Myrna Panayot was born and raised in Beirut, Lebanon. After completing her studies at the American University of Beirut, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration in 1990, she began her professional career in France in 1991. She worked in the private sector, notably in the toy industry with Murat 1920, before returning to Lebanon to embark on a 25-year career in the banking sector.

At Société Générale de Banque au Liban (SGBL), Myrna held several leadership positions, including Director of Quality and Client Protection, and Branch Director of the strategic main branch serving over 15,000 clients. She also worked as Deputy to the Retail Clients Director, where she strengthened customer experience across 67 branches and supported SMEs, retail, and private clients. In addition, she played a pivotal role in launching microfinance initiatives within the bank.

In 2022, she joined Banque BEMO as Senior Manager for the Institutions Business Development department, where she expanded partnerships with NGOs, schools, universities and financial institutions. She also designed and launched a national trilingual writing competition that engaged all communities across Lebanon.

In March 2026, Myrna became the Executive Director of Lebanon and Beyond, bringing her expertise in institutional development, project management, and partnership building to the nonprofit sector.

Beyond her professional achievements, Myrna is a passionate marathon runner and outdoor enthusiast. She has participated in marathons, duathlons, and treks, and in 2018 trained and accompanied the first visually impaired woman from the Middle East to complete a marathon. Fluent in French, Arabic, and English, she combines her professional leadership with a deep commitment to resilience, inclusion, and social impact.