Peace is Good for Business: Entrepreneurship and Innovation for Inclusive Societies

• 4 weeks ago

🗓 Date: July 8, 2026

🕓 Time: 10:00–11:30 AM EDT | 5:00–6:30 PM Damascus | 4:00–5:30 PM CET

🔗 Register here

As Syria continues its transition, the path toward sustainable peace depends not only on political processes and civil society leadership, but also on the ability of entrepreneurs, innovators, and businesses to create opportunities that strengthen communities and foster long-term stability.

Building on the first session of this chapter, which explored the vital role of the private sector in peacebuilding, this discussion will focus on how entrepreneurship and innovation can drive inclusive economic recovery, strengthen social cohesion, and contribute to more resilient societies.

This session brings together two inspiring leaders whose work demonstrates how business can be a force for positive change. Layma Murtaza will share insights from her experience at the intersection of technology, strategic partnerships, and social impact, highlighting how innovation can connect communities, create economic opportunities, and support resilience. She will be joined by Reem Masri, whose work advances community-led initiatives and demonstrates how entrepreneurship can empower individuals, strengthen local economies, and promote social change.

Together, the speakers will explore topics including:

• The role of entrepreneurship in supporting peace and economic recovery
• How innovation and technology can strengthen resilient communities
• Building partnerships that create shared social and economic value
• Empowering youth and local communities through business opportunities
• Lessons from entrepreneurs driving positive social impact in fragile contexts
• Creating inclusive business models that contribute to long-term stability

Join us for an engaging conversation on how entrepreneurs, innovators, and business leaders can become active partners in shaping a more peaceful, prosperous, and inclusive future for Syria.

Our Keynote Speakers:

Reem Masri: Entrepreneur, Social Activist, and Economic Empowerment Expert

Reem Masri is an entrepreneur, social advocate, economic empowerment expert, and researcher specializing in women’s empowerment and refugee issues. A graduate of the Faculty of Fine and Applied Arts at the University of Aleppo, she specializes in fashion and interior design. After leaving Syria in 2012, she worked with local and international organizations to advance women’s economic empowerment, entrepreneurship, and capacity building. She founded Dentelle in Türkiye, an events, exhibitions, and conferences company that supported women entrepreneurs and expanded market access for Syrian products. Having returned to Syria, she now manages the Ra’edat Women’s Economic Empowerment Project, serves as a consultant on service export development and international exhibitions with the Local Production & Export Development Authority (EPSDA), and leads the Souq Jarat Al-Qala’a initiative supporting small businesses and returnees.

 In 2025, she ran as a candidate for the Syrian Parliament, building on her extensive experience in entrepreneurship, economic development, and civic engagement. She participated in the U.S. Department of State’s International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP) and appeared in the documentary Do Seagulls Migrate? She believes that economic empowerment and entrepreneurship are fundamental to recovery and to building sustainable, prosperous communities.

Layma Murtaza: Co-Founder & Chief Partnerships Officer, Aseel Technology 

Layma Murtaza is a humanitarian tech entrepreneur, international development professional and humanitarian advocate whose career spans over 15 years at the intersection of crisis response, state building, economic justice, women’s rights, across Afghanistan, Syria, Yemen, Türkiye, Qatar and the broader MENA region. She has worked with the Aga Khan Foundation, the International Rescue Committee, the Danish Refugee Council, and the International Organization for Migration, and brings a deep commitment to the Women, Peace and Security agenda. She has published and advocated on Afghan women’s right to work, education, and dignity, and served on the U.S. WPS Committee with CCSD alongside Rajaa Altalli supporting Syrian women in 2019 and 2020. She holds an MS in International Development Management from American University and an MA in Global Public Policy and Forced Migration Studies from the American University in Cairo.

Today, Layma serves as Co-Founder and Chief Partnerships Officer of Aseel Technology , a Washington, D.C.-based humanitarian tech company currently operating in Afghanistan, Syria, Gaza, and Turkey. Aseel’s platforms — are built on the belief that peace is inseparable from economic dignity and that locally-led, technology-enabled solutions can transform humanitarian response. Aseel is currently a participant in the PeaceTech Accelerator 2026 Cohort in the DMV area, developing AidOS as a peace and stability infrastructure tool.