www.worldsleaders.com Vol.

04 | Issue 01 | APRIL 2023

Parvez Sultan
Rupani Chairman | DGTX Holdings

A World-renowned Entrepreneur, Philanthropist, and

Visionary Chairman of Dgtx Holdings
 World’s Most Powerful Entrepreneurs in
the Middle East, 2023

Building a Hub
for Entrepreneurship

The Middle East region has long been known for its rich
cultural heritage, strategic geographic location, and vast oil
reserves. However, in recent years, the region has also
become a burgeoning hub for entrepreneurship, with an
increasing number of start-ups and a growing interest from
investors.

Fostering entrepreneurship requires a multi-faceted

approach from investors. One way to support start-ups is
through early-stage investments that provide the necessary
capital to scale their businesses and achieve their goals.
This not only benefits start-ups, but also grants investors
access to potentially high-growth opportunities.
Rupani's vision and ability to anticipate and adapt to new
trends have been pivotal in the company's achievements.
The coveted Arabian Best of Best award for digital
transformation is a testament to his unwavering dedication
and hard work, a great honor.

Another best practice for investors is to build a diverse
portfolio of investments, which can help manage risks and
maximize returns. By investing in a variety of sectors and
industries, investors can avoid being limited to a particular
market.
The latest edition of the World's Leaders, titled "World's
Most Powerful Entrepreneurs in the Middle East, 2023,"
showcases numerous names that are breaking the mold in
the Middle Eastern business scene.
The cover has Parvez Sultan Rupani, the Chairman of
DGTX Holdings, is an accomplished entrepreneur with a
proven track record in driving digital transformation. He
has consistently been at the forefront of innovation as a
leader, contributing significantly to DGTX Holdings'
success and its emergence as a leading player in digital
transformation.
Rupani's commitment to delivering innovative solutions to
his clients has been unwavering. He has quickly identified
trends and opportunities that others might have missed,
giving DGTX Holdings an edge over its competitors. The
'Arabian Best of Best Award' for digital transformation is a
recent accolade bestowed upon him.
In this special edition, let us share similar, inspirational
tales and interviews with many such dedicated leaders in
order to raise awareness about their contributions to making
the world a better place.
Have a lovely read!
 CREDIT PAGE

Editor-in-Chief Steve Sanchez

Managing Editor Jagdish Chincholikar
Executive Editor Nicole Williams
Assistant Editor Gayatri Bhujbal

Art & Design Director Jack Anderson

Business Development Manager Mia Oliver
Business Development Executive Natalie, Jerrey
Associate Designer Kevin Rust

Digital Marketing Manager Victor Clarke

Sales Manager Casey Simpson, Irfan Shekh
Marketing Manager Tom Swann
Technical Specialist Barry Jones
Circulation Manager Danny Parker

APRIL 2023

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 08
Parvez Sultan Rupani
A World-renowned Entrepreneur, Philanthropist,
and Visionary Chairman of Dgtx Holdings
20 Alessandro Redaelli

24 Alice Veglio

30 Diego Granese

34 Dr. Nadine Hachach-Haram

40 Maqbool Al Wahaibi

44 Noor Al Muhaideb

48 Renata Liuzzi

54 Saifi Ismail

58 Tariq Chauhan
 Parvez Sultan
Rupani
A World-renowned Entrepreneur, Philanthropist,
and Visionary Chairman of Dgtx Holdings

08 | APRIL 2023
COVER STORY

worldsleaders.com | 09
 Prior
Journey
Having been born in Pakistan,
studied in the United States, and
lived in Dubai, Rupani has gained
diverse and extensive global
exposure. He has run several
businesses, managing teams of up
to 300 or 400 people in various
parts of the world, giving him a
unique perspective on business
mentality and market trends.
Rupani believes this experience has
given him an edge in anticipating
market shifts and adjusting
strategies accordingly. Thanks to
his deep understanding of the
market pulse, he is confident in his
ability to predict future trends and
prepare for them proactively.
Rupani moved to the United States
after completing high school for
higher education. He worked in
school stores, gas stations, and
other part-time jobs to finance his
education. He ventured into
entrepreneurship and experienced
successes and failures. Through
these experiences, Rupani learned
valuable lessons and gained the
strength to overcome obstacles and
setbacks, which he now uses to
inspire and mentor others.
In 2009, Rupani relocated to the
UAE from Pakistan with his
brother and partner, Asif Ahmed,
with no established business then.
Starting with a small six-person
10 | APRIL 2023
Parvez Sultan Rupani, the Chairman of DGTX
Holdings, is an accomplished entrepreneur
with a proven track record in driving digital
transformation. He has consistently been at
the forefront of innovation as a leader,
contributing significantly to DGTX Holdings'
success and its emergence as a leading
player in digital transformation.
Rupani's vision and ability to anticipate and
adapt to new trends have been pivotal in the
company's achievements. The coveted
Arabian Best of Best award for digital
transformation is a testament to his
unwavering dedication and hard work, a
great honor.
Rupani's commitment to delivering
innovative solutions to his clients has been
unwavering. He has quickly identified trends
and opportunities that others might have
missed, giving DGTX Holdings an edge over
its competitors. The 'Arabian Best of Best
Award' for digital transformation is a recent
accolade bestowed upon him.
This prestigious award is granted to
exceptional individuals and organizations
that have made significant contributions to
the digital transformation industry in the
Arabian region. Rupani's notable
achievements in this field have earned him
this recognition, highlighting his outstanding
contributions and commitment to the
industry's growth and success.
operation, they worked hard to
become the number one partner of
Etisalat by 2016, earning multiple
awards within just a few years.
Their team has since grown to over
200 people, and they have
developed their own product,
DGTX, which Etisalat now sells.
DGTX
DGTX is an acronym for digital
taxation, and it was established in
response to the introduction of
direct taxation in the Middle East
three years ago in the form of
value-added tax (VAT). The
government taxation authority
required businesses to have a
proper point-of-sale (POS) system
to record all sales because there
needed to be an existing
mechanism. Small businesses in the
country were not handling any
accounting. The POS system was
essential because it allowed the
collection of the additional 5% tax
that consumers paid. Additionally, a
company or person was necessary
to calculate the taxes owed and file
them properly, keeping archives of
all documents for five to ten years.
In case of any issues, such as report
errors, a tax agent or local lawyer
was required to represent the
business. All five components were
challenging for small businesses to
manage, making it difficult to
comply with the new taxation laws
effectively.
DGTX, which stands for Digital
Taxation, recognized the challenges
small businesses face in complying
with the new taxation laws in the
Middle East and offered them a
comprehensive solution. For only
500 Dirhams, DGTX offered to
handle all aspects of taxation,
including providing a point-of-sale
system, calculating taxes owed,
archiving documents, representing
businesses in case of issues, and
providing a tax agent.
This service was a significant
success, and DGTX registered
16,000 businesses and now serves
over 4,000 active customers.
However, the challenge of
collecting payments remained,
which DGTX overcame by
partnering with Etisalat, a company
worldsleaders.com | 11
12 | APRIL 2023
Words of Wisdom
Rupani advises emerging leaders to
believe in themselves and their vision,
even if others doubt them. He
encourages taking calculated risks
and taking the necessary action to
succeed. He emphasizes that
knowledge alone is insufficient and
action is the key to achieving goals.
It's important to remember that even
the wealthiest person in the world was
not predicted by their school teacher,
emphasizing the need to have faith in
oneself and one's abilities.

Rupani also focuses on the

importance of helping others achieve
success, a valuable lesson for
emerging leaders. It highlights the
fact that success is not just about
personal gain but also about making a
positive impact on others' lives. By
being a leader who empowers and
uplifts others, one can create a culture
of growth and success that benefits
everyone involved.

Moreover, Rupani's emphasis on the

"human touch" is crucial in today's
business world. In a world where
technology is rapidly advancing, it is
easy to forget the importance of
human connection and empathy.
However, successful leaders know
business is ultimately about building
relationships and understanding
people's needs and desires.

worldsleaders.com | 13
 with a significant presence in the
UAE's business community, to
include the 500 Dirhams in their
monthly bills. This partnership
provided DGTX with Etisalat's
brand and collection mechanism,
making it easier to collect
payments. DGTX is certified by the
FTA and is gearing up to introduce
Corporate Tax in June 2023, where
they plan to offer even more
services to their customers for the
same price. Overall, DGTX's
comprehensive approach to
taxation has made compliance
easier for small businesses, and its
partnership with Etisalat has made
payment collection more
accessible.

With a customer base of over 4,000

active clients and FTA certification,
DGTX is well-positioned to expand
its services to corporate taxation,
which will be introduced in June
2023. The company aims to target
10,000 customers in this area and
has a top-of-the-line infrastructure,
software system, and customer
service team to provide the best
back-office setup.

DGTX was valued at $56 million in

2021 and aims to expand its
services beyond tax solutions in the
next five years, including data
mining and other services. The
company plans to expand its reach
beyond the UAE to other GCC
countries. The ultimate goal is to
help businesses grow and succeed
by providing them with the tools
and expertise they need to comply
with regulations and achieve their
goals.

14 | APRIL 2023
worldsleaders.com | 15
16 | APRIL 2023
Facing Challenges to Becoming a
Success Story

Rupani's biggest challenge has been

gaining credibility and making people
believe in his vision. Despite having a
solid intuition for predicting future
trends, making successful decisions, and
persuading others to see things, his way
has sometimes been challenging. Rupani
understands that success often has many
fathers. Still, failure is an orphan,
meaning people quickly claim credit for
success but shy away from taking
responsibility for failures. However, he
remains committed to his vision and
perseveres in making people understand
and believe in his ideas, even if it takes
time to convince them. Rupani thinks that
becoming successful involves making
good decisions, which come from
experience, including learning from bad
choices.
Vision For Future
Rupani's perspective on success is
holistic, emphasizing the importance of Rupani envisions himself dedicating his time
defining success for oneself and entirely to philanthropic work and aiding
recognizing that success can take many
different forms for different people.
others, aiming to empower young individuals
Additionally, Rupani emphasizes the by providing them with knowledge,
importance of looking beyond individual opportunities, and funding to achieve their
companies and investing in industries that goals. He seeks to accomplish this within five to
have the potential for growth in the
future. This requires anticipating and
ten years and views this as a challenge to
forecasting industry trends, which Rupani overcome. In contrast, Rupani sees his
sees as a superpower. Ultimately, Rupani company, DGTX, as a leading taxation firm in
believes that while hard work is the Middle East that caters to large-scale
necessary, success is finally in God's
hands.
businesses. He foresees DGTX as a cutting-
edge company that utilizes data mining to help
small and medium enterprises grow. He
anticipates that DGTX will become a prominent
https://www.instagram.com/psrupani/
brand in the market within three to five years,
https://twitter.com/ParvezRupani offering high-quality customer service at a
reasonable cost, comparable to obtaining a
https://www.linkedin.com/in/
parvez-sultan-rupani-14738224/
Mercedes for the price of a Suzuki.
https://www.facebook.com/
ParvezSultanOfficialsultan-rupani-14738224/

worldsleaders.com | 17
20 | APRIL 2023
Alessandro
Redaelli A distinguished Hotel Professional
with Years of Work Experience

E
Every successful hotel manager is aware of how
important it is to deliver excellent client service.
However, excellent customer service abilities aren't
the only thing you'll need if you want to head a
successful hospitality team. In the eld of hospitality
management, you'll need to be able to build a strong
team that will enable your business to operate at peak
efficiency.
Alessandro is a well-known hotel expert. Despite
having worked in the hospitality industry for more
than thirty years, he only recently joined Conrad
Abu Dhabi Etihad Towers. He can guarantee you that
no day is ever the same. He shares, "Some of my rst
memories of working in the eld are back from Italy
doing a Kitchen & Service diploma, aer which I
went on to study hotel management in Switzerland.”

Alessandro Redaelli | General Manager | Conrad Abu Dhabi Etihad Towers

worldsleaders.com | 21
Alessandro has a very pleasant
personality, is sincere in his enthusiasm
for service, and is well-versed in the
foundations of the hotel industry. He is
an exceptionally gifted general
manager who works and socializes
with grace to please all of his guests.
Since that time, Alessandro's job has
brought him all over the globe,
providing him the chance to
collaborate with numerous companies,
including Hilton and Mövenpick
Starwood. His most recent out-of-
station job was opening the Kempinski
Nikoolskaya in Moscow in 2013. He
then moved to the United Arab
Emirates, where he worked in Ras Al-
Khaimah and Dubai before settling in
the lovely capital city of Abu Dhabi.
Aligning with Work Values
Alessandro thinks that the company's
values—putting people first—are
extremely similar to his own. He and
22 | APRIL 2023
others in the hospitality industry focus
their efforts on "people," always
seeking to motivate and uplift those
around them, whether it be their staff
or clients.
The Conrad staff wants to give guests
an exceptional experience in addition
to a place to "stay." It is their
often a slow process, and we aim to
responsibility to go above and beyond,
constantly better ourselves to ensure
anticipate the wants of the guests, and
we're putting our best foot forward.”
offer them individualized services to
make sure they have the most
Apart from that, Alessandro places a
enjoyable experience possible.
high priority on honesty and integrity
in both his personal and professional
Work Challenges
lives. He thinks these are the driving
Oftentimes, when Alessandro is
forces behind the team's and his own
working on projects, and there have
personal growth. He discovers that
been hours and days of work and
straying from these principles and
planning put into the projects by the
work ethics frequently results in rifts in
teams, his eagerness to watch the plan
interpersonal relationships and
unfold can sometimes have him on
negative effects at work. But when he
edge. He says, "While I wouldn't say
does come across a circumstance
it's a barrier, it can be a little dull
where things might not be in order, he
waiting for change to bear fruit, as it's
keeps in mind to handle it gracefully
and professionally, making sure that
everyone feels heard and satisfied with
the outcome.
Breaking the Routine Structure
Alessandro is not a true believer in
always sticking to routine, as he
believes routine can sometimes set
people on autopilot, which can lead
them to lose touch with themselves and
their immediate experience. He likes to
start off his day in the office with his
espresso while catching up on world
news, which always puts him in a
productive state of mind. He says, "The
way you begin your day sets the tone
for the day ahead."
What helps Alessandro most with
maintaining a work-life balance is
setting aside hours to spend quality
time with his family and himself. He
shares, "It is really important for me to
spend time with my wife, Larissa. Since
both of our sons are studying abroad,
we live alone, and as we both have
busy schedules during the week, it is
important that our weekends are spent
together enjoying one anothers
company and catching up." He
believes it's important to take out time
for himself to rest and replenish to give
the work that one does and is
passionate about 100%.

During the week, Alessandro enjoys

cycling to get a change of scenery
while enjoying the fresh air, and it is
also good for team spirit because he is
frequently joined by Director of Food
and Beverage Carmine and Director of
Engineering Nicholas.

Success
"Your success is defined by how your
connections with people are. The more
successful you are at nurturing and
sustaining relationships with people,
the more successful you are," says
Alessandro. Before anything else, he
thinks it's very important to recognize
the people who got him here. The
people Alessandro surrounds himself “As a leader, you set the tone for your team;
with have been the key to his they look to you for support and guidance, so
continuous growth and success. He when your team hits a roadblock, you have to
states, "From my family and friends to
my teammates, colleagues, and the step up and get through it with them.”
people I've had the pleasure of meeting
and learning from. I am very grateful
to have a strong support system that his teammates: the opportunity to be approachable and to provide people
constantly inspires and pushes me to with the freedom to discover and realize their full potential.
do my best.”
Understanding Others by Stepping into Their Shoes
While you're on that journey of Alessandro strongly believes that hotels and teams are really only as
progress, Alessandro thinks it's good as their people and learn about them as a person such as hobbies
important to pay it forward and give and their family. He says, "Having a simple, meaningful conversation
back to the community for everything can go a long way." While being a leader can open up many doors for
they've done for you. Throughout his one, it comes with its fair share of challenges. He further adds that, as a
career, he has had mentors who have leader, one is the voice of his or her team and the bond that holds them
taken the time out of their busy together. He assert, "It's important to be persistent in standing up for
schedules to teach him, sometimes your team as well as the values that you hold."
starting from scratch, in order to help
him learn, grow, and gain insightful Alessandro gives advice to all the leaders in the making to swap places
knowledge that has helped him go a with their own team members for a day. As a manager, he often steps into
long way. He is incredibly appreciative the shoes of his team by working in positions such as bellboy and
of them, and that is one thing he truly breakfast barista, which gives him first-hand insight into the workings of
appreciates and aspires to provide for the organization as well as the challenges faced by his colleagues.

worldsleaders.com | 23
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worldsleaders.com | 27
 One of Italy’s Best Emerging Leaders

Diego Granese is a prominent Italian business consultant, entrepreneur,

influencer, and global marketer who has made a name for himself by
owning various well-known national and international businesses. Among
his notable enterprises are El Original S.r.l, a beverage innovation company
that has launched brands such as Aviva Wines (the world's first coloured
sparkling wines) and Au Vodka (the best-selling golden vodka in the UK)
in Italy, and Juventus Beer (the official beer of the famous Juventus
Football Club).Fitup Europe one of the most important gym chains in
Europe. He is also the founder of Billionaire Group, a UAE-based
consulting company. In addition, he has established several innovative
startups both domestically and internationally, including Unlike Agency(a
major international marketing agency) and Offshore (an offshore-related
clothing brand) .

30 | APRIL 2023
worldsleaders.com | 31
32 | APRIL 2023

Granese has achieved significant notoriety
in Italy, where he has appeared as a guest on
numerous television programs such as
Mediaset's LIVE non è la D'urso,
Pomeriggio 5, and Rai3's BLOB. He has
garnered attention from various prominent
media publications and magazines for his
exceptional business skills and acumen,
including Libero Quotidiano, ANSA,
IlTempo, TGCom, Corriere della Sera, Il
Messaggero, Millionaire, IBtimes, Disrupt,
Vents Magazine, Medium, Influencive,
Thrive Global, Metropolitan, American
Daily, and others.
Early Life Developments
Diego was born in 1990 in Vigevano, a town near Milan,
Italy. Despite coming from a family without any
entrepreneurial background, he always dreamed of starting
his own international companies and being independent. At
the young age of 21, he embarked on his entrepreneurial
journey by opening his first business, a gym, with no
financial assistance from anyone. Although he faced many
challenges, he persevered, and after two years, he sold the
gym and invested in a gym brand that would soon become
international with his assistance. Following the success of
his gym brand, Diego expanded his business ventures
and founded his first consulting company, "Landmark
International," which provided services such as business
consulting, strategy and product development, and
marketing. Over time, the company grew and evolved into
the Billionaire Group, with its headquarters based in Dubai
and additional offices in Hong Kong, London, and New
York.
The focus of the Billionaire Group
shifted towards internationalization,
taxation, and international tax planning
in 2015, quickly becoming a leading
company in transferring Italians to
Dubai, with over 500 clients and assets.
The company specializes in opening
businesses in tax-advantaged countries,
primarily in Dubai, obtaining residency,
financial strategy and planning, business
consulting, foreign market consulting,
opening business accounts, and other
related services.
The Group of Companies
El Original S.r.l. is an Italian-based
innovative beverage company founded in
September 2019. The company's primary
objective was to distribute Aviva Wines'
products exclusively in Italy. However,
due to its efficient and effective business
model, El Original S.r.l. quickly became
a significant player in the Italian
beverage industry.
El Original S.r.l. is known for its unique
and innovative products, including Aviva
Winer, the world's first colored sparkling
wine,AuVodka, the gold-bottled vodka
with colored flavors that is the best-
selling in the UK, and Juventus Beer the
first official beer of a famous,
international football team. The company
is committed to producing and
distributing high-quality beverages that
stand out in the market.
Thanks to its success in Italy, El Original
S.r.l. is now looking to expand its
presence on the international market. The
company is planning to launch its
products globally, offering unique and
innovative beverages to consumers
worldwide. The company's strategic
focus on innovation, quality, and
exceptional customer service has made it
worldsleaders.com | 33
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worldsleaders.com | 47
 The actions you have taken up to this point
have led you to where you are in your career.
“Every action you take, including taking risks,
forging new relationships, and mastering new
skills, has the potential to lead to a path of
success.” Renata Liuzzi, CEO & Founder of Axis
Partners, encourages everyone to invest in
learning for career advancement and personal
growth as the key to success, as well as
creating a trusted network around you that will
support you on the desired speed of growth.

Renata Liuzzi | CEO & Founder | Axis Partners

48 | APRIL 2023
worldsleaders.com | 49
50 | APRIL 2023
Ladder to Success

Renata Liuzzi holds an MBA from

IE Business School and is a
Mechanical Engineer with a
specialty in motorsports. She has
received a post-graduate diploma
in strategy, innovation and design
thinking from MIT and Columbia
University, and certifications in
Lean Six Sigma, Artificial
Intelligence from MIT, and
Operational Efficiency. During her
academic years, Renata was a
member of the Formula SAE team,
where she developed a passion for
the design and build of race cars,
and gained invaluable knowledge
in applied innovation, design
thinking, and creative problem-
solving through her work on Why Axis Partners is so unique
creating such miniature Formula
1-style cars. Their unique offering blends corporate
experience with entrepreneurial agility,
Renata has 18+ years of enabling them to effectively collaborate with
experience working with
prestigious consultancies and their clients and drive tangible results.
various Fortune 500 corporations
in business strategy, customer Their ways of working, allows them to become
experience, innovation, and digital
an integral part of their clients, helping bring
transformation. She has
successfully led the delivery of their vision to life, and delivering strategy,
complex transformation programs, innovation, design-thinking, customer, and
working with teams spread across employee experience solutions.
more than 15 countries and doing
business with more than 20
countries. They have also established a successful
training academy, inspirational talk sessions,
Renata has been appointed as a and custom-made training for key clients,
visiting professor at the IE
Business School, where she which has had a positive impact in their
teaches strategy, customer clients
experience, and design thinking to
international MBA students. She
Its focus is always on delivering high-quality,
has also a mentor for top start-ups
that come from Europe's top high-impact outcomes while having fun and
innovation lab. She is dedicated to inspiring transformation.

worldsleaders.com | 51
 “In addition, enjoying happy moments
with my team and reinforcing the
concept of teamwork are important
qualities that I try to maintain.”

Sai Ismail | Group President |Yalla Group Limited

54 | APRIL 2023
worldsleaders.com | 55
 Profession Stepping Ladder

An Australian-Jordanian
businessman and computer engineer,
he holds a bachelor's degree in
computer engineering from the
Jordan University of Science and
Technology and a postgraduate
certificate in management from
Macquarie University in Australia.
He began his career in 2004 at
Huawei as a VAS engineer and
worked there till 2006 in the service
and software division. Later, he
worked as an account manager for
ZTE Corporation for two years.
Ismail began working with Etisalat in
2008 as the manager of product
marketing.

He joined NetComm, a publicly

traded firm on the Australian stock

A
well-directed strategy is essential for corporate
success. A holistic business approach is one such
idea that enables all employees to collaborate
for the success of the company. Managers may promote
their organization's objectives and communicate with
their teams more effectively by learning more about
holistic approaches. In order to identify solutions and
efciencies that meet the demands of all departments at
once, effective operations leadership must take into
account the specic objectives and viewpoints of each
department. To satisfy the needs of the customers, one
should have divisions that must cooperate. Although it
can be tempting to think of each department as a
separate silo, there are some critical tactics that
operations directors can use to develop a comprehensive
strategy. Meet Sai Ismail, Group President of Yalla Group
Limited, who is achieving success in all areas of operations
with a holistic approach, whether it be in terms of revenue
or user growth.
exchange, two years later. For over
four years, he served as vice
president of sales and business
development for the Middle East,
Africa, and South East Asia regions.
Ismail returned to Etisalat as the
director of modern commerce in
2013, a role he held for around six
years. He later began serving as Yalla
Group's group president and a
member of its management team as
of October 2019.
The Essence Behind Yalla
Yalla Group Ltd. was conceptualized
in 2016, during a period when
computer games and their related
devices dominated the digital
entertainment market. With the swift
technological improvements the
telecommunications industry has
seen since then, the idea has
continued to solidify and develop,
and the decision was made to launch

56 | APRIL 2023
the business at Dubai Internet City.
Numerous factors led to the decision
to launch from the Emirate of Dubai.
First, it draws in investors from
throughout the world because of its
desirability. In addition to the need
for Arab societies to provide content
specifically for the Arab world via
Arab platforms specialized in this
sector, whose goods take into
account the values and traditions of
Arab cultures, the city offers a model
environment for digital
entertainment. Another reason for
starting the business and offering
these products was the scarcity of
Arab social media products in the
face of tough competition from
international platforms, which swept
the largest segment of Arab
consumers.
specifically for Arabic users; and with sales operations for paid
The World of a Unified Experience games like Yalla Baloot and 101 services and other direct customer
Okey Yalla, created to support services, partnerships, investments,
Yalla Group, the UAE's first unicorn thriving local gaming communities in shareholder affairs, and other direct
technology company to list on the Saudi Arabia and Turkey, operating affairs within the Middle
New York Stock Exchange (NYSE), respectively. Yalla Group has also East and North Africa region.
is committed to offering top-notch released Yalla Parchis, a Ludo board He was honoured and recognized for
online social experiences to people game created for the South American his all-encompassing leadership. He
with similar cultural backgrounds. region. Additionally, the company was acknowledged as a member of
Yalla Group is the leading voice- has entered the mobile gaming the 2022 Forbes Business Council.
centric social networking and distribution industry of mid-core and He has received recognition as one of
entertainment platform in the MENA hard-core games in the MENA region Arabian Business' "2022 Most
region. Yalla, a voice-centric group through its holding subsidiary, Yalla Inspiring Business Leaders" and
chat app, and Yalla Ludo, a casual Game. Estesmarat Magazine's "2021
gaming app with online versions of Leading Personality of the Year"
regionally popular board games, are Responsibilities to Execute (Digital Entertainment). He was also
the company's two flagship mobile honoured by The Global Economics
products. A group president's responsibility in Magazine as the "Best Emerging
an organization is to lead a group of Leader in the Digital Entertainment
Following the success of these executives. Presidents carry out high- Sector.”
platforms, the business continued to level managerial tasks pertaining to
grow its content, developing an the overall operations of the Sustaining the Culture of Yalla
ecosystem of apps that consists of company. Saifi Ismail's
Waha, a social networking product responsibilities as Group President Regarding the management style that
made for the metaverse; YallaChat, include full operational oversight, Saifi employs, it is based on a
an instant messaging service made marketing, and development, along number of accepted tenets, the most

worldsleaders.com | 57
 CEO and Co-founder
EFS Facilities Services Group

58 | APRIL 2023
 TARIQ
Chauhan
s s is ti n g in th e G rowth
Investing in Individuals and A

In a world full of poseurs, one seeks to have basic

psychological demands for personal growth and

I
development throughout their lives as human beings. One
can discover meaning and purpose in life by achieving self-
actualization and can honestly say that they 'lived.' The drive
to become the best version of oneself is known as self-
actualization. It entails pushing ourselves to reach our
maximum potential and fulfilling our artistic objectives.
People with self-actualization have a more efficient
perception of reality and are better prepared to withstand
uncertainty. They appreciate putting their problem-solving
talents to use in real-life circumstances and assisting others
in improving their lives. Abraham Maslow, a humanistic
psychologist, provided the known definition. Self-
actualization, he explained, is the process of becoming
"everything you are capable of becoming."

worldsleaders.com | 59
Chief executives and entrepreneurs that
outperform their peers in the long-term
tend to be self-actualizing. That means
they are concerned not just with the
progress of their company but also
with their own personal development.
People are observing their leaders
continuously, both consciously and
subconsciously. The more leaders
focus on their own development and
show tangible results over time, the
more they motivate others to do the
same. However, having learning and
growth as fundamental values only
works if the leaders share the same
dedication.
Personal, professional and functional
growth are key pillars driving Tariq
Chauhan, The Group CEO and
Co-founder of EFS Facilities
Services Group.
Leader with self-actualization
Tariq Chauhan's interest and
enthusiasm propelled him to a
successful business career. He is a
professional entrepreneur and a
Harvard Business School alumnus.
Over 35 years, he has developed
60 | APRIL 2023
expertise in international banking,
technology and asset management, real
estate, and creating and establishing
businesses in the GCC, USA, UK, and
Asia. In the past 18 months, Tariq has
travelled to more than 50 countries,
irrespective of the pandemic and other
hazards. For the organisation, Tariq
considered himself a colleague first
and a leader second. He is dedicated to
supporting those around him to
become the best version of themselves
and contribute to exceptional results..
People are his motivator, and mirror as
a leader, and he is passionate about
them. Tariq thinks about them every
day and learns from them about how
one can develop, adjust, adapt, and
grow as a leader. He demonstrates his
leadership abilities through the
implementation and the establishment
of EFS Facilities Services Group.
EFS Facilities Services Group was
founded with the goal of being a
regional leader in providing
comprehensive facilities management
services. The Middle East, Africa,and
South Asia and Turkey are all part of
its global footprint.
It is unique in that it combines
progressive, people-focused leadership
with rapid technical adoption, resulting
in the ideal environment for personal
growth for employees and client
portfolios. The business community
has recognised the company for
providing exceptional services to some
of the biggest regional companies,
including prominent multinationals, for
over two decades. With a contract
backlog of USD 1.7 billion and
responsibility for a total area of
approximately 52 million sq.m, with 28
operating firms in 21 countries around
the region, it has set new norms in
facilities management via quality
service delivery and innovation.
Inspiration and daily lessons from
peers
Tariq's function at home is defined by
his family: he is the husband of an
incredible woman and the father of two
beautiful girls. He enjoys spending
time with the family at home because
they inspire him and provide him with
tranquility, allowing him to come up
with new ideas. Every day, he
challenges himself to be a better
version of himself than the day before,
and he is committed to expanding his
work's initiatives and impact.
“I am passionate about people and as
a business leader, I get inspiration and
daily lessons from my peers, and I get
inspired by our clients and our drive to
be of service. I am deeply rooted in
gratitude and self-actualization.”–
says CEO, EFS Group.
The EFS family is the driving force
behind the company's expansion and
makes significant contributions to the
industry. In EFS, setting personal goals
is widely encouraged. They ensure that
every employee, at all levels can chart
their own path to self-actualization and
progress beyond their current
circumstances. Everyone has
professional goals for the impact they
want to see and bring to EFS, in
addition to personal ambitions. Tariq
has an open-door policy and is always
willing to hear new ideas, strategies,
and initiatives that contribute to EFS's
innovative and out-of-the-box thinking.
He believes that success for EFSians is
success for EFS.
Overcoming obstacles
In the profession, Tariq has faced
numerous hurdles; to single out just
one would be unfair. He believes all
the obstacles and struggles have
blended into one massive snowball of
hardship that has taught a valuable
lesson: resilience.. He believes that the
most important barrier-breaker a leader
can develop is resilience.
During the pandemic, the industry
faced numerous hurdles in many ways,
first responders included. Close to a
post-pandemic future, the industry
faces new realities and challenges,
including preserving financial health
while keeping costs low, retaining
clients, attracting top staff, and
integrating technology. Obtaining
competitive new clientele is also a
significant issue, given the tough
financial realities. Industry leaders
must become more inventive in
devising methods to address all the
issues.
"Regardless of adversity level - and
adversity is undoubtedly a certainty - if
you work on your resilience, you will
overcome, adapt, and grow. There is no
easy way to grow. "– says Tariq.
Reduce the risk of operational
Risk management and Controls
In EFS, risk management and controls
are business-critical levers without
which business continuity and overall
commercial enterprise value cannot be
achieved. To generate greater
organisational legitimacy, businesses
must attempt not just to implement risk
controls, but measure its impact.
Management accounting, risk
management, and corporate
governance are all linked and effective
as a result of these actions. At EFS, we
were able to establish a risk mitigation
culture that spread throughout the
organisation and was integrated into all
critical processes. In this domain, each
department, position, and role must
have its own set of key result areas.
worldsleaders.com | 61
 www.worldsleaders.com Vol. 03 | Issue 20 | MARCH 2023

World’s

VISIONARY
LEADERS
Making an Impact in 2023

CEO
Viollis Group Interna onal

Paul Viollis
Leading a Global Consultancy Centered on Validating
Integrity and Eradicating Challenging Situations