The Making of a Leader

 Monica Chikhani’s journey began long before titles, awards, and boardrooms. Born in Paris, raised in Lebanon, and carrying an Australian passport, she grew

up between worlds, where etiquette and resilience coexisted, and where the chaos of war outside her home only deepened her determination within it. That duality of grace and grit became the foundation of her life and work.

She studied advertising design and communication at the Lebanese American University, graduating with distinction in an era when stories were hand-drawn and

crafted with instinct rather than algorithms. Later, she broadened her perspective with studies in AI Strategy and Digital Marketing at Cornell, and in AI-Driven Leadership: Strategies for the Future at Stanford University, blending timeless creativity with a sharp understanding of modern technology.

In 1996, Monica founded MEC Workshop with no capital, no partners, and no safety net. What began as a small creative studio grew into a trusted name, known for building emotional bridges between companies and communities. Along the way, she earned recognition from global brands such as Coca-Cola for brand experience excellence and Johnson & Johnson for creativity, execution, and customer experience three years in a row. She led campaigns across real estate, healthcare, retail, and government, working closely with some of the region’s most visionary developers, including Mohamad Alabbar and Ziad El Chaar. Today, Monica continues to expand her impact as both Founder and Managing Director of MEC Workshop and as a sought-after Fractional CMO.

She partners with companies at pivotal moments, when they need to scale, reposition, or reinvent themselves, offering not only strategy, but clarity and purpose. Her approach, rooted in humanity and guided by foresight, has made her a voice of transformation in industries where trust and vision matter most.

Her story, however, is not only professional. As a single mother to Jennifer and Kevin, Monica built her company while raising her children, balancing late nights, client wins, lost contracts, and unrelenting pressure with love and resilience. When the world shifted during COVID and a major contract was lost, she didn’t see failure; she saw redirection. That moment reignited her drive to reinvent MEC Workshop around the future of marketing leadership, building on the emerging model of CMO-as-a-Service. While many were letting go, businesses were turning to her for guidance, trusting her ability to navigate uncertainty with creativity and strength.

Monica’s life is a story of reinvention, perseverance, and vision. She speaks English, French, and Arabic, moves fluidly between cultures, and balances boardroom strategy with the grounded rituals of baking and the discipline of weight training. She listens deeply, moves intentionally, and leads with clarity.

Behind every brand she builds is not only a strategy, but a story; not only a plan, but a soul. That is what makes her work resonate, and what makes her story one worth telling.