Dr. Saliba developed innovative methods to determine the physical and chemical characteristics of water pipe (WP) smoke and electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS) at the design and smoke levels. She determined the major contributing sources of elevated levels of pollution in the city and assessed the contribution of dust storms originating in nearby deserts. The data she generated is used by local government and research agencies, the World Health Organization (WHO), and the World Bank in their publications. At AUB-NCC she leads in offering innovative solutions to local rural environmental challenges through public participatory and citizen science approaches. Her recent work at AUB-NCC has focused on waste management and water contamination. Her outputs made headline news in local and international media outlets and culminated in over 85 peer-reviewed articles that are highly cited. She is the recipient of the 2019 L’Oréal-UNESCO International Award for Women in Science, the National Order of the Cedar from the President of the Lebanese Republic, the Honorary Cedar Shield from the Speaker of the Parliament of Lebanon, the Lebanese National Council for Scientific Research Award in the Environmental Category in 2016 and along with a multidisciplinary team, the 2018 American psychological Association (APA) Prize for Interdisciplinary Team Research. In 2019, she was awarded the Laureate for Africa and the Arab States, as part of the L’OREAL-UNESCO For Women in Science International Awards. This highly prestigious award only select five women from around the world and “recognize accomplished women researchers, to encourage more young women to enter the profession and to assist them once their careers are in progress.” On the 16th of October 2019, BBC announced the Top 100 Women in the World for 2019, among which Dr. Saliba. She once said: “Like the positive and negative dipoles defining a chemical bond, and the yin and the yang staging the balance in nature, women and men must co-reign to solve our current and future environmental threats.” The President of the Lebanese Republic, General Michel Aoun, on the 22nd of March 2019, awarded a National Cedar Medal to the Director of AUB’s Nature Protection Center, professor Najat Aoun Saliba, in recognition of her pioneering research and efforts in the field of air pollution and for the UNESCO’s international L’Oréal award. Dr. Najat Aoun Saliba was as well awarded, an honorary shield from Head of the Lebanese Parliament, for her scientific achievements, which culminated in her receiving the 2019 L’Oréal UNESCO For Women in Science Award.
“Keep your Goal Alive…” Mona Makkawi | Founder of KONSULT
What are the challenges that you think women face in the consulting world? In today’s world, the challenges women face are not exclusively in the consulting world, as the dominance of the patriarchy attach its claws to all areas of life; However, let’s also be realistic and admit that sometimes the biggest challenge women face comes from their own species! I’ve never got the support needed from other women in Business early in my career. So, I made it my mission to be the support I’ve never had, to other women. We must support and empower each other’s. Here are some incidents that happened to me along the way: The previous company you worked at was Management Solutions, which is now mastered and matured into Konsult. Can you tell us more about this professional career upgrade and what is behind it? I founded Management Solutions Lebanon back in 2009, to cater Lebanon and GCC for all matters related to HR & Management Consultancy, Executive search, and Recruitment. Konsult holds at heart the same concept of Management Solutions, with one slight difference, that I am now enriched with thirteen years of experience, making Konsult the mature product of Management Solutions and a strongly skilled reference that provides solutions for companies. Throughout these thirteen years, I have held many managerial titles, moved forward in my career, and got introduced to different industries among which oil and gas, electro-mechanical engineering, renewable Energy FMCG, food manufacturing, retail, fashion design, NGO’s, food packaging. This supplement Konsult with multidisciplinary approaches and highlight its qualifications to tailor made solutions for these industries. Add to it of course the training and coaching part which we didn’t use to provide at Management Solutions. Switching gears, what advice would you give someone who’s just starting out in their career? The first advice I give people is to believe in themselves and to never stop investing in their knowledge. To be humble and always be hungry to learn, remember sometimes you are required to unlearn to learn. The world is evolving, and nothing should be set in stones. The business world is changing every day and so are we, if we don’t progress with it, we will be doomed to fail. Keep your heads high in the sky, but most importantly make your feet firmly grounded as nothing kills a career more than arrogance. Be helpful to everyone that crosses your career path, as we elevate by lifting others. Be very mindful of your social media posts, as this is where recruiters are doing their background checks nowadays, and you do not want to give the wrong impression or message as a young professional. Since a very young age, I knew that to survive this VUCA world (Volatile, Uncertain, Complex and Ambiguous) I had to develop many skills and to be very flexible. There is no such thing as a career without challenges, and I even consider it boring, but the key here is to use all the obstacles to build yourself a shield, a ladder and steppingstones that will further you in your professional life. The ultimate challenge that faces all Lebanese living in Lebanon, not only me, is the overall uncertainty (Political, Economic, Social…); therefore, if one could maneuver this, he/she will be able to see opportunity at every obstacle. As a mom and a professional, it is easy to sometimes get off-track. The key here is to always keep your goal alive, not only keeping an eye on your goal. What I mean by keeping your goal alive is to update your goal(s) and vision continuously and periodically, because we often do not notice that life is changing and so are we! So basically, what I do is to always search within myself, always work on updating my goals and my vision. There will always be distractions, but if you know the destination, you will ultimately reach it. As I mentioned before, Konsult draws on the experience of Local, regional, and international consultants and trainers from many fields and industries therefore, industries that are concerned with Konsult are FMCG, Electro-Mechanical Engineering, Food Manufacturing, Food Packaging, Fashion Design, Retail, Oil and Gaz, Renewable Energy, Universities, NGO’s etc.… Can you share with us some tips to be taken by fresh graduates who are applying for Jobs? I am really impressed by the youth and fresh grads of today, they really know what they want and are not afraid to ask for it. If I were to give them a few tips, it would be the following: Have confidence in your abilities, but also be eager to learn Now that you have opened KONSULT, what are you exactly expecting or looking forward to in the future? At Konsult, our mission is to assist businesses in optimizing their performance through developing their Human Resources and Management Systems to deliver high quality services. We do this by transferring our skills and expertise to clients from a multitude of sectors, to support them in mastering these skills, to optimize their processes, adding value to organizations, and obtain intra-preneurial and entrepreneurial skills that will have a dual impact on success rates and the bottom line. Holding in mind the vision of being the Human Capital and Management Partner of choice for Professionals, Entrepreneurs and Enterprise. Finally, what are your tips for growing a company? I strongly believe in the saying “you don’t build a business; you build people and then people build the business” by Zig Ziglar This is the most truthful saying, as you cannot grow a company without taking good care of its people, who makes the business? People do. Therefore, my advice to all Business owners out there is to never stop investing in their people, it will not only make the business grow, but it will also create loyalty, accountability and sustainability for the business and the people in it. Another tip would be to always be updated on the trends in the business and never be afraid of the
Rima Francis: Non-verbal Communication Specialist
New York City based Image Stylist, Professional Coach, Presence Trainer and Corporate Etiquette & International Protocol consultant. Rima is a self- confessed addict for intra-cultural diversity and the power of non-verbal communication. By embracing all five skills, she helps her clients communicate a complete and awe making image that is stylish, cross-culturally savvy, and socially and professionally sharp. Her motto in life: “Bringing Positivity and Making a difference” to her clients. Francis’ brainchild is the first firm world-wide to combine image styling services with professional presence, body-language, etiquette, cultural intelligence and coaching solutions. With outstanding certifications among which the Micro Expression Body Language in METT, Body Language for Entrepreneur, Color Analysis from ICRNY, and studies at Cornell University in New York and the American University of Beirut AUB, this successful Lebanese entrepreneur is the founder of PRO-positives LLC, New York, and has revolutionised the industry by pioneering the integration of intelligent-based image solutions with styling and non- verbal communication. Rima has stood out among many of New York’s fast-paced professionals, artists and diplomats who have sought her unique services; her clients span New York and Beirut, where she regularly shuttles to and from, in addition to working and living for more than 10 years in Canada, The Netherlands, United Arab Emirates, and Qatar. As a Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT, New York) alumna, Rima was trained with New York’s leading image consultants. Remarkably experienced and expert in her field, she is a skilled member in the Association of Image Consultants International (AICI) and grew her knowledge in Fashion Industry from Parsons School of Design in New York. Regularly involved in New York Fashion Week since 2017, she dressed and styled thousands of looks from Oscar de la Renta, Naeem Khan, Cushnie, Philipp Plein, Boss, Zadig&Voltaire, Joseph, to many more. With expertise in TV and stage presence, and as an ex- TV presenter, Rima’s remarkable training and coaching skills assist diplomats, politicians, expatriates, celebrities and professionals, along with corporate representatives. She trains political candidates for elections with a unique all- inclusive approach as she ensures a multidisciplinary assistance covering styling, dressing, branding, art direction, public speaking, stage presence and body language. Her ability to spot and understand body language signals, gestures, communication styles and respecting behavioural norms supplemented her path. These passions took her to The Protocol School of Washington (P.S.O.W, Washington D.C) where she graduated as a Business Etiquette and International Protocol Consultant. She is as well certified and qualified in Career Coaching, leading businesses, corporations, and individuals from creation to establishing a business.
Cedar Oxygen deploys 100 million $ fund – Phase II
100 million dollars to be deployed by Cedar Oxygen during their Phase II that is to include 55 new borrowers… Harkous: Despite all the challenges in Lebanon, we are the largest active and independent debt fund in the country. We are here for the sole purpose of helping Lebanon and its people. Cedar Oxygen has launched the second phase of its active deployment strategy, which aims to onboard an additional 55 new borrowers, totalling $100 million, before the end of the year, and they are now completing their client’s applications. Having spent its first year focused on establishing and launching its far-reaching initiative to extend credit facilities to Lebanese industrialists despite enormous economic, health and political challenges, Cedar Oxygen’s Credit Committee, composed of independent internal and external experts, has been able to address the requests of more than 80 Lebanese companies and approve 39 private Lebanese borrowers amounting to USD 59,000,000. Cedar Oxygen’s Chairman, Alexandre Harkous, affirms that: “Despite all the challenges in Lebanon and a few attempts to destabilize the vital Cedar Oxygen initiative, we will stay the course and weather any political storm, refute any rumor campaigns and correct any erroneous information that is cast our way. We are here solely to help Lebanon and the Lebanese people, and nothing will diminish our strong will to succeed in the execution of our mission.” Cedar Oxygen’s purpose is to ensure business efficiency, improve employability within the country and enhance the comparative advantage of Lebanese Industrialists. The group offers Lebanese industrialists credit facilities to purchase raw materials, conclude capital expenditure projects and finance renewable energy technologies. Cedar Oxygen works in close partnership with the Association of Lebanese Industrialists and is a member of the Global Impact Investing Network (GIIN), aligning its platform with the UN Sustainable Development Goals (UNSDG). As staunch supporters of actively promoting CSR within Lebanon, Cedar Oxygen believes that the principles of transparency and financial integrity begin at home. The group is cognizant of the need to adhere to the highest standards of disclosure and global best practices. Cedar Oxygen acts with transparency by clarifying its founding mission to promote the highest ethical standards in the management of the group and optimize the money invested by the BDL and all other currently interested investors. Cedar Oxygen remains fully committed to adhering to its social mission, prudently administering its management fees and expenses mindful that the BDL investment will be progressively reimbursed in full, before the end of the mandate. Looking ahead, Cedar Oxygen is engaging with their strategic partners, European and international impact funds, development finance institutions (DFIs) and private investors, including those among the Lebanese expat community with an interest to expand assistance to the productive Lebanese industrial sector. Finally, Cedar Oxygen wishes to thank their partners and shareholders for their unwavering trust and commitment to the principled and successful initiative. For any information, please contact: Joelle@cedaroxygen.com
Emotional Immunity by Viola Edward
Introduction We are used to hearing terms such as immunity or immune system and even more so in times of pandemic. This concept refers to the biological field and we could define it, in a general way, as the capacity of our organism to defend itself against any internal or external threat. It is therefore possible, pragmatic and necessary to speak of psychological and emotional immunity, as ways to prepare ourselves and improve our ability to face the challenges of everyday life. This preparation would be helpful in the personal sphere, in the construction of our educational and work profile and in our dynamics at work, as well as in our interpersonal relationships -partners, parenting, friendships or family-, in our communities and social interactions and even in our search for vital meaning and our spirituality. DET and Emotional Immunity The Dynamic Emotional Theory -DET (Saxa Stefani, 2021)-, proposes that behavior is based on the emotional sphere –on What We Feel-, which is itself articulated with the cognitive sphere -What We Think- and is activated from the behavioral sphere -What We Do-. We know that the way in which we operate emotionally will determine our psychological wellbeing. One of the evidences of the influence that our fundamental emotional life has on our mental health is found in the Attachment theory. It is a scientific fact that an unsatisfactory early emotional attachment -visible in insecure attachment relationships- is predictive of future difficulties, not only in intellectual development, but particularly in the development of balanced interpersonal relationships later in youth and adulthood. The correspondence between emotional and biological immunity is revealed by the experience between the agent and the host of the dynamics of this interaction. When we come into this world, our self (host) will experience or is at the mercy of a multitude of stimuli and demands that function as excitatory agents, both internal and external, such as sensations of hunger, cold, noise, smells or contact. All these sensations are organized through the attention given to the child by caregivers (also called attachment figures in psychology). In the early stages, our psyche considers those who give us care as mere “objects”. We consider them in relation to our own needs. Others also exist, either to satisfy our desires, related to survival, or as obstacles to the achievement of those desires. In fact, many people remain fixated without further development stages of emotional construction, characteristic of narcissistic (neurotically attached) and even psychopathic personalities. For the sake of clarity, we include here a brief parenthesis to differentiate between neurosis, psychosis and psychopathy. The neurotic always has a register of reality, but “overreacts” to it. The Neurosis has different degrees of severity that will be determined by “how much” reality we are able to manage. The Psychotic, on the other hand, constructs a “parallel” reality that he lives as real because the one he has is too painful for him. Finally, The Psychopath perceives reality, but ignores it because he is pathologically focused on his own need. In fact, how we establish our neurotic personality is closely linked to our first exercise or practice field of interaction in childhood, which has a strong primordial accentuation on the self and the projection of all its material and also the affective needs. Little by little, and with difficulties on the way, we incorporate a more complete vision of the caregiver and from that primary link, with other people and objects in the world around us. When the communication between the agent and the host, or between our psyche and the objects and people of the outside world takes place, a learning process is generated from the experience. This learning condenses a lot of information, but of all this accumulation of data, what we register and store is essentially emotional information. The association between what happens and my emotional perception will build an enduring internal network that we will expand and associate with new and future situations. Bowlby refers to a model of mental representation – An internal working model- that uses previous attachment information in future relationships. Pichon-Rivière, for his part, proposes the conformation of an operative referential conceptual scheme, or ECRO, which the psyche uses to categorize new situations. It does not matter from which psychological theory we approach this phenomenon, what we can say is that all previous (significant) registers will be used, operationalized in the current situation, so we propose the following formula: What do we call emotional immunity? It is the capacity to understand or resolve a situation that activates the internal emotional network in a highly functional way. Sensitive resistance is minimized and the accommodation and assimilation of new information is maximized, facilitating learning from a (more) neutral position. The higher the emotional immunity we perceive, the lower the emotional distortion and the increase of communicative quality and openness. In fact, emotional immunity is not related to not responding emotionally to stimuli, but rather the opposite: -Placing the activated emotional contents at the service of emotional management. -Expanding the conscious perceptual deployment of these contents. -Articulating the internal and external recognition of emotional communication. Several authors have treated various forms of emotional communication since Freud with his concept of transference and countertransference, or Jung around the idea of collective unconscious or more recently as social intelligence. To develop or increase emotional immunity in terms of complexity, amplitude or speed, we must first go from the registration of emotional evocation to the perception of the current situation. Then we can establish a relationship between the two that results in a functional, satisfactory and healthy behavioral response. In short, emotional immunity implies that we possess the ability to: (a) recognize the emotional need that an interpersonal or intrapersonal interaction, or situation requires. (b) register the perceived emotions that have been summoned by that interaction or situation. (c) process the information in relation to the type of interaction desired. (d)