Lara Chaaya is a seasoned learning and development leader with over 18 years of experience across the Middle East and Africa. Her career has focused on shaping government strategies for human capability development and delivering scalable skill-building opportunities to millions of learners across the region.
At Coursera, Lara leads partnerships with governments and NGOs to design complex workforce development programmes that enhance employability and support career growth. She works at the intersection of public policy, education, and technology to equip people with the skills needed for a rapidly changing labour market.
Before joining Coursera, Lara was Learning Solutions Architect at TTRO, aligning public–private partnerships with the digital transformation ambitions of Vision 2030. Earlier in her career, she built deep expertise in designing learning solutions and educational content for audiences ranging from school students to adult learners. She holds an MBA from Notre Dame University, where her thesis examined the digital skills gap in Arab-region businesses.