Manara — Building Capability for MENA’s Future Workforce
We partner with governments, foundations, and mission-driven organizations to upskill today’s teams in AI, Cloud, and digital skills through bilingual, applied learning.
We connect global expertise with local implementation so teams can use technology, not just learn it.
Our Mission & Brand
Mission
To impact 1 million lives in MENA by giving people the skills, support, and opportunities they need to thrive in a fast-changing tech world - all while uplifting local economies and organizations.
Brand
Become the go-to tech upskilling partner in MENA, turning brain drain into brain gain through scalable, applied, bilingual learning.
Our Story
Manara was born from our co-founders' very human journeys.
Years ago, Laila, left Gaza to pursue a better career as a software engineer. Her path took her from Egypt to the US, where she eventually joined NVIDIA. Along the way, she realized something powerful: potential across MENA was high but access and opportunity were limited.
She set out to change that by building structured learning experiences that help people in MENA compete at a global level.
Later, Iliana, added another important layer. As a working mother, she experienced first-hand how difficult it can be to balance a demanding career with family life. This shaped Manara’s commitment to flexible, inclusive learning - especially for women, immigrants, and professionals whose lives don’t fit a traditional classroom.
From the beginning, Manara started with specialized cohorts for software engineers. A pivotal partnership with AWS allowed us to scale:
- We have trained around 5,000 engineers in cloud technologies.
- Over 2,600 learners have earned AWS certifications.
- Hundreds have reported better career outcomes, from promotions to new and more competitive jobs.
Now, with AI quickly becoming a critical skill for all jobs, Manara has expanded beyond software engineers to include non-technical professionals such as marketing, sales, HR, operations, and public service. Manara's training can empower anyone to understand and use AI in their day-to-day work.
Our Diversity
11
Countries
10
Nationalities
7
Teams
5
Continents
Iliana Montauk
Co-Founder & CEO
Iliana led programs at Gaza Sky Geeks and worked with thousands of learners across the region.
She saw how ambition was everywhere but high-quality, scalable pathways were not.
This drove her to co-found Manara with Laila.
When I lived in the region in 2012— I saw an incredible pool of ambitious, hardworking individuals but without the same access to high-quality jobs as those in Silicon Valley.
Iliana Montauk
Laila Abudahi
Co-Founder & Chief Product Officer
Laila grew up in Gaza, studied engineering, and later became a software engineer at NVIDIA.
Her journey showed her that potential across MENA is high but access and opportunity are limited.
This became one of the sparks that inspired Manara.
Talent from the Arab world is not lacking in ambition or capability. It’s lacking in opportunities, training, and access.
Laila Abudahi
Mark Christensen
Chief Technology Officer
Mark brings two decades of experience from Amazon, IBM, and high-growth tech companies. He leads Manara’s technical infrastructure and ensures our learning systems are secure, scalable, and aligned with institutional needs.
His work focuses on building reliable platforms that support national-scale programs, bilingual delivery, and measurable outcomes for government and development partners.
Amr El Selouky
Chief Growth Officer
Amr is a regional growth and ecosystem leader who has spent his career driving digital programs across MENA. With experience spanning public-sector partnerships, large-scale community initiatives, and tech-industry engagement, he understands how institutions adopt, implement, and measure transformation.
At Manara, Amr leads strategy, partnerships, and expansion efforts across governments, foundations, and development organizations, ensuring our capability programs translate into measurable national and institutional outcomes.
Social Impact & Inclusion
Inclusion has been part of Manara since day one.
We design bilingual, accessible learning experiences that support women, immigrants, and underserved communities across MENA.
For us, capability creates dignity, opportunity, and long-term career mobility.
