Rania Abou Samra – Get to know our VAB member
We are pleased to introduce our member Rania Abou Samra, who joins the VAB community from Dubai in the United Arab Emirates. Rania is a global R&D and innovation leader with deep expertise in nutrition science, technology-enabled innovation and enterprise R&D strategy. She currently serves as Vice President and Head of Innovation and Research & Development at Nestlé Middle East & North Africa, where she leads science-driven, AI-enabled innovation across a complex, multi-market region. In addition to her executive role, Rania serves as a board member of BIOLINK.org, a global community supporting the professional growth and connection of biosciences leaders of Lebanese heritage. She brings to our community a strong board-level perspective, combining scientific rigor with strategic, enterprise-wide decision-making. Rania is deeply committed to advancing nutrition education and equitable access to basic nutrition, a purpose that is embedded in both her professional leadership and broader portfolio activities. She is particularly passionate about helping organisations translate advanced science and technology into scalable, real-world health and business impact.
Members interested in learning more about Rania’s board journey, portfolio career ambitions, and experience operating at the intersection of science, technology and leadership are encouraged to connect with her.
What inspired you to become a member of the Virtual Advisory Board community?
I joined VAB to build my board credentials intentionally and to engage with a community that supports thoughtful, structured progression toward Board and Non-Executive Director roles. I value the opportunity to learn from experienced peers, gain exposure to diverse governance contexts, and continue strengthening my contribution at the Board level.
In what area do you feel board advisors can add the most value for Boards of Directors (BoDs) and executive teams?
Board advisors add the greatest value by bringing external, industry-informed perspectives that complement internal leadership experience. They help boards and executive teams step back from day-to-day operations, challenge assumptions and surface insights that may not be immediately visible within the organisation. This outside-in view is particularly critical during periods of transformation, innovation or strategic inflection.
What would be your dream company/organisation to work with as a board advisor/NED?
I would be particularly interested in supporting a company operating in food technology or nutrition-related innovation, especially one leveraging science, data and emerging technologies to deliver sustainable, scalable solutions with positive health impact.
What book or podcast would you recommend to VAB members that might improve their skills in corporate governance, board advisory or boosting board-to-executive team communications?
I am a big fan of the book Change by Design by Tim Brown. It is an inspiring look at how to rethink and streamline operational and product design practices.
