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Talentdu

About Talentdu

We started by training professionals. Now we help institutions scale.

Talentdu is a professional education partner built for the MENA region: live, expert-led programs for professionals, customized training for organizations, and growth partnerships for universities.

Talentdu graduates at a certificate ceremony
Signing the LAU ACE partnership
Talentdu event at LAU

Our story

It started with a hiring problem

Before Talentdu, we ran a digital marketing agency. We worked with over 100 clients, scaled globally, and faced the challenge every growing agency faces: finding and developing the right people.

We hired ambitious graduates and professionals across the region and invested heavily in getting them up to speed. We built internal training systems, refined onboarding, and developed a clear picture of what a job-ready digital marketer looks like in practice. That expertise became one of our most valuable assets, and we realized it had value far beyond our own team.

From agency to education partner

In 2024 we launched our flagship program, the Professional Digital Marketing Associate Diploma, in partnership with LAU Academy of Continuing Education, with added certifications from Google and Meta. It brought together everything we had built inside the agency: a practical curriculum, industry-expert instruction and real-world application.

The results spoke for themselves: 300+ graduates from 15+ countries, a 4.9 out of 5 satisfaction rating, and over 200% enrollment growth year on year. Today Talentdu works with universities to grow enrollment and launch programs, with organizations to train their teams, and with professionals who want to advance their careers.

300+

Graduates across our programs

15+

Countries represented

10+

Cohorts completed

4.9/5

Average student satisfaction

What we believe

Talent Is Not Discovered. It Is Developed.

Whether you are a professional building new skills, a university expanding its reach, or an organization investing in your team, Talentdu exists to make that growth possible.

01

Talent is developed, not discovered

Every program starts from where you are and builds real, demonstrable skills.

02

Education should lead somewhere

A job, a promotion, a better business or a stronger institution. Outcomes are the point.

03

Credibility matters

Built with universities and certified by recognized bodies, so what you earn carries weight.

Driving the mission forward

The Team

Omar Kandil

Omar Kandil

Founder & CEO

Omar Kandil, BBA in Marketing and MBA candidate at LAU, is a TEDx speaker, bestselling author in marketing, and co-founder of the global marketing agency OBCIDO Inc., where he became CEO in 2022. With extensive experience in hospitality, sales and digital marketing, Omar founded Talentdu to bridge the gap between theoretical knowledge and practical skills.

He has since led the programs to 300+ graduates across 15+ countries, partnering with LAU ACE and CPD UK to deliver university-backed, industry-certified education.

Maya Al Hassanieh

Maya Al Hassanieh

Sales & Operations Executive

Maya supports Talentdu's growth by streamlining operations and strengthening client relationships. With a background in marketing, data analysis and strategic coordination, she brings a results-driven approach to sales execution and operational efficiency. She holds a BS in Business Marketing from the Lebanese American University and is pursuing her MBA at LAU.

Leen Hibri

Leen Hibri

Business Development Executive

Based in Dubai, Leen drives Talentdu's growth across corporate training, institutional partnerships and new business. She holds an MSc in Psychology from Queen Mary University of London and is pursuing a second master's in Applied Artificial Intelligence, a rare grounding in both human behaviour and the technology reshaping how people work.

Cyrine Shehab

Cyrine Shehab

Sales & Operations Coordinator

Cyrine is a Talentdu alumna who joined the team after completing the PDMA program. With over seven years of experience in sales, team leadership and operations, she brings a strong foundation in managing people and executing at a high standard. She sharpened her digital marketing skills through an internship at OBCIDO Inc. in New York.

Guided by global experience

Board and Advisors

Chaker Khazaal

Chaker Khazaal

Chairman

Chaker Khazaal is an award-winning author of six novels, an acclaimed reporter and an entrepreneur with a global footprint. He holds a BA in International Affairs from York University and was ranked first on Arabian Business Magazine's 100 Most Powerful Arabs Under 40 list.

As Executive Chairman of OBCIDO, Chaker leads community partnerships and CSR initiatives, bringing a strong blend of business insight, storytelling and a clear commitment to widening access and opportunity.

Hiba Yazbeck

Hiba Yazbeck

Advisory Board Member

Hiba is a global finance executive and sustainability entrepreneur serving as Head of Finance & Accounting, North America at MAHLE, overseeing approximately $3.5 billion in financial scope. She is also founder of Shifting Gaia, an ESG curated marketplace. A U.S. CPA and MBA graduate of Warwick Business School, Hiba brings board-level expertise in financial strategy and mission-driven scaling, and is a recognized philanthropist and health advocate.

Nora Al-Jindi

Nora Al-Jindi

Advisory Board Member

Nora is an educator, strategist and consultant with over 15 years of experience at the intersection of academia and business. She serves as Marketing Program Director at Dar Al-Hekma University in Saudi Arabia and is a Yale World Fellow (2021) and MISK 2030 Leader. Nora is passionate about bridging the gap between education and industry to empower young talent.

Nadia Michel

Nadia Michel

Advisory Board Member

Nadia is a Houston-based creative strategist and bestselling author of 40 Lessons, a book for entrepreneurs seeking creativity and momentum in business. As founder of Mined and Matter, she provides CMO-level leadership to startups and ambitious teams. Her career spans editorial leadership and global experience across the U.S. and Middle East.

Certified in partnership with

LAU Academy of Continuing EducationMetaGoogleCPD GroupCertiport

Ready to work with us?

Whether you are a university looking to launch new programs, an organization investing in your team, or a professional ready to grow, we are here to help.