Why Your Executive Presence Matters

WWhen we think of a leader, we envision a white, tall, assertive male, someone that fits the typical CEO archetype. Indeed, many of the presumptive signals that someone is leadership material, such as being aggressive, assertive, commanding the room, having grey hair, are still embedded in our workplace stereotypes of power. The fact that 94% of Fortune 500 CEOs are male easily explains this erroneous stereotype.

Executive presence

Interestingly, research has proven that an aggressive personality and other typically male traits don’t equate to good leadership. Some call it personal brand, others refer to it as executive presence, or the commonly referred to “it factor”.

Simply put, it’s a combination of intelligence, credibility, and other intangible skills that make you not only relatable, but also extremely effective in a senior position. It’s that spark that inspires people around you and gets them to act towards a common goal. Your presence in the boardroom, at a dinner table, on social media, all culminate to your very own personal brand. It has nothing to do with performance; it’s more of a measure of communication and image. This exact executive presence is what determines a person’s ability to grow in their career and influence others. It’s your signal to the world that you have what it takes to get the job done.

Abir Achkar

Please don’t confuse personal brand with personality. Our fundamental personality isn’t meant to be transformed; it’s about adopting specific practices and performing minor tweaks in order to reflect even more confidence, character and poise.

The importance of executive presence in the workplace

Executive presence won’t launch your career, however, its absence may hold you back. In a study by the Center for Talent Innovation, a large majority of senior executives surveyed said that executive presence counts for 26% of what it takes to get promoted. Even more so, research shows that women were less likely to get performance feedback on aspects of executive presence, making it even more difficult for them to develop and foster this skill. By fully understanding the fundamental components of executive presence, you’ll be better equipped to navigate

the often contradictory messages around what makes someone leadership material.

Building your personal brand

Some people seem to naturally have what it takes to be an exceptional leader. However, don’t worry; just like any other skillset, executive presence can be developed, cultivated and practiced by anybody. Talent experts have broken it down to three specific factors: gravitas, communication, and image.

Gravitas

Gravitas by definition fosters respect and recognition as it signifies you’re intelligent and knowledgeable in your field. Becoming an expert in your field is a surefire way to boost your confidence and showcase talent in front of colleagues. Connecting with others and being at ease building a network are other ways to naturally add to your own personal gravitas.

Communication

Great communication and presentation skills are another factor crucial to executive presence. Whilst most people frankly admit hating public speaking, it’s unfortunately a key element in building a strong “it factor”. Practicing is crucial so start small with team meetings and small talk, and work your way up to larger groups. There are plenty of opportunities daily to get comfortable speaking in front of an audience.

Image

Workwear that inspires trust and confidence may seem like a small detail but honestly it goes a long way. It’s about having the cultural intelligence to know what elicits respect and authority in any specific field. Looking polished and groomed cultivates a professional and trustworthy image and adds once again to your executive presence.

Leadership redefined

Certified Image & Etiquette Consultant - AICI Fashion Director - CP magazine

since 2010

2021: THE YEAR OF DUBAI!

The ideal destination for a safe and secluded getaway, Dubai deliver an intoxicating mix of one of the most dynamic cityscapes in the world, mile upon mile of glorious golden sand and endless Arabian sunshine.

Dubai have become synonymous with city-breaks and family holidays. With easy access from all corners of the world, no wonder the country has become such a hotspot for travel lovers from all over. What makes 2021 a particularly exciting prospect is the combination of delayed 2020 projects sitting side by side with scheduled opening in the new year, meaning you’ll have more reasons to visit the city. It’s the year of Dubai.

Expo 2020 Dubai, which will take place from October 2021 to March 2022 after being postponed due to the pandemic, will be a once-in-alifetime global celebration, opening up a world of wonder, excitement and hope for millions of visitors from around the world. Through the theme Connecting Minds, Creating the Future’ Expo 2020 Dubai provides a platform to encourage creativity, innovation and collaboration across three subthemes: Opportunity, Mobility and Sustainability. The theme reflects the history of Dubai, historically called Al Wasl, or ‘the connection’ as Dubai has long played an important role in connecting east and west, north and south. Expo 2020 Dubai’s vision is to build on Dubai’s role as a cross-continental gateway and deliver a World Expo that advances the potential of human collaboration, while inspiring visitors to create a positive, long-term impact for people around the world.

Along with Expo 2020 Dubai, another milestone that will happen this 2021 in the city is one of the most anticipated new museum opening, in recent years, the Museum of the Future, which is set to become one of the most recognisable buildings in Dubai, if not the world. The exciting design is complemented by the curated exhibitions inside, dedicated to innovation and science. Designed by Shauk Killa in the shape of a torus, with its roundness representing the Earth and the sky and the emply middle signifying the unkwnon, it’s already one of the world’s most complex buildings.

The Museum of the Future joins the select group of Dubai’s most iconic buildings, including Burj Al Arab or Burj Khalifa, which stands at over 828m and is the world’s tallest building. For a bird’s eye view of the city, visitors can choose to visit the observatory, At the Top, on the 124th and 125th floors, At the Top Sky on the 148th floor, or dine at At.mosphere on the 122nd floor for an unforgettable culinary experience. Or Dubai Frame, one of the city’s most famous attractions for visitors and residents alike. The building's landmark location in Zabeel Park provides sweeping panoramic views of the city. At 150m tall and 93m wide with a bridge connecting the two towers, Dubai Frame has a unique concept to its structure. Resembling a picture frame, Dubai's historic district can be seen to the north while the south provides breathtaking vistas of the city's modern skyline. Step onto the clear 50m-long opaque glass bridge at the Sky-deck. Crafted from liquid crystal with an underlying film triggered by sensors, the floor becomes clear only when a visitor walks over it. Peer at the ground beneath, all while feeling like you’re walking on air. Boasting some of the world’s finest restaurants, Dubai is a food lovers’ paradise! The city offers a wonderful concoction of flavours from across the globe with something to satisfy every palate. Tantalise your taste buds with delicious street food in Old Dubai or experience fine dining in a host of celebrityowned restaurants. One of the Madinat Jumeirah’s most coveted restaurants, folly by Nick & Scott brings award-winning cuisine to the forefront. With stunning views of the Madinat waterways and beyond, the restaurant is a top pick for every occasion from sunset nibbles and lazy lunches with friends to a romantic, starlit dinner. Star chefs Nick Alvis and Scott Price opened up folly as their latest venture after their success with Table 9 and Taste Kitchen. The pair learnt from Gordon Ramsay, having worked for him for over 15 years. Assured, European-leaning menus change often: vegetarians are well catered for with the likes of beetroot tuile crisps, filled with homemade ricotta, blackcurrant cordial and pickled beets, while the roasted lobster garners rave reviews On Bluewaters Island, Ain Dubai is the world’s largest Ferris wheel. The 210m tall ride will be able to hold 48 capsules, each accommodating up to 40 people, and give passengers the chance to see the breathtaking Dubai skyline in all its glory, including views of the Burj Khalifa and Palm Jumeirah. To give you an idea of the scale of the structure, each spoke holding up the wheel is longer than a football pitch. Just 5 minutes walking distance from there is Cove Beach Dubai, one of the premiere beach clubs and dining venues in the country. The venue boasts a stunning seafront locale that comprises of a restaurant and 3 pools all set to the backdrop of the tranquil Aranbian Sea. With a series of unique offerings, each day and night brings a different combination of soulful tunes, exotic dancing, tantalizing dishes and an array of package options, making it the only beach club to entirely transform every day.

Can immersive dinner really replace a night on the dance floor? The answer is Billionare Dubai. This thrilling nocturnal adventure has made its much-anticipated debut at its new home in Taj Dubai. Offering guests an evening of pure escapism, Billionaire Dubai boldly steers away from the standard dining experiences the city has to offer, by pairing its extraordinary Grand Show with an exquisite culinary experience, enjoyed in the most mesmerizing of settings. In a city that’s always hungry for more, Billionaire is shaking up the hospitality scene with a unique approach that offers everything you need to immerse yourself in an unforgettable night. Aside from the plethora of modern skyscrapers, gleaming shopping malls and extravagant hotels, Dubai also offers a myriad of fantastic cultural attractions. Explore the colourful souks and bustling bazaars in Old Dubai, uncover the city’s intriguing past in historic Al Fahidi with a walking tour to the Dubai Museum located in the Al Fahidi Fort to learn about Dubai’s transformation from a tiny fishing village to a majestic universal city. Or discover trendy galleries in the artistic hub of Al Quoz. Once an industrial area in the very centre of Dubai, Alserkal Avenue now comprises around 40 warehouses, converted into galleries, dance studios, artisanal cafés and more. The neighbourhood has nurtured a culture of creativity and is now one of the region’s leading art hubs. Since its humble beginnings as a standalone gallery in 2008, word soon caught on and other galleries moved into the area. Alserkal Avenue soon grew and became a popular parade of gallery exhibits and displays of contemporary artwork, as well as seasonal events and open-air community days.

WORLD-RENOWNED CHEFS REVEAL THEIR COLOURFUL BUTTER STORIES

Two of the Middle East’s leading chefs have collaborated with their counterparts in Asia to reveal their secrets to creating the perfect butter sauce with French butter

The European Union and CNIEL, The French Dairy Board, are utilising the expertise of chefs from the Middle East, China, Hong Kong and Taiwan to showcase how they create naturally coloured sauces using the finest French butter and a range of bold ingredients to create visually enticing dishes.

From the home kitchen to Michelin star restaurants, butter has been at the epicentre of creating some of the tastiest sauces since Roman times. CNIEL has launched a new magazine, Butter Stories, which is highlighting how chefs incorporate the finest French butter into their recipes to produce outstanding taste, colour, and depth.

Marie-Laure Martin, International Project Manager from CNIEL, said: “In this new Butter Stories edition, our focus is on sauces made with French butter. For many chefs, sauces are the most important component of a dish. However, to create a great sauce, you need a great butter! Real dairy French butter enhances all the flavour of a sauce and gives it a deep texture.

“For the chefs featured the challenge truly allowed them to showcase their flair and ability to innovate cooking. Charcoal, beetroots, wasabi, turmeric, and squid ink were just some of the ingredients used to colour and add taste to their butter sauces in a natural way,” added Martin.

Representing the Middle East in the latest edition of the Butter Stories publication are Maroun Chedid of Ritage by Maroun Chedid located in Beirut and Riyadh, and Gilles Bosquet, Executive Chef at La Cantine Du Faubourg in Dubai.

Both were tasked with creating a range of recipes that incorporated a variety of colorful sauces using French butter. Chef Maroun created a beetroot hollandaise, a turmeric and citrus butter, a cauliflower puree, and an alcohol-free marchand de vin butter, resulting in bold purple, yellow, green and red sauces, all of which complemented a range of vegetable and fish dishes.

Speaking about the importance of quality butter as an ingredient when making a sauce, Chef Maroun, Top Chef Middle East judge, said: “Butter adds refinement, taste, and texture to the sauce. It elevates the flavours of any dish and adds finesse to the sauce.”

Chef Gilles created a baby vegetable and wasabi butter dish and grilled chicken breast and smoked paprika butter.

He said: “The most important thing about a great sauce is the texture. In other words, what we feel immediately in our mouth, the first impression and feeling we have when combining the two things correctly – that is, flavour and texture. The main purpose of a sauce is to stimulate our sensations with the right texture, and therefore the base has to be well proportioned to the butter and the seasoning.”

The other chefs contributing to the magazine included Chef Nobu Lee, from Orchid restaurant in Taipei, Taiwan. He created a thread fin bream dish with kelp and used French butter and oranges to create a brightly coloured orange curd.

From Shanghai, Chef Wenyuan Zhu, from Borage restaurant developed a vegetarian dish of kapa cabbage and caramelised coffee butter sauce, while Chef May Chow of Happy Paradise in Hong Kong, created a salted lemon and black squid ink butter to accompany her roasted lamb loin, Chinese black olive, lettuce and Chinese lamb jus.