Transforma onal leadership is defined
by four dimensions: idealis c influence, inspiring mo va on, intellectual s mula on, and customized concern. Inspiring leaders may favorably affect coopera on by cul va ng rela onships with subordinates across the business.
Inspira onal leadership emphasizes the cri cal relevance of employee a tudes in achieving commercial goals. As a result, the inspiring mo va on part of transforma onal leadership may mo vate human capital by establishing highly desired expecta ons.
The objec ves presented include enhancing capital, responding to environmental changes, improving product quality and sa sfac on, and genera ng learning and growth opportuni es. As a result, it is possible to claim that organiza onal effec veness is a result of inspiring leadership.
Global Leadership and Organiza onal Behaviour serve as the conceptual and empirical founda on for the analysis. It also raises issues concerning the differen a on of norms and values from ideological and ins tu onal perspec ves.
The latest edi on of the 10 Most Inspiring Leaders to Watch in Middle East 2023 is an acknowledgment of the most evident-based leadership in the Middle East. It echoes the region's competent and innova ve leadership capable of naviga ng ins tu onal and societal change.
Have an enlightening read!
An Inspiration for All the Visionary Women Leaders Who Have the Vision to Bring Change
Editor-in-Chief
Managing Editor
Execu ve Editors
Chidiebere Moses O.
Prashik Bombarde
Adiba Tarade
Shreyasi Shelke
Visualiser
Art & Design Head
Co-designer
Art & Design Assistant
Business Development Manager
Marke ng Manager
Business Development Execu ves
Sales Execu ves
Technical Head
Assistant Technical Head
Technical Consultants
Digital Marke ng Manager
Assistant Digital Marke ng Manager
SME-SMO Execu ve
Research Analyst
Circula on Manager
David King
Sonia Raizada
Paul Belin
Rohil Shinganapurkar
Sherin Rodricks
Joseph D'souza
Kelly, David
Mark, Alice Prachi Mokashi
Jacob Smile
Prashanth, Rajeshwari
Alina Sege
Renuka Kulkarni
Gemson
Eric Smith
Tanaji Fartade
Featuring Company
Ahmed Abdelaal CEO
Mashreq Bank mashreqbank.com
Ahmed Re y CEO
Raya Customer Experience
rayacx.com
Ahmed Al Khayyat CTO
Al Baraka Islamic Bank albaraka.bh
Brief
Ahmed is a banking professional with over 25 years of experience in progressively senior roles across banking ver cals spanning across interna onal and regional banks
Featuring Company Brief
Amina Chokaeva General Manager
2050 Marke ng and PR and Females Freedom Project bk.ru
Amina Chokaeva is a General Manager of interna onal marke ng agency 2050 and is crea ng and promo ng businesses in UAE.
A Senior Execu ve with proven successful experience, providing strategic vision, and enterprise leadership. He is known for his revenue and profitability growth abili es, as well as his versa lity in star ng up and turning around businesses.
Andrew Sto er-Brooks
Vice President Learning & Development
E had Avia on Group e had.ae
Andrew is an interna onal business execu ve with a broad background of work experience in both corporate training and field opera onal roles.
Chitra creates value for customers, is easy to work with and skilfully implements changes.
Featuring Company
Olayan Mohammed Alwetaid
Rajaa Moumena Founder and President
Brief
STC stc.com
CEO Olayan AlWetaid leads Group CEO of STC, and is SAMENA chairman and GSMA board Member.
Educa on and Training future-center.com
The Leader of Future Ins tute of Higher Educa on and Training, a leading pioneer in introducing voca onal courses that have directly resulted in empowering women in the workforce in Jeddah, KSA.
Al Dhafra Petroleum adnoc.ae
H.E. Dr. Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber CEO Led by Dr. Sultan, Al Dhafra Petroleum is an emerging upstream company that is focused on unlocking undeveloped oil and gas poten al in the UAE.
Tahani Al Terri Founder
ADAMAS for Events
Organizing and Managing
A leader who is highly mo vated and thrives on new challenges and goals; She has thirst for knowledge and con nuous development.
Manal Jarrar General Manager
Na onal Insurance Company na nsurance.jo
Manal Jarrar, the first female to receive the tle of general manager of an insurance company at the level of the Arab world.
An Inspiration for All the Visionary Women Leaders Who Have the Vision to Bring Change
Manal Jarrar, the first female to receive the tle of general manager of an insurance company at the level of the Arab world, bearing in mind that this posi on was exclusive to men.
Manal Hassan Jarrar, General Manager Na onal Insurance Co.
The majority of women leaders agreed that many internal programmes have helped gender equality in the insurance industry in recent years. There is no denying that women typically have a stronger tendency to connect with and bond with others.
This is very helpful in the insurance sector, where it's necessary to be able to persuade others and have ongoing conversations. Additionally, effective relationship-building techniques lead to both a more personalised customer experience and effective employee connections. Women perform better in underwriting and claim processing positions in the insurance industry because of their empathy and intuition. As we all know, gaining the stakeholders' trust is the main goal of the insurance industry. Therefore, there is a constant need for skilled communicators in the field, which women can fill.
Manal Hassan Jarrar is the General Manager of National Insurance Co. and has more than 25 years of experience in the insurance industry. She is also a board member of the Jordan Insurance Federation, the International Women Forum Jordan, and many banks, universities, and the Jordan Insurance Federation. She is also a member of the Jordanian Businessmen's Association. Since Jarrar has been in the industry since 1991 and has worked for four different insurance companies, she most likely knows the insurance industry like the back of her hand.
Manal Jarrar graduated from the University of Jordan (UJ) in 1989 with a BA in literature and a high diploma in economics. She then went on to earn
a master’s degree in Business Management and Leadership from the London Graduate School, and, finally, in 2018, a Doctor of Business Administration (DBA) with a focus in insurance management from Commonwealth University.
Jarrar persisted and worked toward a goal at "WATANIA" as she rose to the top of the organisation in a field that has historically been dominated by men. Her extensive experience includes strategic planning, executive management, financial management, business development, and the supervision and control of operations, among many other areas of the industry.
Manal Jarrar, the first female to receive the title of general manager of an insurance company at the level of the Arab world, bearing in mind that this position was exclusive to men. She was included on a list of the hundred most powerful Arab woman in The MENA region by Forbes magazine for the year 2016, 2017, 2019, 2020, 2021 and among the Middle East's most influential woman 2018 (Forbes magazine). She drives her company to be one of the best insurance companies in the Market with a solid performance to serve their clients as well as making Service are important value in their culture.
Jarrar is a member of the board of directors of the Jordan Insurance Federation and a member of the women international forum Jordan (IWF), in addition to being a member of the technical committee to facilitate trade and transport in the Ministry of Transport.
She is also a certified lecturer with many banks, universities, and the Jordan Insurance Federation.
NIC is one of the first established insurance companies in Jordan. Its main goal is to provide distinctive insurance services and products to satisfy the needs of its clients. Since its founding in 1965, NIC has committed all of its resources to effectively serving the insurance interests of Jordan's public and private sectors. The NIC was able to achieve a high level of customer satisfaction thanks to the dedicated and prompt services provided.
NIC has a 58-year track record of success and has managed to win the support of the Jordanian people thanks to its integrity, loyalty, and high-quality services, which are supported by a strong partnership with the biggest reinsurance companies in the world.
The company owns the largest and most important computer system in the Jordanian insurance sector, where the insured can fill out the insurance application online Issuing insurance policies, electronic accident reports, and e-payments, we are always up to date with what is new in the world of technology.
NIC has one subsidiary company called NAI Real-Estate Company Ltd., which was established with a full-time paid In the capital of JD60K during the year 2008, the subsidiary is fully owned by the insurance company and it started its operation during the year 2020 in a small volume due to the slow-down market position according to COVID-19 impact and the political conditions around, However, during 2021 NIA achieved a profit of JOD 93K.
NIC is commi ed to rising to the top among regional life and non-life insurance providers with the highest levels of customer u lity.
NIC is committed to rising to the top among regional life and non-life insurance providers with the highest levels of customer utility. Through alliances with the most reliable international reinsurance partners, it sees itself as one of the first insurance providers.
The company's mission is to become the most prosperous insurance company in Jordan by providing individualized insurance and risk management solutions, as well as a welcoming work environment and the perfect balance of professional and personal growth.
The National Insurance Company is listed on Amman Stock Exchange. Since 2012, Jarrar has been developing business policies and the company's resources at the National Insurance Companies. She helped the company raise its financial strength rating from a B- to a B from the US credit rating agency AM Best. In the first nine
months of 2020, the company reported total revenues of $15.5 million, gross written premiums of $19 million, and total assets of $38.8 million.
Jarrar is closely collaborating with executive management at NIC to develop insurance policies and strategies, as well as the company's resources and capabilities, while keeping track of the major clients' policies and claims. The following are the Jarrar's role responsibilities that go beyond the company's primary services to stakeholder management:
•Ensuring the implementation of executive management strategies at all company levels, including the branches and representatives.
•Follow up on important correspondences with all shareholders.
•Budget preparation in relation to insurance, claims, and managerial expenses. Variance monitoring, cause analysis, and related costcutting in relation to overruns in the budget.
•Direct supervision of both the Sales and Marketing departments and continuous follow-up on the implementation of company policies and plans.
•Close coordination with subordinates is necessary to ensure quality outputs within the objectives of the company.
•Developing and continuing the improvement of the processes and procedures in line with the company strategy.
•Discussing all reports received and providing recommendations to executive management in relation.
•Direct coordination and seamless participation with the financial department in revenue collection and credit provision to the best customers.
•Ensuring that financials are in line with instructions from the financial department and board of directors, maintaining contacts with existing customers and potential customers.
She drives her company to be one of the best insurance companies in the Market with a solid performance to serve their clients as well as making Service are important value in their culture.
Jarrar’s story began as that of a fresh graduate who had no prac cal life experience.
•Providing feedback and commercially important information and research to the customers and marketing department.
•Working closely with the marketing department in developing company capabilities and value-for-money services.
•Participation in and leadership of meetings with other employees and departments as needed.
•Professionally representing the company in front of any stakeholder, including customers, community representatives, government institutions, etc.
•Approving raises, promotions, and layoffs in accordance with company procedures and in coordination with other departments.
•Competitors monitoring and analysis and identifying company weaknesses and strengths.
•Performance appraisal of other managers and employees of the department.
"Everyone in life has a challenge, but as females, we have bigger challenges, and we have to face these challenges in different ways," Jarrar says.
She adds that first, one must define his or her goals and then determine the mechanism to reach them while maintaining their priorities; this is the beginning of success.
Jarrar’s story began as that of a fresh graduate who had no practical life experience. She read an advertisement in the daily newspaper that an insurance company was holding a training course in sales and marketing. She joined this course, and after that, she was appointed to this company.
As a sales employee with a very low salary and commission, although this was not Jarrar’s dream job, she loved it. She shares, "I started to learn new things every single day and reading every little information I can get in the insurance Field." Meanwhile, Jarrar applied to obtain several professional certificates in the insurance sector which were equivalent to higher university degrees. In a sector exclusive for that at the time men, it was not easy for her as a woman to prove herself and to entire it and stands out. She recalls, "I drove my company to be one of the best insurance companies in the market with a solid performance.”
Jarrar one of the hundred most powerful Arab women (MENA) region by Forbes magazine for the years (2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, and 2021). As a result of her hard work and experience in this field, Jarrar was awarded an honorary doctorate from the academic council of the commonwealth university in business administration in 2018.
Jarrar thinks the biggest challenge is that most people still live with the mentality that certain businesses or tasks are better handled by men; actually, she believed in this quote: "The best man for the job is a woman." She also considers that in balancing business and family, women are expected to be the backbone of the family and need to find a way to manage that as well as their involvement in the business. Jarrar’s advice to women is to "Believe in yourself; if you don’t, nobody will. If you act on your beliefs, people will treat you based on what you think about yourself; it is you who define the meaning of success. If you work harder and smarter, you will win (dreams come true), and the sky is the limit.”
I“Challenging the Status Quo and Blazing a Trail in the UAE.”
It all started with a spark of curiosity and a deep
longing for freedom—a desire to go beyond the boundaries of the mundane. For one woman, this curiosity and longing led her to achieve something extraordinary.
Meet Amina Chokaeva, the CEO of 2050 Marketing and PR and Co-founder of the unique project for female travelers, “Females Freedom.”
Amina was in Paris when she noticed how quickly brands were expanding on social media. She then embarked on content creation positions after relocating to Dubai, but this wasn’t enough for her. Amina continuously had fresh business ideas; therefore, she refused to be constrained, which is how 2050 Marketing and PR came into existence.
It was this initiative that sparked Amina’s journey to success. After the success of 2050 Marketing and PR, she Co-founded “Females Freedom,” which was focused on women. A zealous dream to create a unique kind of travel experience that would give women a sense of empowerment and freedom.
Amina has made her dream come true with her traveling project, which is unlike anything else out there. With this idiosyncratic project, she created an environment where women could let go of their worries and inhabitations and just be themselves. By immersing themselves in the natural beauty of their destinations, they can enjoy special moments of unity with nature and fill up with feminine energy and power.
Amina’s story is one of courage and determination, and it’s an inspiration to all of us. It’s a story of hard work, dedication, and passion for her work that has led her to where she is today. She is an encouraging woman who has shown that anything is possible and that with determination and drive, you can move mountains.
Our crea ve thinking, cu ng-edge digital strategies, and in-depth research of media guide us to create communica on that drives innova on, builds brand equity, and empowers business.
General Manager 2050 Marke ng and PR and Females Freedom Project
Read on to find out how Amina’s passion and curiosity have helped her create unique and life-changing initiatives, and join us as we explore the inspiring story of the woman behind it all and the impact of her work on society:
Amina, kindly brief us about yourself and your professional journey so far. What was your inspiration for stepping into the marketing sector?
Hello! My name is Amina; I’m the CEO of the 2050 Marketing and PR agency and Co-founder of a unique project for female travelers called “Females Freedom.” I started my journey in business a long time ago. I graduated from the Academy of Law and got my Master’s degree diploma when I was only 19. At the age of 23, I launched my first trading company. I saw how quickly brands grew on social media while living and working in Paris.
After moving to Dubai, I worked for different companies as a content creator, but that was not enough for me; I felt I could do much more. New brand ideas were constantly flooding my mind, and I didn’t want to limit myself to just those. When the time came, I studied a lot about digital marketing, and I still do that continuously because, in the digital marketing business, you have to follow the trends all the time.
Tell us about 2050 Marketing and PR, including its mission and vision. What is your role in its development and global outreach?
Marketing plays a vital role in promoting the business and mission of any company. It is the face of the organization, the main element that helps to make the company recognizable. It is the 2050 marketing and PR agency’s mission to reach out to prospects, customers, investors, and the community while creating an overarching image that represents the company in the best possible light. 2050 is the next generation. We focus on tomorrow and our customers’ goals.
Please enlighten us about your approaches toward your work and facilitating management within the organizations
Please highlight 2050 marketing and public relations and its key features. What services enable you to open doors for opportunities?
We have a highly professional team with experience in different parts of the world. Each of us knows how to reach success for businesses in digital marketing, but together, our creative thinking, cutting-edge digital strategies, indepth research, and a greater understanding of media guide us to create communication that drives innovation, builds brand equity, and empowers business.
Shed light on your experiences whilst working in the marketing industry in your journey.
In 2013, I started to work on digital marketing for a concierge company for personal shopping in Paris. After moving to Dubai, I worked with startup companies and fashion brands. That’s how I got an opportunity to start a 2050 marketing and PR agency.
According to you, how do you support social media management while also venturing into application development?
To reach the audience of users of the application, any business has to work on digital marketing and social media. It’s always been that way.
Tell us about the challenges you have faced and how they have shaped you as a business leader.
Digital marketing is still something new for some business owners, especially those of the older generation who built businesses before Instagram’s creation. It’s difficult to explain to them how important it is today and how it helps them stay competitive. The solution is to demonstrate that your customers are pleased with the results of their collaboration with you.
Where do you envision yourself and your company’s global outreach in the upcoming years?
One of the main goals for the 2050 Marketing & PR Agency is to be one of the most successful marketing agencies in the UAE, and now that we have customers around the world, we have all the possibilities of being called an International Company.
Please share with us the idea about your project, Females Freedom.
This unique traveling project is only for females, which gives you feelings of freedom and unity with nature and fills you up with feminine energy and power. It was created by me and my partner, Yana Trofimchuk.
Yana has more than 7 years of experience in travel and event organization.
On one of the yacht trips where I was invited by her to Sicily, I realized that if there were no men on this yacht, I’d be able to take my hijab off and swim because there are a lot of spots where you can be in very private areas like bays. That’s how this idea occurred in my mind. As of now, we have made a successful yachting trip in Turkey, where we had a crew consisting of only women, and we spent 7 days going around different islands and marinas. The second one was a trip to Bali this February in private villas with all female staff, massage therapists, a spa, swimming pools, and photo shoots in beautiful places.
This project is very unique because no one on the market gives ladies the privacy to “Be hidden from male eyes” as we do. It’s something very needed in Muslim society. It is something that can change the whole perspective of true relaxation for Muslim ladies.
Amina’s story is a testament to the power of determination and ambition. She has pushed boundaries and challenged the status quo, blazing a trail for other women in the world. Amina is a true example of what it means to lead with courage and conviction.
Middle Eastern nations' political and social landscapes, as well as their international and domestic relations, have undergone significant shifts over the past decade. The Arab Spring, or the 2011 popular uprisings, significantly impacted parts of the region, resulting in civil wars in some countries and the establishment of oppressive regimes in others.
The Middle East is still under pressure from economic instability, shifting demographics, and widespread dissatisfaction with political leadership. New alliances and rivalries and shifting relations with vital international performers like the United Kingdom have also altered the region's geopolitics.
The difficulties the Middle East faces are well-known: The conflict that needs to be resolved in Libya, Syria, and Yemen, recurrent outbreaks of violence between Israel and the Palestinians, and rising tensions regarding Iran's activities causing instability in the region.
In every one of the nations of the Center East, there is a need to safeguard and propel common liberties and opportunity of articulation, to handle defilement, and to face the drivers of fanaticism.
Let's look at the changing global leadership landscape and learn more about it:
The perception that the Middle East is stale and traditional, with little interest in the creative industries, is incorrect today. These transformational agendas are gaining support from the people. According to our poll results, Westerners are more likely to associate the region with terrorism, violence, and conflict than with creativity and cultural expression.
Regional initiatives prioritize arts and culture as part of more extensive plans for economic diversification, in contrast to the repressive policies implemented by politicized religious movements.
Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the ruler of Dubai, has stated: The identity of our generations is represented by our culture. Love, tolerance, and openness to other cultures are all part of our Emirati culture. The UAE's drive towards initiative representing things to come won't be acknowledged except if we improve our social legacy.
His words show a modernization effort linked to the region's redefinition of its culture. This effort is a symbol of the Middle East that is confident, inclusive, and independent.
The modernization agendas center on creating jobs for the world's youngest population by region and the diversification of the Middle East's previously resourcedependent economies and employment sectors that weed by the civil service. In every country surveyed in the region, people's primary concern is creating more jobs, including in Saudi Arabia, where this concern is at least twice as important as any other.
Despite this, the speed increase of imaginative development areas isn't recognized past the district and not in the West, where just 12% of those surveyed view the Center East as a significant wellspring of development.
Individuals of the Center East are all together behind their legislatures' endeavors to release business venture and development, and they see science, innovation, and advancement as areas in which youngsters ought to try to
work, this figure remaining at 69% on average contrasted with just 9% for the standard help.
People in the region, including 94% of Tunisians, 85% of Saudis, 78% of Egyptians and Iraqis, and 74% of Lebanese, support young people in learning technological skills regarding education and preparing for jobs in the future.
The Arab Youth Survey found that 43% of respondents plan to start their own business within the next five years, up from 29% in 2018. This indicates that more young people in the region want to be entrepreneurs.
There is a lot of interest in entrepreneurship in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. Last year, 97% of Saudis, 78% of Omanis, and 74% of Emiratis said that "Entrepreneurship is considered a good career choice." Because of this, dissent has had to take many forms across the Middle East, with demonstrations, performances, and art used to express a new generation's identities and desires.
Young people occupying protest squares have immersed themselves in art and literature to express and formulate a rising sense of a multi-ethnic, inclusive nationalism geared toward sovereignty and independence. Protests in Iraq, Lebanon, and Palestine have brought young Middle Eastern artists into the international spotlight.
To close,
With numerous nations in the Center East being praised for their reaction to the pandemic, the district is proceeding to stand up to the discernment that it's anything but a wellspring of administration on worldwide difficulties by facilitating consecutive COP culminations to handle environmental change.
They are also committing to some of the most ambitious goals in the world, investing heavily in renewable energy, and working together to tackle the problem of climate change, which has no borders. The following two years will be crucial to addressing the climate crisis as the Middle East gathers the world.
- Shreyasi Shelke
Meet Andrew Stotter Brooks, the Vice President of Learning and Development for Etihad Airways, an international airline based in Abu-Dhabi, providing service to hundreds of destinations in 74 countries. As the Vice President of Learning and Development, Etihad Aviation Group, Andrew leads the creation of innovative, leading-edge learning solutions to support the development, growth and performance of Etihad's incredible employees.
Andrew started his career in a small hotel in Dorset and learned the Art of Service in a variety of hotels on the south coast of England. In 1985 he joined Berni Inns, where he was tasked with the daily operational running of restaurants and Public Houses with Grand metropolitan in London. In 1987, he moved to Bass Hotels as an Operations Director and handled the daily operation of three small Hotels on the Southeast coast of the UK in 1992, Andrew joined the London YMCA as Hostel Manager, where he ran a multiunit operation with over 200 bedrooms, restaurants, a children's activity center, and a gym with a large afterschool service and outreach programs for the broader community around London. In September 1995, Andrew joined TGI Fridays in Leicester Square, Central London.
Six months into his role and with growing numbers of coronavirus cases and travel bans around the globe, Andrew formed an online community to share knowledge and daily updates that connected teams around his network to keep communica on human.
Andrew Sto er Brooks Vice President Learning and Development
In 1998, he joined Pinnacle Health Clubs now Nuffield Health as a Training/Recruitment Manager, responsible for the training department's conception, creation and leadership development strategies. In 2003, Andrew joined Hilton Hotels Corporation and looked after the development of 16,000 team members across the 8 Hilton Brands in the UK and Ireland with a primary focus on Performance Management, Guest Service and Leadership Development. After serving Hilton for more than seven years, Andrew joined Carnival Australia, where he worked in partnership with the Regional HR Directors and the People and the Performance teams to provide specialist training and development advice and support to the South Pacific fleet. In 2011, Andrew joined Kout Food Group and it’s family of brands including Pizza Hut and Burger King in Kuwait in 2011 as Head of Learning and Development then in 2013 joined M.H. Alshaya Co. as Head of Learning and Development, where he was responsible for providing field education and development to thousands of leaders and team Members across the MENA region — supporting
and developing learning and human capital for over 90 world class retail and restaurant brands, including Starbucks, the Body Shop, Harvey Nichols, H&M, Muji, the Cheesecake Factory, PF Changs and Foot Locker in 19 Countries, ultimately joining Etihad Aviation Group as Vice President Learning and Development in August 2019.
Six months into his role and with growing numbers of coronavirus cases and travel bans around the globe, Andrew formed an online community to share knowledge and daily updates that connected teams around his network to keep communication human. Thousands of employees joined to listen to and enjoy, regular updates from fascinating people and famous guests. Daily video recordings of conversations quickly morphed into a weekly podcast.
"We've competed 135 episodes of the World Class Wednesday Webinar (WCWW); it's been a fascinating and insightful journey. We ' ve had an amazing time thanks to all of the incredible and brilliant guests that have joined us. "- he explained.
"It's difficult to avoid hard work. But aspiring leaders should also think about their legacy and the value they add to the people they lead. Never underestimate the importance of understanding what the person in front of you needs, keep it human. People don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care. People will never forget how you make them feel. All humans need four things from each other. Respect, Acknowledgment, to be Heard and ultimately Remembered.
"Never underestimate the power of strong eye contact and a smile. Two, focus on a genuine, warm welcome. Three, a friendly offer of assistance, How can I help you today? What do you need from me? Four, follow up with additional offers of help and a personal introduction, for example ‘my name is Andrew if you ever need anything from me just ask! Finally offer a fond and sincere farewell.
Andrew Stotter Brooks, Vice President of Learning and Development
Change is constant. If you are not open to change, you will never be able to embrace the world around you, and life will pass you by. Sometimes this means making bold choices, and sometimes it means taking small steps toward your goals. It’s all about finding the right balance between being comfortable with who you are and finding ways to grow and improve yourself.
Rajaa Moumena , a true pioneer, the founder and president of the Future Institute of Higher Education and Training , is driven by her unwavering belief in progress and opportunity for everyone. Through her vision, she founded the Future Institute of Higher Education and Training in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia - a pioneering training center for women at a time when technology and women’s roles were rapidly evolving.
Today, the Future Institute is a powerful testament to Rajaa Moumena’s commitment to creating opportunities, driving positive change and offering technical education and training courses to people across the globe. The success of the institute is a direct result of her dedication to empowering women and providing them with the tools and resources they need to make a lasting impact on their future.
Rajaa Moumena is a trailblazer in the field of education and research. With her innovative vision for ramping up the Future Institute , she has ushered in a new era of progress and opportunity. As we embark on this groundbreaking journey with her, let us embrace the constant change that it brings and the limitless opportunities that come with it. Together, we can make a real difference in the lives of those we serve and bring about a brighter, more prosperous future for all.
Remember, with change comes constant, and with constant comes opportunity Let us go through the groundbreaking journey of Rajaa Moumena and her vision for upscaling the Future Institute.
Rajaa Moumena has had a passion for teaching since her early days as a lab technician at King Abdel Aziz University Hospital in Jeddah. After she majored in Microbiology at Manchester University in England, she returned to Saudi Arabia and started work as a Lab Technician in the Microbiology department in 1986. She worked as a senior clinical instructor and researcher in 1989 and, in 1995, was appointed Deputy Director of the Microbiology lab.
Realizing her passion for training, Rajaa left her job at the university and started her own business in 1991, founding the Future Institute of Higher Education and Training (originally named the Future Centre). Later, she started working on a manual written in simple language for technicians to understand, and with that, Rajaa Moumena set out to create an institute dedicated to providing the highest quality education and training possible, thus beginning her journey as an Entrepreneur and Educator. Vision: Driven by Strong Belief in Change
Rajaa Moumena began the Future Center for Women with a mission to empower Saudi women through education.
All Future Institute trainers and staff members are motivated educators, driven by seeing their students’ success in the marketplace.
CV Magazine Private Educa on and Development Awards
Middle East “Best Female Higher Educa on Facilitators 2019”
AI Publishing MEA Business Awards (MEA Markets 2021)
“Excellence in Educa on and Training Western Saudi Arabia”
Pearson Assured Programmes “Centre Approval Cer ficate”
Rajaa Moumena says, “ I was driven by a strong belief in change, noticing the advancement of technology in the world around me, as well as seeing strong women in a large variety of roles in KSA; though they were counted, I knew that this was the future of KSA, and I took a commitment within myself to be part of this change. ” In 2004, under Royal Decree from King Abdullah, this change came.
Since the Future Institute opened its doors, they have been at the forefront of changing perceptions about Saudi women and the kind of work they can do. The Future Center started out offering English language courses in Microsoft Office for women. The boom of personal computers gave ladies a chance to be part of the digital transformation unfolding in the world.
The Institute is regarded as a pioneer in KSA’s higher education sector and offers young women the chance to develop themselves and take control of their future.
While talking about the quality of education, Rajaa says, “ I have established links with distinguished colleges in the UK (Inchbald, Mercator, Bournemouth, and Poole, Pearson) to have both international and local certificates. ” Rajaa thinks of ways she can provide her students with top-quality education, experience and exposure in their fields.
The students can study for two years in the Future Institute to earn a diploma, then transfer to universities that are accredited by the Future Institute to complete one or two years for a BA degree Heriot-Watt University – Dubai,
Jeddah International College, and the University of Business and Technology in KSA.
Their core programs currently comprise fashion design, jewelry design, interior design, photography, graphic design, English language, management, and marketing.
The Future Institute began offering courses in fashion design in 2002. Earlier, they were the first fashion design school in the country. The courses were taught by highly specialized trainers and varied from the design of simple garments to finely embroidered ‘ Haute Couture. ’
Another popular program they offer is Jewelry Design. This is a one-year program. They have their own fully equipped workshop, which is one-of-a-kind for women in Saudi Arabia. The students are guided through every stage of the design and manufacturing processes to translate their ideas into workable, wearable designs, which are evaluated according to standard criteria based on creativity, originality and execution.
Future Institute’s three-year diploma in Architectural Interior Design equips students to work with software programmers such as CAD, Autodesk 3D Max, Sketch, and Autodesk AutoCAD and to explore the entire creative process of interior design, from the choice of materials and furnishings through to technology and even retailing.
Over its 30-year history, the Future Institute has become so much more than an education facility, developing into a vital tool for helping women enter a wide range of the country’s workforce.
It pioneered courses for women in a range of areas, recognizing and forecasting areas in which women would soon be permitted to work. This foresight has enabled the Future Institute to grow into the market leader in educating women.
Seeking to offer clients quality support, Future Center became the Future Institute of Higher Education and Training, offering higher diplomas for both genders. Then they achieved “ Pearson Assured Accreditation” because they believed in quality by ensuring that candidates were achieving the best possible education through its internationally recognized courses. It is these standards that have made the Future Institute one of the leading educational facilities in Saudi Arabia.
All Future Institute trainers and staff members are motivated educators, driven by seeing their students’ success in the marketplace.
They create memorable courses that combine theory with practice, giving a mix of knowledge and skill that is significant for employment.
Over the coming years, the Future Institute will remain committed to supporting women and driving them to excellence through its provision of specialized training.
Witnessing the market compromise on quality, Rajaa said, “ We live in a world of instant gratification. Customers demand results faster than ever these days, and the businesses that learn to keep up are the ones that will continue to grow.” It will be critical for leaders to ensure that “Picking up the pace” does not result in a drop in quality. Businesses should adopt new strategies, tools, and services that streamline operations to reduce the burden on their staff and empower them in order to achieve a balance of speed and quality.
Furthermore, we should embrace continuing education as a means of nurturing the minds of both employees and fulltime students, as well as assisting current employees in developing for possible future promotions. Businesses can remain competitive while maintaining quality in this manner.
“During the journey, I encountered three major challenges that were hard on the continuity of the Future Institute: the first was when I had to close down because I was offering courses that were not yet allowed to be validated by the Ministry of Education in 1997,” Rajaa said.
The second was in 2003 when the business was not doing well. Many institutes opened and jumped into the training sector, which was a winner, and our institute shrank.
Third, when COVID-19 struck the whole world, and we knew nothing about online training and how to continue online when physical training was impossible - Rajaa exclaimed.
Rajaa Moumena found the first challenge hard as she had to convince her senior officials in the Ministry of Education of her vision. She believed women would take part in many jobs from 2000 on. The jobs were limited to teachers, doctors, and business owners, who were not allowed to even attend in their offices. She was convinced that women would soon be in a variety of other jobs and businesses.
It did happen in 2004. Women were eventually seen in business and jobs such as marketing and sales, nursing, fashion design, and architecture in the country.
She wanted to offer training in all these domains, but she was not allowed to do so in 1993. She took the challenge and was ready to face it.
In 2003, the business wasn’t doing well. The location they were in wasn’t good anymore, and the candidates stopped wanting to join. Many other attractive programmes were available, and this entitled her to invest more money. She had to leave the premises. However, she did not have the finances to support that move. So, she decided to get a loan. She did, and she chose a great location that will fulfill not only the training but will help achieve social accomplishments as well. It was on a campus of 1000 sq. m. That venue was a huge success until 2014 when they realized they needed to be more advanced and ahead of the big change coming to KSA. She decided to have a business partner who can support her plans and is also a believer in her passion. And it was her friend and a great supporter of training and education, Mrs. Nashwa Taher, a Saudi businesswoman with a leading position in the business community.
In 2019, COVID-19 struck the world, and in March 2020, KSA stopped all forms of physical education and moved everything online. This was their most difficult challenge because they had never studied or attempted any form of online education.
Again, she had to be quick and ready to face the change. She located a good trainer to teach them all how to use Zoom for educational purposes, and in five days, they were ready to go live. They then delivered to each trainer all of her tools, including tables and chairs, to allow them to teach comfortably from home. Currently, Future Institute offers all its programmes online. It was worth the challenge.
Highlighting the importance of having competitive and innovative ideas for training in today’s market, Rajaa says, “Training, in particular, is a very tricky business in today’s world.” With the Internet being open to the whole world, don’t think of jumping in unless you have very unique and competitive ideas that can distinguish you. Also, they must be prepared to change their strategy at any time in order to adapt to changing circumstances.
After a long journey of training, her current vision for the future is to serve firms and equip the new generation with the necessary skills to maintain their jobs and ensure companies with a long employee retention rate and better achievements. By doing this, she aims to help companies build a strong foundation for success and create a more secure future for their employees.
Pioneers are responsible for gathering groups and
leading them to ideal execution results. An effective leader understands how to make the most of people's differences and embraces them to achieve the best results for the team.
It creates an atmosphere at work that encourages initiative, innovation, and continuous improvement. Leaders must encourage team members to adopt an innovation mindset in which employees learn to use their strengths for the company's success.
Innovation occurs when a group of people has a pulse on the market and what it is telling them to do. Although many people and businesses will claim to be aware of the innovations that are taking place in markets worldwide, few will take the necessary steps or invest in the right people and resources to fully realize innovative concepts.
Innovation necessitates a particular kind of person: They are ardent explorers who are looking for unending possibilities. These explorers have the bravery to take that risk and stick with it until the end.
Let's look at some of the tactics that encourage innovation:
Innovation necessitates rewriting conventional wisdom. Because of this, each team member needs to become more open than ever.
As a result, each team member must have sufficient selfconfidence to trust others. When you can establish this trust, you improve your patience, your ability to listen, and, over time, your appreciation for the new relationships and experiences being formed.
Then, step back and perceive that your capacity to coincide with individuals in manners that structure a family bond with the commitment of another working environment culture can be understood.
Real collaboration can't take root until you trust yourself and others. Collaboration involves more than just close collaboration; it also involves taking risks with one another to discover novel ways of thinking and produce better outcomes.
You never know which concept will develop into an innovation that impacts the market—whether it be a new method, product, packaging, piece of information, etc.
Without good communication, teams won't be able to find their rhythm and won't be able to find the things they need to build trust and work together. - Influences thinking in a variety of ways that result in novel innovations.
A team should think of itself as an innovation lab, constantly push people to learn from each other's ideas and ideals, and plant the seeds for future innovations.
For teams to innovate, leaders need to push each team member to think more critically and view the world through continuous improvement. Glancing through this focal point requires the mentality of a "Fearless Empowering Agent," who assumes responsibility and embraces the job of a
change specialist on the side of productive interruption that ultimately causes things to work better and further develops execution.
Each pioneer should turn into a change specialist or face termination. As a result, their teams must be equally responsible for doing so.
Tolerating the job of a change specialist implies taking on an enterprising disposition, embracing risk as the new typical, and starting to see an open door in all things. Innovation becomes second nature as you do. Leaders frequently need to make course corrections to find an excellent team of people.
While course correction brings you closer to the culture's promise, an attempt to create perfection is utopia. Course rectification additionally keeps individuals honest and trains them to adjust to new conditions, where they can grandstand their capacities and ranges of abilities to unique individuals and characters in various circumstances and needs.
While the business world is always looking for the next big thing, leaders need to remember that being innovative is more important than being creative and being creative means coming up with something new that hasn't been done before.
Innovation is creating something brand-new that represents a widespread adaptation or application. Steve Jobs famously stated, "Innovation is the difference between a leader and a follower." Jobs taught us all that good innovation has the power to transform a workplace, an industry, a nation, and the world.
To finish up,
Advancement administration guarantees that development is joined by the progress of the organization. It celebrates an employee's creativity, boosts an organization's competence, and encourages departments of all levels of expertise to work together. As a result, both the teams and the innovators themselves must be commended and honored.
- Shreyasi Shelke
“Everyone wants change, but they are unsure of how to make it happen.”
IIt is no longer sufficient to concentrate on a single
subject or set of subjects in an ever-changing world. To stay ahead, you must learn how to acquire new skills and knowledge on a regular basis. That is why, right now, the most important skill to master is how to learn. Learning to adapt and pick up new skills will prepare you for anything the future holds.
Tahani Al Terri, Happiness Makers of ADAMAS Event Organizing and Managing, had a deep-rooted passion for training and bringing positive change in society with an aim to bring like-minded people together from different nations.
Tahani was no stranger to the world of change and progress. She had been at the forefront of the fight for progress since she was a young girl. She had always been determined to bring about change for the greater good.
Once, as she was organizing an event for a group of people who shared her passion for change, she realized that everyone wanted to change, but they were unsure of how to make it happen. She wanted to help them understand the importance of learning new skills and to provide them with the necessary tools to make it happen.
She was inspired to organize a series of seminars, workshops and activities to bring people together to discuss their ideas and develop action plans to create change. She founded ADAMAS, the training and coaching to host these events. Here, people could discuss their ideas, develop their skills and make real progress.
The seminars and workshops were a massive success. People from all walks of life, from different nationalities and cultures, joined together to talk about how to bring about change. They shared their experiences, stories and ideas to create a powerful vision for the future.
Her seminars and workshops gave people the tools and knowledge they needed to make change happen. People learned how to develop their skills, how to use different resources, and how to work together to create a better future.
Tahani’s work has since been recognized in the international community. She continues to work hard to help others learn how to bring positive change to their lives and the lives of those around them. She has inspired many to take action and make a difference.
As Tahani’s story shows, everyone wants change, but they are unsure of how to make it happen. Learning to adapt and develop new skills is the key to success in an ever-changing world. Tahani’s story is an inspiration to us all - to take action, develop our skills, and create positive change.
In describing her career path, Tahani said, “I chose to leave my government position to devote myself to my dream and passion of training and bring about positive change in the people around me.” This led her to specialize in the field of international training and consulting, where she worked with many government agencies and private businesses and trained thousands of people. I have gone through a variety of changes, but the most significant one was watching someone grow into their best selves, she stated.
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Simply, everyone can succeed one day, but what is more difficult than success, in reality, is maintaining the same success con nuously.
The 10 Most Inspiring Leaders To Watch In Middle East 2023
She is passionate about training, consulting, and life coaching, and it is a goal that she has worked tirelessly to realize, enhance and develop for the better. To that end, she has obtained numerous international and local memberships, taken part in several conferences, events, seminars and training programs, and traveled to various nations to share her message and assist others in embracing change and overcoming new challenges in life.
She also wanted to use this trip to begin planning conferences, large-scale events and other activities to recognize those who had achieved various feats, with a particular emphasis on women worldwide. She started planning festivities on the internet while the Corona was going on before moving to reality. She expresses gratitude to God for assisting her in planning numerous significant conferences that highlight the accomplishments and inventions of women.
Tahani believes events of all kinds are a wonderful opportunity for a large gathering of stakeholders and opening a network of strong and different relationships between the participants, sponsors and speakers of all ages and functional roles in life. In addition to making great achievements in bringing together the largest possible number of people with one specialization in the same event, this is what makes her an asset in forming new relationships and successful partnerships with specialists in this field.
She firmly holds that “Organising huge events, conferences, and events is what contributes to life” and makes it more magnificent by bringing together all interested parties, specialists and participants from other nations. And through her presence in the United Arab Emirates, which is regarded as the incubator for all creative and successful people in various fields, and from Dubai , the Adamas company for organizing and managing events was launched to reserve a special place for it among the successful creatives aspiring to reach number one in accordance with the vision and goals of their wise leadership, of which they are proud, and its vision to enable business owners to achieve their achievements locally.
Adamas Company for Events Organizing & Managing was established in the United Arab Emirates, more especially in Dubai, which is regarded as the hub of business because it serves as the entrance to chances for all investors and business owners. They want ADAMAS to change the way that major events are organized by offering quality, excellence and innovation in presenting and putting into practice modern ideas that are in line with the needs of the contemporary era, as well as openness. They want ADAMAS to be the bridge between Dubai and the rest of the other countries that wish to be present and work in Dubai by managing external international events and conferences with professional and qualified staff for that.
Additionally, they aim to refine their concepts and broaden their network of contacts, success partners and strategic partners, with whom they hope to establish a long-lasting partnership through their subsequent venture.
In the vast competitive market, keeping yourself above the competition is extremely important because businesses alter
their marketing techniques as they battle to grow revenue and attract new clients. More customers translate into a larger market share, and more sales translate into more profits. So, it’s crucial to keep your competitive edge.
Let us see how ADAMAS has kept itself above the competition. In the beginning, Tahani worked independently until she was able to reach good clients and a wide network of relationships, and excellent works of quality, creativity, distinction and innovation in ideas and implementation, and she became more experienced in this field. Later, she decided to expand the business by establishing the Adamas company for organizing and managing events, in which all work related to events, conferences, training programs and medical tourism is carried out through signing several partnerships with relevant institutions and agencies to provide greater services to clients.
Embracing technology, Tahani said, “As a matter of fact, technology has become an essential component of our business, enabling us to reach all clients, whether they are local or abroad, in a wider and faster manner while also making it simpler and faster to access them.”
Through technology, they can also keep up with the most recent advancements in their fields of study and employment, as well as learn how to grow. Openness is also important in how clients choose the business that provides the best and highest quality services, and their services and goods are better to gain a better evaluation and more confidence among their customers.
We frequently believe that we will eventually reach a point in our life where we are free of challenges, yet we face obstacles at every stage of our lives, endeavors, careers and relationships—both those we anticipate and those we don’t. There will be difficulties as long as we are moving upward.
Speaking on the difficulties she had in life, she remarked, “There are many difficulties, hurdles, and problems that are always renewed, but with experience in the workplace and coping with many of them, there are different solutions that may be applied.”
In addition, the method of dealing with changes with time and as one gain more experience, and in terms of how quality can be maintained in work, there will be many sacrifices made to reach the highest peak of success after toil, effort and continuous work, and reliable clients.
“Simply, everyone can succeed one day, but what is more difficult than success, in reality, is maintaining the same success continuously.” - Tahani.
We see many who can succeed, but after some time, we do not see them present in the field of business because they could not maintain their success well. They also mentioned that problems and challenges remain continuous, so a person must always be sufficiently prepared to face crises or problems that may occur from time to time and not rush to reap the results of his actions, not give up easily, and not lose hope, desire, passion or enthusiasm in carrying out actions just because he failed in them. Once or more, you must try continuously to succeed and continue to succeed with love and hope.
“I aspire to reach the world with my expertise, the quality of my work, and my renewable innovative ideas to provide services to customers in a constantly renewed manner.”
He hopes to leave a lasting impression on the business world, events and conferences in particular by highlighting the most significant figures in the Arab world so that their illustrious works, minds and ideas can be shared with the rest of the world. This is in addition to promoting the idea of innovative modern business in accordance with the great openness in which we currently find ourselves.
When asked about the accolades and recognitions, she replied, “Of course, I endeavor to leave an enduring stamp in this field with superior thoughts and several other things. For the works I present, Sheikha Lubna Al Qasimi awarded me the title of “Best businesswoman among the 50 women.” I have also received numerous societal honors and titles over the years, and I am proud of all of them.” She still has a lot to give and receive through her profession and to the world, we may one day encounter.
