Dr.Cristina Cruz is a Professor of Entrepreneurship and Director of the IE Center for Families in Business. She holds a Ph.D. in Economics from Universidad Carlos III de Madrid. She is an internationally recognized expert in the study of family businesses and entrepreneurial families. Her research on corporate governance, philanthropy, and entrepreneurship within family-controlled organizations has been published in leading academic management journals. Her
outstanding research contributions have earned her several awards, and she currently serves as Associate Editor of the Family Business Review.

As Director of the IECenter for Families in Business, Dr. Cruz leads numerous applied research
projects and supports entrepreneurial families in their primary challenge: creating value across generations. She is aFellow of the Family Firm Institute, a distinction awarded to professionals who demonstrate ongoing commitment and expertise in the field of family business. Additionally, she is a member of the scientific board of the Family Office Observatory at Politecnico di Milano.

CEO of AlManar Group, Ahmed Nawara ventured into business growth rendering Al Manar's regional expansions in Egypt and North Africa with diversified products and global alliances and representations in the automotive lubricants and spare parts sector. A Graduate of School of Business, from the American University in Cairo and an Executive Masters degree in the same discipline, Nawara capitalized on his knowledge to grow the group in terms of products, brands, services and above all create a flexible operating model that is the real differentiator in the industry. Nawara, with a savvy hand-picked team, was able to create a line of locally manufactured products abiding by international quality and efficiency standards maximizing further growth in local and export markets. Under his management, Al Manar won contracts from Global players like Honeywell in regional countries spearheading unprecedented growth and leading the North African markets. Under his leadership Al Manar created a new exclusive distribution agreement with one of the global players in the energy and fuel industries; Total whereby Al Manar became a trusted exclusive distributor in Egypt for ELF brand. Nawara believes in excellence, sharp work ethic and trust in team expertise to reach accomplishment and growth.
Ahmed Nawara is an adjunct professor at the American University in Cairo, School of Business specially in topics related to Entrepreneurship, and family business. He is also a member in the familybusiness consortium/roundtables at AUC.

Nawara also attended with AUC the conference for “Accreditationfor Reshaping Business Education in The MENA Region” in USEK, Beirut. He was also a guest speaker there in the panel discussion for “Family Business and Social Impact in The MENA Region”.