Meet Lina Chehab '79
Meet Lina Chehab, Class of 79, an inspirational woman who defied all the odds to venture into the business world and create a bright future for herself.
Lina’s journey began after graduating from IC with a degree in Philosophy and from AUB with a ‘Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration’, after which she got married and moved to Lausanne, Switzerland. Lina was asked about the inspiration behind sharing her story. She credited a storytelling technique taught by her history teacher at IC, Mr. Hector Badran, who fuelled her love for history through captivating story telling techniques, narratives, and thought-provoking questions. “Mr. Badran had faith in me and my capabilities and mentioned that he would see me in leadership positions at international organizations. This has helped build Lina’s confidence in pursuing her passion in every step of her life and she is proud to say “I did it!”
Lina's career started as a researcher at the World Economic Forum in Geneva, and she later worked as a consultant in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, advising on business investment opportunities and promoting women's active involvement in the Jeddah Economic Forum. Her journey continued as she joined the Swiss Private Banking and Wealth Management sector, eventually specializing in Family Business Advisory on Family Governance and Next Generation Succession in Family Businesses.
As a second-generation shareholder of Chehab Bros. SAL, her family business, Lina pursued studies in Family Business Advisory, earning four certificates from the Family Firm Institute FFI in Boston. This marked a turning point in her career. Guided by the wisdom and passion of her late father Zakaria Chehab and the motivation from her mother Najat Sinno to lifelong learning and giving back to society.
In May 2016, Lina embarked on her plan to establish in Lebanon the Family Business Network FBN Levant chapter (including Lebanon, Jordan, and eventually Syria) and to officially launch it in December 2016. Leading the chapter with the mission “To offer business families a safe space to learn from, share with and inspire each other about how to guide the family involvement in the business, facilitate relationships within the family and raise the awareness and importance of family business models in society”.
Over the past 7 years, she successfully grew FBN Levant's memberships to 74 family businesses and 212 members, designing educational programs tailored to meet the needs of family businesses aiming for successful transitions to the next generations and the continuity of their legacies.
According to Lina: “FBN was a life changer for me!” Nevertheless, her experience in the banking sector contributed to the development of her confidence in nurturing interpersonal connections and fostering trust with clients, which is rooted in her family values.
Through FBN, Lina continues her learning with inspirational family business members and their unique stories on their approach in communicating together, their journeys in setting up their Family Governance, empowering the next generation, cultivating an environment that encourages and supports entrepreneurship, and building bridges for constructive conflict resolution.
Diverging from her professional successes, Lina encountered personal challenges as her husband, Dr. Riad El Alaili, was diagnosed with Metastatic Prostate Cancer, leading to his tragic passing in June 2022. Just five days following his death, Lina herself received the diagnosis of stage 3 asymptomatic metastatic Ovarian Cancer. Without hesitation, she made the decision to relocate to Lausanne, Switzerland, seeking treatment for her health condition.
In the span of a week, her life took a complete turn as she relocated from her home in Dubai, leaving behind her children Karim and Roanne, their spouses, and her beloved one-year-old granddaughter. Despite this upheaval, Lina's faith, bolstered by the support of family and friends worldwide, coupled with her unwavering positivity, became the driving force in her battle against cancer. Sporting a radiant smile and adorned in vibrant colors to brighten her days, Lina utilized her journey to share her story on various platforms—social media, including Facebook and Instagram, the IC 79 WhatsApp group she initiated, and among the Family Business Network (FBN) family members and Directors worldwide. Her goal in sharing her experience on social media is to raise awareness about cancer and her personal struggle. Lina emerged victorious in her battle against cancer and has been free of the disease for 14 months. She remains hopeful for the non-recurrence of cancer.
Recently featured in The Global Family Business Think Tank report by Family Business United, Lina, a Shareholder and Chief Governance Officer of Chehab Brothers SAL, emphasizes the importance of governance in family firms for survival. With a positive energy that captivates hearts, Lina strives to inspire others, believing that success reflects one's connections and how they make the best of it. Surrounded by love and support from family, friends, IC classmates, and the FBN families, Lina aspires to share her success journey, her approach to confronting life challenges, her passion for human connections, and her accomplishments. In Lina’s words: "Have faith in yourself, and success will naturally unfold. It's a reflection of your identity in relation to the people around you and how you maximize those connections!"
Many respects to this amazing woman!