< Previous20 C EO M I D D L E E A S T MAR C H 2 0 21 s Dubai Business Women Council’s Business Develop- ment Manager, Halabi helps drive business success by adopting a ‘start-up’ style of management that fosters innovation, takes advantage of new opportunities and interprets in- dustry trends to maximise strategic objectives. Encouraging entrepreneur- ship is an important part of the Coun- cil’s work in inspiring women to be the best they can be. As such, she ensures that the Council is an environment in which women feel motivated to inno- vate, create and thrive. Throughout her tenure at the Council, she managed to bring on board long lasting strategic partnerships with organisations and companies who share the same mission and vision, and who delivered tailor made content for exclusive workshops for the members of the Council with the main purpose of helping them develop their entrepreneurial skills. ind Abdul Hamied Seddiqi is the Chief Marketing & Com- munications Officer at Sed- diqi Holding and Director General of Dubai Watch Week. She is responsi- ble for developing integrated market- ing strategies for each business unit within the group, as well as internal and external executive communication tactics and plans. Hind also leads the Customer Experience (CX) communi- cations for all business units, including Ahmed Seddiqi & Sons and Seddiqi Properties. Seddiqi’s leadership skills saw her quickly rise through the fam- ily business and she has played an in- strumental role in re-structuring the company’s marketing department. Seddiqi is actively involved in the con- ceptualisation and implementation of corporate and brand marketing and communications strategies across the business portfolio as well as the day to day department activities. enuka Jagtiani is the chair- woman and CEO of Land- mark Group, a multina- tional consumer conglomerate based in Dubai and founded by her husband Micky Jagtiani. For more than 20 years, she has led the company’s corporate strategy and expansion into new mar- kets. As head of the company, Jagtiani oversees more than 50,000 employees. Jagtiani was the force behind the creation of high-street fashion brand Splash in 1993 and has been closely involved with Landmark Group, one of the region’s largest retailers, for more than two decades. As well as building its fashion and hospitality businesses, she has led its expansion into new countries and launched its e-com- merce platform. Landmark Group was founded in 1973 with a single store in Bahrain that has since grown into one of the largest retail and hospitality con- glomerates in the region. BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT MANAGER, DUBAI BUSINESS WOMEN COUNCIL BUSINESS LEADERS AND ENTREPRENEURS CHIEF MARKETING & COMMUNICATIONS OFFICER (CMCO), SEDDIQI HOLDING BUSINESS LEADERS AND ENTREPRENEURS Hind Abdul Hamied Seddiqi CEO, LANDMARK GROUP RETAIL AND CONSUMER BUSINESS LEADERS AND ENTREPRENEURS Renuka Jagtiani Nadine Halabi ARHM A R C H 2 0 2 1 C EO M I D D L E E A S T 21 amilla d’Abo is a recognised business leader with more than two decades of experi- ence leading and inspiring businesses in the Middle East. Having lived and worked in Dubai for nearly 40 years, d’Abo possesses a unique knowledge of the region and brings exceptional cre- dentials in managing marketing cam- paigns for global brands and clients. In 2004, d’Abo co-founded one of the region’s most innovative integrated communications agencies – DABO & CO – and over 12 years, the business grew to become an 80-strong team, representing some of the world’s lead- ing brands including Marriott, Ritz- Carlton, BMW, Nike and HSBC. In 2015, the Dubai Government chose DABO & CO as one of the top 100 per- forming small and medium enterprise in Dubai. The success of the company led to it being sold to the world’s largest global PR firm, Edelman in 2015. ujaina Darwish believes in giving back to the commu- nity and works assiduously works for the welfare and well-being of underprivileged persons. In her official position as the Chairperson of the In- frastructure, Technology, Industrial & Consumer Solutions (ITICS) cluster at Mohsin Haider Darwish LLC (MHD)- one of the oldest businesses in Oman, she presides over a complex and var- ied group of businesses. Darwish was elected to the country’s consultative council – Majlis A’ Shuraa, one of only seven women to be elected since its inception, and holds the distinction of having been elected twice to this position. In November 2015, she was appointed member of the State Coun- cil (Upper House) by Royal Decree. A graduate in English Literature from Sultan Qaboos University (SQU), she began her career as a lecturer at SQU, before joining the family business. FOUNDER, DABO & CO BUSINESS LEADERS AND ENTREPRENEURS CHAIRPERSON, INFRASTRUCTURE, TECHNOLOGY, INDUSTRIAL & CONSUMER SOLUTIONS (ITICS), MOHSIN HAIDER DARWISH BUSINESS LEADERS AND ENTREPRENEURS Lujaina Darwish Camilla D’Abo CL anali Malhotra presides over the marketing division of one of the region’s largest banks, a position she has held for over five years, a culmination of over 15 years with the bank. Amongst her successes are campaigns that have garnered ac- claim, including the RAKfoodie Cam- paign, the launch of RAKBANK’s Emirates Skywards World Elite Mas- tercard Credit Cards, the launch of SwatchPAY and a rebranding of RAK- BANK Elite. Her success, she says, is down to punching above her weight, a mindset she encourages in her team. “When I was brought on board, RakBank was a lesser-known local retail bank. Over the years, I worked closely with the management and the agency in leading the brand’s jour- ney from a local challenger brand to a dominant retail brand in the UAE. We increased our share of voice by devel- oping a brand personality that cuts through the clutter.” DIRECTOR OF MARKETING, RAKBANK BANKING AND FINANCE Banali Malhotra B22 C EO M I D D L E E A S T MAR C H 2 0 21 ubna Olayan is at the helm of the third-largest lender in Saudi Arabia, follow- ing the merger of Saudi British Bank and Alawwal Bank, becoming the first woman in her country to run a pub- licly traded bank. A former analyst at JP Morgan, Olayan oversees the Mid- dle East operations of global private investment company Olayan Group, a diversified company founded by her father Sulaiman in 1947.Olayan started working at the company in 1983, along- side her father, who developed Olayan Group to become a leading diversi- fied enterprise in Saudi Arabia and a major participant in global investing. In 2004, Olayan was the first woman in Saudi history to deliver an opening keynote address at a major conference in Saudi at the Jeddah Economic Fo- rum in January 2004. She is the CEO of Olayan Financing Company, the hold- ing entity of Olayan Group’s full opera- tions in Saudi and the Middle East. CHAIRPERSON, SAUDI BRITISH BANK BANKING AND FINANCE Lubna Olayan L arah Al Suhaimi is the first woman to chair Tadawul, the Saudi stock exchange. She is also the CEO and a board di- rector of National Commercial Bank’s investment arm, NCB Capital. In her first four years at NCB Capital, assets under management went up by more than 100 percent. Prior to that, Al Su- haimi served as the chief investment officer at Jadwa Investment, which she joined in 2007. She is also the CEO and a Board Director of NCB Capital, the investment arm of the National Commercial Bank, the largest bank in Saudi Arabia.[3] During her first four years leading NCB Capital, assets un- der management more than doubled, and market share grew in brokerage and corporate finance. Al Suhaimi was previously the Chief Investment Officer at Jadwa Investment, a leading inde- pendent asset management boutique, which she joined in 2007 as head of portfolio management. CHAIR, SAUDI ARABIAN STOCK EXCHANGE BANKING AND FINANCE Sarah Al Suhaimi S veteran in financial servic- es, the group chief distribu- tion and development of- ficer at Equitativa Group, Alkhawaja oversees the largest Sharia compliant REIT in the world. A C-level strate- gic leader with over 20 years of solid expertise in Capital Markets, Fund Management, Investments, and Cor- porate Finance in cross-asset class, she has been recognised as one of the most influential women in finance in the Middle East. With strong inter- national and local expertise in grow- ing, building, and managing new seg- ments while increasing bottom line revenues, she has a wealth of lead- ership and executive management experience with high profile leading firms. She boasts well-established accomplishments in financial man- agement functions, team building and technical competencies. She previously held senior posts at State Street and Bloomberg in London. GROUP CHIEF DISTRIBUTION AND DEVELOPMENT OFFICER, EQUITATIVA GROUP, CO-FOUNDER OF REACH, THE FIRST DIFC NON-PROFIT DEDICATED TO MENTORING YOUNG PROFESSIONALS BANKING AND FINANCE Racha AlKhawaja AM A R C H 2 0 2 1 C EO M I D D L E E A S T 23 eatrice Cornacchia is the crea- tive force leading the company’s brand strategy across the re- gion’s markets. After starting her journey with the company in 1991, Cornacchia went on to head strategic sales functions and numerous marketing teams in a suc- cession of key roles including head of Consumer Marketing, Europe; head of Issuer and Merchant Marketing, Europe; and head of Marketing, Italy and Greece. In 2019, she was ranked among the Top 30 Most Influential Women in the Arab World by Arabian Business. Through strategic brand engage- ment and captivating story creation, Cornacchia balances Mastercard’s grow- ing positioning as a tech company with an aspirational approach that taps into its heritage of creating ‘Priceless Possi- bilities’. Her exceptional brand-building work over the past few years has included launching the company’s innovative sym- bolic and sonic identity across the region, the rollout of an evolved e-commerce thrust, and diligently leveraging data and tech expertise to inform stakeholders on contactless adoption. A case in point is the much-publicized Astronomical Sales campaign that tied 97 percent discounts to a rare solar eclipse – contributing to a sustained, dynamic progression of differentiating Master- card’s marketing and communications. In her work, Cornacchia is leveraging the underlying concept of priceless – the deep emotional connection that fills peo- ple’s life with meaning and purpose – to empower Mastercard’s consumers in the region to pursue their passions with price- less possibilities. “CORNACCHIA IS THE CREATIVE FORCE BEHIND MASTERCARD´S BRAND STRATEGY IN THE REGION.” SENIOR VICE-PRESIDENT, MARKETING AND COMMUNICATIONS MEA, MASTERCARD MEDIA AND TECHNOLOGY Beatrice Cornacchia B24 C EO M I D D L E E A S T MAR C H 2 0 21 WOMEN OF INFLUENCE IN THE ARAB WORLD 2021 “THROUGHOUT MY CAREER, I HAVE ALWAYS FOCUSED ON BUSINESS OUTCOMES, OPEN COMMUNICATION AND CONFIDENCE” CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER, STANDARD CHARTERED BANK UAE BANKING AND FINANCE Rola Abu Manneh R ola Abu Manneh is the Chief Executive Officer of Standard Chartered Bank UAE, a role she has held since August 2018. She is the first Emirati woman to head a bank in the UAE. In her role, Abu Manneh has been responsible for transforming the UAE business into one of the biggest five mar- kets for the Standard Chartered Group. Over the years, Abu Manneh has championed women empowerment and female entrepreneurship through differ- ent initiatives and is committed to sup- porting the wider community by provid- ing university students with mentorship programmes, in collaboration with lead- ing partners, which aim to prepare par- ticipants with the necessary skills to succeed in their chosen professions. A long way to go “It’s no secret that the financial indus- try is a traditionally male-dominated field and, despite undeniable progress, a 20 percent representation of women on executive committees and 23 per-M A R C H 2 0 2 1 C EO M I D D L E E A S T 25 WOMEN OF INFLUENCE IN THE ARAB WORLD 2021 cent on boards is not enough. There is still a long way to go to create an indus- try in which women have equal access to opportunity and positive outcomes. Government authorities must be held responsible for creating inclusive and progressive frameworks that enforce measures that foster gender equality in the workplace. In this sense, I am proud to say that the UAE is paving the way,” says Abu Manneh. Thriving in a digital society “Corporations must also be held ac- countable for developing a gender di- verse and equally opportune workplace. It’s not just about employing women, but also encouraging them to progress and supporting their success. “A key area of opportunity for wom- en is in digital and technology. As we become an increasingly digital society, we can expect that new technology will continue to enter the market and cre- ate new jobs and, therefore, require new skills. Likewise, technological plat- forms will enable women access to vari- ous vocational opportunities, as well as access to valuable SME and entrepre- neurial markets. “A great way to leverage the rise in technology is by equipping women with the necessary tools and resources needed to excel through training and educa- tion programmes. Standard Chartered is championing initiatives in this capac- ity, such as the Women in Tech and Goal programmes. These initiatives aim to educate women of all ages to adapt to the A distinguished banking career Before joining Standard Chartered Bank, Abu Manneh was the Head of Corporate & Investment Banking for Abu Dhabi at First Abu Dhabi Bank (FAB). In this role, her responsibility was to maintain relationships between FAB and its client base, including government, government- related entities, elite customer groups, family corporations, local corporations, multinational corporations and commer- cial banking services. Prior to this, Abu Manneh served as General Manager of FAB’s Wholesale Banking Group, which comprised of Project Finance Syndica- tions, Financial Institutions Group and Global Transaction Banking. “Looking back over the years, a major barrier to female leadership has been or- ganisational structure,” she notes. “Sim- ply put, it’s unconscious bias and the lack of equal opportunities. I faced a lot of challenges while climbing the career lad- der. There were times when I struggled just to be on the ladder! It was not easy, but throughout my career, I have always focused on business outcomes, open com- munication and confidence. This thinking has led me to effectively oversee a mas- sive workforce of an international bank in the UAE, a responsibility I am more than happy to have undertaken.” Abu Manneh completed her stud- ies at the University of London – Royal Holloway and Bedford New College, and holds a Bachelor of Science in Mathe- matics & Operational Research. She is fluent in Arabic and English and is mar- ried with two children. “AS WE BECOME AN INCREASINGLY DIGITAL SOCIETY, WE CAN EXPECT THAT NEW TECHNOLOGY WILL CONTINUE TO ENTER THE MARKET AND CREATE NEW JOBS AND, THEREFORE, REQUIRE NEW SKILLS.” changing technological advancements and leverage them in their professions.” During her first year with the bank, Abu Manneh was included in Arabian Business’ ‘World’s Most Powerful Arabs in 2019’ list. More recently, under her steer, the bank was honoured in 2020 as Best Banking and Financial Sector Institution in Supporting Gender Bal- ance by Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai. “I suppose the height of my influ- ence as a female leader was met during my appointment as CEO of Standard Chartered’s UAE operations and having been the first Emirati woman to do so. However, I truly believe that any woman that works to earn her seat at the table, regardless of industry or profession, is a role model to other females looking to do the same,” says the chief executive. “Throughout my career, I have championed women empowerment and female entrepreneurship through vari- ous initiatives. I will continue to exer- cise my position in service of women so that they are not hindered by corporate hurdles or stereotypes and are able to achieve their full potential.” 23% Women’s global share of board directors in major financial services firms (2019)26 C EO M I D D L E E A S T MAR C H 2 0 21 aja Al Mazrouei oversees the region’s first fintech accel- erator, which brings together Financial Institutions, Government entities, technology partners and en- trepreneurs to develop technologies that benefit the financial industry. With over a decade of experience in the financial services sector, she has developed an ecosystem for fi- nancial technology entrepreneurs that has been a primary contributor in the emirate being named a top ten global FinTech hub.Throughout her career, she has held senior positions at Dubai Holding, National Bonds Corporation and the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) Authority. Al Mazrouei plays an integral role in building awareness, increasing me- dia outreach and facilitating partner- ships in emerging fintech markets, such as China, India, the UK, the US and Africa. EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT, DIFC FINTECH HIVE BANKING AND FINANCE Raja Al Mazroui R irst Abu Dhabi Bank in Janu- ary 2021 appointed Hana Al Rostamani as group chief executive officer, promoting a woman to the top leadership position in a male- dominated sector. Al Rostamani will be the first female CEO of the $44bn lend- er and takes over from Andre Sayegh, who spent less than a year in the role. She is currently deputy group CEO and head of personal banking and chair- person of FAB Private Bank Suisse. Al Rostamani, who served as independent director at Du and vice chairperson of Emirates Institute for Banking & Fi- nancial Services, is among a growing number of women to lead companies in the Middle East. CEO, FIRST ABU DHABI BANK BANKING AND FINANCE Hana Al Rostamani F “WE STRENGTHENED OUR POSITION AS THE LEADING AND MOST PROFITABLE BANK IN THE UAE.” ppointed CEO in 2015, Ea- man Al Roudhan is a results- focused telecommunications executive who brings over 20 years of experience to her leadership position, 18 years of which were spent in various executive management and leadership roles within Zain Kuwait as well as sev- eral Zain Group affiliates. She was responsible for launching the first mobile prepaid service in Ku- wait and delivering impressive growth thanks to her focus on investments and skill in identifying opportunities and driving smart city initiatives in key markets. Prior to her new appointment, Mrs Al Roudhan was the Chief Regulatory Officer of Zain Group. “Zain Kuwait is deeply entrenched in the telecom, economic and social landscape in the country. I feel a strong sense of respon- sibility to continue working closely with the Zain Group Board and Execu- tive management,” says Al Roudhan. CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER, ZAIN KUWAIT MEDIA & TECHNOLOGY Eaman Al Roudhan AM A R C H 2 0 2 1 C EO M I D D L E E A S T 27 s head of the Association of Chartered Certified Account- ants (ACCA) in the Middle East Fazeela Gopalani has responsibility for leading the operations in 11 countries for the global body for professional account- ants. ACCA in the region represents more than 20,000 students, affiliates and members, who work in all sectors and all levels of business across the Middle East. Founded in 1904, ACCA has consist- ently held unique core values: opportu- nity, diversity, innovation, integrity and accountability. Through its public inter- est remit, ACCA promotes appropriate regulation of accounting and conducts relevant research to ensure accountancy continues to grow in reputation and in- fluence. ACCA has introduced major in- novations to its flagship qualification to ensure its members and future members continue to be the most valued, up-to- date and sought-after accountancy pro- fessionals globally. Gopalani is responsible for growing the understanding of the value that pro- fessionally qualified ACCA accountants bring to businesses and economies in the region. Managing and building relation- ships with regulators, business leaders and strategic partners she works with the network of members to influence debate on key issues that impact the ongoing economic development of the region. Gopalani also works with educational in- stitutions and government bodies to en- courage new generations to undertake a career in accountancy and finance. Gopalani has been a FCCA member since 2004 and has over 15 years of ex- perience in the field of accounting and finance. She has been head of educa- tion for ACCA in the Middle East for the past four years and was previously senior manager at PwC Academy in Dubai. Pri- or to moving to the Emirates, Gopalani managed and owned an accounting prac- tice in the UK providing professional financial services to a variety of clients who were private individuals, small busi- nesses and large enterprises. Gopalani holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Birmingham and an MBA from the University of Strath- clyde. She lives in Dubai with her hus- band and two children. “ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE IS TAKING THE WORLD BY STORM AND IS INDEED A DISRUPTOR TO MANY INDUSTRIES, AND IT’S NO DIFFERENT IN THE ACCOUNTING WORLD.” HEAD, ACCA – MIDDLE EAST BANKING AND FINANCE Fazeela Gopalani A Building relations Gopalani is responsible for growing the understanding of the value that professionally qualified ACCA accountants bring to businesses and economies in the region28 C EO M I D D L E E A S T MAR C H 2 0 21 elina Bieber is the Senior Re- gional Director of GoDaddy Middle East and North Af- rica, having joined GoDaddy in 2015, and has been at the helm of GoDaddy’s launch and go-to-market strategy de- velopment for several new markets across the EMEA region. With her focus on enablement and empowerment for regional businesses and entrepreneurs, particularly in their native local language including Arabic, the GoDaddy brand has grown in the MENA region under her leadership. Throughout 2020, Bieber successfully launched GoDaddy’s first local brand marketing campaign, an Arabic version of godaddy.com and an Arabic Website Builder and GoDaddy E-Store, an ecommerce product, to further support GoDaddy’s customers in the region. Having worked with key tech brands such as Facebook and Verisign in the past, Bieber has a strong pulse on the digital ecosystem. SENIOR DIRECTOR AND GENERAL MANAGER, MENAT AT GODADDY MEDIA & TECHNOLOGY Selina Bieber S man Helouz is the founder of Abjjad. Abjjad is the first Arabic social network for readers, authors, and bloggers in the Middle East It was launched in June 2012 by Haylooz and Tamim Al Ma- naseer. The website enables readers to sign in and have their own account, create their own virtual library where they have three lists: previously read list, currently reading list, and plan- ning to read list. It also allows mem- bers to rate books, write book reviews, add quotes to authors or books pages and enrich authors’ pages with related information. The Kuwaiti national, who has a BA in Computer Science, says that she always wanted to create a project that promoted reading and books and hav- ing started her career in software, drew on her experience to launch the inno- vative Arabic-language platform. She is a founding partner in non- profit initiative Suwayya. FOUNDER, ABJJAD MEDIA & TECHNOLOGY Eman Hylooz E ayla Al Khaja is the first fe- male film Director/Producer in the United Arab Emirates. Nayla has written and directed several films, which have all been presented and awarded at various international film festivals. She is also very active in the TV commercials domain, con- stantly directing for various interna- tional brands. As a working profes- sional, Al Khaja’s accolades include being ranked among the Top 50 most powerful personalities in Arab Cinema, and 100 most powerful Arabs under 40 by Arabian Business Magazine. She’s also been awarded the Visionary of the Year Award at the Arabian Business Awards, and she is Brand Ambassador for Canon Middle East since 2011. As a speaker at leading events including fo- rums at the United Nations, and during TEDx Talks, she has also tackled chal- lenging topics such as breaking down the Arab Woman stereotype and how to combat fear and chase one’s dreams. DIRECTOR AND PRODUCER MEDIA & TECHNOLOGY Nayla Al Khaja NM A R C H 2 0 2 1 C EO M I D D L E E A S T 29 our leads Tarjama, a pro- vider of smart language in over 55 languages. She’s also the founder and chairwoman of Ureed. com, a digital marketplace connecting global employers with over 55,000 free- lancers. She’s currently managing the hyper-growth of the companies in eight markets and leading a team of over 300 colleagues. She is a lifelong advocate of women’s empowerment. She chose to challenge conventional norms and left her career in law, going on to excel in the translation and localization fields. She has a strong enthusiasm for social inclusion, female empowerment, and opportunity creation and has dedicated her life to these causes. Her compa- nies, Tarjama and Ureed.com, train and employ the largest network of Arabic- speaking women translators and lin- guists in the world. She is dedicated to building and developing proprietary language technologies to transform the way the industry works in the region. FOUNDER AND CEO, TARJAMA EDUCATION Nour Al Hassan N he Emirati lawyer became the chief executive and regis- trar of DIFC Courts in 2017, after being the deputy chief executive of the Dispute Resolution Authority in 2014.Al Owais has played a major role in the development of DIFC Courts, particularly in creating the Dispute Resolution Authority and the Pro- Bono Programme, the first of its kind in the Middle East. She is also an avid supporter of women’s progress in the UAE, telling Arabian Business in February that 80 percent of the staff at DIFC Courts are women. Al Owais joined DIFC Courts in 2006 after practising as a lawyer in the litigation department with lead- ing UAE law firm Hadef & Partners. She is also the deputy registrar of the Dubai World Tribunal, chairwoman of the DIFC Courts’ Users’ Commit- tee and a member of the Consulting Council for the University of Sharjah College of Law. CHIEF REGISTRAR, DIFC COURTS LEGAL Amna Al Owais T n 2017, at just 26 years old, Amy Brill was approached by the world’s largest independ- ent creative network, M&C Saatchi, to establish its PR offer in the Middle East. Brill has led numerous creative campaigns for the agency across the GCC, Levant, Africa and Eastern Eu- rope; including an award-winning unprecedented CSR initiative for Saudi Arabian telco, Mobily, involving changing perceptions and promot- ing equality for persons with disabili- ties. As a young woman sitting on the regional board of the agency, Brill is particularly passionate about mentor- ing young female talent. She has im- plemented an internship programme with universities in Dubai to nurture the growth of future female leaders, ex- posing them to the zany facets of PR, and the wider creative agency network. Brill has delivered year-on-year double digit growth for the agency and hit a re- cord year in 2020. HEAD OF PR, M&C SAATCHI MIDDLE EAST RISING STARS Amy Brill INext >