Business and Finance

Atelier Aayushi Shah, Entrepreneur Where Silk Becomes Sovereign, Cultural Codes of Power, Legacy, and Wearable Art By Poulami Kundu Luxury, at its highest register, has never been about display. It has belonged instead to those who understand restraint, to cultural elites and royal lineages for whom value is instinctive rather than announced. Within this rarified world, recognition is earned through material intelligence, provenance, and meaning. Aayushi Shah Atelier speaks fluently in this language, offering silk not as ornament, but as authority. At the helm of the Atelier, Aayushi Shah approaches textile as a sovereign medium. Her work rejects visual noise in favour of tactile conviction, privileging what is felt over what is seen. “We exist in a visually loud era,” Shah explains. “My collector values quietude. While the eye can be seduced, the hand remains an honest judge.” This philosophy defines a clientele accustomed to discretion, individuals for whom luxury is private, almost ceremonial. When fingers meet the Atelier’s proprietary Japanese silk blend, recognition is immediate. Density, weight, and resistance speak without the need for labels. The dialogue is intimate, occurring solely between fabric and skin. Central to Shah’s practice is the concept of memory. Her silk is engineered to possess resilience, emerging from travel with instinctive composure, yet its deeper significance lies beyond performance. Silk, in her view, is a living archive. Absorbent and responsive, it carries the atmosphere of rooms, the warmth of the body, the gestures of its wearer. Over time, it accumulates a patina of experience, transforming each piece into a witness of private histories. Memory, here, is not nostalgia. It is continuity. Operating between Japan and India, the Atelier embodies a form of cultural nomadism long associated with royal courts and intellectual elites. Shah resists geographic definition, choosing instead to create textiles that are culturally fluent. Her silks respect the discipline of Savile Row tailoring as naturally as they honour the drape of a sari, the formality of a kimono, or the ease of a summer dress. Whether worn in a Dubai boardroom or a Kyoto residence, the textile adapts to the codes of its environment without surrendering identity. The brand is not anchored to place, but to purpose. This sensibility extends beyond fashion into the domestic realm. Many collectors choose to live with the pieces rather than wear them, framing silks as art, draping them across consoles, or unfurling them to soften architectural lines. Shah situates her work at the intersection of fine art, architecture, and heirloom jewellery. Each piece is conceived as part of an owner’s private landscape, intended to age with grace and relevance rather than trend. Bespoke commissions form the intellectual core of the Atelier. For ultra-high-net-worth patrons, exclusivity alone is insufficient. What is sought is specificity. Shah distinguishes between her Signature Collections, which articulate the Atelier’s creative vocabulary, and Bespoke Commissions, which translate the client’s personal narrative into textile form. Family crests, significant dates, ancestral estates, and shared histories are woven into silk with the same care once reserved for royal tapestries. These projects reveal a contemporary understanding of legacy: not something sealed away, but something lived with daily. Architecture and geography often serve as quiet muses in this process. Shah does not replicate structures; she distils them. A colour palette drawn from a private estate, a recurring motif embedded in a family residence, a symbolic architectural detail becomes fluid pattern. The transformation of static grandeur into wearable intimacy allows the owner to carry the spirit of a sanctuary with them, whether knotted at the neck, tied to a wrist, or draped as a mantle. This philosophy has also reshaped the language of ceremonial gifting. For nuptial and summit commissions, the Atelier’s silks function as codes of belonging rather than decorative favours. Hosts of significance increasingly favour symbolism over spectacle. When guests share a unifying textile, a specific print or colour, it creates a visual and psychological bond. Presence is marked. Allegiance is acknowledged. The gathering becomes a collective identity rather than a fleeting event. Shah refers to her creations as soft assets, a term that resonates in an age of financial volatility. Markets fluctuate, but narrative value endures. A bespoke silk that commemorates lineage or a pivotal life moment carries emotional equity that cannot be eroded. Holding such an object offers grounding, a sense of permanence amid constant change. Her design process thrives on tension. Structure meets fluidity. Restraint encounters expression. The pocket square and the scarf become archetypes. One demands architectural precision, the other invites movement and air. Prints are disciplined enough to appear razor-sharp when folded, yet expansive enough to read as painterly when unfurled. The hem anchors the form. The print liberates it. Authorship, for Shah, is never singular. She provides the language: fabric, composition, and quality. The wearer completes the work through choice, gesture, and context. Silk at rest holds only potential. It becomes art through interaction. In that moment, creation passes from the Atelier to the individual. Aayushi Shah Atelier occupies a space once reserved for court artisans and cultural custodians. These are not accessories of consumption, but objects of continuity. Collected, curated, and preserved, they define a modern expression of quiet power, where wearable art becomes legacy, and silk, sovereign.

Ms. Loubna Menchal Purpose-Driven Leadership, Trust & Human-Centered Technology By Hafsa Qadeer Across a 22-year career spanning technology, commercial strategy, and leadership across continents, Ms. Loubna Imenchal has been guided by one unwavering principle, lead with purpose and empower with trust. From building new business lines to leading large multicultural teams, she believes that performance is a natural outcome when people understand why they do what they do and feel trusted to own their impact. Leadership, in her view, is not about control but about clarity, removing fear, and creating the conditions for growth. That is how organizations endure, and cultures are built with pride. As she steps into her new role at Axis Communications, her focus is both strategic and deeply human. Axis already holds a strong regional legacy built on smart, secure, and sustainable solutions, and its priority is to accelerate growth without losing sight of those values. This begins with listening closely to customers and partners across the Middle East, Turkey, and Africa, understanding local challenges rather than assuming them. Strengthening ecosystem collaboration is equally critical, as success in this industry is built through partnerships. Internally, she is focused on empowering teams, aligning them around a clear vision so the organization moves faster, smarter, and together. In one of the world’s fastest-growing regions, she believes timing and precision are everything. Having led across Europe, the Middle East, Turkey, and Africa, Ms. Imenchal describes contrast not as a barrier but as a catalyst for growth. Navigating between fast moving and slow-maturing markets, and between traditional and digital mindsets, forced her to become both agile and reflective. The Middle East and Africa region, however, shaped her most profoundly. Markets may shift overnight, but relationships endure. She learned that sustainable growth in emerging markets comes from trust and cultural intelligence rather than strategy alone. This insight shaped her into a leader who listens first, acts second, and prioritizes long-term credibility over short-term wins. Looking toward the future of security and AI driven infrastructure, she sees a fundamental shift underway. Artificial intelligence at the edge will enable real-time, intelligent decision making closer to where data is generated. Predictive analytics and digital twins will move security from reactive to proactive. Cyber-physical convergence will redefine security beyond devices to entire connected ecosystems. At Axis, she sees security evolving into insight, helping organizations make smarter, safer, and more sustainable decisions. The future, she emphasizes, will be defined not by how powerful intelligence becomes, but by how responsibly it is used. After decades across B2B, B2C, and B2G environments, Ms. Imenchal believes many companies still misunderstand how trust is built. Long term trust is not created through products, pricing, or short term performance, but through consistency, transparency, and follow through. Too often, organizations focus on selling rather than standing by customers once a deal is signed. Integrity during challenges matters far more than a polished pitch. Transparency is equally critical, especially in government and enterprise contexts, where honesty about risks and timelines builds credibility. Above all, trust is cumulative. It is shaped by every interaction, every promise kept or broken, and most failures of trust stem not from one major incident but from repeated small inconsistencies. When designing route to market strategies across diverse regions, her focus is on adaptability built on a non negotiable core. What truly scales is not rigid strategy, but a strong framework with a clear value proposition, defined partner roles, strong governance, customer experience standards, and transparent commercial principles. Within that structure, local teams can flex for regulatory nuance, partner maturity, market velocity, and cultural dynamics. This balance of global consistency and local agility enables growth without losing control, and builds trust across very different markets. As a long standing diversity and inclusion advocate, Ms. Imenchal is clear that inclusion does not happen by accident, it happens by design. Early in her career, she was told she did not fit the culture because the industry had always been a men’s space. That moment shaped her leadership philosophy and reinforced her belief that culture defined by sameness protects comfort rather than progress. Real inclusion begins at the entry point, removing bias from job descriptions, widening recruitment pathways, and hiring for potential as well as experience. Leaders must be held structurally accountable, with inclusive leadership measured as a performance metric. She strongly advocates moving from the idea of culture fit to culture add, recognizing that innovation comes from difference, not conformity. Visibility is also essential, women must be given high impact opportunities, customer facing roles, and sponsorship, not just a seat at the table. Ensuring cross functional alignment, especially in fast moving regions, is another cornerstone of her leadership. Alignment begins with a single shared narrative, a clear understanding of why a product is launching or a market is being entered. Teams must co build plans rather than receive them top down, transforming departments into a unified ecosystem. Clear roles, responsibilities, success metrics, and risk mitigation plans are defined upfront, reducing friction and fostering accountability. When teams share ownership from the start, execution becomes seamless. As AI and cybersecurity solutions scale, Ms. Imenchal believes the most critical ethical question leaders must address is trust. As technology becomes more intelligent and intrusive, the line between protection and surveillance grows thinner. Transparency must come before capability, if technology cannot be explained clearly, it should not be deployed. Human judgment must remain central, with accountability never fully delegated to algorithms. Security, she insists, must never come at the expense of dignity. Ethical guardrails must be embedded from day one, not added later. To young women aspiring to senior leadership in tech and security, her advice is direct and deeply personal. Do not wait to feel ready. Opportunities rarely arrive at perfect moments. Difference is not a weakness, it is a competitive advantage. Mastery builds confidence, competence anchors credibility. Seek allies and sponsors who advocate for you, not just mentors. Say yes to roles that feel uncomfortable, because growth lives beyond familiarity. Protect your values

Jigar Sagar Building The Digital Backbone Of Entrepreneurship In The UAE & Bey By Jane Stevens For more than fifteen years, Jigar Sagar has been quietly shaping the UAE’s digital ecosystem, working at the intersection of government services, free zones, and entrepreneurship. Looking ahead, he believes the next major wave of digital transformation will move far beyond websites and portals. Free zones and government services, he says, will evolve into intelligent systems that anticipate business needs before founders even ask. Drawing from deep experience inside UAE free zones, he envisions unified platforms that handle licensing, renewals, banking, compliance, and immigration automatically in the background. The true transformation lies in removing administrative friction so entrepreneurs can focus on decisions that actually build value. Having founded and scaled more than thirty ventures with a combined value exceeding three hundred and fifty million dollars, Sagar’s decision making has become sharply focused. Today, he evaluates every new tech or AI venture through one defining lens, will it become mission critical in someone’s daily workflow, or is it merely a nice addition. If a product does not save time, reduce cost, or unlock new revenue at scale, he is willing to walk away. In his view, real innovation is not about buzzwords or polished presentations, but about removing pain points and changing behavior in meaningful ways. One of Sagar’s most notable contributions has been enabling the launch of over two hundred and fifty thousand entrepreneurs. To double that number in the next decade, he believes the ecosystem must undergo a fundamental shift. The answer lies in frictionless startup infrastructure. He imagines a one-click experience that covers company registration, banking, payments, and essential digital tools across borders. By standardizing onboarding across free zones, banks, and service providers into a single interoperable layer, millions of aspiring founders could move from idea to operation with unprecedented speed. The COVID 19 pandemic served as a real world stress test for business systems, and Sagar notes that five percent of all UAE company setups during that period came through his platforms. The lesson was clear, resilience cannot be optional. Systems that survived and thrived were digital by default, equipped with remote identity verification, electronic signatures, automated approvals, and online payments. Going forward, every business process must be designed with the assumption that physical access could disappear overnight, with redundancy, self service, and real time support built in from the start. By 2030, Sagar believes autonomous workflows, digital identity, and real time data will redefine how businesses are set up and regulated. The process will shift from static form filling to a living, data driven relationship between founders and regulators. Verified digital identities will allow entrepreneurs to launch companies, secure permits, and open bank accounts in minutes rather than weeks. Compliance will become adaptive rather than punitive, increasing speed for startups while maintaining trust and safety for authorities. After a successful exit from the UAE’s largest corporate services provider, Sagar sees a new blueprint emerging for scaling and exiting service based tech ecosystems. The future belongs to platform plus ecosystem models rather than traditional company plus client structures. Businesses that own standardized infrastructure such as data layers, workflows, and integrations create network effects that are difficult to replicate. This approach builds defensibility and long term value, making such companies far more attractive at scale. Through Triliv Holdings, which blends AI, finance, and emerging technologies, Sagar’s investment thesis is sharply defined. His next ten ventures will focus on AI powered infrastructure that helps entrepreneurs move faster in areas like compliance, finance, recruitment, and cross border expansion. He looks for businesses where AI is deeply embedded into the operating model rather than added as a surface feature, and where the model can scale across markets with an asset light structure and strong recurring revenue. Managing over three thousand employees across his companies, Sagar is also rethinking how teams operate in an AI driven future. His approach is to make AI the first layer of execution while keeping humans as the final layer of judgment. Every role is being redesigned around three questions, what can AI automate, what decisions must remain human, and how people can be trained to use AI as leverage rather than fear it. This balance ensures speed and efficiency without sacrificing accountability or ethics. As an investor judge on The Final Pitch Dubai, Sagar has observed founders at their most vulnerable, pitching under pressure. This experience has sharpened his ability to assess entrepreneurs beyond the slide deck. Clarity of thought, emotional resilience, and coachability now matter more to him than perfectly polished numbers. When evaluating founders off screen, he often asks whether they would still lead effectively under public pressure a year from now, or whether their narrative would collapse once the spotlight fades. At the core of Sagar’s long term vision is an ambitious goal, to empower one hundred million entrepreneurs worldwide. He believes this can only be achieved through a universal entrepreneur operating system built around four foundational pillars, Purpose, People, Product, and Process. Purpose provides direction and resilience, People ensure the right teams are built, Product creates differentiation, and Process allows technology, automation, and AI to carry the operational load. By pairing this four pillar framework with a trusted digital passport for founders, entrepreneurship becomes accessible infrastructure rather than a privilege. For Jigar Sagar, this is how ambition turns into impact, and how the digital backbone of global entrepreneurship can finally be built at scale.

Revolutionizing Wanderlust The Cutting Edge of Tourism & Hospitality Innovation By Peter Davis When Dr. Harmeek Singh reflects on his journey from arriving in Dubai with little more than a suitcase and a dream to leading one of the UAE’s most influential homegrown creative groups, he doesn’t point to a single breakthrough moment. Instead, he speaks of a series of formative experiences that quietly shaped his philosophy of “thinking beyond the obvious.” Resilience, empathy, and service became his compass early on, influenced deeply by his Sikh upbringing and the principle of seva, service without expectation. For Dr. Singh, creativity and leadership are inseparable from responsibility. Every idea begins with a simple but powerful question: Who might be left behind if this isn’t done thoughtfully. That philosophy has guided Plan b Group as it delivered some of the region’s most iconic large-scale events. According to Dr. Singh, the difference between a good idea and a truly groundbreaking one only becomes clear when imagination meets reality. Concepts must survive permits, budgets, weather, and logistics, but more importantly, they must resonate emotionally. A child asking to stay longer, strangers sharing a moment of joy, or a city embracing an idea—these are the signals that a project has moved beyond spectacle into meaning. Groundbreaking work, he believes, respects both the people building it and the people experiencing it. Being named among the World’s 100 Most Powerful Sikhs is an honor Dr. Singh views less as personal recognition and more as affirmation of the values that shape his leadership. Humility, patience, and generosity guide how he builds teams and makes decisions. At Plan B, culture comes before company. Talent matters, but character matters just as much. He takes greater pride in quiet victories than in public accolades: a young producer stepping confidently into responsibility, a team solving problems without blame, or a workplace where everyone feels seen and valued. These moments, he says, are what keep creativity grounded and authentic. As the UAE enters a new era of experiential storytelling, where technology, emotion, and national vision intersect—Dr. Singh sees the role of creative agencies evolving rapidly. Agencies are no longer just event producers; they are interpreters of culture and emotion. Technology should enhance human connection, not replace it. Success must be measured not only by scale or innovation, but by participation, safety, sentiment, and whether audiences feel compelled to return. As the country strengthens its position as a global cultural hub, balancing innovation with authenticity becomes essential. Inside Plan b, culture-driven leadership is not a slogan but a daily practice. Dr. Singh describes it as prioritizing people over processes and kindness over appearances. While events may look glamorous from the outside, the real work happens behind the scenes, supporting vendors, managing timelines, guiding volunteers, and ensuring public safety. Sustaining this culture across diverse creative disciplines requires modeling disciplined kindness and empowering teams to take ownership, especially of the unglamorous work that ultimately enables spectacular outcomes. In a market known for speed and constant change, Dr. Singh is cautious about chasing trends. His decision-making is guided by resilience, inclusivity, and clarity. Innovation is encouraged, but every idea must pass a test of meaningful impact. Will it resonate with people? Is it safe and sustainable? Will it leave a legacy rather than a fleeting impression? By balancing experimentation with thoughtful strategy, he believes relevance can be built for the long term, not just the moment. For young entrepreneurs who look to his journey as a blueprint, Dr. Singh is quick to challenge the myth of overnight success. The creative industry, he says, is built on invisible work—systems, contingency planning, and preparation for the unexpected. Weather shifts, last-minute challenges, and unforeseen constraints are constant companions. True success lies not just in flawless execution, but in preparing for both Plan A and Plan B, and treating setbacks as opportunities for growth. Asked what differentiates the UAE’s creative output from global markets, Dr. Singh points to three non-negotiables: clarity, composure, and service. Clarity ensures everyone understands the purpose, composure ensures audiences never see panic, and service ensures leadership is measured by who emerges stronger at the end, crews, partners, and communities alike. This blend of precision and empathy, he believes, is what sets the region apart. Among the many ambitious projects Plan B. has executed, those centered on women’s sports and participation platforms tested him the most. Seeing a mother complete her first 3K alongside her daughter, laughing, crying, and celebrating, remains a defining memory. It reinforced a lesson that continues to shape his leadership: real impact comes from creating environments that amplify joy, safety, and inclusion. As he mentors the next generation within his team, Dr. Singh looks for three non-negotiable qualities: courage, empathy, and accountability. He believes in giving young leaders real responsibility, along with guidance and the dignity of being heard. Watching interns grow into producers and then leaders is, for him, proof that empowering talent with trust is the most powerful way to build creative, strategic, and culturally aware leadership. Ultimately, Dr. Harmeek Singh’s story is not just about building events or organizations, it’s about building people, culture, and moments that endure. In an industry often driven by scale and spectacle, his leadership reminds us that the most lasting impact comes from thinking beyond the obvious and leading with humanity at the center of every vision.

Veronica Ortiz, Why Global Capital Is Choosing Dubai For Stability, Not Speculation By Jane Stevens Dubai’s real estate market has long captured global attention for its speed, scale, and ambition. Towers have risen where desert once stretched, and master-planned communities have taken shape with remarkable efficiency. Yet beneath the spectacle, a quieter and more consequential transformation is underway. Dubai is moving beyond its reputation as a speculative playground and asserting itself as a mature, globally competitive real estate market defined by clarity, resilience, and long-term vision. Few observers articulate this evolution as clearly as Veronica Ortiz, a seasoned real estate expert whose perspective is grounded not in short-term cycles but in enduring fundamentals. From investor confidence and shifting buyer profiles to the redefinition of luxury and the forces shaping the next phase of growth, Ortiz describes a market that no longer seeks validation from the world, but confidently sets its own benchmarks. This is not a story of hype, but of why global capital continues to flow into Dubai even as other markets feel increasingly unsteady. In a global environment marked by geopolitical tensions, fluctuating interest rates, and economic uncertainty, investor confidence is fragile. Yet Dubai continues to attract capital with notable consistency. Ortiz attributes this not to momentum, but to fundamentals. Political stability, a pro-business regulatory framework, and a clearly articulated economic roadmap offer something increasingly rare: predictability. Long-term residency options such as Golden Visas, alongside widespread foreign ownership rights, have lowered barriers for international investors, while transparent property laws have replaced the ambiguity that often deters capital elsewhere. Strong rental yields, healthy liquidity, and the absence of capital gains or annual property taxes further reinforce Dubai’s appeal. Coupled with its position as a global connector between Europe, Asia, and Africa, and sustained demand from tourism, business, and migration, the city’s real estate market is increasingly viewed as a long-term global city investment rather than a quick trade. Dubai’s off-plan and luxury segments are often compared to those in Europe or the United States, but Ortiz argues that such comparisons overlook what makes Dubai distinct. Off-plan entry pricing remains compelling, even in prime areas, particularly when measured against cities like London or New York. Flexible payment plans allow investors to manage exposure without excessive leverage, a key advantage in a higher-interest-rate environment. Regulatory safeguards such as escrow accounts, milestone-linked payments, and oversight by the Real Estate Regulatory Agency add layers of protection more commonly associated with mature markets. Speed of execution further differentiates Dubai, enabling investors to realize income or exit strategies sooner. Luxury demand, meanwhile, is driven less by speculation and more by high-net-worth migration, tax efficiency, and lifestyle appeal, creating a rare combination of capital appreciation and income potential. Looking ahead, Ortiz sees growth quietly compounding in segments rooted in genuine demand rather than hype. Branded and ultra-luxury residences continue to outperform due to scarcity and global recognition, while well-executed off-plan units in master-planned communities gain strength as these areas mature. Family-oriented housing, such as townhouses and low-rise apartments, benefits from owner-occupier demand and offers resilience that often goes unnoticed. Waterfront and lifestyle-led developments remain structurally undersupplied, supporting long-term appreciation, while transit-oriented projects near metro expansions and employment hubs reflect evolving lifestyle preferences. Properties aligned with long-term residency pathways add another layer of appeal, blending investment logic with lifestyle security. Perhaps the clearest sign of Dubai’s maturation is the changing profile of its buyers. Investors are no longer just deploying capital; many are relocating their lives. Entrepreneurs, families, and globally mobile professionals are increasingly prominent, drawn by business-friendly policies, long-term visas, and quality of life. High-net-worth individuals are purchasing primary and secondary residences rather than purely speculative assets, while younger professionals shape demand toward walkable, amenity-rich communities. This demographic shift supports more stable, long-term growth and reduces reliance on any single source market. Growth is increasingly concentrating in integrated, livable neighborhoods rather than isolated towers, signaling Dubai’s evolution into a city where real estate underpins life, not just returns. Beyond the headline-grabbing prime districts, Ortiz highlights several emerging areas offering value driven by infrastructure and real demand rather than speculation. Zones around Dubai Creek Harbour, Expo City, Dubai South, Al Jaddaf, Mohammed Bin Rashid City, Arjan, and Dubai Islands stand out for their connectivity, employment drivers, phased planning, and long-term livability. These characteristics point to sustainable growth rather than short-lived surges. Luxury itself is being redefined. According to Ortiz, it is no longer about excess, but about performance and experience. Wellness, natural light, air quality, smart living, sustainability, privacy, and flexible layouts now define premium living. Trust has become a luxury in its own right, with buyers placing greater emphasis on developer reputation, delivery timelines, and long-term asset protection. Luxury in Dubai has shifted from appearance to experience, and developers who understand this are setting the market’s new standards. For those navigating the off-plan market, Ortiz emphasizes discipline over hype. Developer track record, location fundamentals, and clarity of investment strategy matter more than marketing or launch pricing. When rental demand, realistic yields, and payment structures align with cash flow and exit planning, off-plan investing becomes a strategic tool rather than a speculative gamble. Global realities are reinforcing this discipline. Higher interest rates have reduced appetite for heavy leverage, encouraging cash purchases and flexible payment plans. Currency dynamics have positioned Dubai as compelling value for buyers from strong-currency regions, particularly in prime and luxury segments. Rising construction costs have sharpened focus on delivery certainty and developer credibility. The result is a market that is becoming more selective, more thoughtful, and more resilient. Sustainability, once peripheral, is now central. Green certifications, energy efficiency, and smart infrastructure are increasingly seen as tools for cost control, future-proofing, and resale strength. For globally mobile investors, sustainability is no longer a slogan but a value driver. As Dubai enters its next growth cycle, Ortiz sees a market shaped by quality, livability, and long-term thinking. Experience-led development, smart technology, ESG alignment, and community-focused planning will define future success. In shedding its old labels

Yousaf Abdul Naseer’s The Cutting Edge of Tourism & Hospitality Innovation By Peter Davis Yousaf Abdul Naseer’s path into content creation didn’t begin with a strategy or a desire for fame, but with simple curiosity and a genuine love for discovery. Exploring new places, tasting different cuisines, and sharing experiences with those around him came naturally. What started as casual sharing soon revealed something deeper: people trusted his recommendations and connected with the honesty behind them. Recognizing this connection, Yousaf transformed his passion into purposeful, well-crafted content that reflects real experiences rather than staged perfection. From the very beginning, authenticity became his guiding principle. Building a personal brand around food, lifestyle, and exploration was a gradual process. Yousaf didn’t chase trends or instant growth; instead, he documented what truly interested him, from hidden local eateries to emerging destinations across the UAE. Audiences responded to the relatability of his content and the care he put into details, from the flavors on the plate to the atmosphere of a place and the way it was visually captured.  Over time, his name became associated with trust, realism, and experiences that feel honest rather than curated for clicks. This same philosophy carried over into his entrepreneurial journey with LS Perfumes. Long fascinated by fragrances and the emotions they evoke, Yousaf spent years experimenting with blends and understanding how scent can express personality and elevate everyday moments. LS Perfumes was born from this passion, blending Arab olfactory heritage with a modern sensibility. Rather than launching generic products, he focused on creating fragrances with character, elegance, and a story—scents that make the wearer feel confident and present. For him, perfume is not just an accessory, but an extension of identity. Balancing life as both a content creator and an entrepreneur is not without its challenges, but Yousaf approaches it with structure and intention. Content creation remains a passion, while his business ventures provide long-term vision and stability. Each side feeds the other: content offers inspiration and exposure, while entrepreneurship grounds his creativity in purpose and sustainability. By organizing his time and setting clear priorities, he ensures that neither aspect overshadows the other. In today’s fast-paced social media world, Yousaf believes authenticity is the true differentiator. Audiences, he says, can quickly sense when content is forced or insincere. Simplicity, realism, and personality are what make content engaging. A genuine perspective, even when shared through a simple video or post, carries more impact than highly polished content that lacks emotion or truth. Like any creator, Yousaf faced challenges while building his personal brand, especially in a crowded and competitive influencer landscape. Proving himself and standing out took time. Criticism and pressure were part of the process, but instead of discouraging him, they became tools for growth. Consistency and self-belief helped him move forward, reinforcing his conviction that honest work always finds its audience. When it comes to collaborations, Yousaf is selective. He chooses brands and experiences that genuinely align with his values and lifestyle. Before promoting anything, he asks a simple question: would he personally use or visit it if there were no partnership involved? If the answer is no, he declines. For him, transparency with his audience is more valuable than any short-term gain. Some of his proudest moments come not from numbers or campaigns, but from the impact his content has on others. Messages from followers who visited a place based on his recommendation, enjoyed the experience, or felt inspired to start their own creative journey are what motivate him to keep evolving. These interactions affirm that his work goes beyond content—it influences choices and sparks creativity. Looking ahead, Yousaf sees influencer marketing in the UAE becoming more mature and value-driven. As the country continues to support creativity and the digital economy, the focus will shift from follower counts to meaningful impact. The future, he believes, belongs to creators who specialize, remain honest, and offer real value to their communities. With its diversity and opportunities, the UAE remains an ideal environment for content creators who are serious about their craft. To young creatives aspiring to build a sustainable online presence, Yousaf’s advice is clear: be yourself. Authenticity cannot be replicated, and imitation only delays growth. Building a strong identity takes time, consistency, and respect for your audience. Most importantly, he emphasizes enjoying the journey. Growth, learning, and self-discovery are just as important as success, and they shape the story behind every meaningful brand.

Beehive’s Billion-Dollar Buzz Peter Tavener & His Fintech Vision Are Reimagining SME Finance in the GCC After crossing the USD 1 billion SME funding milestone, Beehive’s CEO Peter leads a regional fintech revolution built on trust, technology, and purpose shaping the future of finance across the Gulf. By Hafsa Qadeer The glow of Dubai’s fintech skyline has a few names that have come to define innovation, but few shine as steadily as Beehive. For over a decade, the company has redefined how small and medium enterprises across the GCC access capital, bridging a gap that traditional finance long left open. Under the leadership of CEO Peter, Beehive recently celebrated a landmark achievement: crossing the one-billion-dollar milestone in SME funding. But for Peter, this isn’t simply a number on a balance sheet. It’s a story of thousands of businesses across the region that have found new life, growth, and confidence through a digital-first funding platform built on trust, technology, and purpose. Peter speaks of this achievement with a quiet pride that reflects both the company’s resilience and its clear vision. Beehive, now backed by e&, the Etisalat Group, is moving beyond milestones to momentum. Over the next twelve to eighteen months, the company is focused on expanding across the GCC with a mission to deepen financial inclusion, offering fast, digital, and accessible funding for enterprises that form the economic backbone of the region. Strategic partnerships, such as the structured funding deal with Goldman Sachs and the collaboration with Magellan Capital, have further strengthened Beehive’s institutional base, empowering it to grow responsibly while maintaining the disciplined underwriting and risk evaluation that have long defined its model. The company’s success story isn’t confined to the UAE. In Oman, Beehive’s partnership with Future Fund Oman has already channelled over 7.1 million OMR, or around eighteen million US dollars, in SME financing. In Saudi Arabia, the company is preparing for a transformative merger with Themar, a leading local peer-to-peer lending platform, designed to bring together global expertise, cutting-edge technology, and local market knowledge. For Beehive, these are not just regional expansions but affirmations of a vision that sees every small business as a potential driver of national growth. What sets Beehive apart isn’t just its scale, but its agility in adapting technology to solve real-world financing challenges. One of the company’s most significant shifts has been the integration of the Direct Debit System, an API-driven platform that digitized repayment collections. This change may sound technical, but its impact has been revolutionary. Gone are the days of manual cheque processing, delays, and administrative burden. Today, Beehive’s entire loan disbursement and repayment cycle runs electronically, enabling faster processing, same-day reconciliation, and enhanced predictability of cash flow. The system has brought greater transparency and control, reducing operational friction while improving repayment reliability. For the company’s finance teams, it’s a transformation that replaced paperwork with precision, freeing them to focus on what truly matters, helping SMEs grow. Behind these operational advances lies a deeper story of discipline. Even with a USD 140 million structured funding deal in place, Beehive continues to balance rapid growth with rigorous risk management. Over the years, it has invested heavily in strengthening its credit assessment models, integrating AI tools that allow faster, smarter evaluations without compromising quality. The results are telling. With a non-performing loan ratio below two percent and a default rate at zero this year, Beehive’s performance stands well above the regional banking average. For Peter, this precision isn’t just about protecting investors, it’s about ensuring the ecosystem of small businesses that rely on Beehive remains stable, confident, and supported. Yet Beehive’s financial ecosystem extends beyond pure technology and data. At its heart lies a strong alignment with regional values, particularly through its Sharia-compliant financing model. A significant portion of the company’s SME funding is Sharia-approved, reflecting both market demand and cultural integrity. Supported by a dedicated Sharia Supervisory Board, Beehive ensures that its products adhere to Islamic finance principles while meeting the fast-paced needs of modern enterprises. The alignment of Sharia compliance with environmental, social, and governance (ESG) values has also positioned Beehive as a leader in ethical and responsible investing. For Peter, the connection is natural, both frameworks emphasize fairness, transparency, and long-term positive impact. Expanding across the GCC comes with its own complexities, from regulatory frameworks to cultural nuances. Oman’s SME landscape, while rapidly developing, still faces limited access to financing compared to the UAE, prompting Beehive to focus on increasing both awareness and accessibility. Saudi Arabia, by contrast, presents a fast-moving and highly competitive market, powered by national goals that prioritize innovation and entrepreneurship. Beehive’s approach in both markets is rooted in adaptability, local partnerships, and respect for local business culture. By maintaining a centralized product framework and tailoring it to each market’s regulatory and economic realities, the company ensures consistency, scalability, and relevance across borders. Technology remains the heartbeat of Beehive’s innovation strategy. Artificial intelligence and alternative data are not distant concepts but practical tools already shaping its operations. AI-driven credit screening now enables quicker and more accurate assessments, while automation has replaced repetitive data tasks, allowing human teams to focus on strategic analysis and customer engagement. For Beehive, technology isn’t just a differentiator, it’s a catalyst for democratizing access to finance. As Peter often emphasizes, the goal is to make funding faster, smarter, and simpler for every entrepreneur who dares to dream bigger. Sustainability, too, has found a permanent place within Beehive’s DNA. As global investor sentiment shifts toward responsible finance, the company has proactively embedded ESG metrics into its loan origination and monitoring processes. By evaluating businesses not only for their financial performance but also for their environmental and social footprint, Beehive identifies enterprises that are resilient and future-ready. Transparency remains at the core of this approach, with detailed quarterly reports offering investors insights into portfolio performance, repayment trends, and risk distribution. The company’s licensing under the DFSA in the UAE and the FSA in Oman further strengthens its governance framework, ensuring investor protection

Helen Kareva, The Art of Redefining Corporate Humanity By Hafsa Qadeer When Helen Kareva moved to Dubai a few years ago, she expected new horizons, but she did not expect silence. Not the literal kind, but a professional quiet that muffled the voices of people like her, skilled, experienced, and yet somehow unseen. She and her co-founder had both spent years in corporate and creative worlds, speaking at panels and events back home, but when they tried to enter the global speaking circuit, they found the doors half closed. They attended conferences and panels hoping to find a way in, and what they saw unsettled them. The same speakers appeared again and again. The same ideas recycled on different stages. Meanwhile, thousands of professionals with real stories to tell were left behind. It was not a question of talent, Helen realized. It was a question of access. From that silence came SpeakUp, a platform built not just to help people talk, but to help ideas travel. “We wanted to build something that made finding and booking the right voice as easy as calling an Uber,” Helen says. The mission was audacious, but its roots were deeply human. SpeakUp was not born in a boardroom; it was born out of a longing for connection, a frustration with barriers, and a belief that intelligence, both human and artificial, could bring people together. The Bridge That Didn’t Exist Before SpeakUp, the speaking industry was fragmented. Traditional agencies promoted only high-priced speakers because commissions mattered more than discovery. The same familiar faces dominated conference stages. Organizers spent weeks messaging contacts and sifting through databases. Speakers filled out endless forms that led nowhere. The industry was running on legacy systems in a world that had already gone digital. Helen and her team decided to fix what no one else dared to. They created an AI-powered ecosystem where speakers, organizers, podcasters, and journalists could connect directly without intermediaries. Their matching system analyzes event goals, audience demographics, speaker expertise, and engagement metrics to make intelligent pairings within seconds. Conversations happen inside the app. Bookings can be confirmed instantly. Teams can collaborate in one shared space without ever touching a spreadsheet. “It’s not just a tool,” Helen explains. “It’s an infrastructure for global communication.” That sentence captures the quiet revolution behind SpeakUp. It does not just simplify logistics; it rewrites the rules of who gets to be heard. For decades, access to a microphone depended on money, networks, and location. Helen wanted to break that hierarchy. In her words, SpeakUp is “for every brilliant mind who was told their voice was too new, too different, or simply not on the list.” Learning to Walk Again The path to building SpeakUp was neither linear nor smooth. Right after filming The Final Pitch Dubai, Helen’s life shifted dramatically when she was diagnosed with a giant cell tumor in her leg. While the company was expanding across markets, she was recovering from surgery and learning to walk again. The contrast between physical stillness and professional momentum was profound. “After you’ve learned to walk again, everything else feels easy,” she says softly. “It changed everything about how I see leadership, resilience, and balance.” In that difficult season, Helen discovered that the most important kind of strength is not loud; it is quiet, patient, and deeply human. She began to see entrepreneurship not as a race, but as an endurance journey, a process of continuous adjustment. “When you’ve faced something like that, you stop fearing business challenges,” she reflects. “Investor negotiations or product pivots stop feeling like real problems. They’re just part of the process.” That experience also taught her to trust her team more deeply. She learned to let go, to slow down, and to focus on purpose rather than pressure. “The hardest part of entrepreneurship,” she smiles, “was learning to walk again. Everything else is just a series of small adjustments on the way to a bigger goal.” The Rise of Intelligent Connection Today, SpeakUp operates in more than twenty-eight countries and is quietly reshaping the global speaking ecosystem. Its AI not only matches speakers with events but also generates analytics that reveal what topics audiences engage with, where diversity gaps exist, and which conversations are shaping industries. Helen believes the next decade will redefine how ideas travel. “AI is not a trend,” she says. “It is a revolution in how people, ideas, and opportunities connect.” Her prediction is bold but grounded in real data. On average, SpeakUp users save fifty hours per month on coordination tasks. Booking cycles are ten times faster, and speaker matches are sixty percent more relevant than before. A process that once took months now happens in minutes. For Helen, efficiency is only part of the story. The real transformation is emotional, restoring human energy to an industry that had become mechanical. “When booking a speaker becomes as easy as booking a flight, you give people back their time, but also their excitement. You remind them why they wanted to tell stories in the first place.” Building a Culture of Courage and Humor Inside SpeakUp, Helen’s leadership philosophy feels refreshingly different. She often jokes that leadership is thirty percent strategy, thirty percent chaos management, and forty percent coffee, but her humor hides a deeper truth. “You cannot build innovation on fear,” she says. “Only on energy and purpose.” She believes in clarity over control, trust over micromanagement. Every team member is encouraged to experiment boldly and fail gracefully. “We have a simple rule,” she smiles. “Don’t bring me problems, bring me experiments.” Some of SpeakUp’s most celebrated features were born from what she calls “beautiful accidents,” when a small mistake sparked a bigger idea. Her team celebrates small wins, mixes memes with investor updates, and speaks to each other like equals. It is a culture that values intelligence and empathy in equal measure. “Leadership for me is not about being the loudest voice in the room,” Helen says. “It’s about creating a space where every

Adil Hussain The Ethical Architect Redefining The Future Of Islamic Finance By Paul Smith In an era of economic volatility, social uncertainty, and rapidly shifting technological landscapes, conversations around the future of finance often drift toward algorithms, automation, and the next big digital disruption. Yet amid this noise, a quieter, more profound narrative is emerging, one rooted in ethics, shared prosperity, and trust. It is in this space that Adil Hussain, a respected voice in Shariah-compliant finance, places his life’s work. His philosophy is both bold and measured, grounded in the belief that Islamic finance is not simply a moral alternative but a blueprint for a fairer, more stable global financial system. Speaking with the depth of someone who understands both the tradition and the trajectory of Islamic finance, Hussain describes a sector on the brink of transformation, a shift that will reframe how economies define value, measure prosperity, and distribute opportunity. “Islamic finance is evolving from a niche ethical framework into a major pillar of the global financial system,” he says. It is this evolution, grounded in principles of fairness, transparency, and real economic value, that positions Islamic finance as a powerful force for the decade ahead. A New Global Financial Pillar For decades, Islamic finance has existed alongside conventional banking, growing steadily, respected widely, but often viewed as a specialised model serving specific markets. Hussain believes that era is ending. The world’s priorities are changing. Investors are demanding purpose alongside profit. Communities are asking for accountability. Governments are rethinking how to build sustainable economic systems. In this environment, the principles of Islamic finance do not merely fit, they lead. Hussain outlines three defining shifts shaping the future: deep integration with ESG frameworks, rapid digital transformation, and stronger international harmonisation. Each plays a crucial role, but together they form a comprehensive strategy for global expansion. The alignment with ESG is particularly powerful. Islamic finance, at its core, has always emphasised social justice, environmental stewardship, and ethical investment, values that ESG frameworks are only now prioritising on a global scale. “In a world seeking stability and trust,” he reflects, “these principles ensure Islamic finance’s continued relevance and influence.” It’s a statement not of aspiration, but of inevitability. Technology as a Catalyst for Ethical Innovation One of the misconceptions about Islamic finance is that its grounding in tradition makes it cautious in adopting technology. Hussain challenges this narrative directly. For him, technology is not an external force pressing against Islamic finance, it is a tool that reinforces its foundations. He speaks with enthusiasm about fintech platforms delivering Shariah-compliant services to markets that conventional banks have historically overlooked. Mobile banking, AI-driven advisory tools, and automated compliance systems are creating unprecedented levels of access and efficiency. But perhaps the most transformative innovation is blockchain. Blockchain, Hussain explains, introduces a new era of traceability, authenticity, and transparency, characteristics deeply aligned with Islamic financial ethics. Smart contracts ensure adherence to Shariah principles automatically, while digital sukuk offer efficiency, lower costs, and global accessibility. Blockchain does not dilute Islamic finance; it amplifies its strengths. “Technology is not just modernising Islamic finance,” he says. “It is reinforcing its ethical foundation.” In an industry that prizes integrity, this marriage of ethics and innovation feels almost inevitable. Driving Sustainable and Socially Responsible Growth As global conversations shift toward sustainability and long-term value creation, Hussain sees Islamic finance playing a powerful role across the GCC and beyond. His vision is not theoretical. It is rooted in tangible avenues where Islamic finance is uniquely equipped to lead: renewable energy, affordable housing, community development, and infrastructure that directly improves lives. These are not projects chosen for optics, they reflect Islamic finance’s fundamental obligation to avoid harm and promote societal benefit. By embedding these values in ESG frameworks, Hussain believes Islamic finance can help shape a new global investment narrative, one where success is measured not only by profit margins but by social and environmental impact. Expanding Into New Markets, Bridging New Minds But expansion never comes without challenges. While the appetite for ethical finance is growing worldwide, awareness of Shariah-compliant models remains uneven. Hussain acknowledges this with the pragmatism of someone who has worked extensively in international markets. “Misconceptions exist,” he notes. Some believe Islamic finance is rigid; others think it is exclusively religious. Education, he argues, is essential. So is building regulatory infrastructure, training local talent, and harmonising Shariah governance across borders. Yet the opportunity is immense. Even countries with small or non-Muslim populations are exploring Islamic finance instruments as ethical alternatives that prioritise transparency and stability. “Ethical and sustainable finance is a universal language,” he says. And Islamic finance, he believes, speaks it fluently. Financial Inclusion: A Mission Rooted in Justice The global struggle for financial inclusion, especially across emerging economies, sits at the heart of Hussain’s vision. He sees Islamic finance’s emphasis on fairness, risk-sharing, and asset-backed transactions as a natural solution. Digital wallets, mobile banking platforms, and Shariah-compliant microfinance tools are already transforming access for low-income households, small businesses, and remote communities. “By combining ethical rigor with innovative delivery,” Hussain says, “Islamic finance can empower individuals and communities while upholding justice and shared prosperity.” At a time when many financial systems are criticised for deepening inequality, his argument is compelling. Leadership for the New Financial Landscape When discussing the future custodians of Islamic finance, Hussain speaks not just as a practitioner but as a mentor. Leaders of the next era, he says, must balance technical expertise with moral conviction. They must understand Shariah deeply but embrace innovation fearlessly. They must be global in outlook but unwavering in principle. “Leadership grounded in integrity and purpose will position Islamic finance as a model for responsible global finance,” he notes. In a world increasingly wary of institutions, his insistence on ethical leadership feels not only wise but necessary. Lessons From a Global Crisis The COVID-19 pandemic, Hussain reflects, was a litmus test. While many industries struggled to adapt, Islamic finance demonstrated resilience rooted in its principles. Digital transformation accelerated. Fintech