Soulaima Gourani is not just redefining how we meet; she’s transforming how we lead. As the Co-founder and CEO of Happioh Inc., an AI-powered meeting workflow platform, Gourani is on a mission to eliminate unproductive meetings and revolutionize workplace efficiency. By acting as a smart calendar filter, Happioh empowers users with pre-meeting intelligence, sending alerts for key invitees and nudges for prep work so teams are not just meeting, but meaningfully progressing.
Co-founded in 2020 with Brian Prytz Frandsen, Happioh has quickly risen as a standout in the enterprise SaaS space. The platform has earned backing from respected investors like Orbit Startups and VitalizeVC, and continues to earn global recognition, from being nominated among the 100 Most Promising Technology Companies to winning The UPS Store Small Biz Challenge (2024) and becoming a Google Cloud Startup and Microsoft Startups Founders Hub Selection.
But Gourani’s impact extends far beyond tech. A serial entrepreneur, she has built multiple startups and holds or has held over 15 board positions across sectors, including finance, tech, child welfare, green infrastructure, and cultural institutions. Currently, she serves on the World Economic Forum’s Global Future Council, Faith In Action, Ventures Fund (VC), Green AI Datacenters, and several other high-impact organizations.
Her leadership journey is deeply rooted in resilience. Having grown up in foster care from the age of 13 and dropping out in 7th grade, Gourani defied the odds by later earning an MBA from Copenhagen Business School and completing executive education at Harvard, Wharton, Yale, and other elite institutions. Today, she lectures at world-renowned schools like Harvard Kennedy School, London Business School, and ISB, sharing her expertise on entrepreneurship, governance, and purpose-driven leadership.
Her career began with standout roles in SaaS sales and consulting at Maersk, Microsoft, and Hewlett-Packard, and she has since become a trusted advisor to venture capital funds and national policy panels. Recognized as a WEF Young Global Leader (2012), a Thinkers50 awardee, and among the Top 100 Women in Tech, her accolades now include a 2025 nomination for Global Entrepreneur of the Year (Tech) and this year’s honor as one of the 100 Reputable Women of African Descent.
Soulaima Gourani’s story is a bold testament to purpose, innovation, and global influence, an enduring example of what happens when technology, courage, and leadership converge.
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