#45 Championing (Hidden) Disabilities with Nadia Kendall

In this episode of Behind the CEO, we sat down with Chaker Khazaal: an award-winning Palestinian-Canadian author, global speaker, humanitarian leader, and Executive Chairman of OBCIDO Inc. Born as a Palestinian refugee in Lebanon, he grew up in the Bourj el Barajneh camp in Beirut before immigrating to Canada. Chaker’s journey is one of resilience, creativity, and service. He’s penned six powerful novels and now leads digital transformation and empowerment initiatives across continents.We dive into:- How his upbringing shaped his worldview and leadership style.- Why he uses storytelling to humanize crisis and conflict.- His vision for the Women’s Humanitarian Organization, and how AI and digital marketing are part of that mission.- His recent move to Paris and what this experience brought him.- The balance between writing novels, doing business, and staying grounded.- We also touch on lighter moments — from caffeine-fueled deadlines to airplane writing and the quirks of creative leadership.See all his books here: https://chakerkhazaal.com/BooksInstagram: @chakerkhazaalInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/behindtheceopodcast/Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/behindtheceopodcast Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6M0aIo9zIHFSHgKB8UJpJ4?si=2e9298afd578419f

Welcome to Behind the CEO!In this intro episode, I share the vision behind this new podcast: a space dedicated to leadership and empathy.Behind the CEO is the continuation of my previous series, We Belong, which ran from 2020 and narrated diversity and inclusion across 15 European countries. That series is still available, same links.With this new chapter, I’ll be going deeper into the personal journeys of leaders and entrepreneurs around the world, uncovering the human side of leadership, the challenges, and the values that shape the way they lead.Whether you’re an entrepreneur, an aspiring one, or simply curious about the people behind the title, this podcast is for you.A special thanks to all of our longtime listeners who’ve been with us since We Belong — your support makes this journey possible.Subscribe, follow, and join me as we continue the story — this time, going Behind the CEO.Instagram:  @behindtheceopodcastLinkedin: @behindtheceopodcastYoutube: @behindtheceopodcast© BEHIND THE CEO

Jean-Claude Juncker est l'un des pères fondateurs de l'euro et un pionnier de l'unification européenne. En tant que Premier ministre du Luxembourg, il a été le chef de gouvernement le plus longtemps en poste au sein de l'Union Européenne, avec 18 ans de mandat.Il a été le premier président permanent de l'Eurogroupe et a contribué à définir la réponse à la crise de la dette souveraine en 2009. En 2014, Jean-Claude Juncker a été élu Président de la Commission Européenne.En conversation avec le Président Juncker, nous avons discuté du future de l'Europe, de l'immigration, de la montée de l'extrême droite et de l'importance de promouvoir le dialogue entre les peuples européens.

Meet Salwa Boujour from Belgium, a Journalist, an Entrepreneur and Founder of ADIM, a non-profit that promotes Diversity & Inclusion in Media.Salwa specializes in social issues, particularly in matters related to gender identities and feminism, decolonization and inclusion, as well as the prison system. She identifies as a feminist journalist committed to creating a more inclusive media world.In conversation, with Salwa, we discussed her Moroccan heritage, her experience living and travelling across Europe as a woman wearing the hijab, her commitment to include diverse voices in the Media industry, but also why ahead of the European elections we need to promote dialogue and reach to marginalised communities that live in Brussels and beyond. Episode recorded at A Seat At the Table offices.

Meet Stefano Manservisi, former Director-General at the European Commission. Prior to that, he was the Head of the Private Office of Federica Mogherini, High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs. In 2014, Mr. Manservisi was the Head of the Delegation of the European Union to Turkey. He held different positions at the Commission, including as Director-General for Migration and Home Affairs, and Director-General for Development and Relations with African, Caribbean, and Pacific States. He has also headed the Private Offices of the Commission’s President Romano Prodi and Commissioner Mario Monti. In conversation with Mr Manservisi, we discussed his approach to serve as an inclusive leader: he shared concrete examples of dialogue and intercultural understanding through his European career and he explained why we need a Commissioner from immigration backgrounds for the next European Commission's mandate.Ahead of the European Elections, Mr Manservisi reflects on the urgency of involving youth and immigrant descents in public debates and the importance of promoting peace as the core mission of the European project. Episode recorded with the support of Silversquare.

Meet the MEP Salima Yenbou from France. Born in Seine-Saint-Denis, she worked as a school administrator before her election in 2019. MEP Yenbou is one of only 24 eurodeputies who are people of color out of 705 (cf. ENAR). In conversation with MEP Yenbou, we discussed her commitment for representation in Europe, why she decided to become an elected official and her approach to foster equal opportunities in French suburbs.

Meet Amal Tahir, a renowned feminist author, speaker, sexologist and advocate for women's health and empowerment. With a background in gynecology and obstetrics, she has dedicated her career to promoting a positive and inclusive dialogue surrounding topics such as mental health, body positivity, and sexuality. Through her writings and content shared to more than 100.000 followers, Amal seeks to challenge societal norms and empower individuals to embrace their bodies and identities unapologetically. She is celebrated for her compassionate approach and commitment to promoting understanding, acceptance and belonging in all aspects of life.In conversation with Amal, she shared valuable advice to spot red flags in any type of relationships, she shared her European journey from Italy, Belgium til France, and she gave valuable advice to our young audience.

For the #45 episode, we introduce you to Nadia Kendall, Head of Hidden Disabilities at We Belong Europe.  Nadia has a law and politics background, she is both American and Luxembourg, with Iranian and Caribbean backgrounds. Since a young age, Nadia experienced gastrointestinal pain and she was misdiagnosed til her later teenage years. In conversation, with Nadia, we discussed the struggle that people with hidden disabilities face to get properly diagnosed and the impact of being invalidated. We also discussed our brand new program NeuroEquity, that she coordinates, where we will support affected individuals with workshops, research and advocacy campaigns. https://www.webelongeurope.com/hiddendisabilitiesprogram With the support of André Losch Foundation.

Meet Daniela Ragni, the Director of the André Losch Foundation.The Foundation has independently supported projects dedicated to young people in Luxembourg, in the fields of education, social inclusion and health. Daniela leads the Foundation on strategic and operational development since 2019. During her career, Daniela has worked for around twenty years within non-governmental organisations active in the social and International Cooperation in Luxembourg, by occupying several management positions, notably at Fairtrade asbl and the Caritas Foundation. In conversation with Daniela, we discussed her inspiring journey from Italy to Luxembourg, what motivated her to start working in the non profit sector and her tips to raise fundings.Episode produced by Cecilia Said Vieira. With the support of André Losch Foundation.

Meet Mina Saidze from Germany, the Author of FairTech, Founder of Inclusive Tech and a Forbes 30 Under 30.She is the daughter of political activists from Afghanistan that fled the country to offer their children a better life. Her family story inspired her throughout her whole life and she is the first woman in her family to graduate university.Mina’s mission is to democratise Big Data and Artificial Intelligence by creating a bridge between tech and business.She decided to found Inclusive Tech to challenge the status-quo in the tech industry. Today, Inclusive Tech is Europe’s first advocacy and consulting organisation for Diversity in Tech and AI Ethics.In conversation with Mina, we discussed her family story, her mission to make Tech and AI accessible to everyone and her aspirations for the next years through her business venture.