Business leadership doesn’t follow a single path. Some leaders build companies that solve everyday challenges. Others rethink industries, introduce new ideas, or help people and organisations reach their full potential. What they all have in common is a commitment to creating meaningful impact through their work.
The Most Influential Business Leaders to Watch in 2026 recognizes professionals who are shaping the future in their own way. These influential business leaders represent different industries, experiences, and perspectives, but each has earned respect through dedication, innovation, and consistent results.
This year’s list includes Tajit Kaur, who is helping businesses build stronger financial foundations through trusted advisory services. Kory Ivey continues to inspire people by turning life’s toughest challenges into lessons in resilience and perseverance. Norman Formisano is exploring a different side of artificial intelligence, one that strengthens empathy and human connection. Dr. Ahmed Gawish is helping organisations across the Middle East and Africa accelerate growth through strategic marketing, brand development, and innovative Third-Party Marketing (3PMarketing) solutions.
The list also features Iram Kauser, whose expertise is helping organizations improve execution and achieve sustainable growth. Morena Natalija Devereux continues to bring together entrepreneurship, culture, and hospitality through her diverse ventures. With decades of experience, Mohammed Sohel Albeirouti has built a respected legacy in luxury interiors and design. Carmen Potgieter is redefining executive leadership by helping organizations align priorities and operate more effectively behind the scenes. Kashif Ansari is transforming cross-border real estate through technology, making global property transactions simpler and more connected. Jarmila Somolányiová helps individuals and families build and protect lasting wealth through strategic financial planning grounded in trust and long-term vision.
Each of these influential business leaders has built success on their own terms. Their stories reflect different ambitions, different industries, and different approaches to leadership. Together, they show that influence is not measured by following the same path but by creating one worth following.
Meet the Influential Business Leaders—How They Revolutionize
Below, we introduce the influential business leaders featured in this edition. Each profile highlights a unique journey, the values that drive their success, and the impact they continue to make within their industry and beyond.
Kashif Ansari’s Journey of Building a Business with Purpose
In an industry where trust and transparency play a crucial role, leaders like Kashif Ansari are offering exactly the same. A real estate and technology entrepreneur, Kashif works from a single belief: property should be as simple to transact as anything else people buy with confidence. His vision is to simplify buying, selling, and investing in real estate to the touch of a button, and to connect the world’s markets so seamlessly that a buyer in one country can transact with the same confidence in another as they would at home.
Backed by a strong academic foundation, including a Bachelor’s degree in Accounting from the University of Karachi, and an MBA specialising in Marketing, Finance, and Management, Kashif has even completed the Executive Leadership Program in Innovation and Entrepreneurship at Harvard University.
As the Co-Founder and Group Chief Executive Officer of Juwai IQI, Kashif has built an international real estate technology group that powers property transactions and ownership across borders. Most platforms serve one side of a transaction, but Juwai IQI serves the whole chain, connecting developers, investors, buyers, and agents on common ground.
Starting from a founding team of six, he has grown the company into a network of over 65,000 property professionals working out of more than 56 offices in 35 countries across Asia, the Middle East, Europe, Australia, Africa, and North America. Kashif’s ambition is best measured in how the group moves.
In 2025, Juwai IQI recorded USD 4.3 billion in global sales across primary and secondary markets. The group advertises USD 4 trillion worth of property drawn from 135 countries, generates 10.2 million monthly consumer engagements, and partners with more than 1,700 renowned developers. It has built Atlas, its proprietary agent super app, and IQPilot, an enterprise-grade AI platform, placing technology at the center of how property is marketed, sold, and owned. Today, Juwai IQI is recognized as Malaysia’s largest proptech company by MDEC.
Kashif brings more than three decades of experience in the industry to that work, with a career spanning Asia-Pacific, the Middle East and North Africa, North America, and Europe. Before co-founding Juwai IQI, he was part of one of the United Arab Emirates’ largest business groups, representing over 200 companies across automotive, FMCG, healthcare, manufacturing, construction, and real estate. That grounding in operating across markets and sectors shaped the way he has since scaled a company designed to be global from its first day.
Beyond business, he has committed the group to net-zero emissions and carbon-neutral certification by 2030. With a firm belief that commercial success and social responsibility are inseparable, IQI Cares gives every department a standing monthly budget to support the causes its people care about most, starting from orphanages, food banks, and cancer care to refugee welfare, healthcare, education, and community development.
Recognised with multiple honors and accolades, Kashif Ansari is not just reshaping the real estate sector; his journey is a constant reminder that business and sustainability can go hand-in-hand.
Tajit Kaur | Building Businesses Through Trust and Financial Clarity
For many entrepreneurs, starting a business is exciting. Managing the finances that come with it is often the difficult part. Tajit Kaur believes that every business owner deserves financial clarity, practical guidance, and someone they can trust to help them make confident decisions. That belief became the foundation of S and T Global FZ LLC, the UAE-based accounting, bookkeeping, tax, and business advisory firm she founded in 2021.
Today, S and T Global supports more than 200 businesses across the UAE and has assisted with the incorporation of over 20 companies. The firm provides accounting, bookkeeping, VAT, corporate tax, payroll, compliance, and CFO advisory services, helping businesses stay financially organised while allowing founders to focus on growth.
Tajit’s journey began in Punjab, India, before she moved to the UAE with a clear goal of building a career on her own terms. With an MBA in Finance and Marketing from KCL-IMT and a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from Guru Nanak Dev University, she started gaining hands-on experience in finance and business operations. Her roles at Aroma Advertising LLC and A and A Associates gave her valuable insight into accounting, payroll, VAT compliance, financial reporting, and the day-to-day challenges businesses face.
Instead of taking the traditional career path, Tajit chose to build something of her own. She started as a freelancer, earning the trust of business owners one client at a time. Many of her earliest supporters were women entrepreneurs who believed in her knowledge, trusted her with their businesses, and encouraged her to take the next step by launching her own firm. Their confidence became the foundation on which S and T Global was built.
That trust became even more meaningful during the uncertainty of the COVID-19 pandemic. While many businesses were facing financial challenges, her clients continued to rely on her guidance, stayed with her, and recommended her services to others. For Tajit, those relationships became proof that good accounting is about more than numbers. It is about being dependable when people need support the most.
Today, women-led businesses make up nearly 60% of S and T Global’s client base, something Tajit considers one of her proudest achievements. She regularly offers free consultations to women entrepreneurs, helping them understand their financial responsibilities, build strong bookkeeping practices, and make informed decisions as they grow their businesses. Her goal is not simply to manage accounts, but to give business owners the confidence to understand their finances and plan for the future.
For Tajit, success is measured by the businesses that grow with confidence because they have a strong financial foundation. Through S and T Global, she continues to help entrepreneurs simplify complex financial processes, stay compliant, and make better business decisions. Her work is built on a simple belief: when business owners understand their numbers, they are better equipped to build lasting success.
Kory Ivey | Transformational Speaker | Creator of 3P Soup™: Recipe for Success | Founder of 30-Day LifeChanger™
In a world where discipline, resilience, and confidence are the pillars of success, leaders like Kory Ivey are helping people achieve the same through practical solutions and experiences.
His message didn’t come from reading books about success.
His message wasn’t written with ink.
No. It was written with scars, setbacks, failures, and pushing through pain one step at a time.
Long before Kory Ivey became known for 3P Soup™: Recipe for Success and the 30-Day LifeChanger™, life tested every principle he would one day teach.
A devastating staph infection put Kory into a coma. When he woke up, the guys in the white coats gave him a 10% chance of walking again and only a 30% chance of talking.
Kory wasn’t buying the goods they were selling.
He had two daughters waiting for him.
Giving up was never going to get him home.
Day by day.
Step by step.
Piece by piece.
He learned to walk, talk, and rebuild his life all over again.
Looking back, Kory wouldn’t wish those experiences on anyone.
But he also knows they forged the man he became. Every setback left a lesson. Every defeat built character. The pain was real… but so was his determination to get back up one more time.
That’s where 3P Soup™: Recipe for Success was built.
As a philosophy learned the hard way.
Patience.
When everything that can go wrong does.
Persistence.
When you want to quit but don’t.
Perseverance.
Getting back up again, and again, and again.
Success takes time. Progress takes one step at a time. A little here. A little there. Then, just like a pot of soup simmering on the stove, everything begins to come together.
Sometimes it looks like nothing is happening. It’s easy to think you’ve failed. But underneath the surface, it’s all coming together.
“If it ain’t working yet… it ain’t done cooking.” – Kory Ivey
Those principles became the foundation for the 30-Day LifeChanger™, a program Kory created to help others find the character inside themselves that refuses to quit.
Today, Kory continues writing, speaking, creating, and expanding the 3P Soup™ philosophy and the 30-Day LifeChanger™.
Those who know Kory personally describe him in three words:
Character. Honesty. Straightforward.
Kory Ivey’s the kind of person who tells you the truth, even when it’s hard to hear, and would give you the shirt off his back if you needed it.
Norman Formisano on Reshaping AI as a Tool for Empathy
At times when technological advancements are often believed to be an alternative to human touch, leaders like Norman Formisano are busting this myth. An Australian entrepreneur, and author, he is the founder of UNSENT, an Artificial Intelligence company dedicated to helping people better understand human communication. His work sits at the intersection of technology, psychology, ethics, and emotional intelligence, driven by a simple belief: the world’s greatest misunderstandings often begin with conversations that were never truly understood.
Over a career leading large technology teams and building businesses across multiple industries, Norman developed a deep appreciation for how data can reveal patterns that people often miss. While technology has become increasingly capable of predicting what we buy, where we travel, and how we work, he believes its greatest opportunity lies in helping us understand one another. This philosophy became the foundation of UNSENT.
Rather than creating another chatbot, Norman envisioned a new category of technology—one that could analyse conversations with context, recognise emotional patterns over time, and provide thoughtful insight before people react impulsively. Under his leadership, UNSENT has evolved into an emotionally intelligent communication platform designed to help individuals navigate relationships, conflict, dating, families, workplaces, and everyday conversations with greater clarity and self-awareness.
Alongside the technology, Norman authored UNSENT, a philosophical work exploring communication in the age of artificial intelligence. The book argues that AI should not replace human connection but strengthen it by encouraging empathy, reflection, accountability, and understanding. It serves as both the intellectual foundation of the company and a broader vision for a future where technology enhances humanity rather than competing with it.
His leadership philosophy is grounded in stewardship over ownership. He advocates for responsible AI development, privacy by design, and products that empower users rather than create dependency. Throughout the development of UNSENT, he has consistently championed ethical safeguards, transparency, and human dignity as essential principles of innovation.
Today, Norman continues to lead UNSENT with an ambitious vision: to build one of the world’s first communication intelligence platforms capable of helping millions of people better understand not only the conversations they have with others, but also the conversations they have with themselves.
Norman believes that while Artificial Intelligence may become one of humanity’s greatest inventions, its highest purpose will never be replacing human connection—it will be helping us rediscover it.
Morena Natalija Devereux | Connecting Cultures and Memories
A multifaceted professional, who has reflected her expertise across sectors, from Public Relations to building global brands, Morena Natalija Devereux delivers excellence in everything she does. Bringing over two decades of experience in shaping the luxury drink and fashion industry, she has led some of the most influential projects throughout her career.
Alongside being an award-winning luxury and marketing expert, Morena is the owner of La Jolla Ink, a healthy drink and snacks line spanning across the globe. Being committed to bring a healthy drink alternative in the market that brings together the most influential people of art and media, she is ready to launch Ciao Morena by La Jolla Ink, a result of her one year of hard work and research. Born from Morena’s passion for travel, hospitality, and creating unforgettable experiences, Ciao Morena is her way of celebrating the luxury of sharing exceptional moments.
Currently with the undergoing discussions for potential collaboration opportunities, Morena is envisioning to expand the brand with an international wellness group and a major cruise line as well. Moreover, Ciao Morena is all aligned to offer more than just healthy juices, including gourmet popcorn and chips, signature cocktails, tea, mineral water, and more.
Parallel to these, she is even the Founder of Room 404, where she empowers brands to unlock their true potential. Sitting at the intersection of strategy, creativity, and culture, the company is bridging the gap between brands and their potential clients.
Morena even created a gastronomic travelogue TV series with a British writer that is up for negotiations in a few international media houses. As a 12-episode series of culinary travel adventures, the show is expected to invite well-known celebrities from international sport, fashion, art, design, or showbusiness to join Morena for a meal in a location of exceptional beauty.
Recognised as a Top 30 Inspiring Woman for her contributions in the industry, today, Morena Natalija Devereux is connecting people across cultures through her work.
LinkedIn | Instagram | Ciao Morena | Room 404
How One of the World’s Rarest Mathematicians Is Helping Businesses Scale Profitably
As one of just 75,000 qualified actuaries in the world, Iram Kauser has spent the past 16 years solving some of the most complex commercial challenges businesses face. Often described as the mathematicians behind billion-dollar decisions, actuaries specialise in understanding how risk, pricing, profitability and complex systems interact.
A Dubai-based business leader, mathematician and operations expert, Iram has held senior leadership positions across the Middle East, Africa, Europe and the United Kingdom with global organisations including MetLife and AIG.
In her corporate career, Iram served as Chief of Staff to a regional CEO, managing executive priorities across more than 150 staff, and directed pricing and portfolio strategy for a multi-line book worth more than $100 million spanning the Middle East and Africa. Her track record also includes securing a $40 million partnership with a major regional bank, a new market launch generating over $20 million in projected revenue, and lifting profitability while cutting operational processing times and costs across multiple global organisations.
Today, she is the Founder and CEO of Pivot Prime, an operations and execution consultancy supporting founders, SMEs and leadership teams across the Middle East and Africa.
Throughout her career, Iram saw that most businesses struggle because execution breaks down. Founders become bottlenecks, teams work in silos, sales outgrow delivery capacity and profit quietly leaks through inefficient processes and unclear accountability.
She founded Pivot Prime to close that gap.
Rather than operating as a traditional advisory consultancy, Pivot Prime works alongside leadership teams to diagnose what is holding the business back, build the necessary operating structure and convert strategic plans into measurable commercial results.
That same execution focus now runs through Pivot Prime’s client work. Iram leads a team supporting clients across retail, wellness, luxury goods, fintech and real estate, as well as insurance and insurtech — a deliberately sector-agnostic model, because the operational problems that stall growth look remarkably similar whatever the industry. The results are already showing. For one client, a pricing redesign took the business from loss-making to a projected 13 percent profit margin, with breakeven inside 11 months; the same engagement grew the brand’s audience engagement nearly eighteen-fold as part of its go-to-market push. From pricing strategy and go-to-market execution to full operational build-out, the focus is always the same: converting plans into commercial outcomes.
Iram believes that in the age of Artificial Intelligence, strategy is becoming increasingly accessible. The real competitive advantage now lies in a company’s ability to execute. Through Pivot Prime, she helps businesses identify the operational constraints limiting growth, strengthen pricing and profitability, and build scalable operating models. The consultancy supports businesses through Fractional COO engagements, operational transformation projects and UAE market entry, giving founders and leadership teams the structure and execution capability needed to scale successfully.
Today, her vision is clear: to establish Pivot Prime as the GCC’s trusted execution partner for businesses ready to scale with greater clarity, control and profitability. Moving beyond traditional consultancy, Iram Kauser is helping businesses turn ambitious growth into measurable commercial results.
Mohammed Sohel Albeirouti’s Journey to Shaping the Design Industry
As an experienced professional in the interior design and furniture industry, Mohammed Sohel Albeirouti brings nearly three decades of unmatched experience in this field globally. With expertise across project management, manufacturing, and luxury interior execution, he is a leader who believes in leading through innovation and strategic vision.
Alongside offering an international perspective on the industry, he is currently pursuing a Master’s in Business Administration, a reflection of his dedication to stay ahead of the curve.
As the Founder and Owner of Century Decor, Albeirouti has built a trusted organization, which is today, known for its quality, innovation, and the excellence of its services. Based in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, it offers services to high-profile residential, hospitality, and governmental projects. With a vision to turn every space into a timeless expression of luxury and elegance, Century Decor has an experienced team who align their expertise with the company’s vision.
Offering a unique blend of creative vision, operational leadership, and strategic thinking, Albeirouti drives design excellence and long-term growth. Every project under his leadership reflects his keen eye for detail and commitment to quality. His portfolio includes several prestigious projects, including the interior decoration of the Jeddah Governorate building, reflecting the growth and reputation Century Decor has built under his leadership.
From interior design to furniture selection and procurement, every project of Mohammed Sohel Albeirouti speaks of the strong legacy he has built.
LinkedIn | Instagram | Facebook | YouTube | Website
Carmen Potgieter on Shaping the Modern Executive Landscape
In today’s rapidly evolving business landscape, executives like Carmen Potgieter are reshaping what operational leadership should look like. As a Senior Executive Assistant to the CEO at Numeral Group, she effectively aligns people, priorities, and business objectives for the group’s sustainable growth. From managing dynamic executive priorities to coordinating high-level board meetings, she effectively bridges the gap between excellence and organizational success.
With a career spanning across hospitality, office management, and executive operations, today, her role has evolved into a trusted advisor who operates at the heart of executive leadership and strategic decision-making.
Carmen’s exceptional relationship-building skills, proactive leadership, and operational excellence are what set her apart in her field. At Numeral Group, she plays an active role ensuring that strategies translate into impactful results between the senior leaders and international stakeholders of the company.
Over the years, her belief has remained clear: modern executive support extends far beyond administration. She champions the evolution of the Executive Business Partner as a strategic contributor, someone who anticipates challenges, enables executive effectiveness, and creates the structure that allows organizations to thrive. She reflects, “I believe in leading with a leadership approach that is rooted in trust, integrity, emotional intelligence, adaptability, and empowering others to succeed.”
A strong advocate for innovation and continuous improvement, Carmen embraces emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence and modern project management platforms, to enhance productivity and operational excellence. Currently pursuing a Bachelor’s in Business Administration, reflects her commitment to lifelong learning and growth.
Passionate about fostering positive workplace cultures, Carmen Potgieter envisions building a space where communication, recognition, and meaningful relationships inspire high-performing teams.
LinkedIn | Instagram | Website
Sustainable Wealth Creation from the Lens of Jarmila Somolányiová
Wealth creation is not always about momentary success; rather it depends on how well it is sustained. Leaders like Jarmila Somolányiová understand that this industry is not just about profit; it is about trust, transparency, and clarity. As a financial advisor with nearly two decades of experience, including 18 years at PARTNERS GROUP SK and one year with Zurich, Jarmila is ranked as the top VIP Consultant at PARTNERS GROUP SK in 2023 and has been amongst the top personal producers across the country.
Having lived and worked in the USA and Portugal, Jarmila brings a global perspective to financial advising. Additionally, her strong academic background in Mathematics and Applied Economics, including an ongoing MBA in Digital Marketing, makes her stand apart from the rest. As someone who believes in staying updated with the latest industry developments, she attends global conferences and summits, including the MDRT Global Conference, where she also serves as a speaker. A 4-time MDRT® (Million Dollar Round Table®) Member, she made history as the first Slovak speaker on MDRT grounds in Greece, 2024, and as the first Slovak MDRT Annual Meeting speaker at Anaheim, 2026.
As the Founder and CEO of Imperium ZENity®, Jarmila has built a strategic wealth architecture brand that runs on the core philosophy: “Build and Protect Your Imperium™.” Working with clients with demanding careers and limited time, she helps them prepare for the bigger picture, empowering them to protect and sustain wealth across decades. From risk management to portfolio and cash-flow architecture, her unparalleled expertise helps her create bespoke solutions meeting client requirements.
Recognising her excellence in this field, she has been awarded a Financial Hall of Fame® Lifetime Contribution Award in Anaheim, USA, 2026. Outside of work, Jarmila is a dedicated mother, an outdoor activities enthusiast, including whitewater kayaking, backcountry skiing, and running, and a proud owner of two Belgian shepherds.
For Jarmila Somolányiová, leadership is a reflection of the trust built all along the way. Today, through Imperium ZENity®, she is reshaping wealth creation for individuals and families alike, offering clarity and confidence to build strong legacies.
The One-Stop Solution for Business Growth | SIVA Concept of Marketing & Management
In a rapidly evolving business world, having the right marketing strategy is essential for long-term growth. Across the Middle East and Africa, SIVA Concept of Marketing & Management has built its reputation by helping businesses strengthen their market presence and achieve sustainable success. Founded by Dr. Ahmed Gawish, the company is driven by a clear vision of creating lasting business value rather than short-term gains.
Dr. Ahmed Gawish is a specialist in marketing strategies and Integrated Marketing Communications (IMC). Widely recognized in the industry as “The Brand Maker,” he has helped businesses develop stronger brands, effective market strategies, and sustainable growth plans. Alongside SIVA Concept of Marketing & Management, he also founded SIVA Transco, a digital marketing agency focused on supporting businesses through digital transformation.
SIVA Concept of Marketing & Management is the first Third-Party Marketing (3PMarketing) solutions company in the Middle East and Africa. The company helps organizations unlock their growth potential through practical marketing solutions backed by industry expertise and regional market knowledge. Its experienced team works closely with clients to deliver strategies that produce measurable business results.
Having completed more than 100 projects for over 50 clients, SIVA continues to support businesses with tailored marketing solutions that align with their commercial objectives. The company focuses on helping brands build meaningful relationships with customers while creating a strong foundation for long-term success.
As a one-stop business growth partner, SIVA aligns pricing strategies, manages trade spending, and helps businesses protect their margins while scaling operations. The company also handles regulatory filings and approvals, supports cross-border market entry, and works with distributors to ensure performance targets and business KPIs are achieved. By connecting global brands with GCC markets, SIVA simplifies expansion across the region.
Its regional network and regulatory expertise help businesses reduce market entry risks while strengthening their brand presence. Through its integrated approach, SIVA enables organizations to expand with greater confidence and build lasting recognition across the Middle East and Africa.
For businesses looking to grow, expand, and establish a stronger presence in the region, SIVA Concept of Marketing & Management provides the expertise, strategy, and market knowledge needed to turn ambitious goals into measurable business success.
Dr. Ahmed Gawish | SIVA Concept of Marketing & Management | SIVA Transco
Conclusion
Leadership continues to evolve alongside the business world. While industries change and new challenges emerge, the ability to lead with purpose, adapt to change, and create lasting value remains constant. That is what defines the influential business leaders featured in this edition.
Each leader has followed a different path, overcome different challenges, and achieved success in their own way. Together, they reflect the diversity, ambition, and innovation shaping today’s business landscape. As they continue to grow, inspire, and push boundaries, these influential business leaders will undoubtedly remain names to watch in 2026 and the years ahead.
Read more:
Top 10 Visionary Leaders Shaping The Future of Business
Top 10 Influential Business Leaders to Watch
