Supporting the People of the Region and Eventually the World

Laila Bin Hareb Almheiri is an Emirati serial entrepreneur, the founder & CEO of Alive Group, a keynote speaker, and an expert on multiple disciplines with more than three decades of experience in transforming the aviation, cybersecurity, public transportation, and holistic healthcare sectors. She used her knowledge of organic leadership, organizational transformation, and digital innovation to contribute immensely to the development of the UAE. Laila has recently been honoured by the United Nations’ ICAO and IAWA as a global woman leader who has inspired generations. The Integrator spoke with Ms. Laila Bin Hareb Almheiri about how she has managed to accomplish all of her goals thus far.

From a software engineer to a serial entrepreneur, how has life changed over the years?

I’m still a software engineer after all. The difference was that I just wanted to branch out and discover new avenues in different industries. Being a software engineer means employing a problem-solving mentality. I just adapted this mentality to my entrepreneurial journey. So, while life has been a lot more stressful and I’ve been busier outside of my home, I don’t see my journey going in any other direction. I’ve always viewed my achievements as a way to change societies in the GCC region and eventually the world.

Could you name a woman who inspired you the most?

I would have to say, my mother. She was the woman who sacrificed it all for me and my siblings. When I was growing up, she inherited something I would like to consider a “healer’s touch” from my grandfather. I would always watch her help the community around me, and despite being so young at the time, I felt her influential presence. She passed away from an undiagnosed sleep apnea complication which has motivated me and inspired me to establish Alive Medical, a company dedicated to providing natural solutions for this condition. She inspired me to follow my dreams, focus on my ambitions, and keep the healer’s touch flourishing.

Many regional and international organizations have honored and recognized you. How do you feel about all of this acknowledgment?

I’m very flattered and of course, I’m very grateful for the regional and international honors, but my main priority is to make meaningful differences in people’s lives. I am grateful for any recognition and accolades and hope that my influence inspires others to follow a positive path. As long as my influence can inspire someone to move with the right foot forward, then that’s all that matters.

What drives you to keep going? How do you balance all of your current responsibilities?

After a while, you sort of get used to it. I still maintain a healthy worklife balance but oftentimes, I stay late at the office. There is this cliché where the CEO is the first one in the office and the last one to leave. In the beginning, I had to fill in that role, but eventually, I learned to delegate tasks, hire the right people, and manage my time efficiently. Once we do things out of passion, we’re always driven. Over time, managing responsibilities has become second nature, and I cannot imagine life without being as busy as I am.

How is the Alive Group fostering innovation and development in the UAE?

Alive Group recognizes that the status quo is changing, and that technology is driving the change. For instance, our innovative 3D scanning technology provides natural-based solutions to address sleep apnea without surgery. The scanner is placed inside the mouth and takes a detailed scan of the mouth to fit a mouthpiece whereby the patient can breathe without any complications. This is just one example of where we leverage technology and innovation to drive our business forward.

What is the best career advice you've ever received, and what would you like to tell young women out there?

The best career advice I’ve ever received was to allow ourselves to fail and to forgive ourselves for mistakes we will make along the way. Failure is inevitable and something we cannot escape. We shouldn’t view it as something that holds us back, but rather as the building blocks to success. My message to young women out there is to follow the right examples and to lead by example. Women in the region have always been given the short end of the stick, and it’s up to us to make the changes. Believe in yourself, allow yourself to make mistakes, and believe in the changes you can bring. The world is in your hands.

Laila Bin Hareb Almheiri Founder & CEO of Alive Group