In the continuously shifting world of business, the general rule is to “adapt or perish.” The wise leaders are the ones who live by this statement— to keep up with the changing times is simply not an option, it is the only way to survive. Adapting to change is certainly not an easy task as it not only requires agility, but also precision— a vision that sees miles ahead into the future. 

The panel, Visionary Leaders: The Future of Innovation and Resilience at the Business Forward Annual Event, moderated by Alaa Hashim, co-founder and executive partner at Transcendium, brought together four key industry leaders from Talabat Egypt, IBM Egypt and Travco Group to reflect on what it takes to not only navigate volatility and change—but to thrive within them.

Leadership That Learns and Adapts

The conversation which featured Hadeer Shalaby, managing director of Talabat Egypt, Moataz Sedky, general manager of Travco Group and Marwa Abbas, general manager and technology leader for IBM North East Africa, explored how businesses are rethinking their internal cultures to survive and lead. From shifting consumer behavior to tech-driven transformations, the panelists echoed one another in affirming that the solution to survival is an “ambidextrous leadership” as Hashim called it — the ability to function on “two horizons,” changing the internal strategy to constantly keep up with the volatile nature of the market.

For instance, Abbas highlighted the company’s reinvention around artificial intelligence and hybrid cloud. Since the 1990s, IBM has been a golden case of how foresight combined with quick action is one of the keys to a business’ success and survival. “We believed that the strategy around the future was going to be hybrid cloud and AI,” she said, highlighting the company’s strategy to shift its focus to one specific product segment.

Yet, the technology conversation didn’t stop at adoption. What stood out was how these tools are redefining human roles and organizational mindsets. “AI is a threat, technology is a threat,” noted Moataz Sedky, general manager of Travco, acknowledging a common fear. But rather than resisting, he explained, companies must evolve in pace with technology. 

The Customer as a Compass

While technology is a central force in driving change, internal shifts are not only informed by it. Consumer behavior also holds a great piece in the strategic puzzle of every business. A prime example is Talabat, one of the leading players in platform work, operating on multiple industry levels through offering their customers food, beauty, tech and healthcare products all at their fingertips.  

Shalaby highlighted, “It’s what customers are actually doing in the app, their behavior that drives us to change the future.” Talabat’s success lies in understanding consumer behavior beyond the basics of what is popular or not, it is about diving into the intricacies of the customers’ choice — why and when do they make these decisions. This precision allows the company to segment the market down to the customer’s virtual basket size, allowing a better, more customized and robust experience. She adds, “You cannot have a blanket approach to everything and to everyone.”

Empowering the Workforce 

Alongside keeping up with change as organizations, businesses should also be ready to empower their employees through upskilling and reskilling them to fit the needs of the job market. For instance, Abbas highlighted the need to adapt the workforce, particularly in the face of evolving technologies, she highlighted the necessity to empower the workforce to benefit from change rather than become obsolete with time. She stated, “[At IBM], we don’t believe [AI] is  going to replace people. It’s going to complement and improve productivity. We just need to shift the skills. We just need to make sure that people are trained in the right skills to be able to use AI in the best way possible.” 

Without urgent and targeted reskilling, the technology risks outpacing the people meant to leverage it. This means that it is critical to initiate a holistic path of empowering the workforce and bringing institutions, governments and communities along on the journey of the constant change experienced in business.

Leading With Purpose 

The discussion also highlighted the importance of responsible leadership. While keeping up with technological advancements and shifts in customer behavior is key, navigating this change ethically and wisely is equally as important. Sedky highlighted the particular relevance of the theme of sustainability in the tourism industry, highlighting that while it is essential to cater to the expectations of customers by providing efficient and convenient services, it is also important to not forget about those who get caught up in the mix — the local community. 

Sedky highlighted that his view of sustainability is holistic, one that is deeply related to respecting the local community and the environment they live in, he emphasized that it is important for tourism agencies to foster an amicable relationship between the local community and the tourists, whereby the former can also benefit from the latter, he says, “To me, sustainability means empowering the [local] people to make money, not only the investor, we need [them] to get direct benefit from the traveler.” Moreover, he highlighted that locals should be made to feel that they are not threatened in their homes by visitors.

In a landscape shaped by disruption, visionary leadership demands more than adaptation—it calls for reinvention, inclusivity and a commitment to grounded growth and  innovation. As this panel revealed, the future belongs to those who listen closely, adapt quickly and lead with both context and clarity.