THE EXECUTIVE SUMMARY [REALLY]
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A healthy entrepreneurial ecosystem requires that society as a whole promotes bravery and even an adventurous type of mindset in business
Sami Al Mufleh, CEO, Hills Advertising, with HRH Princess Dina Mired, Director General, King Hussein Cancer Foundation
“With the oil-based step-change transformations of the Middle East’s economies and associated changes in lifestyles, individuals’ once-natural appetite for risk-taking (such as seafaring and desert caravans) and spotting of opportunities appears to have faded in line with expanding oil production.” Dr. Kieran Mervyn Professor, University of Roehampton
“The notion of entrepreneurial cognition considers how we develop the skills of these leaders and whether we can actually teach the skill of spotting opportunities and understanding the innovation pipeline from end to end. In contrast to areas such as Silicon Valley, where risk is applauded and failure is celebrated as learning, the Middle East approaches business development with much more caution. When we are considering what makes a great entrepreneur, it’s best to look at the roles innovation and leadership play. Certain personality characteristics are commonly associated with the entrepreneur: perseverance, resilience, patience, curiosity and a craving for knowledge. There’s a host of literature around this subject matter and, in the context of a successful entrepreneur, creativity and being an innate risk-taker are often core traits. It is the very spotting of opportunities (and the ability to structure their exploitation effectively and efficiently) that sets entrepreneurs apart.”
Rasool Hujair, CEO, Majid Al Futtaim Finance
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Think mobile first for your enterprise’s online presence, and allocate your resources accordingly
Rasool Hujair CEO, Majid Al Futtaim Finance
“We live in a different environment [now], where mobile is becoming dominant. It’s really personal and it’s so powerful that it has the potential to change a lot of our habits and enhance a lot of our experiences.”
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Think on national opportunities, and how your enterprise can capitalize on your country’s direction and market demand
“When you have such a big mechanism operating by your side as one nation filled with intelligence, ethics and mutual respect, as an entrepreneur, faith gives you the power and strength to go big -beyond and above your opportunitiesand this is when innovation and creativity really kick in.”
Sami Al Mufleh Founder and CEO, Hills Advertising “I am originally Jordanian, but I have always felt that it was a smart move to set up my professional career in Dubai over 20 years ago. Back then, Dubai was only a project in the making and professionals didn’t want to risk it- they’re feared investing in a project that wasn’t matured as yet. My educational background as a civil engineer with a Master’s degree in Business Management gave me the completed vision of my current endeavor, Out of Home (OOH). I was able to create and manage both the commercial and management knowledge in addition to the technical
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side. OOH media is more than just a medium- I consider it a beautification project that enhances the city. With all the technological innovations Expo2020 will bring us, I am looking forward to see where it will take us in terms of OOH. I have seen all of the ambitious projects become a tangible reality, and I assure that the leaders of this nation could not have done it without its people. So ‘connecting minds, creating future’ is something that has been already done with the country’s operational ethos, and now in light of the Expo winning bid, we go global.”
Don’t give in to self-defeating narratives
Tony Hchaime Wellness coach “Without exception, the biggest hurdle I come across when it comes to high performance is the self-defeating thought of: ‘It can’t be done.’” january 2016 Entrepreneur
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