Introducing Four Alumni Social Media Influencers
2024 Issue No. 2
Social Media Influencers For more than 155 years, our alumni have been “influencers.” In recent years, a growing number of them have established a name for themselves on various social media platforms. We got in touch with four AUB alumni to find out about their experience at AUB and their role as influencers.
NEMR ABOU NASSAR
(BBA ’05)
Media, politics
@NEMRCOMEDY
Instagram: 136K followers
Facebook: 148K followers
X: 119.7K followers
How did AUB help prepare you to become the influencer you are today?
Whenever someone asks me what they should study to be a comedian—or an entertainer of any kind—I always say, “Get a business degree.” No matter how talented you are, you need to build the machine to deliver your talent to the world. AUB taught me how to put the machine together.
Who at AUB influenced you?
Dr. Assem Safieddine (a professor of finance) and Dr. Tarek Kettaneh (retired senior lecturer) were both huge influences in finance and venture capital, respectively, but they taught a lot more than that. I was also influenced by a lecture by a guest speaker that I heard during a philosophy class during my sophomore year. This speaker was touring the world talking about how love was the answer to hate. I asked her, “If love is natural to all beings, shouldn’t we be more concerned with teaching how to hate instead of how to love?”
What is the most important thing you do as an influencer?
Succeed. To truly influence, all you need to do is succeed so others can see that it’s worth betting and investing in yourself.
SARAH BEYDOUN
(BA Sociology and Anthropology ’94)
Design, women’s empowerment
@sarahsbag
Instagram: 161K followers
Photo credit: Johanne Issa
How did AUB help prepare you to become the influencer you are today?
Attending AUB was a transformative experience. As a student of sociology, I found myself captivated by my courses, finding profound resonance in Feminism 101, which instilled in me an unwavering belief in the imperative of women’s financial autonomy and productivity. Sarah’s Bag is not just about fashion, it’s a vehicle for empowering women financially, fostering their independence, and dismantling societal limitations.
Who at AUB influenced you?
Dr. Patricia Nabti (former professor of anthropology), an American scholar with an unparalleled grasp of the Middle East, left a strong impression on me. I vividly recall the challenge she set before us, an exercise where we were tasked with memorizing the contours of the entire Arab region and then sketching it freehand.
What is the most important thing you do as an influencer?
Inspire. I want current and future generations to be inspired by Sarah’s Bag and to know that a business’s compass should not solely fixate on profit; it should be guided by a “moral North,” a social mission that drives every aspect of its existence.
KHALED GHATTASS
(MS Chemistry ’07, PhD Cell and Molecular Biology ’13) Science, research
@dr.khaledghattass
Instagram: 1.6M followers
Facebook: 1.3 M followers
How did AUB help prepare you to become the influencer you are today?
I traveled an interesting path to get to where I am now. It all started at AUB, where I began as a chemistry major, then switched to biology and then to clinical research. My life choices are motivated by the desire to touch people’s lives. That’s always been my goal. I owe most of what I am now to AUB, where I was provided with the space I needed to express who I am. Being at AUB was a mind-shifting experience.
Who at AUB influenced you?
Professor Makhlouf Haddadin (long-time professor of chemistry who passed away in 2022) was one of my earliest inspirations. I felt my brain expanding in his organic chemistry class and experienced the sheer joy of acquiring knowledge. There were others—my PhD adviser, Hala Muhtasib (professor of biology), and Marwan Sabban (also professor of biology), who is still a mentor and a friend.
What is the most important thing you do as an influencer?
Make people pause in these times and make them feel that they are not alone.
MAYA NASSAR
(BA Sociology and Anthropology ’07)
Health, fitness
@mayanassarfitness
Instagram: 283K followers
How did AUB prepare you to become the influencer you are today?
It was at AUB that I learned important personal skills like how to present in public, how to speak my mind, and how to be fearless and to pursue my goals. At AUB, I was also exposed to many people of different nationalities, cultures, and backgrounds.
Who at AUB influenced you?
Dr. Jeremy Koons (former philosophy professor), Dr. David Wrisley (former English professor), and Dr. Abeer Hamdan (former English professor) taught me many practical skills that I still use today in my professional life.
What is the most important thing you do as an influencer?
Make a difference in someone’s life. Fitness changed my life for the better in every possible way. I like to use my story to show others that if I can do it, then they can do it too. I use my online platform, my radio show at Virgin Radio Stars, and my gyms to help people become the best version of themselves and live their best life. Knowing that I helped someone live a better life or achieve their goals is just as rewarding as achieving my own goals.