherlands, how she makes her diversity a strength and her priorities on the fight against racism during her mandate at the European Parliament.

Meet Elozi Lomponda from Belgium, a professional in foreign policy and founder of DLSP, a Charity enabling young people and women living in areas located near the Congo River to access quality education.Since 2013, Elozi has held a position at the Belgian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. In 2015, the news that nine school children had died when their canoe overturned on the Congo River spurred her to set up the Charity DLSP. Since then, her Charity impacted more than 400 children.In conversation with Elozi, we discussed her journey at the Belgian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, that she joined at only 24, and her mission to give back to both Belgium and DRC, the country of her roots.