Shima Barakat

Entrepreneur - Director - Academic - Mentor committed to growing sustainable entrepreneurial ecosystems
Summary
Shima Barakat is a dedicated individual with over 25 years of experience in consulting, research, teaching, and startups across Europe and the Middle East.
With a background in engineering and management, Shima has advised numerous organizations on startup strategies, sustainability practices, and development issues.
She co-founded Value in Enterprise in the UK in 2006, focusing on research and consultancy to help organizations achieve additional value through sustainability initiatives.
Shima is a co-founder of two charities in the US and Egypt and is in the process of establishing a new charity in the UK.
Her research interests revolve around sustainability in business, particularly in the realms of natural capital, education, gender, and entrepreneurship.
During her time at the University of Cambridge Judge Business School, Shima developed a research portfolio worth over £1 million and played a key role in designing and delivering entrepreneurship education to undergraduate and postgraduate students.
She created two distinctive courses at the University of Cambridge: EnterpriseWISE, catering to women in science and engineering, and ETECH, the only compulsory entrepreneurship course for PhD students in science and engineering.
Shima's educational background includes a PhD in Strategy and the Environment from the University of Strathclyde, an MBA in Business Administration and Management from The American University in Cairo, and a Bachelor of Science in Construction Engineering from The American University in Cairo.
She also holds postgraduate certificates in Academic Practice from The University of Manchester and Environmental Studies from the University of Strathclyde.
Shima Barakat has held various roles in prestigious organizations such as Director of the Entrepreneurship for Sustainability Programme at the University of Cambridge, Chair of the Board of Directors at Kalamna CIC, and Founder and Director of Value in Enterprise Limited.
She has also been involved in initiatives like Impact Women's Network, RisingWISE, and the EIT Food Enterprise Projects Lead at University of Cambridge.
Shima's diverse experience includes being a Short Term Consultant on Women's Entrepreneurship at the World Bank Group, a Teaching Assistant at the American University in Cairo, and a Cost Control Engineer at Campenon Bernard.
Her extensive involvement in entrepreneurship education, advisory boards, and charitable organizations demonstrates her commitment to driving positive change and empowering individuals in various sectors.