2021 - A YEAR OF IMPACT AND GROWTH

As 2021 winds down, I’m celebrating the year as a phenomenally transformational period. It's brought a renewed appreciation for the things that matter and equipped both people and businesses with the confidence to start 2022 bolder and more assuredly.

While 2020 put the global economy through the wringer, 2021 has undoubtedly been a year of revival and resurgence. Startups especially have risen to meet challenges through out-of-the-box solutions. Similarly, some multinational companies have shown extraordinary flexibility and adaptability through strategic organizational restructuring and tweaking of management styles. We look stronger heading into 2022—so, kudos to everyone who has brought us here! Here’s what I’m celebrating at the close of the year.

The year of digital dominance

2021 pushed us to embrace digitalization in a way we never have before. With even more businesses moving online to meet internet-savvy customers, the year saw many smaller startups come to market sooner through technology and digitization. As 2022 rolls in, there’s no going back from here. With smarter and more digitally connected customers looking at convenience as an added advantage to product quality and services, online selling spaces are going to become even more cutthroat. Businesses will need smart digital partnerships and support to survive in these murky waters.

Continuing to find your work-life balance

2021 showed us once again “the good, the bad, and the ugly” of our workspaces because we had a year of working from home for perspective. The perception that productivity was confined to office environments had been shattered. Conversely, we’d also learned that WFH was no dream either. The balance, therefore, lies somewhere in between. And that’s what 2022 will help more of us find to suit our own routines and schedules!

With more advancements in digital tech and further refinement in collaborative technologies, videoconferences, file sharing, digital whiteboards, and online task organizers, I’m hoping that we’ll continue to (successfully) keep the less important in-person meetings down to a video call! With a renewed appreciation for our corporate lives and relationships, I’m hoping more of us will continue to prioritize a work-life balance.

As the UAE becomes the first country in the world to herald a 4.5-day work week, I’m looking forward to a working model that is both productive and effective. As 2022 moves more of our digital avatars onto the Metaverse through meetings and interactions, I am excited about how we navigate these arenas both socially and for work.

A year of opportunities

While the year may have been tough on some businesses that tethered on the verge of collapse, multiple new opportunities in the FinTech and GreenTech startups space are on the cusp of exponential growth. Similarly, food delivery apps and fast-food aggregators are meeting in the zero-emissions, last-mile delivery segment to revolutionize drone and moped uses in our region.

Even with so much happening across so many sectors in the startup space, what I am most excited about is that younger and more inspired minds are coming up with revolutionary energy solutions like Meraki Power ?that have the potential to change the world.

New initiatives at MS for Startups

With the world continuing to change through the pandemic and beyond, 2021 saw MS for Startups pivot to meet a growing need for collaboration through its brilliant Highway to 100 Unicorns ? and GrowthX Accelerator ? initiatives. The two interlinked projects designed to help fresh startups are a big step for the region. The H100 web series aims to educate and assist young businesses connect with trends across the MEA startup ecosystem, while our GrowthX Accelerator provides new innovative solutions to give entrepreneurs an edge in today’s digitized world. 2022 can expect more growth through these initiatives as we continue to provide virtual support and more.

Looking forward to 2022

As people, we have had a lot to celebrate. The world is open for travel, new opportunities, and growth once again. 2021 has planted the UAE and the wider Gulf more committedly on the road to zero emissions. The UAE has led thought-development and innovation through exciting conferences, marvelous exhibitions, and Expo 2020. From art galleries to tech galas, people from far and away have come together to learn and celebrate. I'm hopeful that 2022 will build on these endeavors even further.

It is with this thought in mind that on New Year’s Eve, when the clock strikes 12, I’m going to be counting all my blessings, big and small—the love and support of family and friends, the peace and comfort of a stable working environment, and the creative space to innovate and help others grow.??