Hello and welcome to the July edition of CEO Middle East. Businesses and the economy at large would struggle to succeed without the support of one crucial industry – the banking and finance sector. As such, I am very happy that this issue we were able to celebrate the leaders and innovators driving the industry forward.
Our 30 GCC Banking Innovators include the leaders of some of the biggest banks in the region, and is representative of the transformational steps the industry has taken towards adopting technology, improving financial inclusion, and increasing collaboration while improving financial services. The list begins on page 18 and I encourage you to check out each of our leaders, congratulations to all included.
Sticking with the theme of innovation, I am delighted that our front cover this month features Gokhan Baykam, an entrepreneur and investor with a wide variety of ventures across industries. Beginning on page 14, Gokhan shares his thoughts with CEO Middle East on how to invest sustainably, and the technologies that are necessary to help mitigate the chance of catastrophic climate change. Additionally, as an Arabian Business Future Falcon, Gokhan also passed on some advice to startups on how they can secure funding – an ongoing challenge for entrepreneurs in the sector.
The question of leadership and management was also addressed during our cover interview, a theme that is also addressed throughout this issue. The pandemic fundamentally altered the way in which managers could motivate their teams, with remote work in particular proving a challenge, a subject that is covered in more detail on page 10. Additional commentary on how leaders can help get their teams out of the “red zone” can also be found on page 12.
This commentary also intersects with the ongoing conversation around wellness and sustainability. CEO Middle East’s sister publication Arabian Business held a full event on the subject of mental wellbeing in June, and we have sought to continue the discussion in this issue.
Antonio Gonzalez, CEO, Sunset Hospitality Group was kind enough to share some thoughts with us this month on how these trends impact the hospitality sector on page 46. “One can’t be concerned about their wellness without being concerned about planetary health,” Gonzalez said, and added that there is now an “expectation” from travellers of climate-friendly practices and wellness services. It will be exciting to see how these trends continue to impact different industries and the ways in which leaders adapt to this change – a story we will continue to cover in this publication.
Until next time.