Chief People Officer, Zooba

Elizabeth B. Khalifa is an experienced management, human resource and training development professional specializing in the leadership of initiatives that build human capacity. She currently holds the position of Chief People Officer for Zooba, a Gourmet Egyptian Street Food brand. Zooba has four restaurants in Cairo with plans to expand locally and regionally. Ms. Khalifa is responsible for corporate culture development, human resource strategy and infrastructure, and training services. Prior to joining Zooba, Ms. Khalifa has held senior management and technical assistance positions in Egypt since 1983 with the Bi-national Fulbright Commission, the Institute of International Education, AMIDEAST, Chemonics, the American University in Cairo and private commercial banks. Ms. Khalifa served as the Executive Director of the Bi-national Fulbright Commission in Egypt, a position she assumed in September 2012. Since 2002, Ms. Khalifa served as the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) Region Director for the Institute of International Education (IIE) based in Cairo, Egypt. From 2004 to 2012, she was the Country Director for AMIDEAST Egypt.

Ms. Khalifa was educated at Hobart and William Smith Colleges (B.A. 1978) and in 1982 earned an M.B.A. degree from New York University’s Stern School of Business. She is a member of the American Chamber of Commerce in Egypt where she co-chairs the Education Committee and has served on numerous committees concerned with human resources, women in management, and international development. Ms. Khalifa was a member of the Fulbright Commission’s board of directors from 2006 to 2012. She is an alumna of the American Field Service’s Beirut Program.