Mastercard and Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) Innovation Hub, recently teamed up for a leadership forum that explored business strategies to drive sustainable growth.
Held under the theme, ‘Innovating a Sustainable Tomorrow’, industry experts unpacked how leaders use innovation, technology and collaboration to tackle environmental, social and economic challenges.
The panel discussions saw participation from Amadou Diallo, CEO, DHL Middle East & Africa; Amnah Ajmal, Executive Vice President, Market Development, EEMEA, Mastercard; Khalifa Al Shamsi, CEO e& Life; Mohammed Alblooshi, CEO, DIFC Innovation Hub; Ömer Suner, CEO, Ozan; Ronaldo Mouchawar, Vice President, Amazon Middle East and Africa; and Sandeep Walia, COO, Mariott International, Middle East; and other moderators included Omoke Adebanjo, Senior Vice President, Merchants and Commerce, EEMEA, Mastercard and Birce Arslan, Director, Business Development, EEMEA, Mastercard.
The event featured panels that explored the importance of innovation, paths to reinvention, and facilitating a sustainable tomorrow.
In the latter session, the importance of ownership and working as a team for a purpose was underlined by Amadou Diallo, CEO, DHL Middle East & Africa, while Sandeep Walia, COO, Marriott International, Middle East, highlighted authenticity as key to “keep making moves in the right direction.”
Amnah Ajmal, Executive Vice President, Market Development, EEMEA, Mastercard, also pointed to consumer appetite for sustainability, highlighting that six in ten consumers in retail are ready to pay more for sustainable products.
Acceleration in wider sustainability depends on growing “belief beyond the workplace,” Ajmal explained.
Mastercard and DIFC Innovation Hub shared that their partnership will see similar initiatives over the year that address opportunities and challenges within the business world.