The world is moving fast, and the people guiding that movement are those who see possibilities long before everyone else. These are the individuals who challenge routine thinking, reshape industries, and set new standards for what progress looks like. Their work is not defined by noise or hype. It is defined by consistent action, clear purpose, and a genuine drive to create meaningful impact.
In this feature, we look at the 10 visionary leaders who are stepping into 2026 with ideas that matter. Their influence stretches across business, technology, community development, and creative problem-solving. Each one brings a different approach, yet all share one quality: the courage to lead with intention.
Top 10 Visionary Leaders Ready for 2026
Below are the 10 visionary leaders who continue to shape conversations, guide change, and inspire others through their direction and clarity.
1. Layal H. Abou Ghanem | Shaping the Future of People Strategy Across Borders
With over 15 years of experience spanning healthcare, heavy industry, manufacturing, and contracting across Lebanon and the GCC, Layal H. Abou Ghanem has emerged as a transformative force in strategic human resources and organizational development. Her career is defined by a rare ability to build and scale operations for people in complex, high-stakes environments—whether commissioning greenfield healthcare facilities or aligning HR infrastructures with clinical, regulatory, and business imperatives.
As the co-founder of Solutions for Training and Consultancy, Layal brings a dual lens to leadership—both as an executive and a trusted advisor. Her firm partners with organizations to enhance leadership capabilities, refine talent strategies, and foster cultural transformation. This unique vantage point enables her to make meaningful contributions to governance, risk oversight, and long-term value creation.
Layal’s influence extends beyond operational excellence. She is a strategist who embeds ESG principles, DEI frameworks, and digital HR transformation into executive conversations. Her work is grounded in strategic alignment of HR with corporate vision and boardroom priorities, and governance and compliance expertise, ensuring ethical and regulatory integrity. Her expertise expands to crisis management and workforce agility, especially in volatile regional contexts, and leadership development, cultivating future-ready talent pipelines.
Her cross-functional insight and stakeholder engagement skills position her as a catalyst for organizational health and succession planning. Layal is not just shaping HR—she’s shaping the future of leadership in the region.
2. Sindhuja Maddela | The Creative Mind Behind Turning Any Gathering to a Grand Party
A pioneering force filled with creativity, Sindhuja Maddela has always believed that technology, at its best, should make life feel lighter. Long before founding Plarty, she found joy in solving problems, the kind that made people’s everyday moments a little easier. That optimism led her to pursue Computer Science and later work across FinTech, Telecom, E-commerce, and HealthTech, where she built systems used at scale and led teams of engineers, product minds, and creators. Her early career shaped her into someone who could understand not just how technology works, but how people feel around it.
As she moved between cities and fast-paced industries, she noticed something consistent everywhere: even the most capable teams struggled to connect as humans. People sat in the same room but felt worlds apart. Conversations were polite, but not real. There was speed, but very little belonging. That contrast stayed with her far more than any job title or project milestone.
Plarty began as her quiet attempt to fix that, first through handwritten prompts, small group ideas, and playful cultural cues designed to help people open up without effort. What started as a side experiment slowly turned into a movement. A Culture-Tech platform built not around screens, but around people. Around the warmth of shared moments, familiar references, and the kind of laughter that makes a room feel alive again.
Today, Plarty has grown to over 50,000 users in seven months, carried entirely by word of mouth. For Sindhuja, that is the real win, proof that when technology respects culture, emotion, and simplicity, people don’t just use it, they share it.
Sindhuja Maddela’s mission is simple and deeply human —build products that reconnect people to each other, because in a world full of noise, belonging is still the oldest form of progress.
3. Chris J. Gallant | Building Bridges Between Capital, Culture, and Community
With a career spanning continents and industries, Chris J. Gallant has become a driving force in reshaping the intersection of capital, creativity, and community. As Founder and Chairman of The Coterie Group, Chris has earned a reputation for engineering complex commercial funding solutions that empower entrepreneurs and investors to grow boldly. His approach combines financial precision with an intuitive understanding of people and purpose, helping transform ideas into enduring enterprises across Canada, the U.S., and Europe.
Serving across executive and business consultancy roles in multiple countries, Chris’s expertise spans from project funding to the launch of tech startups, reflecting strategic leadership throughout his career path. Chris’s influence continues to expand internationally through Solterra Capital, an emerging investment firm in Spain focused on connecting global investors with transformative real estate and wellness projects.
Beyond finance, his passion for storytelling and cultural exploration shines through his upcoming books — The Andalusian Enigma, The Balcony, and Why? — slated for publication in 2026. Each work reflects a different facet of his curiosity about history, humanity, and purpose.
As a Director on the Board of Hotel Dieu Grace Healthcare, Chris also champions community well-being and social responsibility. Guided by insight, integrity, and impact, he embodies what it means to be a modern leader—one who measures success not just in profits, but in progress.
4. Dr. Chern Searn Lim | Driving Innovation in the Healthcare Ecosystem
Dr. Chern Searn Lim (MD, MBA) stands at the intersection of medical excellence and business innovation, bringing over two decades of transformational leadership across the Asia Pacific pharmaceutical landscape. As a pharmaceutical physician with extensive medical affairs expertise spanning 12 markets, he has consistently delivered impactful healthcare outcomes while navigating complex market disruptions and driving positive change for patients and the healthcare ecosystem. Having navigated two industry redundancies amidst the dynamic transformative healthcare landscape, Dr. Lim emerged with greater resilience and adaptability, deepening his commitment to innovation and purposeful leadership in health.
His proven track record speaks volumes, having contributed to more than 10 successful product launches in cardiology, respiratory, and gastroenterology, while demonstrating exceptional capabilities in translating strategic business vision into tactical medical excellence. From leading cross-cultural, matrixed teams at global organizations such as Shire, Boehringer Ingelheim, and LianBio to pioneering first-in-class product market entries, Dr. Lim has established himself as a catalyst for accelerated business growth through disciplined, cross-functional collaboration. His leadership philosophy centers on building and inspiring high-performance teams while maintaining the delicate balance between commercial acumen and scientific integrity.
Currently specializing in the nexus of medical affairs with clinical development and operations at Syndax Pharmaceuticals Inc., Dr. Lim integrates deep therapeutic knowledge with operational excellence to optimize investigator engagement and site solutions for early-phase trials. His unique vantage point enables him to uphold scientific integrity while driving excellence and enhancing operational efficiency in an evolving global clinical development landscape, delivering measurable value through accelerated recruitment timelines and agile problem-solving for research sites.
Passionate about the future of healthcare shaped by AI and digital health, Dr. Lim is actively exploring how advanced analytics and digital technologies can transform medical affairs strategy, accelerate drug discovery, and enable seamless cross-functional collaboration within the healthcare ecosystem. He holds professional certificates in Strategic Leadership in AI & Machine Learning from Singapore Management University (SMU) and AI for Healthcare from the National University of Singapore (NUS), credentials that underscore his commitment to bridging science and technology for meaningful health impact.
Beyond titles and metrics, Dr. Chern Searn Lim represents a new archetype of healthcare leadership, where resilience meets innovation and compassion meets strategy. Whether navigating complex market dynamics or advancing AI-enabled solutions, his mission remains clear: to transform the way medicine is practiced, managed, and humanized for the next generation.
5. Alexandra Deeva | Crafting Innovative Marketing Solutions
A distinguished marketing and brand professional, Alexandra Deeva is based in Dubai with a strong entrepreneurial orientation. Currently leading as the Brand Manager at Sakhalin Dubai, she has co-founded and is the Senior Marketing Consultant at Real Marketing Solutions (RMS) Team. Parallely, she also leads as the Brand Manager at Krasota Dubai, and Sakhalin Dubai. Bringing over a decade of experience in the UAE, Alexandra has held significant roles in the retail, B2B, and hospitality industries over the years.
Beginning her marketing career in 2015, Alexandra gained experience across advertising, printing presses, and account management, and then moved into full-fledged marketing strategy roles. Strongly believing that each marketer builds based on experience and skills, her philosophy is simple: marketing is a blend of managerial leadership skills and creative execution.
Emphasizing the importance of being quick, decisive, and culturally aware in the UAE market, she reflects on how these values have helped her establish her current position. With her passion and creativity in the field, Alexandra has earned several recognitions, including a nomination for Women in Logistics in 2018.
Being open-minded and cooperating with different communities and groups has helped her drive excellence in marketing. With her passion and unwavering dedication, Alexandra Deeva is reshaping the way marketing is approached.
6. Phillip Leighton-Daly | Presenting Heritage with a Blend of Morality in Compelling Narratives
A distinguished professional, Phillip Leighton-Daly’s career spans education and authorship, establishing him as an acclaimed Writer and historian with over 46 years of experience in the education sector. With a Teaching Certificate and Diploma in Education, Phillip has also served as a principal in both one and two-teacher schools.
With a reflection of colonial and frontier Australia, alongside addressing topics such as resilience, consciousness, and moral preferences in his works, Phillip offers authentic and emotionally compelling narratives for both adults and young adults.
As a prominent contributor to the Goulburn local history scene, Phillip has published 13 non-fiction books over the years, writing historical accounts for the past and present residents of Goulburn. His best-selling factual books reflect Phillip’s fascination with his initial workplace, Morisset Mental Hospital on Lake Macquarie, NSW. Moreover, his 11 fiction works are
Recognised for his relentless efforts and research, Phillip has received two regional awards, primarily for young adult and adult-based adventure stories, with “The Fisherman and his Foundlings” being the most renowned. For his works, Wednesday’s Child, a 285-page study of Kenmore Psychiatric Hospital, and The Tides in the Lives of Men, a 300-page collation of the lives of select community members. Furthermore, with a commitment to giving back to the community, he is a member of a regional choir that provides an excellent service to Aged Care homes and retirement homes.
Alongside promoting his fiction books on LinkedIn, Phillip Leighton-Daly makes significant contributions to the platform, promoting equality, fairness, and morality as a way to empower a better world.
7. Đặng Hồng Ngọc | A Visionary in the Financial Landscape
A pioneering force can often reframe an entire sector, and Đặng Hồng Ngọc is one such name. A distinguished finance professional, Đặng Hồng Ngọc brings more than 14 years of experience in investment & immigration. As the founder and CEO of D-Immigration, she has been an instrumental figure in boosting the Vietnamese economy and reshaping the investment patterns of her community.
From investment advice to supporting family office management for wealthy families, D-Immigration has branches worldwide. Moreover, to stay updated with the international market dynamics, she has even developed products and services catering to a wide range of clients.
Apart from her financial expertise, Đặng Hồng Ngọc is a certified migration expert, offering top-notch consultancy and services in the immigration landscape. From planning strategies to stay on top of market trends, product positioning, to recommending appropriate action plans, her vision is shaped by the values of giving and sharing.
Envisioning a better future for her community as a young lecturer, especially for the younger generation, Đặng Hồng Ngọc even offers scholarships to her students, empowering them to take a step closer to their dreams.
With relentless efforts and unwavering dedication, Đặng Hồng Ngọc is revolutionizing the way her community approaches investment, empowering them to unlock the true potential of her homeland. Đặng Hồng Ngọc’s visionary leadership and passion to uplift the economy will be an inspiration for the next generation of leaders to come.
LinkedIn | Instagram | Facebook | Website
8. Jaswant Stoecklin | Redefining Elegance with a Blend of Art and Creativity
A distinguished professional, Jaswant Stoecklin is the Founder and Designer behind JASWANT, an emerging shoe brand made in Italy. Growing up in Switzerland shaped her early creative sensibilities, which she later honed in the United States at the Rhode Island School of Design. With a BFA in Fine Arts completed, she moved to Paris to pursue further studies in art and photography at Parsons School of Design.
After an exciting decade working across various creative disciplines in art and design alongside renowned designers, Jaswant felt a compelling desire to build a fashion accessory brand that truly reflected her visual identity—shaped by her education, multicultural background, and professional experience.
Jaswant’s work draws deeply from her rich European and Indian heritage. Growing up between cultures has given her a distinctive ability to bridge contrasts in a way that feels both authentic and instinctive. Her love of bold colours, luxurious materials, and intricate embellishment pays homage to her Indian roots. In contrast, her Swiss upbringing—guided by her mother, an artist—instilled in her a refined sense of elegance and an appreciation for understated beauty.
JASWANT is her vision brought to life: a new luxury shoe brand for a woman who is bold, confident yet refined in her taste and wants to stand out to fully express herself and her personality through her style. Her designs are influenced by her passion for contemporary art and architecture, resulting in unexpected heel shapes and innovative material combinations.
For Jaswant, the magic lies in finding the balance between visionary design and the technical challenge of bringing an idea from sketch to prototype to final product—a process she describes as an ever-evolving adventure that inspires her daily.
Her shoes have already been spotted on a number of celebrities, singers, actresses, and influential style voices, and she looks forward to seeing JASWANT continue to make its mark on red carpets around the world. With plans for brand expansion into the Indian market and establishing a strong presence in the Middle East, Jaswant Stoecklin is looking forward to catering to the regions where luxury consumers value craftsmanship, versatility, and the pursuit of the exceptional.
LinkedIn | Instagram | Website
9. Dr. Sofica Bistriceanu | A Voice of Integrity and Innovation in Modern Healthcare
Dr. Sofica Bistriceanu is a name respected in both medical and academic circles. A highly experienced family physician, she has dedicated her career to improving patient care through research, education, and practical experience. She has delivered 135+ presentations worldwide and published more than 55+ articles in international journals. Her work reflects both her medical expertise and her deep understanding of human behavior and wellness.
Dr. Bistriceanu is a member of the Academy for Professionalism in Healthcare and serves on several editorial boards, including The Journal of Patient Experience and the Journal of Medical Research and Clinical Case Reports. She is also an Associate Editor at Primera Scientific Publications. Beyond her scientific accomplishments, she has authored seven volumes of poetry, showing that her creativity extends far beyond the medical field. Her writing and research share one purpose—to help people understand life, health, and humanity more deeply.
Her decision to establish a private medical home model came from a desire to work more closely with patients. She believes that by visiting patients in their own environments, physicians gain a clearer understanding of the social, cultural, and emotional factors that affect health. “When a doctor steps into a patient’s home, they see more than symptoms. They see the person—their habits, their surroundings, and their challenges,” she says. This approach allows for more personalized care and builds stronger relationships between patients and doctors.
Throughout her career, Dr. Bistriceanu has learned valuable lessons about leadership and resilience. She believes that integrity is at the heart of effective leadership. “Be honest, respectful, and kind,” she advises. “Earn others’ respect through your actions.” Her emphasis on communication—both verbal and nonverbal—shows her awareness of how trust and empathy shape teamwork in any professional environment.
Her philosophy is simple: every problem has a solution, but how we choose to solve it defines our character. Challenges, for her, are opportunities to learn and to grow. She often says that generosity and kindness to others bring rewards in unexpected ways. In an age where medicine can feel overly technical, Dr. Sofica Bistriceanu reminds us that compassion and integrity remain the true foundations of healing.
10. Ahmad Amarneh | The Visionary Behind Reframing Facilities Management
A Built Environment professional, Ahmad Amarneh brings over 12 years of experience in leading integrated solutions across the full building lifecycle, from fit-out construction through operation, maintenance, and renewal. With a Master’s degree in Engineering alongside completing a thesis, titled, “Disrupting the Facilities Management Services Incumbents in Canada by Using an Ecosystem-based Model” from Carleton University in Canada, Ahmad has had a strong academic foundation.
By successfully delivering large-scale projects for government entities, alongside B2B and B2C portfolios across the UAE and Canada, he prioritizes connecting project delivery to sustainable asset value and long-term functionality. Specializing in Integrated Facilities Management (IFM), Ahmad’s expertise spans Hard and Soft Services, Specialized services, Sustainability, and Technology Integration. Through his FM consultancy work, he supports organizations in achieving operational readiness, managing FM transitions, and applying effective Soft Landings strategies—ensuring that facilities are not only delivered but also primed to perform from day one.
Ahmad’s professional philosophy is grounded in two key insights. Firstly, he recognized the critical disconnect that often arises between construction and Facilities Management (FM) while managing IFM projects for newly delivered buildings and facilities that were under the Defects Liability Period (DLP).
This shaped his belief that FM requirements should be embedded from the earliest design and construction stages, rather than deferred until handover, making him a strong advocate for a dedicated FM-based Soft Landings approach. Secondly, Ahmad views FM providers as operating within a highly complex environment of stakeholder relationships. Success, in his view, depends on aligning project interfaces and understanding the unique roles, needs, and expectations of each stakeholder.
In his article “Integrated Facilities Management (IFM): How Stakeholder Management Drives Services Delivery and Value Propositions,” part of his BuiltAlign series, Ahmad even challenges the industry’s narrow focus on the FM provider–client relationship. He argues that while this interface is critical, overlooking other stakeholder connections, such as with Subcontractors, Client-Managed Contractors (CMCs), End Users, and Regulators, can lead to fragmentation, inefficiencies, and missed value opportunities, while undermining the effectiveness of the provider–client relationship itself.
Ahmad positions the Facilities Manager as more than a service executor, envisioning the FM lead as a central orchestrator within a dynamic project ecosystem—responsible for guiding alignment, performance, and communication across all interfaces, taking into consideration the needs, interests, and responsibilities of each stakeholder.
Ahmad Amarneh’s approach and vision redefine Facilities Management as a strategic discipline with the ability to influence both early design decisions and downstream service delivery.
Conclusion
As we move closer to 2026, it becomes clear that real progress is often driven by steady, thoughtful leadership rather than noise or trends. The 10 visionary leaders highlighted here remind us that innovation is not only about new ideas. It is also about responsibility, commitment, and the willingness to keep moving forward when others pause. Their journeys set the tone for a future shaped by clarity and purpose.
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