As a Managing Partner at Crowe UAE, I have had the privilege of seeing leadership tested in its most demanding forms. Under scrutiny, under pressure, and under conditions where assumptions are no longer sufficient. In these moments, audit has consistently offered one of the most valuable leadership lenses I have encountered. Audit, at its core, […]
In a business world led by targets and metrics, leadership can sometimes become a performative function, where senior executives adopt a persona that they feel fits a pre-defined mould. Driven by the need for external validation, those leaders act on optics rather than authenticity, rarely building the trust it takes to succeed in the long-term. […]
When leaders should speak, and when restraint is the wiser choice The pressure to say something is overwhelming. Since Iranian strikes began hitting the Middle East in late February 2026, business leaders throughout the region have faced an unfamiliar dilemma: speak publicly and risk misreading a fast-moving situation, or stay silent and appear absent when […]
Every year around International Women’s Day, companies across the Middle East publish glossy statements about gender equality. When the month ends, the numbers barely shift. That gap between rhetoric and reality is one of the most expensive inefficiencies in the region’s economy. This is not a conversation about values. It is about competitive advantage. Middle […]
Tell us about yourself and your background I’m originally from Milan, Italy, and after university I moved to Canada, a decision that shaped both my life and professional path for more than two decades. Those 23 years were formative. They exposed me to different cultures, leadership styles, and ways of thinking, and expanded my understanding […]
Poor communication is affecting your business. And often, it’s leadership that needs to take the hardest look in the mirror. We see it everywhere: overly complicated visions, internal structures that hinder diverse communication styles, and executive egos that override emotional intelligence. The result? Resentment, high turnover, and an increased error quota. Communication is the literal […]
Shalin Balasuriya is the Co-Founder of Spa Ceylon and a globally recognised voice in modern wellness, branding, and entrepreneurship. Raised in Sri Lanka and deeply influenced by its culture and heritage, he has spent over two decades building brands that go beyond products, focusing instead on how people feel and live. Blending ancient Ayurvedic wisdom […]
Tell us about yourself and your background I am Hajra Jaafar an ICF certified life and transitional coach with Master’s in NLP, a women’s empowerment advocate, and corporate wellbeing facilitator. My professional journey spans banking, education, leadership roles, and entrepreneurship—each chapter teaching me something powerful about identity, resilience, and reinvention.Life transitions—whether personal, professional, or emotional—have […]
Mohammed, could you start by telling our readers a little about yourself and your professional journey? I’ve spent more than 25 years building a leadership career across the Energy and Utilities sector, working across B2B and B2C environments and leading major commercial, operational, and transformation programs throughout the Middle East, Africa, Asia, and beyond. My […]
Leadership today is experiencing a quiet crisis of relevance. Never before has leadership been so widely discussed, formalised, and monetised—yet trust in leaders and institutions continues to erode. The global leadership development industry is valued at over USD 350 billion, but surveys such as the Edelman Trust Barometer consistently show fragile confidence in business, government, […]
