Leadership Summit Middle East
In January 2010, Booz & Company joined forces with INSEAD, one of the world’s leading business schools, to host the first Leadership Summit in the Middle East. The summit was held under the patronage of His Highness General Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces.The theme of this summit, “Leadership in a Changing World: From Dreams to Actions,” reflects the social, economic, and organizational changes that have taken place in recent years, exacerbated by the global economic crisis and increasing evidence of climate change. The impact of these changes on the global community is raising new ways of looking at leadership dynamics, the evolving nature of capitalism, and human capital development. The Middle East has enormous potential to play an instrumental role in meeting these challenges.
The summit brought together some of the region’s most distinguished business and thought leaders, along with renowned INSEAD faculty. The discussion drew out several critical challenges for business leaders and policymakers as they face major shifts in their societies:
- A growing global population and rapid economic development are both putting increased pressure on resources. This has severe socioeconomic implications—for instance, in the depletion of water supplies, the pollution of the environment, and increased demand for public services such as healthcare and education.
- New realities have led to an increasing shift in the capitalist paradigm. Public–private partnerships and corporate citizenship are gaining momentum. Underscored by the global economic crisis and evidence of climate change, a new capitalist model characterized by an additional dimension of innovation may be forming to meet these new emerging challenges.
- Imagination and innovation are needed to solve growing socioeconomic problems, such as the provision of quality education and healthcare services for all. Leaders will need to cultivate these qualities in Middle East societies, providing a platform for sustainable economic development in the region.
- Development of human capital is instrumental in translating imagination and innovation into tangible results. Progressive education policies are key ingredients in spurring innovation activities.
Article Index
- Introduction
- Setting the Scene
- A Changing Global Environment
- An Emerging Capitalist Paradigm
- Exhibit 1 - Healthcare Expenditures in the MENA Region Are on the Rise
- Innovation: How It Happens and Why It Is Crucial
- Human Capital Development
- Leading in an Interconnected World
- In Conclusion
Author Profiles
Karim Sabbagh a Booz & Company partner based in Dubai, leads the firm’s work for global communications, media, and technology clients. He is a member of the firm’s Marketing Advisory Council and the chairman of the Ideation Center, the firm’s think tank in the Middle East.
Hatem Samman is the director of the Booz & Company Ideation Center. He is based in Dubai. As a lead economist, he has written extensively on policy issues across diverse economic sectors.
Hal B Gregersen, Ph.D. is Affiliate Professor of Leadership at INSEAD in Abu Dhabi. He is a globally-recognized scholar, educator, and consultant committed to building innovation and change capabilities in business, government, and social entrepreneurial organizations.
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