The Bridge-the-Gap programme, conceived by the late Rudy Kamel, an advertising industry luminary, reflects his passion for education, communication, and Lebanese cultural preservation. Having collaborated with industry giants, he wanted to give budding creatives the same chance. Rudy’s vision for Bridge-the-Gap was simple yet profound: a platform to nurture up-and-coming creatives who are facing challenges in their careers by equipping them with the essential skills and knowledge required to shine in their chosen fields. Sadly, Rudy passed away in April 2022, leaving behind a legacy that continues to inspire and uplift those who follow in his footsteps.

At Musharek, we are immensely proud to start the implementation of the Bridge-the-Gap programme in partnership with the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) and with the financial support of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ). We are committed to carrying forward Rudy’s legacy by providing training to young creatives and arming them with the skills required for success. Our mission is to bridge the gap between academia and the corporate world in Lebanon through short courses, offering powerful real-world strategies, techniques, and resources while developing essential employability skills.

Musharek, a Lebanese non-profit association, brings together skilled professionals with extensive local and international expertise. Our collective efforts revolve around enhancing corporate social responsibility, promoting education, fostering innovation, and supporting social development. Musharek was born from the recognition of technology and education’s pivotal role in the socioeconomic advancement of communities.

At Musharek, we are dedicated to discovering and nurturing talent while equipping them with the necessary skills to excel in a highly competitive market. While not everyone enrolling in our programme will secure a job or internship (nobody said it would be easy), our programme connects participants with creative industry professionals, providing them with the best possible chance.

I eagerly anticipate welcoming all Bridge-the-Gap participants and wish them the utmost success in their future endeavours.

Grace Harb
President of the board, Musharek

Grace Harb
President of the Musharek Board

Meet Grace Harb, a catalyst for social development and education, and the President of the Musharek Board. As a co-founder of the Musharek NGO, Grace is on a mission to empower communities and propel sustainable social progress. But her impact doesn’t stop there. Grace is also a seasoned lawyer in Lebanon, specialising in Corporate Affairs and CSR. Her forte? Forging strategic partnerships among NGOs, corporations, donors, and government bodies, all while offering invaluable legal support to startups.

A member of the Beirut Bar Association since 2002, Grace’s journey took an exciting turn in 2009 when she assumed the role of Corporate Affairs Consultant for Intel Corporation in Lebanon. Here, she championed the cause of ICT in education, entrepreneurship, science, technology, and women’s empowerment. Grace played a pivotal role in steering Intel’s Corporate Social Responsibility initiatives, extending her support to Corporate Affairs teams across the Middle East, Egypt, Turkey, and Africa. Her responsibilities spanned government relations, media relations, marketing, branding, and the orchestration of seminars, trainings, and competitions on local, regional, and international fronts.

Today, Grace continues to leave her indelible mark on social development and education. Her expertise lies in fostering collaborations among NGOs, corporations, donors, and government entities, driving innovation in creative industries, culture, education, and entrepreneurship.

Mouna Mounayer
BtG Programme Director

Meet Mouna Mounayer, the BtG Programme Director. Mouna wears many hats – she’s a filmmaker, content creator, and entrepreneur with a passion for crafting compelling narratives.

In 1999, Mouna pioneered the media industry by founding Firehorse, Lebanon’s first independent production company. Her talents earned her recognition from the Harvard Business School AllWorld Network, which lauded Firehorse as one of Lebanon’s fastest-growing companies in both 2010 and 2011.

Mouna’s creative journey spans across film, where she has written, directed, and produced over 500 hours of broadcast television and corporate films. Her extensive work includes managing large-scale, long-term creative collaborations with both clients and teams. In 2016, she founded TRIARC, the world’s first global footage-licensing and sales distribution platform specialising in Middle East video content.

Mouna’s adventures have taken her to diverse corners of the globe, from the ancient city of Eridu in Iraq to the serene Himalayan town of Dharmsala. Along the way, she’s captured the essence of ordinary people, world leaders like the Dalai Lama, pioneering Saudi Arabian women athletes, and brilliant artists, leaders, and academics among others.

Mouna’s rich tapestry of experiences provides her clients with a one-of-a-kind perspective and a wealth of expertise. In her role as the BtG Programme Director, she infuses the Bridge-the-Gap programme with a blend of creativity and organisational skills.

Marc Kodeih
BtG Senior Talent & Creative Consultant

Meet Marc Kodeih, our visionary Senior Talent & Creative Consultant. He is the bridge between our course content, our team, and our social media marketing department. However, Marc is not your typical consultant; he’s a storyteller, a master of communication, and a showrunner extraordinaire.

With a rich and celebrated career in the communication arts, Marc has the remarkable ability to weave captivating tales through the lens of comedy, whether on stage or screen. He stands as one of Lebanon’s foremost playwrights and a prolific director in both theatre and television having written and directed two long-running satirical TV comedy series and sixteen plays.

But Marc is more than an artist; he’s also an educator, instilling lateral thinking skills in his university students. He firmly believes that creativity has the power to transform the world, a conviction that served him well during his tenure as a university lecturer and as a creative director in the advertising sector.

Through his work in theatre and television, Marc has nurtured acting talent, with many of his proteges rising to become stars in their own right. Well-traveled and possessing a diverse palate for literature, music, comedy, and film, Marc’s work consistently embodies two guiding principles: humour and honesty.

Randa Salamoun
BtG Academic Consultant

Meet Dr Randa Salamoun, the Academic Consultant for the Bridge-the-Gap programme. Beyond her academic role as an assistant professor at the Suliman Olayan School of Business, American University of Beirut, Randa brings a wealth of industry experience to the table.

With a background in information system development and general management consulting spanning various sectors including banking, insurance, microcredit, distribution, contracting, and social affairs, Randa is no stranger to the practical world.

Over her impressive 19-year academic journey, she’s honed her expertise through projects and initiatives, tackling essential academic functions like curriculum development, programme management, student interactions, assessments, admissions, and faculty recruitment.

Randa’s commitment to enhancing education is further evident through her participation in teaching and learning seminars, workshops, and conferences, including the prestigious Global Colloquium on Student-Centered Learning. She brings innovation to her teaching by employing the case method and has even received recognition, winning the EFMD case writing award in 2015.

Yorgo Badr
BtG Programme Assistant

Meet Yorgo Badr, the BtG Programme Assistant whose professional journey is deeply rooted in the world of NGOs and community work. With a background as a social worker, field support expert, and project coordinator, Yorgo has honed his skills through years of dedicated service at World Vision Lebanon and the International Organization for Migration.

Yorgo brings a valuable problem-solving mindset to the forefront, coupled with communication and project management skills – qualities that are indispensable in the dynamic NGO sector. His passion for making a positive impact and connecting with diverse individuals is palpable, driving his unwavering commitment to social change.

Yorgo doesn’t just talk the talk; he actively engages in initiatives aimed at empowering marginalised communities, embodying the very essence of the Musharek NGO.

German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ)

The Bridge-the-Gap Training Centre is funded by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) and supported by the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ).