Hoda Barakat holds an MA in Entrepreneurship and Management from Al-Najah National University in Nablus. As the regional manager for Hands of Peace since 2007, she has successfully recruited a diverse range of Palestinian teens from the West Bank and East Jerusalem; she also co-plans, leads, and executes the HOP Middle East Alumni and leadership programs. Barakat works part-time as social entrepreneurs relationship manager for Synergos Organization, in which position she recruits and selects social entrepreneurs for financial grants and helps young entrepreneurs develop technical and leadership skills. She lives in Ramallah.