Dr. Azza Karam: Founding President and CEO of Lead Integrity

Dr. Azza Karam is a renowned Egyptian scholar and interfaith leader, widely recognized for her influential contributions to promoting religious collaboration, sustainable development, and peace worldwide. She currently serves as the Founding President and CEO of Lead-Integrity, a global consultancy firm committed to advancing the common good through the leadership of women professionals inspired by their faiths.

Previously, Dr. Karam was the Secretary General of Religions for Peace—the world’s largest multi-religious leadership platform—and has held key roles on the United Nations Secretary General’s High-Level Advisory Board on Multilateralism. With over two decades of experience at the United Nations, she coordinated the Arab Human Development Reports, co-founded the UN Interagency Task Force on Religion and Sustainable Development, and led global dialogues on religion, development, and diplomacy.

Born in Egypt to a diplomatic family, her upbringing across multiple cultures inspired her passion for bridging faiths. Dr. Karam holds a Ph.D. from the University of Amsterdam and degrees from the American University in Cairo and the International Institute of Social Studies. Her work spans global programs on women’s empowerment, human rights, education, and peacebuilding, collaborating with organizations such as the OSCE, EU, and International IDEA. She has taught at institutions including West Point Military Academy and is widely published in multiple languages.

Dr. Karam’s dedication to interfaith understanding and cultural diplomacy has garnered numerous international awards, and she remains deeply committed to creating inclusive spaces for dialogue, justice, and social cohesion. She is a board member of International Alert, the Temple of Understanding, and the Royal Institute for Interfaith Studies, among others. She is celebrated as a leading voice in both interfaith and international development spheres.