Resources

The organizations that remain resilient and relevant are the ones that build the ability to continuously innovate. In this keynote bridging our Adapt and Thrive weeks, Marilyn Zakhour brings together the key ideas from the week and the best of academia to explore how organizations develop the ability to continuously evolve, invent and innovate, strengthening their resilience and readiness to navigate complex, shifting contexts. Drawing on the work of Gary Hamel, this session

What if the future isn’t just uncertain, but fundamentally unknowable? In this closing session of the 2026 Cosmic Conference, Marilyn Zakhour is joined by José Santos to explore how leaders and organizations can operate at the edge of uncertainty. Moving beyond traditional ideas of strategy and leadership, this conversation introduces a critical shift: from trying to predict the future to designing the conditions that allow organizations to act within it. Together, they unpa

What does it really take to build an organization that doesn’t just survive disruption—but grows stronger because of it? In this conversation from the 2026 Cosmic Conference, Marilyn Zakhour is joined by Loïc Moutault, former Global President and CEO of Mars Petcare, to explore how leaders can build organizations that are both resilient and ready in a world where uncertainty is constant. Drawing on over 30 years of global leadership experience, Loïc shares what has fundamenta

What does it take to lead through a crisis and emerge stronger on the other side? In this conversation, Peter Zemsky, Professor of Strategy & Innovation at INSEAD and CEO of Lexarius, takes us inside one of the most studied crisis responses globally, the UAE’s management of COVID-19. Rather than focusing on outcomes alone, this session explores what actually made the response effective. From how leaders balanced lives and livelihoods, to how decisions were made with incomplet

What does it take for an organization to not just withstand pressure, but become stronger because of it? In this session from Week 3: Thrive of the 2026 Cosmic Conference, Dr. Saleh Al-Tamimi shares what it means to lead at scale through both systemic transformation and acute crisis. Drawing from his experience overseeing one of Saudi Arabia’s largest healthcare systems, this conversation explores how capability is built under pressure, and how leaders can sustain and evolve

Leadership in moments of transformation is often framed as a question of scale. But what does it take to build at a global level while everything around you is still evolving? When ambition is accelerating faster than systems, talent, and even industries themselves? In these conditions, leadership shifts. It is no longer just about growth, but about building, integrating, and scaling all at once, often without precedent. In Riyādah: From National Vision to Global Impact, Raji

Leadership is often framed as an individual pursuit. In reality, especially in uncertain contexts, it is deeply shaped by the communities around us. In this session from the 7th Cosmic Conference, Individual & Collective: The Power of Community, Tala Odeh is joined by Wafa Al Obaidat, Founder & CEO of Playbook, to explore how community influences how leaders think, decide, and move forward. Drawing on her experience building a global community of over 800 members across 100+

What happens when the crisis doesn’t end? In today’s environment, uncertainty is no longer a phase to navigate through, it is the condition leaders are operating within. There is no clear end point, no stable ground to return to, and no precedent to rely on. The challenge is no longer how to get through disruption, but how to lead within it. In this session, Present & Future: Leading When the Crisis Doesn’t End, Claudia Zeisberger, Professor of Entrepreneurship & Family Ente

About the Session This session explores how leadership teams truly perform under pressure by looking at three interconnected levels: the leader, the leadership team, and the system. Through Roland Daher’s experience scaling AstroLabs, the conversation unpacks how trust and tension shape high-performing teams, why systems become essential as organizations grow, and what leaders must change in themselves to enable collective performance. Key Takeaways 1. Leadership Starts With

About the Session In this session, Wissam Adib shared his perspective on leading through ambition and uncertainty, introducing the concept of containment as a leadership capability. He explored how leaders can manage the anxiety that comes with transformation, and how to create the conditions for teams to stay productive, adaptive, and grounded in complex environments. Key Takeaways 1. Leading in Layered Complexity High ambition naturally creates anxiety. When leaders ask...

About the Session In this session, Maya shared insights on what it means to lead and build in times of continuous crisis, drawing from real decisions and ways of operating. She also explored how to design solutions that preserve dignity and lead effectively when navigating between long-term thinking and rapid response. Key Takeaways 1. From One Story to 300,000 Impacted: How Beit el Baraka Was Built Maya did not start with a plan to build an organization. The work began with

About the Session In this session, Emad shared insights on how leaders can navigate business development in uncertain markets, from reading shifting market signals and adapting how they approach growth to building strong relationships that sustain long-term opportunity. Key Takeaways 1. Opportunities shift before they become visible The market is slowing, with longer sales cycles, delayed decisions, and lower conversion, even if pipelines remain active. This creates the impre

About the Session In this session, Marilyn and Tala explored the everyday challenges middle managers face, especially in uncertain times, including low team energy, pressure to deliver, stepping in too much, and not having clear answers about the future. They also shared practical ways to support teams and sustain momentum. Key Takeaways 1. Polarity Framing The questions submitted by managers did not point to isolated challenges. They reflected recurring tensions in how leade

About the Session In this session, Ghida Barakat reflects on leading through layered complexity in the GCC, where conflicting pressures shape both leaders and teams. She explores the shift from reactive to creative leadership and how leaders can create stability, connection, and clarity across self and system in uncertain times. Key Takeaways 1. Leading in Layered Complexity Leaders in this region are navigating a uniquely layered moment. What makes this moment particularly d

About the Session In this session, Aline reflects on what it means to lead through continuous crisis, drawing from her experience building and sustaining both businesses and community-driven initiatives in Lebanon. She shares how staying anchored in core values, listening deeply, and acting with intention allows leaders to respond in real time while preserving dignity, quality, and hope. Key Takeaways 1. Leading in Crisis Requires Continuity In environments where instability

About the Session In this session, Rabih explores how leaders can navigate downsizing with clarity and care, bringing structure to decisions that are often driven by urgency and uncertainty. He highlights the importance of grounding actions in fundamentals, while recognizing the very real human impact these decisions carry. Key Takeaways 1. This Crisis Requires Leaders to Respond Differently The “wait and see” phase is over; we are in a state of prolonged uncertainty. Unli

About the Session In this session, Rama Chakaki explores how indigenous wisdom from the Arab world can inform leadership, resilience, and innovation in times of uncertainty. She highlights that many practices considered modern are deeply rooted in our cultural systems, and calls for evolving this wisdom to shape more grounded and contextually relevant leadership models. Key Takeaways 1. Global Models vs. Local Realities Much of what we call “modern management” or “innovation”

About the Session In this session, Connie examines how leaders can sustain human connection in times of uncertainty by strengthening psychological safety, cultivating social confidence, and shaping the use of AI with intention. She underscores that connection is not a nice-to-have, but a foundational driver of performance, engagement, and resilience. Key Takeaways 1. Staying Present & Connected in Times of Dual Disruption Organizations today are navigating a dual disruption,

About the Session In this session, Claire examines how leaders navigate crisis through the balance of empathy and direction, using communication as a critical lever to build trust and stability. She underscores the role of transparency, alignment, and timeliness in helping leaders reassure, align, and guide their organizations through uncertainties. Key Takeaways 1. What builds trust: The UAE as a best-in-class example Amidst the recent geopolitical tensions, the UAE offers