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Rhea AbboudRA

Rhea Abboud

Digital & AI Strategy | Transformation Expert

$875/day
Dubai City, AE
15+ years

Average response time: 1 hour

About Rhea

Passionate about innovation and consulting, I am a trilingual business consultant with over 15 years of experience in strategy, digital transformation, communication, and international development across Europe, the Middle East and Africa.

I support enterprises in defining strategy, creating value, accelerating growth, and expanding into new markets. I have collaborated with Deloitte, Eli Lilly Suisse, the International Trade Centre, the World Bank, ESCWA, Oxfam, and GIZ, and have led large-scale innovation projects and acceleration programs. Over the past five years, I have supported more than 500 enterprises across different sectors including healthcare, banking, technology, e-commerce, and retail.

Certified EFQM Assessor, E-commerce Advisor, and Digital and AI Strategy Advisor, I bring a blend of strategic insight, digital expertise, and operational excellence to help organizations enhance performance, build visibility, and scale impact.

Typical missions include:
  • Developing and implementing digital strategies
  • Developing and implementing communication plans and digital marketing strategies
  • Supporting enterprises in e-commerce and export readiness
  • Leading capacity-building and training programs
  • Conducting EFQM organizational excellence assessments and improvement missions
  • Managing donor-funded projects and impact evaluations
If you’re looking for a consultant to help your organization innovate, grow, and achieve measurable impact, let’s connect.
  • English

    Native or bilingual

  • French

    Native or bilingual

  • Arabic

    Native or bilingual

Remote only
Primarily works remotely

Experience

  • European Foundation for Quality Management EFQM
    EFQM Quality Management Advisor & Assessor
    CONSULTING AND AUDITS
    July 2023 - Today (2 years and 11 months)
    Beirut, Lebanon
    • Assess and optimize organizational performance using EFQM quality frameworks and the RADAR methodology to drive continuous improvement.
    • Conduct in-depth evaluations and lead the EFQM certification process for organizations and enterprises.
    • Guide organizations in EFQM certification readiness, delivering tailored training to enhance internal capabilities and ensure long-term excellence.
    Quality Management KPIs and Metric Definition and Monitoring Corporate Strategy Change and Transformation Management
  • GIZ (Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit)
    Digital Transformation & E-Commerce Program Leader
    E-COMMERCE
    August 2023 - October 2024 (1 year and 2 months)
    Beirut, Lebanon
    • Lead and mentor a team of 15 coaches, providing strategic guidance to 40 enterprises across various industries.
    • Oversee outreach, recruitment, and admission processes for enterprises participating in the accelerator program.
    • Develop detailed project plans, timelines, and resource allocation strategies to ensure efficient execution.
    • Manage project budgets, oversee procurement processes, and supervise overall project implementation.
    • Design and deliver workshops on digital strategy, marketing, e-commerce, artificial intelligence, financial modeling, export, and internationalization.
    • Conduct digital and AI needs assessments to identify opportunities for enterprise growth and transformation.
    • Develop financial revenue models, track enterprise KPIs, and align activities with business objectives.
    • Define and monitor key performance indicators (KPIs) to measure program success and impact.
    • Generate comprehensive reports on program outcomes, insights, and recommendations.
    • Collaborate with donors and program stakeholders to unlock new opportunities for start-ups and enhance ecosystem engagement.
    Artificial Intelligence (AI) Digital Transformation E-commerce Digital Strategy Workshops Facilitation
  • TRI Rise Consulting
    Business and Strategy Consultant
    CONSULTING AND AUDITS
    January 2022 - Today (4 years and 5 months)
    Beirut, Lebanon
    Main Activities
    • Write project proposals, ensure donor compliance, and manage projects from planning to delivery.
    • Provide trainings, liaise with donors, and monitor project outputs and outcomes.
    • Create and manage website and social media content to engage stakeholders and promote initiatives.
    • Develop and implement communication strategies ensuring consistent messaging and visibility.

    Project – Alfanar Venture Philanthropy (Financial Consultancy)
    • Strengthen the financial capacity of 35 social enterprises through tailored training, needs assessments, and fit-for-purpose models.
    • Equip enterprises with forecasting tools, standardized policies, and procedures to enhance compliance and decision-making.
    • Support strategic planning by co-developing operational budgets aligned with enterprise goals.

    Project – Berytech Accelerator (Coaching)
    • Develop growth strategies, refine product-market fit, and lead financial planning.
    • Support start-ups in crafting investor pitches and deliver workshops to build business and strategic skills.
    • Conduct market and customer analyses to improve positioning.

    Project – World Bank & IFC
    • Coach enterprises to enhance business and export capacities.
    • Implement export readiness strategies leading to increased international transactions.
    • Optimize procurement processes to reduce costs.

    Project – Mercy Corps (Digital Marketing Advisory)
    • Develop and execute digital marketing plans to strengthen brand awareness and engagement.
    • Deliver training enabling enterprises to manage campaigns and increase online sales.

    Project – Oxfam & ILO
    • Support Social Development Centers in improving job services and operational efficiency.
    • Standardize procedures, ensure best practices, and facilitate workshops to strengthen partnerships.
    Digital Marketing Project Management Proposal Writing Workshops Facilitation Digital Transformation

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Education

  • Artificial Intelligence AI Essentials for Business, Certification
    Harvard Business Online School
    2025
    "AI Essentials for Business" Certification
  • Strategy in the Age of Digital Disruption, Certificate
    INSEAD, Online Executive Education Program
    2022
    Strategy in the Age of Digital Disruption, Certificate

Certifications

  • EFQM Certified Assessor
    EFQM (European Foundation for Quality Management)
    2023
  • "E-commerce Advisor", Certificate
    ITC (International Trade Centre)
    2022

Skill set (16)

Categories