Dr Haitham Khoury

Haitham is an organizational psychologist, Fulbright scholar, and leadership development expert dedicated to fostering high-growth ventures and innovation ecosystems. With over 17 years of experience, he has worked at the intersection of leadership, talent development, and organizational effectiveness, equipping entrepreneurs and executives with the tools to build and scale impactful ventures. He is recognized for his ability to develop high-impact leadership programs, foster collaboration within diverse teams, and apply research-driven insights to entrepreneurship and innovation strategy.

Haitham currently serves as the Director of Fellowships and Global Initiatives at the MIT Center for Development and Entrepreneurship, where he oversees the Student Fellowship – ensuring that emerging entrepreneurial leaders receive mentorship, funding, and ecosystem support to scale their ventures, and the Foundry Fellowship program supporting founder entrepreneurs across Africa, ensuring its seamless delivery and maximizing its impact. He also leads efforts to
expand entrepreneurial education, strengthen innovation networks, and accelerate venture growth in emerging markets.
Previously, he served as a Scholar-in-Residence and Research Associate at the Center, leading research at the intersection of leadership, entrepreneurship, and innovation. During this time, he authored the white paper Pan-African Deeptech: Key to Sustainable Prosperity, which explores the role of hard technologies in driving inclusive economic growth across the continent. His research continues to shape the Center’s educational programs, thought leadership, and policy
recommendations.
Before joining MIT, Haitham was the Director of the Executive Leadership program at the American University of Beirut (AUB), where he worked closely with over 120 leaders from diverse industries, helping them refine their leadership strategies and organizational growth approaches. His expertise in executive succession planning, talent strategy, and organizational transformation has also been applied in consulting roles across the private and public sectors.

A recognized expert in leadership and talent development, Haitham’s approach emphasizes self-discovery as the foundation for growth, enabling him to help entrepreneurial teams and leaders build collaborative, high-performance cultures. His work bridges academic research and practical implementation, shaping entrepreneurial education, leadership development, and ecosystem-
building efforts in emerging growth markets.

Haitham holds a PhD in Industrial & Organizational Psychology and was a Fulbright Scholar. His areas of expertise include entrepreneurship and leadership development, innovation-driven ecosystem design, organizational culture, and strategic talent management.