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Speaker
Maha Abouelenein
Founder & CEO, Digital & Savvy
Maha Abouelenein is a strategic communication expert, best-selling author, and entrepreneur with more than three decades of experience. She is the CEO and Founder of Digital and Savvy, a global communications firm based in the United States and the United Arab Emirates. Maha is a USA TODAY best-selling author of 7 Rules of Self-Reliance and a leading voice in modern communications, personal branding, and global reputation strategy. She has shaped communication strategies for major corporations, high-growth startups, governments, and senior executives across the Middle East and the United States.
Throughout her career, Maha has led communications for global corporations, startups, sports organizations, governments, and high-profile leaders. She helped Weber Shandwick expand across the Middle East by opening 18 offices and leading its Cairo operation. She managed major IPO and acquisition communications in Egypt and supported sports and entertainment programs with the Olympics, NASCAR, ATP Tennis, Women’s Hockey, and the NFL at General Mills. She works across tech, sports, entertainment, and gaming, serves on the Global Board of Directors of the Associated Press, advises Lockchain.ai, the Global Gaming League, and the BRIDGE Alliance, and publishes the Savvy Talk newsletter and podcast.
At BRIDGE Summit, Maha will share insights on strategic storytelling, reputation building, and self-reliance, and how individuals and organizations can use communication to unlock influence, opportunity, and long-term impact.
USA
Creator Economy
Maha Aboueleneinat BRIDGE
- Media Panel 9 December 3:55 - 4:25PM
Longform’s Next Act
In a media environment dominated by sensationalism and short-form content, longform journalism has struggled to keep its grip. According to the 2025 Reuters Institute Digital News Report, 62 percent of online news consumers now prefer bite-sized updates. Yet platforms like YouTube and Substack show renewed demand for depth, with Substack alone reporting a fivefold rise in paid subscriptions since 2020. The question is no longer whether audiences have the attention for longform, but whether the industry is delivering it in ways that resonate. Publishers and creators are now reimagining longform for a global, digital-first audience, using new distribution models and partnerships to balance reach with resonance, and to define the next era of credible, enduring media.
Forum StageSpeakers
- Media Panel 8 December 2:00 - 2:20PM
When Everyone's Verified, Who Can You Trust?
Paid subscription models like Meta and X Verified are transforming the meaning of a blue checkmark, from a symbol of earned credibility to one of transactional access. As verification becomes something users can buy, trust in platform signals is eroding, heightening risks of misinformation and disinformation spread in particular. How do we think about restoring trust in this monetized and AI-driven media landscape?
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What They Say About BRIDGE
“One BRIDGE to unite them all. BRIDGE Summit looks to become the largest cross-sector media event in the world.”
“A gateway for knowledge exchange.”
“A summit to BRIDGE the gaps in the global media ecosystem.”
“We are proud to take part in the inaugural edition of BRIDGE Summit.”
“Un pont pour tous les réunir.”
