Hiba Yazbeck

Hiba Yazbeck is a global finance executive, sustainability entrepreneur, and health advocate whose career sits at the intersection of corporate leadership, strategic philanthropy, and mission- driven innovation.

She currently serves as Head of Finance & Accounting, North America at MAHLE, where she oversees approximately $3.5 billion in budgets, leads a large regional finance organization, delivers multi-million-dollar annual cost savings, and has helped integrate more than $2 billion in acquisitions in the automotive sector.

With more than 27 years of experience across Arthur Andersen, Hayes Lemmerz, TRW/ZF Group, and MAHLE, Hiba is recognized for her ability to manage complex global consolidations, strengthen internal controls, and partner with boards and leadership teams on governance and long-term value creation. At ZF/TRW Automotive, she led financial reporting and consolidations for a portfolio exceeding $16 billion, building robust SOX-compliant control frameworks and serving as a key counterpart to external auditors. Earlier in her career, she trained as an auditor at Arthur Andersen and later moved into operational finance at Hayes Lemmerz International, gaining hands-on experience in forecasting, budgeting, and plant-level performance management.

Hiba’s educational foundation spans two continents. She holds a BS in Business–Accounting from the Lebanese American University (LAU), a leading American-style institution in the Middle East, and an MBA from Warwick Business School in the United Kingdom—credentials that underpin her blend of technical accounting rigor and strategic management. In 2025, LAU honored her with its Alumni Recognition Award, recognizing her as a “global finance executive, sustainability entrepreneur, and philanthropic leader” whose impact bridges business and social change.

As Founder of Shifting Gaia™, Hiba has translated her audit and risk background into the sustainability arena. She created the proprietary Shifting Gaia Ratings methodology, which evaluates consumer brands across toxic, environmental, and social performance and underpins an international curated marketplace of vetted, ESG-aligned products. To date, Shifting Gaia Ratings has evaluated more than 500 brands, while the marketplace offers more than 5,000 products from 90 brands. Shifting Gaia™ brings together conscious consumption and trustworthy content, reflecting Hiba’s conviction that personal well-being, planetary health, and ethical business practices are inseparable.

Hiba’s leadership also extends deeply into nonprofit governance and strategic philanthropy. Together with her husband, she established the Chady Wehbe and Hiba Yazbeck Fund, a donor- advised fund at the Center for Arab American Philanthropy (CAAP), using a structured, “portfolio-style” approach to giving that supports cancer research, healthcare access, and education. She also founded the Jana Endowment Fund at LAU, designed as a perpetual scholarship vehicle for underprivileged students.

In the United States, Hiba is a long-standing leader and fundraiser for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. As a committee member of the St. Jude Detroit Gala, she leverages her corporate network and community relationships to secure sponsorships and philanthropic commitments. Across her efforts, she has helped raise more than $400,000 in support of pediatric cancer research and treatment. She also serves on the board of Teach for Lebanon USA, advising on governance, compliance, and fundraising strategy to expand educational access for vulnerable youth.

A Stage IV breast cancer warrior, Hiba has transformed a decade-long clinical journey into a platform for health advocacy and environmental awareness. Diagnosed in 2015 and facing multiple recurrences, she has spoken openly about the physical and emotional toll of treatment while championing early detection and intentional living. Through initiatives such as the “Courage to Fight Breast Cancer” campaign, in partnership with LAU, she has funded and supported awareness and screening programs, including outreach to rural and underserved communities in Lebanon, linking women’s health, education, and environmental risk reduction.

Rooted in Detroit and Lebanon, Hiba plays a bridging role within the Lebanese diaspora. She was President of the LAU Alumni Association – Detroit Chapter for a decade, convening a network of professionals to support scholarships, mentorship, and institutional initiatives at LAU. Through speaking engagements and advisory roles, she is frequently invited to address topics such as ESG and sustainable business models, women’s leadership in finance, diaspora philanthropy, and the future of purpose-driven enterprises.

Hiba’s contributions have earned her multiple recognitions, including recognition as one of the Top 50 Women Leaders of Detroit (2024), the Heart of St. Jude Award for pediatric cancer fundraising, the Rise Like a Phoenix Award from the Barbara Nassar Association for cancer advocacy, the Woman of Outstanding Leadership Award from the International Women’s Leadership Association, and LAU’s 2025 Alumni Recognition Award for her professional excellence and impact on women’s empowerment and health.

Today, boards, investors, and mission-driven organizations turn to Hiba for a rare combination of CFO-level discipline, ESG insight, and lived experience in health advocacy. Whether restructuring a regional finance function, designing a sustainability rating framework, or building endowments and donor-advised funds, her work is guided by a consistent thesis: long-term value is created when financial performance, human well-being, and environmental stewardship are aligned.