Dean of the Adnan Kassar School of Business at the Lebanese American University, connecting business education with sustainability and responsible leadership.
Education plays an essential role by providing people with professional opportunities and helping them generate positive change in their communities. In the context of business, corporations strive to meet the challenges of innovation, sustainability, and social responsibility. Therefore, universities have to prepare graduates who can make decisions and take actions that benefit business in general and society as a whole.
Dr. Dima Rachid Jamali, the Dean of the Adnan Kassar School of Business at the Lebanese American University, is a business expert who has significantly contributed to the fields of business, corporate social responsibility, and sustainability. Teaching in colleges and universities is her main academic achievement, during which she pursued the goal of uniting students’ academic interests with practical issues raised in the business community.
Leadership with a Clear Educational Purpose
The academic field is faced with numerous challenges, mostly centered around the tension between the need for institutional progress and research activities on the one hand and the teacher’s responsibility to provide high-quality education to students. The university academic environment should ensure the highest standards of education, as well as keep the academic programs up-to-date and responsive to professional demands.
Dr. Jamali has served in various administrative positions at different universities, including the American University of Beirut, Canadian University Dubai, and the University of Sharjah. She was appointed the Dean of LAU’s Adnan Kassar School of Business in September 2025. The new Dean has vast experience in academic administration, research, and partnership building. Her work will contribute to the ongoing improvement of the educational environment, where empires will have opportunities to conduct high-standard research, students will have the necessary tools to develop their professional skills, and the network of partnerships will be expanded.
Preparing Students for a Changing Business World
Business education must go beyond textbooks and examinations. Students need opportunities to apply their knowledge, solve practical problems, and understand how decisions affect organizations and their stakeholders.
Jamali’s educational vision prioritizes contextual learning. Since such branches of activity as artificial intelligence, entrepreneurship, and sustainability are integrating into the corporate world, an individual’s knowledge and skills will have to be expanded and adapted. I think that critical, verbal, collaborative, creative thinking, and ethical decision-making are universal and transferable skills that a graduate student should acquire to be prepared for the constantly evolving business environment. The mentioned skills may be trained within contextual case studies, projects, and collaborative learning.
The objective is to prepare graduates not simply for their first jobs but for continued learning, professional growth, and responsible leadership.
Connecting Business with Sustainability
A central theme in Jamali’s research is the relationship between business performance and social responsibility. Her academic work has explored corporate social responsibility, corporate governance, social entrepreneurship, and sustainable development, particularly in developing economies and the Middle East.
These topics are coming to be more prominent for current and future businesses. They cover a range of issues that many organizations are addressing today. These include the company’s impact on the environment, as well as its relationships with employees, communities, and its own business goals.
Conscious business education is an important aspect of preparing future business leaders. This is done by making them aware of the various points of view, including economic, ethical, and related to other concerns.
Jamali also founded and led the UN Global Compact Network Lebanon, helping connect businesses with responsible business principles and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. This work illustrates how academic expertise can extend beyond universities and contribute to wider discussions about sustainable development.
Research and Collaboration for Progress
Research enables universities to generate knowledge, examine emerging challenges, and contribute to professional practice. Collaboration between institutions, businesses, and researchers can strengthen this contribution by bringing different perspectives together.
Jamali’s academic career has included extensive research and publication alongside institutional leadership. Her work demonstrates the value of connecting research with teaching and encouraging students to engage with ideas that influence contemporary business decisions.
International partnerships can also help universities exchange knowledge, develop collaborative projects, and prepare students for careers in increasingly interconnected markets.
Advancing Women’s Leadership Through Education
Education can create opportunities for women to develop expertise, pursue leadership responsibilities, and influence professional communities. However, career advancement also depends on access to mentorship, professional networks, and environments that recognize ability and contribution.
Jamali’s career in academic administration and sustainability leadership offers an example of a woman holding senior responsibilities in higher education and business research.
Universities can support future women leaders by providing opportunities to develop confidence, gain practical experience, and participate in decision-making. Encouraging collaboration and continuous learning can help emerging professionals build the skills required to lead effectively.
The Vision Behind Her Academic Journey
Preparing future leaders requires a commitment to education that combines knowledge with responsibility. As technology and sustainability continue to influence business, universities must equip students to understand complex challenges and make informed decisions.
Dima Rachid Jamali’s career brings together academic leadership, responsible business education, sustainability research, and institutional collaboration. Her professional work highlights the importance of connecting education with the needs of businesses and society.
By encouraging lifelong learning, ethical decision-making, and a broader understanding of business responsibility, educational institutions can help prepare graduates to become capable professionals and thoughtful contributors to a changing world.
Professional Profile
Featured Leader: Dr. Dima Rachid Jamali
Position: Dean, Adnan Kassar School of Business
Organization: Lebanese American University
Industry: Higher Education, Business Education, and Sustainability
Website: https://www.lau.edu.lb/
Featured in: Top 5 Women Leaders to Watch in 2025
