Leading with Innovation & Inclusivity

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has undergone a dramatic transformation of business leadership, which is indicative of the UAE’s vibrant economy. Since the past decade, the UAE has positioned itself as one of the innovation, technology and entrepreneurship destination with talent pool from across the globe. This has led to the change of leadership practices where the conventional leadership is being replaced by the more flexible, participatory and collaborative leadership. Digital transformation is one of the most significant patterns in the development of UAE business leadership. CEOs and managers are paying more attention to the application of new technologies in their organizations. It is not only the change of the tools in practice but also the change of the organizational culture in which leaders promote innovation and learning.

Another factor is the rising concern of sustainability and corporate social responsibility. The UAE business leaders are more conscious of the global trends in sustainable practices and are actively working on integrating their organizations to international sustainability framework. This has environmental aspects as well as social and governance aspects that make sure that corporations are doing good for the society. It has also emerged that diversity and inclusion have also formed part of leadership in the UAE. The country’s leadership is supporting gender diversity and inclusion initiatives arguing that diverse teams lead to the best outcomes. This shift can be seen by observing the growing number of women in leadership roles, and the focus on equality in the workplace.

It is with the view of staying updated with the emerging trends in this region’s business landscape that Asia Business Outlook has come up with a special issue containing stories of leaders who have demonstrated their capability through their expertise. To strengthen this region’s business landscape with their tightly-knit and result-oriented approach, they are setting new standards of effectiveness.

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