Dr. Joyce Azzam

President & Founder, MounTurtle

From living in a cramped bunker during the Lebanese civil war to battling chronic lung condition and a potentially debilitating hypermobility syndrome, Dr. Joyce Azzam became the first Lebanese woman to complete “The Seven Summits Challenge,” braving frigid temperatures and killer oxygen levels by successfully climbing the tallest mountain on every continent, one of the first three women in the Arab World and one of 75 women worldwide. She also scaled over 30 of the most challenging mountains around the world, including Mt. Everest, Kilimanjaro, and Denali in Alaska and Vinson in Antarctica.

Joyce frequently features as an expert or motivational speaker on the international circuit promoting her dear causes of inspiring youth and women to overcome life and societal challenges and promoting conservation of precious cultural and environmental endowments. Working with international organizations, academia, think tanks and local communities across several continents, Joyce builds on her personal and professional achievements, education, networks and lessons from around the world to inspire change, social empowerment and growth. Now, Joyce is the ambassador of the Lebanese Ice Hockey Federation (women’s team) supporting women in sports and volunteers with Himaya NGO as a child protection advocate. She is a motivational speaker for youth groups, entrepreneurs, athletes, international NGO’s & foundations in various countries as Lebanon, Alaska, Argentina, Nepal, Toronto, Italy, Tunisia & Tanzania. She was featured on numerous podcasts and interviews on international media channels such as CNN, Rai1, and France24, beIN Sports, Skynews and others with tens of millions in audience reach in the MENA Region, North America, South America, Europe and Asia; and appears in a number of upcoming feature productions. In 2020, she has been designated as Goodwill Ambassador for Himalayan Life International Canada, and a Goodwill ambassador for Visit Nepal 2020.

Joyce earned a PhD in landscape & environment management from La Sapienza University of Rome; Master’s Degree in Conservation of Historic Cities and Buildings from La Sapienza University of Rome; Master’s Degree in Governance Models and Management of Local Public System from the University of Perugia in Italy; Master’s Degree in Architecture from the Lebanese University.

She can be found on media channels via @joyceazzam7s and her initiatives on #YesSheCan #InspireChange.