Rita Kassab

I am a marketing, community-building, and entrepreneurship professional passionate about connecting people, ideas, and opportunities to foster innovation and entrepreneurial growth.

I currently serve as Community & Outreach Coordinator at the Asher Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship (ACIE) at the Holy Spirit University of Kaslik (USEK), where I lead strategic outreach, marketing, communications, and community engagement initiatives that strengthen connections between startups, entrepreneurs, industry leaders, and ecosystem partners.

I hold a Bachelor's degree in Business Management and Entrepreneurship and an MBA in Marketing, combining a strong academic foundation with hands-on experience in marketing strategy, brand development, stakeholder engagement, partnership management, and entrepreneurship support.

Through my work at ACIE, I have contributed to the planning, promotion, and execution of entrepreneurship programs, startup incubation initiatives, hackathons, competitions, workshops, and ecosystem events. My experience spans startup recruitment, strategic communications, community activation, partnership development, and program visibility, working closely with founders, mentors, investors, academic institutions, and innovation-driven organizations.

A key focus of my work is building and nurturing entrepreneurial communities by developing meaningful relationships, facilitating collaboration, and connecting founders with the resources, networks, and opportunities they need to grow. I am particularly interested in how strategic partnerships and community-driven initiatives can strengthen innovation ecosystems and create long-term value.

Marketing also remains central to my professional interests. I enjoy developing strategies that help startups and organizations strengthen their positioning, communicate their value, engage their audiences, and build recognizable brands. I also contribute to knowledge-sharing initiatives by facilitating workshops and supporting aspiring entrepreneurs in developing their marketing and branding capabilities.

Working within Lebanon's entrepreneurship ecosystem has given me valuable insight into the challenges and opportunities facing early-stage startups, from idea validation and market positioning to accessing networks and preparing for growth.

I believe that entrepreneurship thrives when strong communities, strategic thinking, and meaningful collaboration come together. I am always eager to connect with entrepreneurs, ecosystem builders, innovation hubs, and organizations that share a commitment to empowering founders, fostering innovation, and creating sustainable entrepreneurial impact.