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IOD Special Talk - Honoured Patron & Chief Guest Keynote Address
Ambassador Sudhir, General Nath, Dr. Wilson, Members of the Institute of Directors - India, Distinguished Speakers and Guests, Ladies and Gentlemen:
It is my pleasure to welcome you to the 2025 UAE Global Convention, focusing this year on Leadership for Innovation and Business Excellence. I thank the Institute of Directors, India for organizing this important annual convention. I fully support the premise of this event: that the well-established and continually expanding links between private business, governments, and people of India and the United Arab Emirates are extremely important. I take great hope and comfort from the special relationship between our two countries. As evidenced by this gathering, a large number of dedicated individuals are part of this special relationship, and we all play important roles in keeping it vibrant and strong.
My Dear Friends:
The convention this year focuses on the universal need for strong, effective, credible leaders in business. One needs no more than a casual familiarity with how organizations work in order to understand the benefits of wise leadership at all levels, from Directors to Board Members to Managers and others, and the disastrous consequences of poor or incompetent leadership.
The values that are essential to great leadership are timeless. Those who lead successfully must have integrity, transparency, self-motivation, a sound ethical touchstone, and a genuine concern for those who are affected by the actions they take and the decisions they make. Leaders must be able to look hard at their organizations and listen carefully to how their employees are portraying them and what people are saying about them.
Successful leaders must have a global view and an awareness of how their organizations, their countries, and their regions fit into the global context.
It is the responsibility of those in leadership positions to set standards, serve as role models, and insist on accountability. Leaders must be able to recognize and seek opportunities to initiate change and mobilize resources to bring about change. Most importantly, however, they must be able to convince others to share their vision of the future.
If those traits and characteristics are well known and accepted, why then do we read almost daily of notable failures in business leadership? We may gain some insights by reflecting on some of these failures. Such an analysis reveals that at least four things should be part of almost any successful business leader's qualities.
First, it is important for the leader to understand culture and the business environment. I usually make this point by citing an Arabic saying: “He who does not know the falcon would cook it.”
Second, any successful leader must maintain the ability to accept reality while understanding the need for change. In describing this approach, the mid-18th century French artist Gustave Courbet (Cour-BEY) said: “By studying tradition, I managed to free myself from it.” This is a helpful approach to innovation and business success.
Third, leaders must pay attention to their role in enriching the societies in which they operate. They must understand that society's issues impact their work and that socially responsible actions will help businesses improve their performance while also making the world a better place.
Fourth, successful leaders must have a global view and an awareness of how their organizations, their countries, and their regions fit into the global context. And in the spirit of this Convention, leadership is needed for the continued dialogue between businesses in India and the United Arab Emirates, and for understanding that our future success together depends on our ability to innovate and create new knowledge, new technologies, new products, and new systems and processes. Leadership is necessary to break through barriers and build relationships across borders.
Ladies and Gentlemen:
Throughout the United Arab Emirates, examples abound of strong, competent leadership. Our greatest fortune has been that the leaders of our country are people of wisdom and vision. The President, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, with the strong support of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, clearly demonstrates, through his vision, courage, and actions, that successful leaders are able to see beyond the horizon and chart a path for the future. The success of our country, under the guidance of His Highness the President, is based on setting high standards for ourselves and inculcating in our people high expectations for our collective endeavors.
As a result, the United Arab Emirates is a prominent, peaceful, and prosperous country – a country that looks to the future with confidence and hope. And in that spirit, I would think that your convention is likewise, in effect, focused on the future – the future of your organizations, the future of the relationship between India and the United Arab Emirates, and by extension, the future of the global economy.
Let me conclude by highlighting that in a few minutes, the Golden Peacock Awards for Leadership and IOD Distinguished Fellowship-2025 will be presented. These awards recognize sustained dedication and commitment, as well as important achievements in innovation and business excellence. My sincere congratulations to all the winners. I thank them for their initiative and efforts that help shape our futures.
And to all of you, my best wishes for a successful convention. Let it provide a time for knowledge, productive contacts and friendship.
Thank you.
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Institute of Directors India
Bringing a Silent Revolution through the Boardroom
Institute of Directors (IOD) is an apex national association of Corporate Directors under the India's 'Societies Registration Act XXI of 1860'. Currently it is associated with over 30,000 senior executives from Govt, PSU and Private organizations of India and abroad.
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Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in the articles/ stories are the personal opinions of the author. IOD/ Editor is not responsible for the accuracy, completeness, suitability, or validity of any information in those articles. The information, facts or opinions expressed in the articles/ speeches do not reflect the views of IOD/ Editor and IOD/ Editor does not assume any responsibility or liability for the same.
