Throughout her career—from working with investigative journalists in Baghdad and Beirut to advancing inclusive finance at ABANA and public access to media at Detroit PBS and WRCJ—Zainab has used her skills to connect people to ideas and institutions to purpose. Her experience spans advocacy, fundraising, and narrative change, but what ties it all together is a steadfast commitment to equity and access.

Zainab holds degrees in Media Studies and Anthropology from the American University of Beirut, and her early career as a journalist—working with The Washington Post, VICE, and others in Baghdad and Beirut—shaped her belief that powerful storytelling can shift systems. As someone who came to the U.S. with linguistic and educational privilege, she is deeply committed to using that access to open doors for others.

Zainab lives in New York with her husband Julian and her two cats, Fareed and Asmahan.