Young Global Leaders

MENA Youth Seek New Leaders

Leaders in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) have their work cut out for them as the political, geographic and economic needs of the people, businesses, technological trends and global climate continually change shape.

At the same time, these leaders are increasingly seen more broadly – as those who are able to influence others towards accomplishing certain goals across sectors. Through their commitment, they serve as role models embracing change, tenaciously focusing on their missions and passionately able to move others out of their comfort zones and towards collective goals.

As future leaders embark on their journeys, demands and expectations on their personas, performance, skills and strategies will evolve in expected and unexpected ways.

It is interesting to note that when asked, the current generation and our youth in the Middle East and Africa hold very specific ideas of the traits, drivers and skills needed for future leaders. The younger generation's expectations are high as they continue to compare the achievements of past global leaders with those of emerging leaders, constantly raising the bar on demands and needs.

In addition, the expectations of the region's youth and those of the current generation often overlap and what emerges is a challenging palette of expectations – a palette where the political and evolving realities unique to the region will play an even larger role than they play at present.

In addition to well established leadership standards, the majority of youth emphasize the need for leaders who will be harbingers of stability, peace, dignity and transparency while actively seeking solutions to global problems and effecting solutions.

Emerging leaders are expected to be people with a vision of a unified world, one that seeks to comprehend and embrace the needs and rights of all cultures and nations.

Driven by a commitment to serve, future leaders in the region are expected to serve with passion and integrity rather than self-glory, to be fair and firm, and able to transcend the heavy mantle of tribal and territorial prejudices, casting them aside by embracing the new winds of change and globalization. Essentially, they are expected to form a united, cohesive, strategic mission of the needs of the world they inhabit.

As faith nowadays plays a lead role in all sectors of life and is foreseen to play an even more central role throughout the projected future, the way in which emerging leaders deal with faith is key.

It is striking and telling that new leaders must become advocates of non-violence. Fulfilling this need must be part of their mission, along with the reality of sustainable peace.

To be able to serve the global community, future leaders need to be equipped with certain skills to aid them on their journey. The set of skills envisioned by the region's youth is multifaceted and continuously evolving to suit the region's and the world's evolution.

Dynamic skills are a must, in addition to the time-proven skills of interactive listening, negotiation, critical thinking, analysis, global and cultural know-how, technical acumen, motivational skills and multi-language abilities. Emphasis is expected to shift even more towards empathy, patience, optimism and civic responsibility, as well as appreciation and sensitivity to multicultural differences.

Value will be placed heavily on leaders who are open-minded, witty, sincerely concerned about those they lead, charismic and wise. They will have to be able to foresee future trends and anticipate the developing needs of the region for decades and more in advance.

In addition to being visionaries, risk takers and patient trendsetters, new leaders are expected to be energizers. In an emerging era of sought-after freedoms, leaders will be expected to influence – rather than dictate – allowing for more freedom of choice. Leaders must motivate people to follow them through setting themselves as role models and by undertaking to effectively “roll up their sleeves”.

Such skills and traits will definitely win over people as they watch and get to know leaders who are ready to get involved in the execution – not only to ensure excellence and profit – but who also stay in touch with day-to-day operations and the reality on the ground. No longer can leaders delegate and be secluded in their ivory towers. They need to get involved and lead by example.

The current generation and future ones already have prime examples of leaders who were and are ready to roll up their sleeves, standing behind their principles. They emulate and deeply appreciate sincere leaders such as Gandhi, Bill Gates, Mother Teresa, Oprah and numerous others. In the Arab world, our youth look to H.H. Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Ruler of Dubai; H.M. Queen Rania Al Abdullah of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan; H.H. Sheikha Mozah Bint Nasser-Al-Missned; H.R.H. Princess Lolwah Al Faisal; and H.R.H Prince Alwaleed Bin Talal Bin Abdulaziz as examples of giving, knowledgeable and dedicated leaders.

New leaders will, above all, have the courage to act on issues related to accountability, fairness, discrimination, exploitation and other abuses. Leaders who are aware of and fully accountable for their performance are in constant demand. The value placed on accountability and transparency is integral to the make-up of emerging leaders. They have to have the courage to act on their convictions in the face of adversity.

In our region, the need for emerging leadership does in its essence stem from the region's situation, yet it is mixed with a sense of optimism. This optimism – despite the challenges of rising populations, unemployment and wars – was eloquently expressed at the most recent World Economic Forum on the Middle East, held in Jordan this year. The Co-Chair of the Meeting, Saeed Al Muntafiq, Executive Chairman, Tatweer, a member of Dubai Group, United Arab Emirates, stated: “Optimism, urgency and a sense of responsibility are sentiments I walk away with. The opportunity is to take this optimism and try to do something about it. Now it is up to the private sector and others to ask how they can contribute.”

Many look forward to a time when leaders step up to empower others to speak out andto be more involved in their fate, seeking to bring together people of diverse mindsets, races and faiths. The ability to cooperate with a win-win vision while at the same time being more open to criticism and more receptive to differences of opinion is of critical importance.

Last, but not least, and very much needed in the MENA region, are future leaders who will serve as excellent mentors. Mentoring and teamwork are two essential factors that until now have been sadly lacking in the region as a whole. Our youth are in dire need of mentors and inspiring role models to emulate, seek advice from and be proud of through the years.

Fame is fleeting, while real leadership withstands the test of time. It draws from the energy and passion within and without – that is the essence of true leadership.