Christina Hawatmeh
Christina Hawatmeh (born May 8, 1988 in Saint Louis, Missouri) is an American tech entrepreneur and award-winning author.[1] She is founder and CEO of Scopio and writer of the HarperCollins book “The Year Time Stopped: The Global Pandemic in Photos”.[2][3]
Christina Hawatmeh | |
|---|---|
| Born | May 8, 1988 |
| Nationality | United States |
| Education | Bachelor in International Affairs Master of International Affairs |
| Alma mater | George Washington University Columbia University |
| Occupation | Entrepreneur |
| Years active | 2019-till now |
| Organization | Scopio |
Notable work | The Year Time Stopped: The Global Pandemic in Photos |
| Awards | Top 10 self made women in 2023 (MSN) Top 10 Entrepreneurs to follow (NY Finance) Top 10 Influential women to look out for (NYC Journal) Scopio is a Forbes30u30 recipient Initial member of CHIEF Tech Boss Awardee |
Education
Christina completed her bachelor's degree in International affairs from George Washington University,[when?] and Master of International Affairs from Columbia University.[when?][4]
Professional career
Christina Hawatmeh's journey began at George Washington University, exploring Facebook groups as a student. In 2014, during her master's program at Columbia University, her innovative approach to the storytelling potential of images on social media gained attention.[5] This led her to develop Artificial intelligence capable of identifying and preserving original images, aiming to move them from social media to a more enduring presence in the real world.[4] Her vision was to distribute these images globally within three minutes of upload, preventing the loss of valuable historical moments buried in the constant flow of social media.[6]
Facing challenges and limitations with existing platforms, Christina launched Scopio, a platform allowing users to directly upload and distribute their images.[7] Her goal was to empower individuals globally, providing a space for photo sharing without the need for professional journalism or photography.[8] Through Scopio, she identified global voices on platforms like Instagram and Twitter, establishing a community of individuals sharing images globally. Christina aimed to liberate valuable images from the confines of social media, recognizing their historical significance.[9]
To address the limitations and biases of social media algorithms, Christina challenged traditional business practices by creating a marketplace bridging the gap between professional photographers and ordinary individuals.[10] This transformative approach moved beyond the traditional stock photo industry into a new era of photo sharing.[11]
Christina's commitment to inclusivity extended beyond entrepreneurship to social justice advocacy, focusing on cultural awareness and race.[12] She emphasized the importance of venture capital in supporting diverse founders and advocated for a more inclusive tech industry embracing underrepresented voices from all backgrounds.[13][14]
Books
- The Year Time Stopped: The Global Pandemic in Photos, publisher: HarperOne (June 21, 2022), ISBN 0063159511, 978-0063159518[15][3][9]
Awards
Christina has received numerous accolades, including being recognized as one of the "Top 10 Self-Made Women in 2023" by MSN,[16] among the "Top 10 Entrepreneurs to follow" by NY Finance, and one of the "Top 10 Influential Women to look out for" by NYC Journal. Scopio, the platform she founded, is a recipient of the "Forbes 30 Under 30" award.[17] Additionally, Christina has been an initial member of CHIEF, a recipient of the Tech Boss Award, and participated in the Columbia University Business School innovation entrepreneurship program as part of the first class at the Columbia Startup Lab. She is also an alum of 500 Startups, ERA, and a winner of the Arch Grant.
References
- ↑ "Women in NYC Tech: Christina Hawatmeh of Scopio – AlleyWatch". Retrieved 2024-01-22.
- ↑ McCurry, Alex (2023-08-30). "Top 10 Influential Women To Look Out For In 2023". The NYC Journal. Retrieved 2024-01-22.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 "Alumna's New Book Shines a Light on the Global Pandemic Experience Through Photos | GW Alumni Association | The George Washington University". GW Alumni Association. Retrieved 2024-01-22.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Zhao, Ming S. (2022-04-29). "Power Women: Christina Hawatmeh of Scopio On How To Successfully Navigate Work, Love and Life As A…". Authority Magazine. Retrieved 2024-01-22.
- ↑ Davis, Drew (2017-12-02). "Christina Hawatmeh On Founding Scopio And Storytelling Through User Generated Content". EQ. Retrieved 2024-01-22.
- ↑ "SIPA student's app aims to transform protest reporting". Columbia Daily Spectator. Retrieved 2024-01-22.
- ↑ "Scopio Founder - 6 Questions With Scop.io Founder Christina Hawatmeh". Retrieved 2024-01-22.
- ↑ "A Picture's Worth a Thousand Words with Christina Hawatmeh". Entreprenista. Retrieved 2024-01-22.
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 Abo, Jessica (2022-07-05). "2020 in Photos: A New Book Captured the Year that Changed Everything". Entrepreneur. Retrieved 2024-01-22.
- ↑ Jordan, Adrienne. "This Platform Allows Travel Content Makers To Earn Extra Money During COVID-19". Forbes. Retrieved 2024-01-22.
- ↑ "Christina Hawatmeh Is Making Photography More Diverse And Accessible, While Helping Photographers Across The World, With Scopio". Disrupt. 2021-03-01. Retrieved 2024-01-22.
- ↑ Rau, Elaine (2016-12-13). "Christina Hawatmeh Is Humanizing Storytelling Through The Lens Of Real People". Lady Boss Blogger. Retrieved 2024-01-22.
- ↑ "Christina Hawatmeh on Why Diversity in Stock Images Matters". www.thewiesuite.com. Retrieved 2024-01-22.
- ↑ "The Alexa Rose Show". Spotify. Retrieved 2024-01-22.
- ↑ Hawatmeh, Christina; Chamoun, Nour (2022-06-21). The Year Time Stopped: The Global Pandemic in Photos. New York, NY: HarperOne. ISBN 978-0-06-315951-8.
- ↑ Rodriguez, Mia (2023-12-05). "Top 10 Self-Made Women Who Turned Dreams Into Reality". www.msn.com. Retrieved 2024-01-22.
- ↑ "30 Under 30 2020: Media". Forbes. Retrieved 2024-01-22.