When I moved from Mumbai to Dubai and started work here, like people from across the world I had a perception of the region and its leaders because of what I had “heard”. Nothing negative, if that’s how it sounds but mostly about how leadership in the region could be more evolved. But anyone who thinks so, like me, is wrong and I can now vouch for it.
Meet Kaswara Al Khatib, Sheikha Intisar Al-Sabah, Alex Saber – each of these are forward looking, tech savvy, digital embracing, dedicated and committed thinkers and leaders of the modern Arab World.
Defying all rules of the game, Kaswara AlKhatib proved how one can respect local and yet be global. Challenging the powerful satellite channels in Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Mr AlKhatib runs UTURN, an online entertainment network credited to produce creative, edgy, relevant, high quality content. With 600 million views and 20 million followers and subscribers, it’s not hard to imagine how Mr AlKhatib has led his team to win over the online audiences in MENA.
On the other hand, Sheikha Intisar Al-Sabah has become somewhat a personal inspiration. Of the royal family in Kuwait, Sheikha Intisar took upon herself to educate the youth of Kuwait against the ills of ‘phubbing’, a term she coined indicating the screen-staring-avoiding-real-conversations nature of the youth today, by running a unique campaign in Kuwait. For those who have met her in person, can see her passion and love for Kuwait and how she wants the Kuwaiti youth to fall in love with the country they belong to. Her emotion is universal but her work is rare.
Another leader I have come to look up to is Alex Saber, Chairman, VivaKi / SMG MENA. Under his leadership, VivaKi/ SMG is speaking the right language in the region. They are organizing thought leadership platforms of their own such as Valleywood and participating in events like ArabNet with topics that have already begun to impact the marketing industry. From content marketing to native advertising, to programmatic, advertising technologies and integrated marketing campaigns — they are taking up just about everything that is making a difference in the marketing, media and advertising industry landscape.
On a more important level, these leaders are putting their people first. They are setting all the right examples of empowering teams, organizations, and thinking of the growth of their people.
These people have filled me with positive energy. I hope to learn from them on the kind of company that The Arabian Marketer should be. And I am encouraged even more now to meet the other leaders in MENA who are setting such great examples. I look forward to meeting them and sharing about them with the world on The Arabian Marketer!
