Strategy Speakers in UAE

Dr. Samy is a passionate strategist with the purpose to help organizations and teams exploit their full potential and create their envisioned future. He is the current Executive Director of Strategy & Future at the Higher Colleges of Technology based in the United Arab Emirates and the Head of their UNESCO-UNEVOC center. A senior accomplished and award-winning executive and advisor with over 20 years of experience in Consulting, Government, Higher Education, and Digital Technologies sectors. Proven record of leading large-scale complex transformational projects and change initiatives at the global, national, and organizational levels with multinational teams and in partnership with world-renowned management consulting firms. He comes with significant board and governance experience in global not-for-profits and national government-led executive boards. He is also the chairperson of the Global Goodman Award for Excellence in Strategy hosted by the International Association for Strategy Professionals.

Waleed Mustafa has 25 years of experience in Pharma, FMCG, and Medical Devices, with the last 14 years specializing in Market Access and Tender Management. He has worked with top industry leaders in both innovative and generic manufacturing, excelling in business development, market research, price optimization, and regulatory compliance. He holds a degree in Pharmaceutical Sciences and an MBA in Strategic Management, complemented by advanced training in marketing, finance, and data analysis. A recognized speaker, Waleed has shared insights on pricing, tendering, and market strategy at numerous industry forums and conferences

Industrial age strategizing is dead Company and CEO lifecycles have halved in the past 20 years Welcome to the Post Industrial Age where VUCA (Volatility Uncertainty Complexity Ambiguity) is the new economic reality Adapt Fast or join the Dodo Our clients have zero tolerance for waste, they are hyper-focused on building wealth. Together we share an agnostic approach in adopting practical high impact tools and frameworks inorder to build resilience and growth, fast.

Stefan is a restaurant concept creator, masterplanner and strategist. He was recognized as No.4 in the Middle East 'Power 50' in 2019, based in Dubai with otehr studios in London, Bangkok. He is an FandB strategist, marketer and serial concept creator across hotels, malls and free standing restaurants. Previous senior regional positions include Marriott, IHG, TRIBE, Hilton, Thistle, Burger King and Ernst and Young.

Salman Siddiqui is a certified accountant by profession. Currently, he is working as the Director in the Assurance Services practice of PwC. He has over 20 years of experience and has been involved in the audit of many small and large corporates over the years in Pakistan, USA and the Middle East. Three years ago, he started his own fashion label under the name of Sheeba Kapadia, which focuses in the creation of high end haute couture. As the CEO, Salman looks after the strategic aspects of brand development and marketing of the brand.

Rajeev Kakar is a senior banking professional at Fullerton Financial. He is an experienced banker and a serial business founder and entrepreneur, currently serving as an Independent Non-Executive Director at both Gulf International Bank, Bahrain and KSA. He also serves at Eurobank Ergasias SA, Greece, as a nominee of Asian Development Bank and as the Director on the Board of Satin Creditcare Finance, India. He also serves as a member of the Global Advisory Board of the prestigious University of Chicago, Booth School of Business, and also as a Member of the Industry Advisory Board of the SP Jain School.

Dr. Somdutta Singh, a dynamic leader and first-generation serial entrepreneur, exemplifies transformative leadership in innovation and business. An MIT and Harvard Business School alumna, she has achieved multi-million dollar exits by 26 and led over 50 global startup investments. As the Founder and CEO of Assiduus Global Inc., a trailblazer in cross-border E-commerce, she drives the company toward its goal of achieving billion-dollar revenue by 2025, aspiring to be the first Asian woman to IPO globally.

Ranked 8th in the 2022 Deloitte India Technology Fast 50, Dr. Singh's vision has earned her 40+ prestigious awards, including Fortune India's 50 Most Powerful Business Women. As the youngest Vice-Chairperson of the NASSCOM Product Council, she championed the Women Entrepreneurship Platform, inspiring future leaders. Beyond her entrepreneurial success, she dedicates herself to social development, youth education, and thought leadership, making her an influential voice in global business and innovation.

 

Richie Santosdiaz is an economic development advisor and management consulting specialist with nearly 20 years of global experience across Europe, North America, the Middle East, and Africa. With deep expertise in internationalization, he advises governments and multinationals on economic diversification, international trade, foreign direct investment (FDI), and global business expansion. Richie’s cross-sectoral focus spans fintech, financial inclusion, digitalization, agriculture, tourism, tech, and the creative industries—areas where he has led strategy, implementation, and capacity-building projects.

Richie previously served as Head of Strategy for a niche consulting firm before founding his own company, Santos-Diaz LLC. He is also widely recognized for his thought leadership, contributing columns to global platforms such as the World Economic Forum and Forbes, and speaking at major conferences worldwide. As an advisor to The Fintech Times, Richie authors the annual “Economic Development Through Fintech: The Middle East and Africa Report,” reinforcing his expertise in emerging markets and digital economies.

Chris is the Founder and CEO of The Innovation Alliance, a global network of tech executives and innovation leaders dedicated to helping organizations build world-class innovation engines. Before launching his company, Chris spent 13+ years at top tech firms, including Apple and Google USA. At Google, he led the North American Inbound Sales organization and served as an advisor to Google's Innovation Lab. In 2023, Harvard Business School highlighted Google's Innovation Lab in a case study featuring Chris. Beyond his corporate roles, Chris is the author of The Innovation Scorecard, a faculty member at the European Institute of Innovation for Sustainability and a trusted advisor to the United Nations in Vienna.

Wasfi is a bestselling, six-time award-winning author and globally certified executive coach with 16 years of experience across tech startups, global market expansion, and leadership development. He has worked across more than 20 markets spanning the GCC, Europe, Africa, and Asia.

As the Founder & CEO of IVIC Decisions, a Dubai-based leadership research laboratory, Wasfi advises government entities, multinational corporations, high-growth startups, and entrepreneurs on decision-making, leadership clarity, and strategic execution. His career includes senior roles in business development, global expansion, and regional talent development.

With over a decade of coaching leaders through complexity and uncertainty, Wasfi blends science, philosophy, and real-world execution into powerful, actionable insights. His mutli-award-winning book, Doubt to Certainty, positioned him as a sought-after keynote speaker and facilitator across London, Dubai, and Toronto, delivering consistently high-ROI experiences that audiences remember and apply.