Latest news with #PearlInitiative
Zawya
05-08-2025
- Business
- Zawya
As Family Firms fuel 60% of GCC GDP, Pearl Initiative and Landmark Group spotlight the role of corporate governance in sustaining growth
Nisha Jagtiani, Group Director and Board Member at Landmark Group, shared the company's journey in building strong governance to support growth and generational transition across 2,500+ stores. With family businesses contributing 60% of GCC GDP, the session highlighted practical strategies for resilience, succession, and legacy. The Pearl Initiative's inaugural webinar explored how aligning family values with structured governance enables long-term success. Sharjah, UAE – Pearl Initiative, a leading non-profit organisation dedicated to advancing corporate governance in the Gulf region, successfully launched a new fire-side series, titled 'From Vision to Practice: Governance Talks with Family Business Pioneers', with the first edition featuring Nisha Jagtiani, Group Director and Board Member of the Landmark Group. In a compelling and candid conversation, Nisha reflected on the governance journey of one of the Middle East's most prominent family-owned enterprises, offering actionable insights for family firms navigating the complexities of growth and continuity. Family businesses form the backbone of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) economy, contributing approximately 60% of GDP and employing over 80% of the workforce. With 90% of the private sector in the UAE and Saudi Arabia comprising family-owned businesses, robust governance frameworks are vital to sustaining their economic impact. Nisha Jagtianishared how the company has institutionalised governance to ensure resilience across its 2,500 stores in the Middle East, North Africa, India, and Southeast Asia. During the session, Nisha emphasised the importance of aligning family values with professional governance structures. 'Governance isn't just about rules; it's about creating a shared vision that sustains the business and the family legacy,' she said. She highlighted how the Landmark Group, a retail powerhouse in the $808.51 billion MENA retail market, has implemented clear board structures, transparent decision-making processes, and ethical standards to balance growth with long-term stability. Key outcomes included practical strategies for managing family dynamics, such as establishing independent boards and succession planning, which have helped Landmark Group navigate challenges whilst maintaining its competitive edge. The discussion also underscored the role of governance in fostering innovation and adaptability. Nisha explained how the Landmark Group's commitment to robust governance practices has strengthened stakeholder trust, enabling the company to thrive in a retail sector projected to grow to $855.97 billion in 2025. She cited the Group's omnichannel strategy as a testament to how governance supports agility, allowing the business to meet evolving consumer demands in a digitally driven market. Ralph Choueiri, Executive Director of the Pearl Initiative, stated 'This series was created to bring real, lived experience to the forefront. There's enormous value in hearing directly from leaders who have faced governance challenges head-on and emerged stronger. Nisha's openness and insight were a powerful reminder that governance isn't just about control, but it's about enabling growth with purpose.' Hosted as part of Pearl Initiative's Governance in Family Firms Programme, the webinar reinforced the organisation's mission to empower family businesses with best practices in corporate governance. The session attracted a diverse audience of family business leaders, and industry experts, sparking a lively exchange on the opportunities and challenges of governance in family firms. Through an engaging and in-depth dialogue, the session explored Landmark Group's governance journey highlighting the complexities and opportunities of balancing growth with family continuity. Attendees left with practical takeaways from key governance strategies and mechanisms to leveraging data-driven decision-making to ensure their businesses thrive in a dynamic economic landscape. About the Pearl Initiative The Pearl Initiative is the Gulf region's leading independent, non-profit organisation working to promote the business case for a corporate culture of accountability and transparency. Established in 2010 by regional business leaders in cooperation with the United Nations Office for Partnerships, the Pearl Initiative is the only private, non-profit Gulf business network to receive special consultative status from the United Nations Economic and Social Council. The Pearl Initiative runs a series of corporate governance related programmes, including Anti-Corruption Best Practices, Diversity in Business Leadership, Governance in MSMEs, Governance in Family Firms, Governance in Tech, and Governance in Philanthropy. The organisation also conducts locally relevant research, hosts workshops and executive education training sessions, and convenes business leaders, policymakers, students, and non-profit executives to encourage a proactive approach to implementing best practices in the workplace across the Gulf region.
Khaleej Times
30-06-2025
- Business
- Khaleej Times
Pearl Initiative and startAD highlight governance as a growth lever for UAE tech startups
Pearl Initiative and startAD came together to convene a key panel discussion at startAD Central at New York University Abu Dhabi (NYUAD), bringing together founders, investors, and regulatory experts to explore the evolving role of governance in the startup cycle of tech companies. The session, titled 'Build to Last: Governance as a Competitive Edge in Tech Ventures', featured panelists Ashwin Joshi, Director at startAD; Timothy Land, Executive Director of Monitoring & Enforcement Registration Authority at ADGM; Amine Staali, Managing Partner and CEO of DeepMinds; Stephanie Richards, Founding Partner at BrightView Global, and Aakanksha Tangri, Founder of Re:Set, who moderated the session. Ashwin Joshi, Director at startAD, emphasised the importance of embedding governance early to unlock long-term value, stating, 'Governance is not a roadblock, but a roadmap for sustainable growth.' He added that 'As UAE is carving its own footprint in the global tech innovation ecosystem, UAE based startup founders can learn from the global case studies related to startup governance and leverage this know-how for building a successful future for themselves in the region.' Joshi also noted that establishing clear decision-making structures, reinforced by accountability mechanisms and transparent reporting, can significantly strengthen investor confidence. The panel highlighted how robust governance helps startups navigate competitive markets by building trust, enhancing decision-making, and meeting investor expectations through frameworks like board composition and reporting structures. It stressed balancing founder control with stakeholder accountability and leveraging regulation for agility, reinforcing the Pearl Initiative's commitment to fostering transparency and accountability in the tech startup ecosystem. Ralph Choueiri, Executive Director of the Pearl Initiative, reflected on the role of corporate governance in supporting high-growth tech startups, particularly in the UAE's thriving entrepreneurial landscape. He stated: 'We are witnessing a transformative shift in how UAE tech founders embrace governance as a strategic advantage, especially as tech startups raised $872 million in Q1 2025 alone, reflecting a 194% surge in investor confidence. Through our Governance in Tech & AI Programme at the Pearl Initiative, we are equipping entrepreneurs with practical frameworks to foster trust, resilience, and sustainable growth in this dynamic market.' The UAE has solidified its position as a leading startup hub, with over 5,600 new startups registered in Q2 2024. Abu Dhabi's startup ecosystem achieved a $4.2 billion valuation between 2021 and 2023, securing $224 million in early-stage funding. This growth underscores the critical role of governance in sustaining the UAE's dynamic tech ecosystem.
Zawya
30-06-2025
- Business
- Zawya
Pearl Initiative and startAD highlight governance as a growth lever for UAE Tech Startups
Panel speakers stressed corporate governance as key to credibility, capital access, and resilience. The event is part of Pearl Initiative's Governance in Tech & AI Programme to equip founders with practical tools for sustainable growth. Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates: Pearl Initiative and startAD came together to convene a key panel discussion at startAD Central at New York University Abu Dhabi (NYUAD), bringing together founders, investors, and regulatory experts to explore the evolving role of governance in the startup cycle of tech companies. The session, titled 'Build to Last: Governance as a Competitive Edge in Tech Ventures', featured panelists Ashwin Joshi, Director at startAD; Timothy Land, Executive Director of Monitoring & Enforcement Registration Authority at ADGM; Amine Staali, Managing Partner and CEO of DeepMinds; Stephanie Richards, Founding Partner at BrightView Global, and Aakanksha Tangri, Founder of Re:Set, who moderated the session. Ashwin Joshi, Director at startAD, emphasised the importance of embedding governance early to unlock long-term value, stating, 'Governance is not a roadblock, but a roadmap for sustainable growth.' He added that 'As UAE is carving its own footprint in the global tech innovation ecosystem, UAE based startup founders can learn from the global case studies related to startup governance and leverage this know-how for building a successful future for themselves in the region.' Joshi also noted that establishing clear decision-making structures, reinforced by accountability mechanisms and transparent reporting, can significantly strengthen investor confidence. The panel highlighted how robust governance helps startups navigate competitive markets by building trust, enhancing decision-making, and meeting investor expectations through frameworks like board composition and reporting structures. It stressed balancing founder control with stakeholder accountability and leveraging regulation for agility, reinforcing the Pearl Initiative's commitment to fostering transparency and accountability in the tech startup ecosystem. Ralph Choueiri, Executive Director of the Pearl Initiative, reflected on the role of corporate governance in supporting high-growth tech startups, particularly in the UAE's thriving entrepreneurial landscape. He stated: 'We are witnessing a transformative shift in how UAE tech founders embrace governance as a strategic advantage, especially as tech startups raised $872 million in Q1 2025 alone, reflecting a 194% surge in investor confidence. Through our Governance in Tech & AI Programme at the Pearl Initiative, we are equipping entrepreneurs with practical frameworks to foster trust, resilience, and sustainable growth in this dynamic market.' The UAE has solidified its position as a leading startup hub, with over 5,600 new startups registered in Q2 2024. Abu Dhabi's startup ecosystem achieved a $4.2 billion valuation between 2021 and 2023, securing $224 million in early-stage funding. This growth underscores the critical role of governance in sustaining the UAE's dynamic tech ecosystem. The panel marks another step in Pearl Initiative's broader effort to embed accountability and governance as core pillars of business success in the region, with a continued focus on equipping emerging enterprises with the tools to grow with purpose and integrity. About Pearl Initiative The Pearl Initiative is the Gulf region's leading independent, non-profit organisation working to promote the business case for a corporate culture of accountability and transparency. Established in 2010 by regional business leaders in cooperation with the United Nations Office for Partnerships, the Pearl Initiative is the only private, non-profit Gulf business network to receive special consultative status from the United Nations Economic and Social Council. The Pearl Initiative runs a series of corporate governance related programmes, including Anti-Corruption Best Practices, Diversity in Business Leadership, Governance in MSMEs, Governance in Family Firms, Governance in Tech, and Governance in Philanthropy. The organisation also conducts locally relevant research, hosts workshops and executive education training sessions, and convenes business leaders, policymakers, students, and non-profit executives to encourage a proactive approach to implementing best practices in the workplace across the Gulf region.
Yahoo
20-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Badr Jafar
Credit - Andrew Matthews—In much of the Global South, generosity flows through donation boxes at churches, mosques, and temples, with Islamic almsgiving alone estimated as high as $1 trillion annually. The challenge with this generosity, says Emirati businessman and social entrepreneur Badr Jafar, is that it is fragmented and uncoordinated: 'Systemic challenges can only be tackled at a large scale with strategic philanthropy.' Jafar's solution? Channel that goodwill into a strategic force by building what he calls philanthropic infrastructure: clear regulations, robust transparency requirements, and streamlined processes for starting and running nonprofits. The CEO of conglomerate Crescent Enterprises, Jafar began laying the groundwork for such a force over a decade ago, when he launched the Pearl Initiative, a nonprofit that fosters corporate governance and accountability across the Gulf region. He subsequently became a founding patron of two university-based centers on strategic philanthropy. In 2020, Jafar launched HasanaH, a digital platform for Islamic giving. It has since hosted high-impact projects with cumulative fundraising goals of over $95 million. In 2024, he published a book, The Business of Philanthropy, which lays out the case for strategic philanthropy through conversations with high-profile thought leaders like Bill Gates. Now he has a new platform to preach the spread the word of strategic philanthropy: last September Jafar was appointed the UAE's Special Envoy for Business and Philanthropy. He says, 'I expect that within the coming decade, you will see very different legislative environments for philanthropy.' Contact us at letters@
