In this episode of The B-Student Podcast, host Betsy Gardner sits down with Dr. Haifa Maamar, Executive Director of Emerging Technologies at Full Sail University. With an incredible career that spans continents, stock exchanges, and emerging tech, Haifa shares her journey from a curious six-year-old coding in her father’s office in France to becoming a global leader in AI, gaming, simulation, and immersive technologies. This dynamic conversation explores what it means to be a woman in tech, the impact of mentorship, the future of AI, and the value of multicultural experiences. Haifa opens up about the early spark that led her to engineering, how she navigated international career transitions, and what fuels her passion for student success at Full Sail. If you've ever wondered how to lead innovation while staying grounded in purpose and people, this episode is for you. Key Topics: How Full Sail is preparing students for AI, AR/VR, and cybersecurity futures What it’s like to work with stock exchanges across the world Why mentorship and role modeling matter—especially for women in STEM How to humanize innovation and lead with empathy The AI tools Haifa swears by (and the one she won’t give up) Time Stamps: 00:00 – Intro to Dr. Haifa Maamar and her global background 03:12 – Tunisian pride and global recognition through Ons Jabeur 06:28 – Coding for global stock exchanges — a tech career snapshot 10:07 – Discovering programming at 6 years old in her dad’s office 13:45 – Why she pivoted from becoming a surgeon to an engineer 17:36 – Her move to Canada and landing at Full Sail University 21:30 – What makes Full Sail’s tech ecosystem and culture unique 25:02 – Explaining the real meaning of 'emerging tech' at Full Sail 29:19 – How Full Sail rapidly updates programs to stay industry-relevant 33:00 – Future of tech: AI, cloud, and immersive tech predictions 36:26 – Haifa’s favorite AI tools and how she uses them daily 39:58 – The power of mentorship and Haifa’s leadership evolution 44:03 – Closing thoughts on impact, role models, and global contribution Subscribe, rate, and share the B Student Podcast—because the B side of your story might just be the best part. Connect with Dr. Haifa: https://www.linkedin.com/in/haifamaamar Connect with Betsy Gardner: https://www.linkedin.com/in/betsygardner22/ Learn More about Winter Park Chamber of Commerce: https://www.winterpark.org/
