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ME PoV Spring 2025 issue

Next-generation business

Next-generation business
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A word from the editorial team

Spring is a time of renewal and new beginnings, and in this issue of the Middle East Point of View, we explore the forces shaping the future of leadership, innovation, and strategy across the region. As we move forward in a time of undeniable transformation, next generation business strategies are vital for companies to stay competitive, embrace emerging technologies, and drive sustainable growth in a constantly evolving marketplace.

In their article, Leadership blueprint in fostering sustainable business growth, Ranjith Chandra and Nandana Kalubowila highlight the pivotal role of leadership in cultivating sustainable business growth. They emphasize how adapting business models to environmental, social, andgovernance (ESG) factors can create long term value and ensure sustainability in an ever-changing market.

In The evolution of software and asset management (SAM) in the era of AI, Tamer Charife and Fahed Qutteineh explore how artificial intelligence is reshaping the area of software and asset management. They explain how, “Whether it is risk avoidance, return on investment, or enhancing operational efficiency, SAM plays a pivotal role in driving value across the enterprise.”

Ali Abdul Aziz provides an in-depth analysis of Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 and its impact on the banking sector in Vision 2030 and the KSA banking industry: Key challenge and strategic opportunities. Abdul Aziz highlights how, “As the Kingdom continues its progress toward Vision 2030 and works to diversify its economy, the banking sector continues to be pivotal in facilitating this transformation.”

In Reimagining the DNA of internal audit (IA): The journey to revolutionize the IA function, Dina Fakih and Fady Sameh touch upon how digital transformation is significantly restructuring the internal audit landscape and how technologies such as AI and data analytics enable IA to deliver timely and comprehensive insights, driving efficiency and effectiveness in risk management.

In Board evaluations: Leveraging technology and best practices for greater impact, Melissa Scully presents insights into modernizing board evaluations. Through the use of technological tools and best practices, organizations can enhance governance structures and make more informed decisions at the highest levels of leadership.

Dania Nourallah, Ujjwal Deep, and Maha Chehab tackle the challenges of managing cultural change in their article Cultural change management for a multigenerational workforce. With multiple generations working side by side, businesses mustfoster inclusivity, adaptability, and continuous learning to maintain aharmonious and productive environment.

In Customer Centricity: Embracing the outside-in perspective, Nour Khoury explores how companies can benefit from adopting a customer-first mindset. By shifting their focus from internal operations to external customer needs, organizations can build stronger relationships andachieve sustainable growth.

Alexios Zachariadis and Sally Hafez take us on a journey into the future of selfdriving cars in The road ahead: Autonomous vehicle manufacturing and adoption in the GCC. Their article explores both the opportunities and challenges in the automotive sector as the region embraces this transformative technology.

Finally, Demystifying ethical AI: A guide to modern-day governance by Eliza Lozan, Sarah Yahia, and Aws AlMasri delves into the connection between ethics, technology, and regulation. In a rapidly advancing AI environment, understanding regulatory frameworks is essential for businesses to ensure responsible innovation and compliance.

From leadership and sustainability to the rise of AI, technology, and evolving workforce dynamics, this issue provides a strategic roadmap for organizations aiming to thrive in the next generation of business. By embracing change and encouraging innovation at every level, companies can ensure long-term success in a world that continues to grow more intricately. We hope you enjoy reading this Spring issue of the Middle East Point of View.

The ME PoV Editorial Team

Cultural change management for a multigenerational workforce

Organizations are at a critical inflection point, where digital transformation, artificial intelligence (AI), workforce demographics, and shifting cultural expectations converge. Five generations—baby boomers, Gen X, millennials, Gen Z, and Generation Alpha —are now co-existing in the workplace, each bringing distinct values and diverse backgrounds, including differences in religion, ethnicity, education, language, life experience, and varying work preferences and expectations. 

Board evaluations: Leveraging technology and best practices for greater impact

Across organizations, there is an ever-changing list of strategic priorities demanding the attention of boards and executives. These priorities are emerging during an era of fast paced technological advancements, shifting market dynamics, and evolving geopolitical conditions. Deloitte research shows that directors seek more robust boardroom discussions on mission-critical topics such as talent, sustainability, and generative AI, to name a few. 

Demystifying ethical AI: A guide to modern-day governance

As artificial intelligence (AI) continues to evolve at an unprecedented pace, global discussions increasingly stress the urgent need for regulatory frameworks to ensure AI serves society responsibly. Policymakers and industry leaders worldwide recognize that without well-structured laws, AI could disrupt economies, infringe on rights, and introduce unforeseen risks. 

Customer centricity: Embracing the outside-in perspective

Marketing and brand management have undergone significant changes in the past decade, mainly driven by rapid advancements in technology and their impact on customers’ daily lives. Widespread internet access, the evolution of e-commerce, the availability of information, and more recently, the rise of AI, have shifted the balance of power from brands to customers. This shift allows customers to set the narrative and influence brand perception and behavior.

The road ahead: Autonomous vehicle manufacturing and adoption in the GCC

Autonomous vehicles are bound to revolutionize the transportation and mobility landscape, integrating advanced technologies to navigate and operate without human intervention. These vehicles rely on a combination of custom high-definition maps, artificial intelligence, on-board sensors, cameras, and connectivity modules to interpret the external environment and make driving decisions in real time.

Reimagining the DNA of internal audit

In today's business environment, boards and management continue to grapple with a volatile geo-political backdrop, while organizations navigate risks posed by environmental, social, and governance (ESG) regulations, emerging technologies like Generative AI (GenAI), and the evolving future of work. 

Leadership blueprint in fostering sustainable business growth

In today’s evolving business environment, organizations are under increasing pressure to balance profitability with long-term sustainability. Growing awareness of ethical, social, and environmental responsibility has led businesses to commit to long-term strategies that ensure sustainable growth while contributing to society and the planet. 

Vision 2030 and the KSA banking industry

What made Vision 2030 especially unique was that it aimed not only to drive an economic transformation but also to reshape the cultural and social fabric of the country. But that’s the thing about bold ambitions – they elicit a sense of curiosity and doubt and therefore require detailed plans to guide toward the objectives set out.

The evolution of software and asset management in the era of artificial intelligence

Over time, the role of SAM has evolved significantly. With the advent of remote working models, organizations have increasingly viewed SAM as a driver for cost savings.