Samara Hakim, JD is the President and Founder of CulturGrit, LLC. She is an international culture and
inclusion thought leader, data strategist, keynote speaker, writer, and facilitator. For over a decade,
Samara has equipped leaders with the mindset and skills to work with those who are different, by
mitigating bias and integrating culture into business practices and metrics.
Samara has worked on projects for Fortune 500 and 100 companies, including culture transformation
and DEIB integration, inclusive leadership and boards of directors, gender culture empowerment, global
marketing and sales, team-building, and inclusive procurement. She has facilitated workshops in
multiple languages, at various levels, for multiple industries, including for-profit and non-profit
organizations, start-ups, and educational institutions. Samara has been a member of several advisory
boards and a leader in many communities of practice. She is a member of Forbes Coaches Council.
Samara has been featured in a book on global leadership and in several media outlets and podcasts. She
was honored with the 2018 Women of Excellence Entrepreneur Award by Diversity Professional
Magazine, the 2019 American Honda Premier Partner Award, and the NAWBO San Diego Women’s
Advocate Award. She is the DEIB Director of NAWBO San Diego. She is also a member of the Economic
Development and Advocacy Advisory Council and the Emerging Leaders Board of North San Diego
Business Chamber.
Samara is a dynamic speaker who engages people to think beyond their comfort zone to work across
differences. She draws on a range of experiences including her cross-cultural work, her career as a
lawyer, and her personal background. Samara grew up in Lebanon, and she currently resides with her
husband and two children in San Diego, California. She loves chocolate, biking, dancing, and travel.