Mikey Muhanna

About Mikey Muhanna

I’m the Founder and Executive Director of afikra | عفكرة, a global platform that is reframing the image of the Arab world through new media, community-driven events, and education. Over the past decade, I’ve built afikra into a globally-respected network active in 30 cities and connecting a community of over people. Our work bridges culture, media, and education through live events, educational programming, our cultural journal Daftar, and the afikra Podcast Network—one of the leading podcast platforms dedicated to arts, history, and culture in the Arab world, with 500+ interviews and more than 20 million views worldwide. I collaborate with institutions, educators, and cultural leaders to design programs and conversations that deepen public understanding and strengthen cultural discourse. Partners include Netflix, TED, Google Arts & Culture, the Islamic Arts Biennale, the Saudi Museums Commission, Misk Art Institute, Qatar Foundation, Qatar Museums, the UAE Ministry of Culture, Harvard, Northwestern, VCUarts, and NYU Abu Dhabi.As a host, interviewer, and curator of public programs, I’ve led hundreds of conversations with artists, scholars, business leaders, and policymakers, and have delivered keynote talks on global stages including Lincoln Center, The Public Theater, Yale, Harvard, Oxford, American University of Beirut, National University of Singapore, Northwestern University in Qatar, NYU, Shubbak Festival in London, the Islamic Arts Biennale in Jeddah, and Jaou Tunis Biennale.Earlier in my career, I worked in finance, consulting, and policy, leading reform projects across the Levant and East Africa, and began as a Teach For America corps member in post-Katrina New Orleans.Reach out if you are interested in collaborations related to the Cultural and Creative Industries (CCI) in the Arab World, new media & public engagement (podcasting, documentaries, summit curation), or developing new education models for creativity, curiosity, and innovation in the Arab World.

Experience

1. Founder & Executive Director

   Afikra عفكرة

   Sep 2014 — Present

   Afikra is a global platform for cultural production and public learning rooted in the Arab world. As Founder and Executive Director, I lead strategy, partnerships, and creative direction across Afikra’s three pillars: Community, Academy, and Media.Since 2014, we’ve built a movement that transforms curiosity about the Arab world into informed engagement—through live events, educational programs, and original media.Key Highlights: Global Presence: Active in 30 cities across MENA, Europe, and the Americas, powered by a volunteer network and community chapters. Afikra Podcast Network: Developed and executive-produced one of the leading cultural podcast networks in the Arab world, with 500+ episodes viewed over 20 million times.🧠 Afikra Academy: Designed and launched a digital learning platform offering global high school and university students courses on Arab history, culture, and storytelling. Community: Cultivated a community of over members engaging through events, workshops, and online platforms.🤝 Partnerships: Collaborated with institutions such as Netflix, TED, Google Arts & Culture, Islamic Arts Biennale, Saudi Museums Commssion, Misk Art Institute, Qatar Foundation, Qatar Museums, the UAE Ministry of Culture, Harvard, Northwestern, VCU, and NYU Abu Dhabi.Afikra continues to serve as a bridge between cultural heritage and contemporary creativity, building networks, narratives, and educational tools that inspire civic curiosity and collective understanding across the region and beyond.

Education

• Society of Actuaries

  Associate of the Society of Actuaries, Actuarial Science

• The New Teachers Project

  Certified High School Math Teacher, Education

  2009 — 2010

• Harvard University

  Executive Education at Kennedy School of Government, Leadership Organizing and Action

• The Recurse Center

  Fellowship, Computer Science

  2016 — 2016

• Duke University

  BS, Economics, Minors: Arabic, Music

  2003 — 2007