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Join a transformative network of trailblazers championing women in leadership and creating opportunities for growth and collaboration.
Office SM1-02-417, Port Saeed,Dubai United Arab Emirates (UAE)
Office SM1-02-417, Port Saeed,Dubai United Arab Emirates (UAE)
Ambassador for Innovation & Technology
Powering businesses to thrive in the “Digital Vortex” and scale internationally in the sectors of B2B Marketing, Strategy and Business Development
A seasoned B2B marketeer and business development specialist for high-growth markets, Benedicte brings more than 25 years of in-depth experience in complex business transformation across ICT, IoT automation, transport and energy transition sectors. Over the course of her career, she spearheaded operations and processes across the technology, transport and energy transition sectors, in companies such as Vontier, Honeywell, British Telecom and Dun & Bradstreet — where she held multiple commercial, marketing and strategy roles with increased responsibility.
Benedicte is a multiple CEO Kaizen winner, untapping $500M worth of business opportunities and double-digit margin improvement. She has worked in both mature and emerging technology markets, and expanded her leadership across Europe, Middle East & Africa, and Asia Pacific where she enabled companies to transition from a product-focused to a customer-lead approach.
A Belgian national, she is fluent in English, French, Dutch Italian with basic commands of Arabic, German and Spanish.
A Certified Advisory Board Chair, she enriched her original Masters in Philosophy and Linguistics with an MBA in International Corporate Planning and a Certificate in AI Applied to Business from MIT/Sloan School of Management.
Benedicte also contributes as a Guest Lecturer and Mentor to MBA students in the areas of AI and its implications to business.
Ambassador for Philanthropy and CSR
A proud AUB alumna and with over two decades of experience, she holds an Executive MBA and a bachelor’s degree in Electrical and Communication Engineering, and has played a pivotal role in co-leading AUB’s BOLDLY AUB fundraising campaign (2017–2024), which raised over $805 million to support education, healthcare, research, and social impact initiatives across Lebanon and the region.
Salma has received AUB’s President’s Service Excellence Award, the CASE Asia-Pacific Distinguished Service Award, and, most recently, Playbook’s Leadership Excellence Award. Beyond AUB, she is a sought-after advisor and consultant, supporting educational institutions across the Gulf and MENA region. A champion of social impact, Salma serves on the boards of several regional and local NGOs and organizations, including Nusaned, and other grassroots initiatives focused on education, economic resilience, and women’s leadership. She is also a founder of Playbook, a global platform that supports women in leadership and entrepreneurship, a member of Dubai Business Women Council, a member of the Takreem Selection Board and is affiliated with the Lebanese Order of Engineers and Architects.
Ambassador for Women in Mobility
Over her distinguished twenty-year career in the automotive sector, Sanaa Ouahmane has been a driving force of innovation and growth. She embarked on her journey in France with the Hertz Corporation, where her direct involvement in operations and her strategic foresight led to remarkable achievements. Recognized for her expertise, Sanaa was appointed as General Manager at the Qatari Almana Group in 2011. There, she played a pivotal role in elevating Hertz Qatar as a leader in the car rental industry and restructuring the Almana pre-owned cars and multi-brand to be a profitable division.
Currently, as the CEO of AWR Mobility Services and AWR Trading, Sanaa leads a diverse range of strategic initiatives, setting new benchmarks in mobility service excellence. Under her visionary leadership, SHIFT Leasing has been transformed into one of the UAE”s leading car rental companies, boasting a fleet of over 14,000 vehicles across more than 16 locations nationwide. Sanaa also spearheaded the launch of SUBSCRIBE ME, an innovative car subscription service that has revolutionized mobility solutions in the region. With its seamless digital platform and flexible offerings, SUBSCRIBE ME has redefined customer convenience, providing greater flexibility and choice in how people access and experience mobility.
Sanaa’s role extends to managing a diverse portfolio of AWR Automotive divisions, including AWR Allied products, AWR Certified Pre-Owned Cars, NXT Multi-brand Used Cars, Royal Enfield Motorcycles UAE, and Autotrust Automotive Service Centers. With a dedicated team of over 500 professionals, she has been instrumental in driving business growth and maximizing profitability through strategic brand expansions, operational efficiencies, and a strong focus on fostering a culture of excellence and innovation. Her efforts were recognized with prestigious awards such as the Dubai Quality Group ‘Organizational Culture’ Award at Ideas Arabia 2023 for the innovative ‘I CAN WOW’ initiative, which infused the company with a spirit of innovation and attentiveness. Furthermore, she has been honored as the ‘CEO and Trailblazer in UAE’s Mobility Sector’ and received the ‘Best Innovative Mobility Provider in the UAE’ award at the International Business Awards.
Sales Manager, The Brain & Performance Centre – A DP World Company, Dubai
Equity Partner, Clyde & Co, Dubai
She is the co-head of Clyde & Co healthcare business unit in the MEA region and has a particular expertise in this field. She has been advising on a number of cross-border M&A transactions regarding investments and divestments in various countries and on group reorganizations such as mergers, spin-offs and transformations of companies. She covers a wide area of sectors including insurance/regulated businesses, fintech, logistics/ports, TMT, FnB, energy, education etc. She has also acquired significant expertise in connection with acquisition and project financing and debt issuance transactions.
Roshanak has also been working in the energy field and, specifically in the oil and gas sector, providing advise with respect to, inter alia, natural gas and LNG sale and purchase agreements, EPC and O&M contracts. Besides providing day-to-day assistance to companies operating in the oil & gas field, she has been seconded for almost 18 months in the Banking & Capital Markets department of Eni S.p.A. She is the chair of the MEA D&I committee, member of the MEA people development committee and member of the global corporate & advisory committee at Clyde & Co.
Undersecretary Assistance of Commercial Control & Governance Sector at the Ministry of Economy
Chief Investment office Head of Equity Strategy, Emirates NBD
Producer, Dubai Eye 103.8, Arabian Radio Network
CEO, Global Credit Advisory Ltd
CEO – Single Family-Office, GFG Alliance
Cabral, till recently, was the executive director and board member of Himalaya Wellness Worldwide (erstwhile The Himalaya Drug Company), one of India’s largest multinational pharmaceutical company where he laid the foundation for global expansion. He was also the CEO of its’ single-family office. Cabral has held several senior leadership positions across multiple global financial hubs including managing director and global head at Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank (ADIB) private bank, executive director at Standard Chartered Bank, executive director at Credit Agricole (Suisse) SA Private Bank, senior vice president at Citibank, vice president HSBC, director at ICICI Bank and managing director & global head of key clients at Lighthouse Canton, a Singapore headquartered leading investment management firm and multi-family office overseeing in excess of $4 billion of total assets under management and advisory. He’s closely worked with various principals and stakeholders across Europe, Dubai, Singapore, London, Switzerland, Paris, India and Hong Kong. Cabral also actively serves as a board member on several prominent companies globally including Reliance and Star India as well as a renowned media company, Beacon Media co-founded by Dr. Deepak Chopra.
Managing Partner, Heidrick & Struggles MENA
Founder and MD, Truleum
With over 17 years of experience in the GCC region, predominantly in the fintech sector, Dolly has been a driving force behind the growth of several transformative companies. As a founding team member of YAP, the UAE’s first independent digital banking platform, she played a critical role in establishing strategic partnerships, spearheading regional expansion, and structuring regulatory frameworks. Her expertise extends to organizational restructuring, regulatory compliance, and leading major M&A projects with entities like C3 Card Edenred.
Dolly’s career reflects a front-row seat to the “Fintech Revolution,” witnessing the evolution of traditional banking, payment systems, and cards into a thriving ecosystem of digital innovation. Her tenure at American Express further honed her expertise in managing consumer premium products, credit operations, and corporate business strategies.
In addition to her fintech accomplishments, Dolly has provided strategic consulting to startups in Oman and the UAE, leveraging her deep industry & market knowledge to support their growth and success. She is passionate about bridging the gap between venture building and investment, aligning operational and intellectual capital to empower early-stage companies.
Through Truleum Studio and Truleum Venture Partners, Dolly champions a holistic, hands-on approach to startup development and investment, fostering innovation and sustainable growth across the Middle East.
President and Managing Director, GM Africa and Middle East
In November 2022, Jack Uppal was named President and Managing Director for General Motors (GM) in Africa and the Middle East. In this position, Uppal is responsible for driving long-term strategic and sustainable growth for General Motors throughout the region.
To-date, he has spearheaded the acceleration of the organization’s digital transformation and expanded GM Middle East’s connectivity footprint across the region, powered by OnStar. With the aim of reimagining the customer journey, his vision of the future of mobility championed the integration of connectivity features with IoT technology to enhance the driving experience and safety in smart cities.
In addition, Uppal has a demonstrated history of commercial success and expertise in electrification, which will be crucial as GM guides the industry’s shift towards an all-electric future, aligned with their global vision of zero crashes, zero emissions, and zero congestion. Uppal strongly believes in putting the consumer at the forefront of the business, enhancing internal culture and employee development, establishing robust relationships, and incorporating innovation to promote a strategic and inclusive approach.
Uppal brings a wealth of global experience, having held numerous leadership roles with General Motors in sales, marketing, and strategic planning across China, India, Singapore, Egypt, the Middle East, and his home country of Canada. He was instrumental in guiding GM China’s Chevrolet towards an electric vehicle portfolio, supporting distribution channels, and significantly contributing to product development and design.
Consultant Physician at The Brain & Performance Centre
Founder & CEO, 3D Advisory
Executive Director of Marketing at Al-Futtaim Real Estate
Board Member – Valentino, eXtra, Central Bank of Egypt, American University in Cairo
Chief Sustainability Officer and Board Member – Century Financial
Managing Partner, Stanton Chase Middle East
President, Boeing Middle East
Aerospace Xelerated Lead in the Middle East, Türkiye, Africa, and Central Asia
Executive Vice President, Market Development, EEMEA for Mastercard
Head of Philanthropy and Sustainability Advisor to HH Sheikh Marwan bin Mohammed Al Maktoum
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