Faisal Saeed Al Mutar

 Faisal Saeed Al Mutar is a social entrepreneur and executive with extensive experience in economic development, innovation, and nonprofit leadership. He experienced the villainy of extremism and authoritarian regimes firsthand, surviving the Iraq War, the murder of his brother, and several kidnapping attempts before becoming a refugee in the United States. A practitioner of countering extremism and misinformation, he founded the organization Ideas Beyond Borders, a nonprofit dedicated to developing and implementing international programs to empower individuals with knowledge often suppressed by authoritarian dictatorships and has built the organization into a leading platform for advancing free market thought, innovation, and policy reform in the Arab world, particularly in Iraq. Al Mutar has collaborated with intergovernmental organizations and private-sector stakeholders to promote growth and entrepreneurship. A sought-after speaker and thought leader, he has delivered talks on global platforms, including TED, and engaged with audiences across the U.S. and the Middle East. He also supports startups and aspiring leaders, helping empower the next generation of changemakers. He has received the President’s Volunteer Service Award from President Obama, the Beacon Award from the Ellis Island Honors Society, and an honorary doctorate from Whittier College in California.