From Vision to Impact: Inspiring AKSOB’s Purpose-Driven Leaders
The Department of Management Studies at the Adnan Kassar School of Business hosted a focused fireside chat at the LAU Beirut campus titled From Vision to Impact: Innovating for a Sustainable World. Organized by the department’s chairperson, Dr. Grace Dagher, the event brought together 100 students for an engaging discussion with Rana Ghandour Salhab, managing partner for People and Purpose at Deloitte Middle East, AKSOB Advisory Board Member and member of the Regional Executive, in conversation with Dean Dima R. Jamali.
Throughout the talk, Salhab shared interesting facts about the growing demand for organizations to embed genuine purpose in their operations. She noted that young professionals increasingly seek workplaces where values, meaning and measurable impact guide decision-making. Vision alone, she explained, is insufficient without the leadership discipline required to translate it into sustained results.
Salhab highlighted Deloitte’s investments in youth-centered initiatives, including entrepreneurship and skills-building programs, stressing the importance of preparing the region’s large youth population for a rapidly evolving market. She encouraged students to cultivate adaptability, professional resilience and a strong personal brand to differentiate themselves in competitive fields.
The discussion also explored the region’s emerging environmental, social and governance standards—also known as ESG, which organizations use to evaluate their sustainability practices, social responsibility and leadership effectiveness. Salhab noted the increasing momentum for ESG adoption across industries in the Middle East.
Building on this perspective, “These initiatives are essential to fostering innovative thinking and driving sustainable change among our students,” emphasized AKSOB Dean Dima Jamali, underscoring the school’s dedication to cultivating future leaders.
The event further reinforced AKSOB’s mission to prepare graduates who lead with purpose and advance meaningful, sustainable progress across their communities and beyond.