Business leadership today doesn’t follow one formula. Some leaders perfect a craft until it becomes an art form. Others build platforms to solve problems they lived through themselves. Some push the boundaries of science, while others reshape how industries think about value and purpose. What unites them is the discipline to lead with clarity and conviction.
This edition features the top 10 business leaders: Nicolas Huguenin-Bergenat, redefining the sound of Swiss watchmaking through his acoustic expertise at LabChime Sàrl. Dolly Smayra continues to guide investors across the UAE with three decades of real estate expertise. Israa Sami is driving climate resilience across the MENA region through LAST Consultancy and Sustaining MENA. Christina Taft is reshaping how the luxury sector understands philanthropy through Luxury for Good. Sivaramakrishnan Kannan has built International Marketing Services into a trusted name in the global recycling metals trade, while Dr. Nisim Perets is advancing neuroscience and brain-computer interface technology through Itay&Beyond and NurExone Biologic.
The list also includes Muhammed Shabreen, who brings nearly two decades of technology leadership, from Google to his role as CTO of CNTXT AI. Professor Graham Shapiro has spent over thirty years turning invention and design into solutions that protect lives and support entrepreneurs. Andrew Pek is helping individuals and organisations grow through AI-enabled coaching at Amiko Coach, and Cristina Passione Calò is transforming the creator economy through Starflare.AI, a platform born from her own experience as a creator. Each has taken a different route to influence, but all share the same conviction: meaningful work outlasts any single milestone.
Learn about the top 10 business leaders featured in this article and see how their journey takes place.
Meet the Top 10 Business Leaders Making a Global Impact
The following profiles introduces the mentioned top 10 business leaders in more depth, exploring their paths, their philosophies, and the impact they continue to make.
Nicolas Huguenin-Bergenat | Shaping the Next Era of Watchmaking with Innovation
As part of a new generation of Swiss entrepreneurs, Nicolas Huguenin-Bergenat is playing an equally important role in redefining the boundaries between engineering, high-calibre craftsmanship, and technological innovation. As founder and CEO of LabChime Sàrl, based at the heart of the Swiss watchmaking ecosystem, he has chosen to devote himself to one of the most fascinating and exclusive aspects of Haute Horlogerie: sound. Drawing on his expertise in sound mechanisms, acoustic signatures, and high-end horological complications, Nicolas transforms timepieces into truly emotional experiences, capable of being heard as much as they are admired.
What sets Nicolas apart lies not only in his technical mastery but also in his vision of innovation. Hailing from a region where watchmaking expertise has been passed down through generations, he regards every mechanism as a story, every sound as an identity, and every project as an opportunity to create lasting and unique value.
Trained at the prestigious Audemars Piguet Renaud & Papi, Nicolas discovered at a very early age what would become one of his greatest passions: the sound of a watch and the ability of a mechanism to evoke emotion through its acoustics. After qualifying as a watchmaker and restorer, he naturally continued his career by enrolling at a higher education institution to specialise in movement construction. For him, this step represented far more than an academic progression: it was the logical extension of his ambition to design exceptional timepieces, combining reliability, technical innovation, and uniqueness.
Throughout his career, he has built a reputation as a specialist capable of tackling the most complex technical challenges whilst maintaining a pragmatic approach, focused on the needs of his partners and the creation of long-term value. Whenever he has the opportunity, he willingly devotes his time as a supply teacher at the technical college in Le Locle, where he mainly teaches watchmaking theory.
Today, through LabChime, Nicolas supports watchmakers, manufacturers, innovators, and independent watchmakers who seek to differentiate themselves through a unique acoustic identity and the excellence of Swiss craftsmanship. To meet this demand, LabChime Sàrl offers services in watch development, manufacturing, and the qualification of gongs. But his ambition extends far beyond the products themselves: Nicolas is building a bridge between watchmaking tradition and cutting-edge technologies to shape the next generation of innovations in the fields of watchmaking and sensory experience.
For investors, industrial partners, and innovation leaders, Nicolas Huguenin-Bergenat embodies the profile of an entrepreneur who has become a rarity: deeply rooted in the heritage of Swiss craftsmanship, resolutely forward-looking and convinced that emotional value and technical excellence will be the driving forces behind the luxury industries of tomorrow.
LinkedIn | Instagram | Website
Dolly Smayra | The Woman Behind Some of the Smartest Real Estate Investments
In a dynamic industry like that of real estate and investment, leaders like Dolly Smayra are playing pivotal roles in empowering people to make the right choices. With over 30 years of experience in the UAE and Middle East, Dolly, Co-Founder of Homes & Beyond Real Estate, has built her reputation on one simple principle — “helping people make strategic, profitable investment decisions.”
Over the years, Dolly has become a trusted advisor to investors, high-net-worth individuals, family offices, and wealth managers from around the world. Whether clients are purchasing their first investment property or expanding a global portfolio, they rely on her market expertise, integrity, and hands-on guidance every step of the way.
With experience spanning across the UAE’s most prestigious residential and commercial developments across Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and Ras Al Khaimah, she has even covered iconic destinations including Al Marjan Island and Dubai Islands. Aligning with the zero tax on property purchases and capital gains in the UAE’s real estate market, she ensures her clients get the best returns out of their investments.
Dolly has proudly represented the UAE real estate market at leading international investment exhibitions and roadshows across Europe, the United Kingdom, the United States, Canada, Australia, and Africa, connecting global investors with exceptional opportunities in one of the world’s most dynamic property markets.
While luxury real estate remains a cornerstone of her business, Dolly is equally passionate about identifying strategic commercial investment opportunities, particularly within DIFC and ADGM, where she believes growth continues to outperform.
What sets Dolly apart is her commitment to supporting clients beyond the property purchase. She provides end-to-end investor guidance, including UAE Golden Visa assistance, company formation and business setup, bank account opening support, investment structuring, holiday-home furnishing and interior solutions, and cost-effective renovations designed to maximize rental returns and capital appreciation. Apart from her exceptional guidance in investment, Dolly even offers Golden Visa assistance and advisory services for the creation of Trusts and Wills.
Today, Dolly’s vision extends well beyond the UAE. She carefully curates international investment opportunities in Thailand, Georgia, Bali, and Greece. With a focus on premium waterfront developments, tourism-driven destinations, and residency and citizenship-by-investment programs, Dolly helps her clients diversify their wealth and expand their global lifestyle.
For Dolly Smayra, real estate has never been limited to buying and selling property; it’s more about building lasting relationships, creating legacy, and helping clients invest with confidence wherever the best potential exists.
LinkedIn | Instagram | Website
Sustainable Transformation and Global Impact through the Lens of Israa Sami
Still in her early thirties, Israa Sami is the Founder and Consultant of LAST Consultancy and one of the defining young voices shaping the future of sustainability and Climate resilience across the region. Ask for her title and she’ll gently resist the question; she’s never seen herself as any one role, but as something broader. “I don’t like being called a CEO. I do whatever it takes to commit to my beliefs and turn them into measurable impact. And that is never captured in the job description of any title,” Sami states.
Her journey began early during her university years, shaped by a strong family business heritage that fostered an early understanding of enterprise. Instead of following a traditional entrepreneurial path, Sami set out to demonstrate that business can be a catalyst for positive change, delivering measurable environmental and social impact alongside strong economic performance.
What followed was a journey of bold bets and hard-won lessons. Sami has launched a range of startups; some that failed and others that succeeded, and has built a growing investment portfolio along the way. She was also among the early adopters of carbon markets in Egypt, recognising their potential long before they entered the mainstream, and helping to lay the groundwork for a market that is now reshaping how the region approaches climate action.
Today, that vision drives everything she builds. Through LAST Consultancy, she leads work across ESG, carbon markets, sustainable transformation, and social impact. That same purpose gave rise to Sustaining MENA — a regional platform led by LAST Consultancy, dedicated to advancing sustainability across the Middle East and North Africa by bringing people and organisations together and nurturing knowledge, collaboration, and opportunity for a more sustainable and resilient region.
It is through Sustaining MENA that Sami channels her deepest belief: sustainability and social impact are inseparable. The platform proudly supports her latest initiative, ICCWE: the first International Colloquium on Climate Change in Wind Engineering, and the first IAWE event ever held on African soil. More than a scientific milestone, ICCWE embodies her mission to empower the MENA region and prove it is ready not just to participate in the global conversation, but to lead it.
In a world searching for leaders who pair vision with action, Israa Sami is exactly the kind of entrepreneur to watch — not just in 2026, but for the decade to come.
LinkedIn | israa@lastconsultancy.com
Bridging Luxury and Purpose with a Broader Vision | Christina Taft
Luxury has traditionally been defined by craftsmanship, heritage, and exclusivity. Today, however, the conversation is gradually expanding. Increasingly, there is recognition that influence also carries responsibility, creating space for leaders who believe luxury can contribute to something beyond commercial success.
Christina Taft is among those encouraging that perspective. As the founder of Luxury for Good, she has created a Monaco-inspired platform centred on philanthropy, responsible leadership, and meaningful connections across the global luxury sector. Built on the belief that true luxury creates lasting positive impact, the platform highlights how generosity, integrity, and discretion can stand alongside excellence and innovation.
Rather than positioning philanthropy as something separate from business, Luxury for Good encourages collaboration between luxury brands, family offices, entrepreneurs, philanthropists, and investors who share a commitment to meaningful causes. The idea is straightforward: success and social responsibility are not opposing goals. When brought together with purpose, they can reinforce one another while preserving the values that have long defined the luxury industry.
Christina’s perspective has been shaped by her studies in Luxury Management at the International University of Monaco, where she developed a deeper understanding of luxury strategy, brand management, and the changing expectations of high-net-worth and ultra-high-net-worth communities. Her work also includes media and filmmaking projects exploring themes of legacy, leadership, and philanthropy, adding another dimension to the conversations she continues to champion.
Her approach is equally influenced by the people she admires. Christina often credits her mother, Victoria Taft, whose integrity, warmth, discretion, and elegance have shaped her outlook. She also draws inspiration from Princess Grace of Monaco, whose enduring legacy of philanthropy and cultural contribution continues to reflect the values Christina hopes to promote through Luxury for Good.
As expectations of leadership continue to evolve, Christina Taft is contributing to a broader conversation about the future of luxury. Through Luxury for Good, she is encouraging partnerships that demonstrate how commercial achievement and social responsibility can complement one another, showing that lasting influence is measured not only by success, but also by the positive impact it leaves behind.
LinkedIn | Website | Luxury for Good
Sivaramakrishnan Kannan’s Journey to Shaping the Next Era of Circular Economy
Among the leaders championing sustainability, Sivaramakrishnan Kannan is playing a crucial role. With more than 15 years of experience, including 8 years in the recycling metal trade, Sivaramakrishnan is the Founder, Consultant, and Managing Partner of International Marketing Services (IMS). With expertise across recycling metals industry, customer service, banking, accounting, and international business, he has been offering his services globally.
Throughout his career, Sivaramakrishnan has led through multiple roles, each giving him an exposure to the business world, ultimately becoming the foundation for founding International Marketing Services (IMS). Partnering with global suppliers to facilitate the trade of ferrous, non-ferrous, and minor metals, and related products through IMS.
At IMS, Sivaramakrishnan’s mission is simple yet strong: to empower businesses in the scrap processing projects. From offering expert services in these projects, to connecting clients with machinery suppliers to reduce costs, IMS has expanded to support overseas suppliers in establishing profitable scrap processing yards in Chennai as well. Moreover, the expert team at IMS offers consultancy services for setting up trading companies in the UAE. With these extensive services, IMS is aligned with Sivaramakrishnan’s vision to promote sustainable practices in the recycling industry.
Under Sivaramakrishnan’s leadership, IMS has earned its place among the trusted names in the global landscape. Delivering impactful and customer-centric solutions, he ensures that alongside operational excellence, the solutions also create a lasting positive impact on the society.
Through innovation, integrity, and transparency, Sivaramakrishnan Kannan has not just built a successful venture; he is shaping the future of the industry.
Shaping the Future of Neuroscience and Deep tech | Dr. Nisim Perets
Very few leaders bring the passion at the intersection of science and innovation like Dr. Nisim Perets does. A multifaceted expert, Dr. Perets is a neuroscientist, entrepreneur, and deep-tech innovator, specializing in regenerative medicine, neurobiology, and advanced human brain models for drug discovery and advanced brain-machine interface technologies.
Alongside a Master’s in Computational Neuroscience from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, followed by a Ph.D. in Neurobiology from Tel Aviv University, he even completed his postdoctoral training at the Technion – Israel Institute of Technology. This strong academic foundation has helped him become the leader he is today.
During his doctoral research, Dr. Perets pioneered a novel therapeutic approach based on exosomes (naturally occurring extracellular nanoparticles) delivered through an intranasal formulation (Via nose drops). His work demonstrated the potential of non-invasive exosome-based therapies for treating complex neurological disorders, including spinal cord injury and autism spectrum disorder, opening new directions in regenerative neuroscience. His research resulted in several highly influential scientific publications that have collectively been cited thousands of times by the international scientific community.
The discoveries also led to multiple patent families that formed the scientific foundation of NurExone Biologic (NRX), a biotechnology company advancing non-invasive exosome-based therapies for spinal cord injury toward FDA-supported clinical development. NurExone Biologic is currently traded on several stock exchanges worldwide: the TSXV in Canada, the OTC market in the United States, and the Frankfurt Stock Exchange in Germany.
In 2021, Dr. Perets founded Itay&Beyond and is now the Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Itay&Beyond.Itay&Beyond, a Neurotech company, is developing the next-generation Brain-on-a-Chip platform based on human brain organoids (lab-grown brain tissues) and artificial intelligence. The company’s technology is designed to improve drug discovery and precision medicine for neurological and psychiatric disorders, including autism, epilepsy, and other complex brain diseases.
Beyond his current leadership roles, Dr. Perets is also a serial entrepreneur involved in the creation of multiple ventures developing breakthrough technologies in biotechnology, regenerative medicine, and deep-tech.
Dr. Perets is an award-winning scientist, an experienced lecturer, and an innovation leader whose work has been widely featured in Israeli and international media. With a clear vision of combining nanotechnology, brain-computer interfaces, and artificial intelligence, Dr. Nisim Perets is actively driving impactful results in the field of healthcare toward a new generation of technologies for drug development, neurotech, and beyond.
Muhammed Shabreen’s Journey to Shaping the Future of AI
Amidst the rapidly growing tech industry, there are leaders like Muhammed Shabreen who are actively shaping such transformations. As a technology leader and entrepreneur with nearly two decades of experience, Shabreen brings a unique blend of strategic vision and expertise that makes him stand apart. From building startups, scaling global technology organizations, to delivering products which are used by millions, he has worked with some of the top names in the global landscape, including Google and Nokia.
With leadership experience across artificial intelligence, fintech, payments, trading systems, and enterprise software, Shabreen has led several startups from inception through fundraising, commercial growth, and has had two successful exits so far. Building and leading high-performing teams, across his career path, he has made exceptional contributions in fueling business growth.
At Google, Shabreen contributed to the launch of AI Core and led complex AI and machine-learning initiatives involving on-device LLMs, ML infrastructure, and hardware-accelerated AI frameworks. He brings deep expertise in foundation AI, particularly speech models and conversational AI, alongside experience building payments and trading platforms that have generated millions of dollars in attributed revenue.
As the co-founder of Actualize, he built an Arabic Voice AI infrastructure for the MENA region, alongside scaling the company from founding to acquisition by CNTXT AI in under two years. Currently as the Chief Technology Officer at CNTXT AI, he plays a pivotal role in shaping its growth in the global market.
Over the last two decades, Muhammed Shabreen’s journey, from building startups to offering his expertise at Google, reflects his dedication and commitment to shape ideas into reality.
Professor Graham Shapiro | Turning Ideas into Innovations That Make a Difference
Some people build successful businesses. Others create ideas that continue to make an impact long after they are launched. Professor Graham Shapiro has spent his career doing both. As an inventor, designer, entrepreneur, and educator, he has dedicated more than three decades to developing products, supporting innovation, and helping others turn ideas into reality.
Professor Shapiro is the founder of Graham Shapiro Design (GSD), a creative consultancy that has worked with many of the world’s most respected brands. Over the years, his team has delivered branding, digital platforms, and communication solutions for organisations across a wide range of industries. His work reflects a simple belief that good design should solve problems as well as communicate ideas.
Innovation has remained at the heart of his journey. Among his best-known inventions are the Interloopmailer® and Reggie® Firedrill. The latter is the world’s first GPS-powered fire drill platform, developed to improve emergency preparedness and help organisations conduct safer and more effective evacuation exercises. Already trusted by leading automotive brands, the technology has also received recognition from senior figures within the UK’s fire and rescue sector for its potential to save lives.
Alongside his business ventures, Professor Shapiro has made a lasting contribution to education. He serves as Professor of Innovation and Entrepreneurship at the University of Westminster, Professor in Practice at the University of Dundee, and Ambassador of Innovation for the University of Cambridge. Through these roles, he works closely with students, researchers, and entrepreneurs, encouraging practical thinking and helping transform ideas into successful ventures.
His professional achievements are matched by his commitment to giving back. Through The Graham Shapiro Foundation, he supports initiatives focused on mental health, well-being, innovation, and youth entrepreneurship. The foundation reflects his belief that success should create opportunities for others, especially the next generation of innovators.
A Fellow of the Chartered Society of Designers, the Chartered Institute of Marketing, and the Royal Society of Arts, Professor Graham Shapiro has earned recognition across business, design, and academia. Yet his work continues to be guided by the same principle that has shaped his career from the beginning: use creativity to solve real problems and leave a positive impact.
Today, Professor Graham Shapiro continues to combine innovation, education, and entrepreneurship in ways that benefit businesses, communities, and future generations. His journey is a reminder that the most valuable ideas are often those that improve everyday lives.
LinkedIn | Website | Graham Shapiro Design (GSD®) | Instagram | GSD® LinkedIn
Andrew Pek’s Journey to Empowering AI-enabled Leadership
In the current times when AI is becoming a crucial part of every industry, leaders like Andrew Pek are redefining how it can be used to enhance human skills. As an educator, author, strategic advisor, and entrepreneur, he brings more than two decades of experience in driving growth and transformation across organizations.
Leading through senior leadership roles across industries throughout his career, Andrew is currently the Founder & CEO of Amiko Coach, a human-centered AI coaching platform designed to scale leadership, growth, and performance. Through the platform, he helps and guides individuals and organizations to unlock their full potential. Andrew states, “By combining AI with principles of coaching, leadership development, and behavioral science, we are redefining how individuals and organizations grow in an increasingly complex world.”
From Andrew’s perspective, the future will be defined by how humans use AI to elevate their skills and decision-making. With this philosophy in mind, he wrote the book “The Thinking Partner: How Al and Human Collaboration Are Transforming the Way We Think, Decide, and Lead.” The book deeply explores the question: what if AI actually becomes better thinkers than humans, and offers its readers a better alternative that can reshape how we see AI. Rather than AI being the replacement for thinking, Andrew believes it can become a source of more meaningful decisions, better questions, and deeper reflection for humans.
Parallel to his consulting and entrepreneurial work, Andrew even has experience as a guest lecturer at leading universities including Cornell University and New York University. As a sought-after speaker, he frequently shares his insights at conferences, universities, and professional associations, on topics ranging from AI to leadership development. His exceptional contributions and thought leadership have even been recognised and featured on global platforms, including The New York Times and NBC.
Though Andrew Pek plays a variety of roles, from being an author to offering consultancy, his mission remains the same: empowering people to become the best version of themselves even when the world around them is being rapidly shaped by AI.
Cristina Passione Calò | Building a Better Space for Creators and Brands
Cristina Passione Calò understands the creator economy from personal experience. Before becoming a founder, she was a creator herself. With more than one million interactions through her work, she saw the challenges creators faced when working with brands, from unclear campaigns and delayed payments to partnerships that did not always feel right.
Instead of accepting those problems, she decided to build a solution.
Today, Cristina is the CEO and Co-Founder of Starflare.AI, a platform designed to connect creators and brands through clearer and more practical partnerships. Her experience gave her a direct understanding of what was missing in the market and what creators actually needed.
Starflare puts creators at the centre of its approach. While the platform uses technology to support influencer marketing, Cristina remains focused on the people behind it. She believes creators deserve a stronger voice and greater clarity when working with brands.
Building the company also changed her as a leader. Cristina learned to handle uncertainty, break large problems into smaller ones, and involve her team early when making decisions. She believes different perspectives often lead to better answers.
Community has been another important part of Starflare’s growth. By encouraging creators to bring other creators into the platform, the company recorded a 30% increase in registrations and built a community of more than 4,000 active creators before expanding its brand outreach.
Cristina also wants to see greater transparency across influencer marketing. Contracts, payments, and expectations should be easier to understand, she believes. Creators should know the value of their work and feel respected throughout the process.
Her journey from creator to entrepreneur is a natural reflection of that belief. Cristina did not build a company around a problem she had only studied. She experienced it herself, then decided to create something better.
Today, she continues to grow Starflare.AI with the same purpose that started the journey: making brand partnerships more meaningful for creators and more effective for businesses.
Conclusion
Global impact rarely looks the same twice. It can be found in a watch mechanism engineered for sound, a platform built to protect creators, or a lab pushing the limits of neuroscience. What connects the top 10 business leaders featured here is not their industry, but the intention behind their work.
Each of the top 10 business leaders on this list has built something that reflects their own values and vision for the future — a reminder that global impact is built one deliberate decision at a time.
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