JUNE 2021 # 170 THE GUIDE TO GOOD BUSINESS AND BETTER LIVING UA E AED 20 KSA SAR 20 BA HR A IN BHD 2 KUWA IT KWD 2 OM AN OMR 2 TALAL AL AJMI, FOUNDER AND CEO OF VI MARKETS “TO PROMOTE SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT VIA EDUCATION WILL ALWAYS BE MY GOAL”Get ready for something spectacular. Discover Al Noor Island. The region’s island of inspiration - right in the heart of the city of Sharjah. Stand in awe amidst the butterflies, take a walk through inspiring art and light installations, dive into a literary pavilion and unwind in a café with a breathtaking view. THERE’S SO MUCH TO EXPERIENCE ON THE ISLE OF INSPIRATION. Take a day off from everyday life. @AlNoorIsland alnoorisland.ae A project by Sharjah Investment and Development Authority (Shurooq)JUNE 202 1 CEO MIDDLE E A ST 3 CONTENTS JUNE 2021 # 170 6 EDIT OR’S LETTER 8 FUTU RE SH OC K- PROO F? Companies need to increase environmental, social and corporate governance alignment 12 TR AV ELLER ’ S TA LES The new face of travel in a pandemic-afflicted world 16 CO VER S T OR Y: VI MARKETS Talal Al Ajami on business, growth, leadership and mindset 22 TH E P O W E R O F T R ANSF ORMAT I ON One of the youngest CEOs of a listed company in Saudi Arabia, Mohammed Ibrahim Abunayyan says it's an exciting time to be part of the private sector as Vision 2030 creates fertile ground for local and international businesses 26 TH E M I N D SH I F T Mindshift Capital invests in women- led early-stage tech companies in the Middle East and globally at the post- seed round 8 1222 264 CEO MIDDLE E A ST JUNE 202 1 CONTENTS 28 POOR L E ADERSHIP Poor leadership is a problem which afflicts the business world. A team of experts tackles this thorny top-down issue. 32 TH E O R I G I N S O F TH E 9 TO 5 The idea of a work-life balance owes a debt to one man, whose visionary idea was decades ahead of its time 34 REIMA G INING T H E 5-D AY WEEK Is it time for the UAE to rethink its five-day working week? 36 TH E E X PLO R AT I O N M I N D SET Explorer Mike Horn tells CEO about what drives him to push his own boundaries and what leaders can learn from this 16 CO VER S T OR Y: VI MARKETS Talal Al Ajmi on business, growth, leadership and mindset 28 32 36 38CONTENTS JUNE 202 1 CEO MIDDLE E A ST 5 38 DRIVEN T O SUCCEED Lamborghini is one of the ultimate automotive marques, a byword for success, adrenaline and living life fully. Its CEO tells us what drives him to pursue excellence – and what’s around the corner for the Italian carmaker 40 G R EEN WITH ENV Y The timing couldn’t be better for these eye-catching watches in verdant hues 41 S TAY CONNE C T E D As the anticipated Euro football tournament kicks off, Hublot unveils a new wristwatch to help you keep up with the action 42 PERFU M E NOTES Amouage releases a dynamic duo. The artisanal perfume house from Oman presents an olfactive ode to freedom 44 ST Y L E Fashion highlights for the summer season 46 RO AR INT O LIFE An ultra-luxury safari trip brings together high-end adventure with a serious investment in local communities, environmentalism and animal welfare. Philanthropy and private air travel unite with Roar Africa 48 DINING AROUND T O WN Foodie highlights for the gastronomically minded 50 HO W T O BE NON-T O X IC Take these steps to combat negativity and be a force for positive change 44 40 42 41 486 C EO M I D D L E E A S T JUNE 202 1 ED IT OR ’S P OR TR AI T: O LI VE R @ P HO TO SO LU TI ON S. M E P assion is the single-most important trait that our cover star, Talal Al Ajmi, looks for in potential new hires. The CEO of VI Markets is a vocal spokesperson, brave disruptor and visionary leader in the online trading space, and he understands how critical it is to ensure your business is fuelled with the right kind of fire. “A passionate employee will do the job differently and creatively, which in turn produces a different outcome,” he tells CEO Middle East in an exclusive interview this month, where he talks about what drives him to succeed. Al Ajmi aims to cut through the noise to provide viewers with nuanced, relevant advice on online trading. Every week, the founder and CEO of VI Markets shares his opinions on the hottest stocks and commodities with a 62,000-strong following on Instagram, speaking directly to both his platform’s own users and anyone interested in learning more about online trading. “The main reason I adopted this strategy is the lack of awareness in our society in regards to trading online in international markets,” he says. His personal passion and conviction under- pins an approach to marketing that is part business promotion and part giving back – and as any savvy businessperson knows, offering something useful to po- tential clients is one of the most powerful ways to turn that potential into tangible sales and results. Passion, at every stage, underpins excellence; without it, effort, engagement and quality take a notable dive. It’s what drove Mohammed Ibrahim Abunayyan, the CEO of listed Saudi company Shaker, to drive an ambitious transformation within his organisation. “Few companies have delivered a sustainable, at-scale business transfor- mation, one that involves an intense, company-wide program with the aim of long-term organisational health and performance enhancement. The transformation required immense effort and energy from all who have been in- volved,” he writes in an exclusive piece for CEO, where he shares his sustain- able leadership vision. Sustainability of a different kind is at the heart of Mike Horn’s personal crusade. The renowned explorer tells me how he has made it his life’s mission to draw attention to the precarious state of the planet. Thanks to him, leading watch brand Panerai, of which he is an ambas- sador, has released a stunning new watch that is almost entirely composed of recy- cled materials. Horn says that to achieve success, you have to inject passion into what you do. “Success to me is about that feeling, to be actually happy and excited about doing what I do,” he says, having endured some of the most physically and mentally demanding challenges on earth. “It’s about the parameters that you set yourself. It’s not about motivation. Moti- vation is something invented by the same people who always say you should think positive. I’m disciplined, and discipline is something we can all apply in our lives,” says the world’s greatest living explorer. What do you think? How do you keep your team engaged and on track? Drop us a line – we’d love to hear your thoughts! Jola Chudy Editor-in-Chief Share your views on thought leadership and innovation by getting in touch. Q U ESTI O N S? CO M M E NTS? Jola.Chudy@itp.com JOLA CHUDY Editor in Chief PASSION IS A NON-NEGOTIABLE FOR SUCCESS Making it to the top. Discipline is one of explorer Mike Horn’s key traits for getting results. 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MEDIAXXXXXXXXX 8 C EO M I D D L E E A S T JUNE 202 1 SUSTAINABILITY: THERE IS A PRESSING NEED FOR COMPANIES TO ACT NOW THE BRIEFTHE BRIEF ORGANISATIONS NEED TO INCREASE ENVIRONMENTAL, SOCIAL, AND CORPORATE GOVERNANCE ALIGNMENT TO RESIST FUTURE SHOCKS By SABRIN RAHMAN, managing director, head of sustainability for Europe and the Middle East, HSBC JUNE 202 1 CEO MIDDLE E A ST 9Next >