Meet Dr. Heba El Ashry: A Leading Academic Driving Innovation and Startup Growth in Egypt

Dr. Heba El Ashry is truly one of the most influential academic leaders focused on supporting the entrepreneurship ecosystem in Egypt and the wider region. She's the co-founder and director of the Entrepreneurship Center at the Arab Academy for Science, Technology & Maritime Transport (AASTMT), a center that has played a huge role in empowering entrepreneurs and helping startups grow. Heba El Ashry brings together both academic knowledge and hands-on experience in entrepreneurship and AI-powered digital marketing. She also teaches marketing and entrepreneurship at the Business College within the Arab Academy. Plus, she's taught at prestigious international universities like Hull University in the UK and Cardiff University, showing her global academic presence and her knack for sharing practical knowledge with entrepreneurs and students. Before taking the helm at the Entrepreneurship Center, she was the Head of Operations and Digital Marketing at the Strategic Marketing Center at the Arab Academy. In that role, she helped develop digital initiatives and strengthen corporate marketing strategies. Dr. Heba El Ashry holds a PhD in AI-powered Digital Marketing for Startups from the Arab Academy for Science, Technology & Maritime Transport. She's also a certified entrepreneurship trainer from Babson College, one of the world's top institutions for entrepreneurship education, and a certified startup mentor from Universitas Ciputra Surabaya. She even participated in the International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP), a leading global leadership exchange program. This gave her a fantastic opportunity to learn about the best international practices in supporting innovation and entrepreneurship. Throughout her career, Dr. El Ashry has delivered numerous training programs, consultations, and mentorship sessions for startups. These have covered crucial areas like business model development, digital marketing, marketing communication strategies, and social media marketing. She's also a sought-after speaker at events and conferences focused on innovation and entrepreneurship. Her incredible contributions to supporting the entrepreneurship ecosystem and empowering founders were recognized when she received the Global Champion Award from the International Council for Small Business (ICSB). Beyond her academic and professional life, Dr. El Ashry is deeply committed to community work. She serves as the CEO of Dar Al Abrar for Orphans, an organization that cares for about 30 girls aged 19 to 25. This is part of her broader efforts to empower young women socially and economically, preparing them for independent professional lives.