I’ve had the good fortune to visit Qatar several times over the last couple of years. Qatar, a small peninsula located in the Persian Gulf is a place where no dream is too big or too small. This is a place with a whole new approach to living and business development, with the fastest growing human development in the world. Over a period of about 6 years the population has climbed to approximately 1.6 million people of which one million plus are expatriates.
Doha is the capital of Qatar and was, until about 7 years ago or so, a barren desert. With its terrific weather, shiny new commercial and residential buildings, hi-end shops and 5-star restaurants, the lifestyle doesn’t lack for anything. But, several years go, few people, if any, had ever heard of Qatar. These days, however, the story is different; Qatar is on the tip of everyone’s tongue. From banking and satellites, to education and environment, Qatar is gaining speed to insight. The mindset is about developing its people, getting them up to speed academically and commercially, as well as preparing the country to be ready to host its first FIFA World Cup in 2022, a first for the Middle East.
Devising a winning strategy is always a challenge. It takes planning, innovation, massive action and execution, and the country’s future depends on it. In 2013, Doha is a modern and rapidly evolving city and, considering the huge amount of money poured into construction, Doha looks set to become one of the premier cities in the Gulf. From Al Jazeera TV to the finance and banking centers, and the American Universities, soon to include Harvard Law School, one cannot resist asking the following questions:
- “What kind of mindset questions did the man at the helm, His Excellency, The Emir, Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, ask himself before he started out on this hugely challenging project?
- Did he have a fairly complete map of his vision before he started?
- And most importantly, given that he is the ruler, with the many serious political issues in that area over the last years, how did he manage to maintain his focus on the outcome?
Today a leadership shortage is impacting not just the world’s largest corporations but also many of the world’s nations. When driving around Doha, I noticed huge placards saying “Support Qatar’s 2030 Vision” which, in my opinion, tells the story — one that says that they are all about identifying future leaders, educating them, offering them unique opportunities, as well as providing think-tank opportunities. His Excellency, Sheikh Hamad, in walking his talk, is showing the young people that Qatar is not taking a back seat, but rather leading by example, by showing them the importance of a “Just Do It” approach as they strive to set themselves up to rank among future global leaders.
Today, everything is possible in Qatar. Equal opportunity for education and achievement of goals abound. It’s a dynamic market where partnerships between business, government and academia are resulting in unprecedented breakthroughs and discoveries, and where “A” players gather around the boardroom table. This focus on co-creation – the bringing together of great minds, great thought, creativity, connection, and communication to move this small country into the mindset of global community – is why the possibilities in Qatar are exciting beyond measure.
Mary Shakun is a Leadership and Mindset Coach. Mary lives in New York and is the founder of MillionDollarBoardroom, and Journey to Absolute Freedom. Mary is also a Catalyst with TheCoCreationCommunity.com and conversation radio host at www.co-creationstation.com.
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