FOUNDERS
Aziz Abu Sarah is an entrepreneur, speaker, peace builder and author. He is a National Geographic Explorer and TED Fellow. In 2009, Aziz co-founded MEJDI Tours, an international tourism company built on the idea that a place can not be understood until you see it through multiple perspectives. In 2014, he gave a TED Talk about his vision for redefining tourism. Aziz has worked in over 50 countries on projects related to peacebuilding, Education, and tourism. He was recognized by UNSG Ban Ki Moon for his work in peace building. He was named one of the 500 most influential Muslims in the World by the Royal Strategic Centre in Jordan since 2010 and counting. He recently published his co-authored book Strangers, Neighbors, Friends.
Scott Cooper is a successful business owner, social enterprise entrepreneur, peacebuilder, and strategist. Scott’s the co-founder of MEJDI Tours, the leading socially conscious travel company in the world. He specializes in advising social enterprise entrepreneurs on all facets of creating social change through business models and how to create positive company cultures. Specifically, Scott helps social enterprise practitioners scale the change they seek to create in the world by helping them think through their theories of change, the impact they want to make, and how to realistically measure it in a way that helps them continuously learn and benefit from that measurement. Prior to co-founding MEJDI and InterAct, he co-directed a center on peacebuilding practice at George Mason’s School for Conflict Analysis and Resolution while simultaneously earning a M.S. in Conflict Analysis and Resolution. He was also a researcher at the United States Institute of Peace where where he worked on a project evaluating the effectiveness of peacebuilding programs in conflict zones. Before that, Scott was a banker and financial advisor. Scott’s work has been featured by National Geographic, B Corp, Conscious Capitalism, several international news organizations, and the United Nations World Tourism Organization. Scott’s work has taken him to all corners of the globe and he’s absolutely thrilled about that. When he’s not “working”, Scott loves to spend time with his family, watch comedy, and play ice hockey.