Dr. Raja Al Gurg’s ‘The Power of Authenticity’ launched
- 09 Feb 2023
Muhammad Yusuf, Features Writer
A new business leadership title by Dr Raja Al Gurg — The Power of Authenticity: Three Principles of Leadership Success - was launched at the Emirates Airline Festival of Literature on February 4. The author is the Chairperson and Managing Director of Easa Saleh Al Gurg Group and also Forbes Middle East’s most powerful businesswoman.
The launch was attended by an enthusiastic gathering of book lovers and guests at the Mohammed bin Rashid Library, Dubai, the location for the event. In her book, Dr. Al Gurg provides valuable insights into the lessons she learned, first as a secondary school principal, before climbing the ladder of a diversified conglomerate that represents businesses ranging from retail, building and construction, industrial and real estate.
The volume is, in essence, a fascinating and candid account of the obstacles and triumphs that the respected UAE business leader faced on her path to becoming one of the most influential businesswomen in the Arab world. Dr. Al Gurg has defied conventional – and stereotyped – perceptions of women of the Middle East. She allows that it was her handling of these recurring obstacles that shaped her leadership style and motivated her drive to success.
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Turning challenges into strategies, she shares with readers the tactics and tools she learnt from her illustrious career. It will inspire the next generation of business leaders, besides being a guidebook for this generation’s business practitioners.
“Perfect for fans of Sheryl Sandberg, Indra Nooyi, and Kashmir Maryam,” says ThriftBooks, the large web-based bookseller headquartered near Seattle, Washington State, USA, “Dr. Al Gurg’s lessons, and how they relate to her background and broader business philosophy, are a unique and essential contribution to literature on an increasingly competitive and diverse corporate world.
“By harnessing the emotional, intellectual, and spiritual energy that resides within each person, Dr. Al Gurg explains how a leadership style based on personal authenticity can lead to business success. Along the way she considers: What does it take to steer a company; how can a failure be turned into an advantage; and how can women business leaders break down barriers and make a difference in the corporate world? Confident and encouraging, The Power of Authenticity answers these questions, and many more.”
Dr. Al Gurg also took part in a wide-ranging panel discussion on February 5 at the venue of the launch, where she shared insights and advice on the skills that business leaders of today and tomorrow may need. With four decades of experience in sectors as diverse as education and manufacturing, she has impeccable credentials as a leading female industry leader. Her stellar position in the Middle East and globally, is reflected in her numerous board positions within the UAE and beyond.
This is her second book; the first was an autobiography. It was an inspiring account of her ascent to prominence on the local and international stage. The book, titled ‘Raja Al Gurg - An Autobiography’, detailed the growth of a trail blazer, whose meteoric rise also reflected the growing stature of the UAE across the world. The first of its kind by an Emirati businesswoman, perhaps it was a trailer for The Power of Authenticity: many of the issues dealt with in the autobiography have been elaborated in the latter volume. “My stories of the challenges of balancing tradition as well as culture within a swiftly evolving city and country”, Dr. Al Gurg says in her autobiography, “will also be a learning for the young and future generations.”
She has been ranked 28th in the Arab Power 2018 listing of the 100 Most Powerful Arabs, compiled by Gulf Business magazine. She was the most powerful Emirati Businesswoman in Forbes Middle East’s 2017 ranking and the third most influential businesswoman in the Arab world in Forbes Middle East’s 100 Most Powerful Arab Businesswomen for 2017 ranking. She has been awarded an Honorary Doctorate by Queen’s University Belfast for services to business and commerce.