PAST EVENTS RECAP

LebNet Michigan officially launched on April 9 with a powerful and inspiring evening at the University of Michigan Dearborn, bringing together leaders and community members for a forward looking discussion on The Future of Connected Vehicles and Software Defined Systems.

The conversation highlighted a fundamental shift in the automotive industry from static, hardware driven machines to software defined, continuously evolving platforms. Vehicles are no longer built and sold once, but are becoming dynamic systems enhanced over time through over the air updates, new features, and data driven services.

A key theme was the interplay between edge and cloud computing. Vehicles were described as having reflexes and a brain, with real time decisions handled in vehicle, while the cloud enables learning, AI models, and fleet wide intelligence. The future lies in orchestrating both seamlessly.

The panel also explored major advancements shaping the space, including AI powered predictive maintenance and smarter safety systems, digital keys and seamless mobile integration, fleet level intelligence across connected vehicles, and V2X communication enabling real time interaction with vehicles, infrastructure, and emergency systems.

At the same time, important challenges were addressed, including cybersecurity risks with increased connectivity, rising system complexity, AI overhype without clear user value, and the evolving question of data ownership. The key takeaway is clear. The future of automotive will be defined by those who successfully combine software, data, and user experience.

A special thank you to our outstanding panelists Ghida Choukair, Gregory Codouni, and Hussein Zaarour for sharing their expertise, and to Guy Jaber for his thoughtful and skillful moderation.

We are grateful to SWIFT ACT and Ghanem Raishouni for generously providing the food and helping create a warm and welcoming environment for our community.

Our sincere appreciation to Dr. Georges Ayoub and the University of Michigan Dearborn for hosting us.

This event would not have been possible without the dedication of the LebNet Michigan leadership team, whose efforts brought this vision to life, and to our incredible community members who showed up, engaged, and made the evening truly special.

This marks the beginning of an exciting new chapter for LebNet in Michigan, connecting talent, fostering collaboration, and building a strong, supportive network in one of the world’s leading automotive hubs.

Stay tuned, this is just the beginning.

Check the full event album by clicking on the photo below!

On April 8, LebNet Women in Tech, in partnership with ZAKA, hosted an insightful and highly practical webinar with Christophe Zoghbi, Founder & CEO of ZAKA, focused on leveraging AI to enhance everyday productivity.

Christophe delivered a comprehensive session covering AI fundamentals, common misconceptions, and real-world applications. He introduced a simple yet powerful three-layer framework - THINK, CREATE, MANAGE - to help participants better understand and organize the growing ecosystem of AI tools.

A key highlight of the session was learning how to craft effective prompts using structured formats—defining the role, task, context, and desired output - unlocking significantly better results from AI tools.

Through live demonstrations, Christophe showcased how platforms like Claude, Motion, and others can streamline workflows, automate tasks, and improve efficiency across writing, planning, and decision-making. The session was highly interactive, with participants engaging in discussions around building custom GPTs and workflow automation.

You can watch the recorded session here.
Please also find below the presentation and Chris’s AI Tools Vault, which includes curated tools, ready-to-use prompts, and a simple daily routine you can start using tomorrow.  No technical skills needed, just copy, paste, and adapt.

A big thank you to Christophe for sharing his expertise, and to everyone who joined and contributed to a dynamic discussion.

Stay tuned for our next session in May, where we’ll take it a step further and explore how to build your own AI agent.

ZAKA - AI Tools Vault.pdf

AI Tools for Productivity_ Working Smarter in the Age of AI.pdf

The LebNet Mid-Atlantic community came together on March 31 for an evening of connection and networking, bringing Lebanese professionals across technology, business, and entrepreneurship into one room.

Around 20 members joined, creating a great mix of new and familiar faces. The feedback was wonderful. Several new attendees shared how impressed they were with LebNet, from the strength of the community to how organized and far-reaching the network is across cities.

In moments like these, coming together as a community matters more than ever. Our hearts are with Lebanon during this very difficult time, and we continue to keep you and your loved ones in our thoughts.

Thank you to everyone who showed up and contributed to such a meaningful evening, and a special thank you to Raquel Bejany from the LebNet DC leadership team for organizing a successful event.

Stay tuned for more.

Check the full event album by clicking on the photo below!

A great evening of connection, conversation, and friendly competition with the LebNet San Diego community.

On March 25, we gathered at Knotty Barrel to reconnect with familiar faces, meet new ones, and spend time together in a relaxed and welcoming setting. Moments like these are a meaningful reminder of the importance of showing up for one another, especially during challenging times.

It was especially nice to see connections deepen, both among those meeting for the first time and those continuing relationships built over time.

Thank you to everyone who joined. We missed those who couldn’t make it and look forward to seeing you at the next gathering.

As one attendee shared: “It’s always good to connect, especially in these times. I’m grateful for meeting new people and turning virtual connections into real ones.”

Thank you to Cynthia Chammas for organizing the event, and to Aziz Gholmieh, Fram Akiki, and Cedric Fadel for their support throughout the evening.

More to come. Stay connected.

On March 23, the LebNet Bay Area hosted an outstanding evening bringing together leaders across AI, research, and venture. From a thoughtful panel discussion to compelling startup pitches and meaningful connections, the event reflected the strength and depth of our community.

Key themes explored:

• The founder journey and how entrepreneurs are building AI-first companies
• AI’s transformative impact on industries such as healthcare
• The future of work in an AI-driven world
• AI safety and security, particularly in clinical settings
• Building with newly unlocked capabilities enabled by AI

Thank you to our exceptional panelists:

• Rima Arnaout (UCSF)
• Nader Khalil (NVIDIA)
• Hadi Salman (OpenAI)

Moderator: Habib Haddad (E14 Fund)

Startup pitchers:

• Nathalie Khalil (Reviewer3)
• Tony Yamin (Parachute)
• Chloe Samaha (BOND)

Special recognition to Luna Maroun, from the LebNet Bay Area leadership team, who MCed and led this event seamlessly, and to Murad El Haj and Ali Thabet for their invaluable support with logistics.

Thank you to our community, 50+ strong, for showing up with energy, curiosity, and remarkable talent. The room reflected both the diversity and strength of our network.

We are grateful to Pebblebed for hosting us in such an inspiring venue, and to E14 Fund for supporting and funding this event.

As one attendee shared, “Today we saw how real and strong the network is.”

And indeed, we did.

More to come. Stay tuned.

Check the full event album by clicking of the photo below!

Thank you to everyone who joined us at Papago Park for a wonderful afternoon of connection and community.

Despite the warm weather, it was great to see everyone come together to share a meal, enjoy the outdoors, and connect across the community.

The potluck was a true success, with everyone contributing a dish and more than enough food to go around, a great reflection of the generosity and spirit of our community.

We also heard strong interest in hosting a game night as a future event, which we are excited to explore.

Thank you again to everyone who joined us despite the heat, and to our leadership team for organizing such a meaningful gathering.

Stay tuned for more to come!

On February 27, LebNet hosted a compelling panel on why Lebanon’s next global export is not a product, but its people and technological talent. Lebanese founders and operators shared how they are building global companies powered by engineering, product, and AI teams rooted in Lebanon, delivering at world-class standards despite economic and political challenges. The event was a call to action for the diaspora to invest, hire, mentor, and build with Lebanon in mind, highlighting the resilience, leadership, and global competitiveness of Lebanese talent while encouraging professionals to focus on building, learning, and creating in an AI-driven future.

Read the inspirational full Bay Area Recap and watch the session here.

On February 28, LebNet LA OC hosted a highly engaging panel discussion on AI, Data, and the Future of Work at USC, bringing together industry leaders from Bank of America, Google, and XP3R for a timely and nuanced conversation on how artificial intelligence is reshaping careers and the nature of work.

Moderated by Romeo Elias, Founder and Chairman of Intellect, the discussion cut through alarming headlines to separate hype from reality. The panel featured Ghada Richani, Managing Director of Data and Technology at Bank of America; Sarah Ouwayda, Group Product Manager at Google; and Lara Kallab, AI Architect at XP3R. Each brought a distinct perspective from finance, product, and applied AI.

Over a generous two hour discussion, panelists emphasized that AI is not changing whether work happens, but how it happens and what we value in people. Rather than replacing individuals, AI is reshaping roles and redefining the skill sets required to succeed. While AI is highly effective at generating, summarizing, analyzing, and pattern matching, speakers highlighted that it cannot yet replicate original judgment, deep relationship building, moral reasoning, cultural intuition, physical world problem solving, or leading people through ambiguity.

The conversation also addressed responsible AI adoption, ethical considerations, and how organizations are evolving their hiring and learning models to prioritize adaptability and lifelong learning. With AI advancing faster than any technology before it, panelists stressed that continuous learning and flexibility will be central to long term career growth.

The strong turnout and high level of audience engagement reflected the community’s deep interest in the topic, with thoughtful questions and active participation throughout the session. A heartfelt thank you to our panelists and moderator for the time, insight, and generosity they shared, to the LebNet LA OC leadership team for organizing the event, and to our community members who came out to connect, learn, and engage. We are also grateful to USC, the IEEE chapters, and Michella Rustom, PhD candidate at USC, for their invaluable support in making this event a success.

Check the full event album by clicking on the photo below! 

On February 24, the LebNet New York chapter gathered at Balade Restaurant for a beautiful evening of Iftar filled with connection, culture, and community. Attendees enjoyed a carefully curated menu of flavorful Lebanese dishes while sharing meaningful conversations in a warm and welcoming setting.

The evening brought together both familiar faces and many newcomers to the community, creating a lively and inclusive atmosphere. The energy in the room was wonderful, with guests enjoying great food, engaging conversations, and meaningful connections across backgrounds and experiences.

Thank you to everyone who joined us and helped make the night so special. It was a memorable evening that truly reflected the spirit of the LebNet New York community, and we look forward to many more gatherings ahead.

On Saturday, February 21, LebNet Chicago brought together professionals for an evening of authentic connection, thoughtful conversation, and community. Designed to move beyond surface level small talk, the gathering created space for meaningful, career shaping dialogue. The event went very well and was a lot of fun, with great energy and engagement throughout the evening.

Attendees received name tags highlighting their name and industry, along with curated conversation prompts that sparked genuine and insightful discussions. The format was casual and inclusive, allowing participants to move freely, choose their conversations, and connect organically across roles, industries, and career stages.

Thank you to the LebNet Chicago community who braved the weather to join us, and to the leadership team for carving out this intentional networking space for its members. The evening reflected the strength of the Chicago community and the power of bringing people together with purpose.