Meet Our Founder

Ihab Nassef

Founder & Chief Learning Strategist

Transforming Organizations Through People

With over 17 years of experience spanning EMEA and APAC regions, Ihab Nassef founded Maven with a clear purpose: to support individuals in becoming better versions of themselves while building healthy, high-performing organizational cultures.

Ihab's journey in talent development has taken him across continents and industries—from designing leadership academies for 3,000+ employees at global organizations to delivering transformative learning experiences for Fortune 500 companies and regional champions across the MENA region.

A Track Record of Impact

Throughout his career, Ihab has:

Led Global Talent Initiatives: Architected and implemented talent management strategies for organizations across Europe, Middle East, and Asia, building comprehensive leadership pipelines and succession planning frameworks.

Delivered Excellence at Scale: Facilitated 3,000+ hours of leadership development programs with consistently high satisfaction ratings (90%+), reaching executives and emerging leaders across diverse industries.

Driven Measurable Results: Achieved documented improvements including 70% performance enhancement and 50% increase in retention through strategic learning and organizational development interventions.

Delivered Transformative Experiences: Facilitated customized learning programs, business simulations, and team building experiences for leading multinationals including Coca-Cola, PepsiCo, Vodafone, National Bank of Egypt, and SEDCO Holding.

Professional Credentials & Expertise

Ihab brings a unique blend of global certifications and hands-on experience:

Coaching Excellence

International Coach Federation (ICF) Associate Certified Coach (ACC)
Systems Relationships Coaching Certificate from Care Academy (ICF Accredited)
70+ senior professionals coached using ICF methodologies

Learning & Development Mastery

CIPD Practitioner (Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development)
Professional Certified Trainer (PCT)
Master Trainer Certifications: Wilson Learning (USA), Simdustry (Germany), Customer Focus (USA)

Strategic Leadership Development

Strategic Workforce Planning & Talent Management
Organizational Change Management
Leading with Digital Mindset in AI Age
Generative AI in Learning & Development

The Maven Philosophy

"Real transformation happens when we develop Mind, Heart, and Soul together. That's why at Maven, we don't just deliver training—we create experiential learning journeys that shift mindsets, build authentic leadership capabilities, and drive lasting behavioral change."

Ihab's approach combines rigorous analysis with human-centered design, ensuring every solution is grounded in both business reality and organizational culture. His deep understanding of MENA and GCC business environments, paired with global best practices, enables him to design culturally intelligent solutions that resonate and deliver results.

Beyond the Boardroom

Ihab believes in the power of continuous learning—not just for his clients, but for himself. He stays at the forefront of talent development trends, from AI-enabled learning to generative coaching approaches, ensuring Maven always brings fresh perspectives and cutting-edge methodologies to every engagement.

His passion for developing people extends beyond corporate walls. Ihab is committed to building a culture of learning across the MENA region, one leader at a time.