A Glimpse Behind the Ampersand

A story of reinvention, empathy, and human connection

Life has been shaped by movement, uncertainty, and change. Some moments enlightening, others deeply challenging. All of them formative. 

Having been displaced twice by war and having lived across seven countries spanning three continents, I learned early the importance of adaptability, resilience, and empathy. 

These experiences taught me how to navigate uncertainty, reframe challenges, and find possibilities where others might see only disruption. 

During difficult periods, it was creative and generous communities, spaces, and platforms that expanded my imagination and sense of what was possible. Over time, this shaped not only how I live, but how I work.

Today, I bring this lived experience into my work with leaders and organisations, supporting self-leadership, communication, and collaboration in complex environments. I work through partnership and dialogue, guided by the belief that meaningful change grows from the inside out and is rarely achieved alone.

From Story To Practice

About Honey Al Sayed

Honey Al Sayed is the founder of Honey&, where she integrates coaching, consulting and learning facilitation to support leaders and organisations through creative, strategic communication and executive leadership development. She also established MAP – Media and Arts for Peace, a global initiative dedicated to empowering the Creative and Cultural Industries (CCI) and advancing peacebuilding efforts.

Background, credentials & training

An award-winning media expert and creative social entrepreneur, Honey brings over 25 years of experience across the Middle East, the United States, and Europe. Fluent in Arabic and English, she is a seasoned communications professional with expertise spanning media, arts, culture, and executive coaching.

She is a certified executive leadership coach, trained in Organisational and Relationship Systems Coaching (ORSC), Neurosomatic Intelligence (NSI), Jungian coaching, LEGO® Serious Play®, high-performance leadership, and a range of psychometric assessment tools. She continues to deepen her practice through ongoing study, reflecting a lifelong commitment to learning and integrative, human-first leadership.

Honey is an Affiliate Coach with IMD Business School, contributing to executive education and leadership development programmes.

After pioneering Syria’s media landscape with the #1 rated morning show Good Morning Syria, which attracted over seven million listeners, Honey was forced to relocate due to the ongoing conflict. Displaced by war more than once, she channelled her experiences of resilience and adaptability into her work, collaborating with a diverse range of international organisations, academic institutions, and business entities.

Through these collaborations, she has delivered courses, programmes, and executive coaching focused on leadership development, resilience, empowerment, and communication, drawing directly from her lived experience of navigating uncertainty and transformation.

Living across three continents has shaped Honey’s perspective and leadership approach, enabling her to offer grounded insights across sectors. Her work spans media, education, and executive leadership, collaborating with international organisations, academic institutions, and business leaders.

Her entrepreneurial spirit, combined with lived experience across conflict, displacement, and cultural transition, fuels her commitment to shaping human-first leadership and fostering meaningful collaboration at scale

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At Work, With Others

Leadership: Influence, Persuasion, Manipulation

Online Course: Media and Arts for Peace (United States Institute of Peace & the Geneva Center for Security Policy)

Panel Talk: Honey Al Sayed interviewing Artist Tania El Khoury (Middle East Institute Washington DC)

Food for Humanity Panel Talk: Moderated by Honey Al Sayed (Middle East Institute Washington DC)

Photo By: The Geneva Centre
For Security Policy

Photo By:  Jaber Al Azmeh

Photo By:  Jaber Al Azmeh

Photo By: The Geneva Centre
For Security Policy

Photo By:  Jaber Al Azmeh

Photo By:  Jaber Al Azmeh

Photo By: The United States Institute Of Peace

Photo By:  The Middle East Institute 

Photo By: The United States Institute Of Peace

Photo By: The United States Institute Of Peace

Photo By:  The Middle East Institute 

Photo By: The United States Institute Of Peace

Photo By: MAP | The Media & Art Of Peace Georgetown University

Photo By:  The Middle East Institute 

Photo By: The United States Institute Of Peace

Photo By: MAP | The Media & Art Of Peace Georgetown University

Photo By:  The Middle East Institute 

Photo By: The United States Institute Of Peace

Photo By: UN Foundation

Photo By:  Spark Media

Photo By: UN Foundation

Photo By:  Spark Media

Educational Roots and Professional Pathways

Charting a journey of learning and growth.

Academic Education

Tufts University, Fletcher School of Law & Diplomacy | Master of Arts in International Affairs | 2015 | Boston, United States
Thesis: Media and Arts During Conflict 

Lebanese American University | Bachelor of Science in Communication Arts (Radio, T.V., Film & Theatre) |1997 | Lebanon

Coaching Certifications

CRR Global & Competence | 2025 | USA, SwitzerlandCertificate ORSCTM | Organization & Relationship Systems Coaching

The Brick Coach | 2025 | Lego® Serious Play® Coach Training

Brain-Based Wellness |2024 | USA
Certified Neuro-somatic Intelligence Coach

Creative Mind Media | 2023 | USA, U.K. 
Certified Jungian Life Coach 

The Rayner Institute | 2020| Canada, U.K.
Certified Professional Executive Leadership Coach
Associate Certified Coach (ACC) and Professional Certified Coach (PCC) 

Psychometric Assessments:

Hogrefe Ltd, Hogrefe House | 2023 | UK, Switzerland
NEO-PI-3 Certified | Psychometrics assessment coach

Metaberatung Talent Management & New Leadership Hogan Distributor | 2022 | Germany, Switzerland
HOGAN Certified | Psychometrics assessment coach

Management Research Group | 2022 | USA, Ireland, Switzerland
LEA 360 Certified | Leadership Effective Analysis 360 suite  Psychometrics assessment coach

Professional Development

IMD Business School | 2022 | Gstaad, Switzerland
Certificate: Advanced High-Performance Leadership Course

IMD Business School | 2016 | Lausanne, Switzerland
Certificate: High-Performance Leadership Course

Geneva Centre for Security Policy | 2016 | Geneva, Switzerland
Certificate: Strategic Foresight Course

Indiana University–Purdue University – Lilly Family School of Philanthropy| 2016 | Indianapolis, U.S.
Certificate: Principles and Techniques of Fundraising Course

Awards & Fellowships

Inaugural Practitioner in Residence  |University of Denver, the Sié Chéou-Kang Center for International Security and Diplomacy – Inclusive Global Leadership Initiative |September-December 2019 | Colorado, Denver, U.S.A 

Inaugural Fellow, Spark Media |November-December 2015 Washington, DC 

Participating Journalist |U.S. Department of State Edward R. Murrow Program |October 2011 | Washington, DC, St. Louis, MO, New York, NY, U.S.A 

Alumni Achievement Award | |July 2009 |Lebanese American University | Beirut, Lebanon 

Associate Fellow |Global Fellowship Initiative |2016-Present
​GCSP-Geneva Centre for Security Policy |Geneva, Switzerland

Academic Education

Tufts University, Fletcher School of Law & Diplomacy | Master of Arts in International Affairs | 2015 | Boston, United States
Thesis: Media and Arts During Conflict 

Lebanese American University | Bachelor of Science in Communication Arts (Radio, T.V., Film & Theatre) |1997 | Lebanon

Coaching Certifications

Brain-Based Wellness |2024 | USA
Certified Neuro-somatic Intelligence Coach

CRR Global & Competence  
| 2024 | USA, Switzerland

ORSCTM Trained | Organization & Relationship Systems Coaching

CRR Global & Competence | 2024 | USA, Switzerland
Certificate ORSCTM Fundamentals | Organization & Relationship Systems Coaching

Creative Mind Media | 2023 | USA, U.K. 
Certified Jungian Life Coach 

The Rayner Institute | 2020| Canada, U.K.
Certified Professional Executive Leadership Coach
Associate Certified Coach (ACC) and Professional Certified Coach (PCC) 

Psychometric Assessments:

Hogrefe Ltd, Hogrefe House | 2023 | UK, Switzerland
NEO-PI-3 Certified | Psychometrics assessment coach

Metaberatung Talent Management & New Leadership Hogan Distributor | 2022 | Germany, Switzerland
HOGAN Certified | Psychometrics assessment coach

Management Research Group | 2022 | USA, Ireland, Switzerland
LEA 360 Certified | Leadership Effective Analysis 360 suite  Psychometrics assessment coach

Professional Development

IMD Business School | 2022 | Gstaad, Switzerland
Certificate: Advanced High-Performance Leadership Course

IMD Business School | 2016 | Lausanne, Switzerland
Certificate: High-Performance Leadership Course

Geneva Centre for Security Policy | 2016 | Geneva, Switzerland
Certificate: Strategic Foresight Course

Indiana University–Purdue University – Lilly Family School of Philanthropy| 2016 | Indianapolis, U.S.
Certificate: Principles and Techniques of Fundraising Course

Awards & Fellowships

Inaugural Practitioner in Residence  |University of Denver, the Sié Chéou-Kang Center for International Security and Diplomacy – Inclusive Global Leadership Initiative |September-December 2019 | Colorado, Denver, U.S.A 

Inaugural Fellow, Spark Media |November-December 2015 Washington, DC 

Participating Journalist |U.S. Department of State Edward R. Murrow Program |October 2011 | Washington, DC, St. Louis, MO, New York, NY, U.S.A 

Alumni Achievement Award | |July 2009 |Lebanese American University | Beirut, Lebanon 

Associate Fellow |Global Fellowship Initiative |2016-Present
​GCSP-Geneva Centre for Security Policy |Geneva, Switzerland