Josephina El Sokhon
London Business School
Age: 34
“Curious, resilient, driven, organized and a lifelong learner passionate about leading initiatives and projects that empower people to grow.”
Hometown: It is the beautiful town of Kartaba, which is rooted in the mountains of Lebanon and surrounded by evergreen pine trees. Since 2014, Dubai has been home away from home.
Family Members: My husband and I started our journey together in 2014 and we have been blessed with 3 amazing kids: Naya (6), Sam (5) and Michael (1). Fun fact: my husband has always pushed me to complete my EMBA ever since we first met as colleagues – back in our consulting days at Strategy&. I have also my mother and brother who live in Lebanon and my father, who is always looking over us from above.
Fun fact about yourself: I was always known for being able to fall asleep anywhere, anytime, despite the noise. I once even fell asleep while riding a bike on a gentle downhill slope and another time during a live music show. Then, my sleeping superpower shifted 180 degrees after I had kids. I became the opposite. My superpower now is waking up directly full of energy at the slightest noise or baby sound.
Undergraduate School and Degree: Universite Saint Joseph, Lebanon – Diploma in electrical engineering – with high honors
Where are you currently working? Vice President at Audacia Capital, a private equity investment firm based in Dubai International Finance Centre. I manage investments across multiple industries in the GCC region throughout the investment cycle, leading both pre- and post-acquisitions.
Extracurricular Activities, Community Work and Leadership Roles: Beyond work and LBS, I invest my time in my family, finding inspiration in seeing the world through my children’s eyes. I actively get involved with my kids in community service efforts in Dubai that have regional impact, such as assembling care packages for underserved families and participating in donation drives.
Having personally benefited from two scholarships – a 100% scholarship for my undergraduate studies from the Murex Scholarship Fund, and a 50% scholarship for my EMBA from the Laidlaw Foundation – I deeply understand the transformative power of education. This drives me to actively support LBS recruitment initiatives, mentor university students in Lebanon and the UAE who are navigating their career journeys, and contribute to charities focused on raising funds for education.
Which academic or extracurricular achievement are you most proud of during business school?
A few days after being accepted into the program, I found out I was pregnant. Despite the timing, I chose to move forward, believing growth rarely waits for perfect conditions. I began the program six months pregnant and welcomed our third child, Michael, in December 2023, balancing newborn care, intense private equity work, LBS assignments, and core classes. This journey reinforced my belief that resilience, planning, and purpose can overcome any obstacle.
What achievement are you most proud of in your professional career? I am most proud of my ability to adapt and thrive across vastly different roles and industries. I transitioned from a technical background in engineering into management consulting, and then into private equity.
In private equity, I was seconded multiple times into leadership roles within portfolio companies — stepping in as interim CFO, leading strategy transformations, and driving operational restructurings. Despite having no formal background in finance or operations, I approached each role with curiosity. I quickly built trust with teams that have very different skillsets from the strategic and cross functional backgrounds of my colleagues at Audacia Capital. These teams were often specialized, technical, and focused on narrow functional areas, requiring a different kind of leadership to align them with broader transformation goals. I adjusted my working style to better understand their perspective and priorities and successfully drove the changes needed to restructure and reposition the businesses for success.
Who was your favorite MBA professor? All of the professors at LBS are exceptional; each brings a unique perspective and energy to the program. However, a few stood out in a particularly lasting way:
Sir Andrew Likierman: beyond the technical content, his character and approach to teaching were inspirational. He modeled what it means to live fully, stay intellectually engaged, and bring passion to every interaction—values I hope to emulate.
Professor David P Myatt: He brought microeconomics to life with energy and humor and made highly complex topics relevant and easy to comprehend.
Associate Professor of Accounting Aytekin Ertan: He made accounting practical, approachable, and directly applicable. Yes, accounting was fun with him.
Dr Mohammed Mekki: He weaved regional relevance into every discussion and enriching our learning journey with brilliant guest speakers.
Why did you choose this school’s executive MBA program? London Business School’s global reputation, outstanding faculty, and diverse network were major draws. The presence of a campus in Dubai made it feasible to balance work, family, and studies.
What is the biggest lesson you gained during your MBA and how did you apply it at work? It was the importance of a growth mindset. I realized that true leadership isn’t about having all the answers — it’s about staying curious, embracing challenges, working with diverse team members and being willing to learn constantly. I applied this by fostering greater curiosity in my teams and encouraging continuous learning across our portfolio companies.
Give us a story during your time as an executive MBA on how you were able to juggle work, family and education? I gave birth to my third child on December 18th, 2023, in Canada — fortunately timed between two core modules that were five weeks apart rather than three, thanks to the end-of-year break. I was working until the very last day, with only 45 days of maternity leave ahead. December was a whirlwind: freezing weather, two older kids to manage, a newborn, no extra help, and my husband caught in year-end work deadlines. A few days after giving birth, I was finalizing EMBA assignments during night feeds while the rest of the household was asleep. It was chaotic and exhausting yet fulfilling and beautiful — and a December I’ll always remember. It was about being present every hour, every minute, and every second.
What advice would you give to a student looking to enter an executive MBA program? There will never be a “perfect” time — only the right mindset. Embrace the challenges as opportunities to grow and trust in your ability to adapt. Manage expectations early, both for yourself and with those around you, so you can prepare the support systems you’ll need to thrive.
What was your biggest regret in business school? Not investing enough time in networking beyond my immediate cohort — especially with alumni and through broader school events. In the first year, I was focused on the courses and adjusting to the workload — but I underestimated how much growth could come from engaging with alumni, joining broader school activities, and exchanging ideas with people from different paths. It wasn’t until the third term that I pushed myself into those events, which brought fresh perspectives, and a richer overall EMBA experience.
Which MBA classmate do you most admire? Our cohort is exceptional — incredibly diverse across industries and geographies — which made it fascinating to explore different perspectives while realizing how universal many challenges are.
I would highlight Amanda Prachali as a truly inspiring example. During the EMBA, she broke through her personal boundaries, leaving a 15+ year career in corporate healthcare to launch her own company. Watching her step boldly outside her comfort zone — from building new networks to mastering the business side of entrepreneurship — was a powerful reminder to all of us. She didn’t just talk about change; she embodied it, pushing everyone around her to hold themselves accountable for the transformations they aspire to make.
What was the main reason you chose an executive MBA program over part-time or online alternatives? The true magic of an EMBA lies in the live interactions — the debates, challenges, and peer learning that only happen face-to-face. It is these moments that shift mindsets and shape leadership. I wouldn’t been able to experience that with an online or part time EMBA.
How did you finance your EMBA and what did you do to make tuition and associated costs more affordable? I was fortunate to receive a 50% scholarship from the Laidlaw Foundation, which made this journey financially feasible and deeply meaningful.
What is your ultimate long-term professional goal? My long-term professional vision is to build and lead an investment platform that scales businesses with both financial discipline and broader social impact. I want to help organizations to grow and create real economic value while addressing meaningful social and human needs—whether by supporting entrepreneurs or scaling impact-driven companies. Over time, I aspire to be known for driving tangible results and social impact, leaving a lasting mark on businesses, people, and industries I work with.
“Doing well and doing good are not mutually exclusive — they are mutually reinforcing.” – Arianna Huffington
DON’T MISS: BEST & BRIGHTEST EXECUTIVE MBAS: CLASS OF 2025
© Copyright 2025 Poets & Quants. All rights reserved. This article may not be republished, rewritten or otherwise distributed without written permission. To reprint or license this article or any content from Poets & Quants, please submit your request HERE.
