WELCOME TO THE FAST COMPANY IMPACT COUNCIL
Fast Company Middle East’s Impact Council is an invitation-only collective of innovative leaders and the most creative people in business. The group meets several times a year to discuss some of the greatest opportunities and most pressing challenges we face today.
The Impact Council serves as a platform for companies and council members to shape the future. Key conversations are spotlighted on www.fastcompanyme.com and feature special print articles with insights from its annual meeting.
Participation is open only to members based in the Middle East. Membership is by invitation and non-transferable.
MEMBERSHIP
1. Share your knowledge, insights, and perspectives
Imagine that the Impact Council is your business think tank—a body of the most inventive founders, energetic CEOs, designers and artists, and visionaries—coming together to share knowledge, ideas, and perspectives on business, society, innovation, and design.
2. Convene at the annual council meeting
Council members gather for a full day of open discussions and roundtables to highlight members’ viewpoints on the most urgent business and societal issues. These conversations will form a blueprint for Fast Company Middle East’s coverage across 2023 and beyond.
3. Take part in webinars and virtual visits
Curated by Fast Company Middle East, these intimate gatherings allow you to mingle, ideate, and build relationships with council members and special guests.
4. Create lasting relationships with Fast Company Middle East’s editorial team
As a council member, Fast Company Middle East’s editors will heavily rely on your expertise, acumen, and perspectives. You will be featured prominently in the print issue alongside other members.
5. Enjoy complimentary access to Fast Company Middle East’s events and discounts to apply for recognition programs
Our team is dedicated to creating a curated experience for members who participate in Fast Company Middle East events. Additionally, members will have the chance to nominate themselves or others as potential speakers for these events.
Impact Council members are eligible for discounted application fees for Fast Company Middle East’s recognition programs, such as Most Innovative Companies and World Changing Ideas. This discount applies to their companies and the companies they support as investors or board members.
SUB-COMMITTEES
Focused on specific industries act as a think tank—a body of the most inventive founders, energetic CEOs, designers and artists, and visionaries.
1. Artificial Intelligence
After a year of dominating news cycles, GenAI is no longer a novelty—it’s being implemented in businesses every day. A recent survey found that 55% of organizations report they’re increasing investment in GenAI. As the buzz around GenAI has begun to quieten down, business leaders and their teams will now have to evaluate the technology with a more sober perspective – ensuring ethical and beneficial AI implementation. The AI sub-committee will deliberate on various AI topics as we see the link between responsibility, accountability, and subsequent rewards.
2. Climate Change and Sustainability
The COP28 has covered the full scope of climate issues, sending critical signals for energy, transport, and nature. Significant new commitments are also to reduce methane emissions, create more sustainable food systems, protect forests, and more.
But the course correction needed to avert the climate crisis has yet to be secured. The Climate Change and Sustainability sub-committee will explore what’s next — energy transition and resource conservation to urban planning and climate finance. The experts will discuss in greater depth where the world needs to go on key issues, transportation, energy systems, housing, air quality, and climate financing, and how to turn decisions into reality with real progress in hand.
3. Future of Payments
From smart tokens to digital wallets, the way people pay and how businesses receive payments have changed with new technologies such as artificial intelligence and biometrics. The Future of Payments sub-committee will explore the latest trends and innovations in payment technology to meet evolving consumer expectations, including their benefits, emerging new technologies, impact on businesses and the wider economy.
4. Workplaces of the Future
Strong, inclusive, and diverse workplace cultures don’t happen by accident.They are built intentionally. Traditional workplace is at a crossroads. So, how should it evolve? The Workplaces of the Future sub-committee will discuss why focusing on increasing DEI, mental health and well-being, accelerating progress for women and leadership development and also creating physical spaces where teams can remain productive are crucial.
5. GenZ
GenZ is a growing segment of the population, an influential generational cohort with new ways of thinking that are already impacting companies in every aspect of their business. However, many businesses need to prepare to meet the high expectations they are bringing both as employees and as consumers. The GenZ sub-committee will explore why businesses need to understand the influence of Gen Z, what drives them, and how they can incite great shifts for the future of companies, especially in digital transformation and ESG.
6. Hospitality & Tourism
Tourism is the world’s third-largest export industry after fuels and chemicals, ahead of food and automotive products. There has been a great surge in tourism in the Middle East in the last few years, as the countries invest heavily in their tourism attractiveness, improving critical infrastructure, such as airports, hotels, and mega projects, to attract millions of tourists in the coming years. The Hospitality & Tourism sub-committee will discuss promoting favorable policies, green tourism, and how tourism, financial development, and economic growth are cointegrated in the long run.
7. Future of Digital Commerce
To understand the future of e-commerce, we must look beyond speed, ease, and selection. As consumers live their lives digitally and on ever-smaller screens, brands are becoming content-led and using advanced technologies to make shopping more experiential.
The sub-committee will discuss the significant trends in e-commerce, like “contextual” commerce and sustainability, the role of advanced technologies like AI and AR/VR in making shopping more experiential and convergence of content, growth of app-based commerce where brands have a one-on-one dialogue with customers and marriages of e-commerce tools with social platforms. The experts will also explore effective and efficient ways to sell through multiple channels, investing in the tools and experiences to unite digital and physical operations and cloud-based omnichannel experience platforms.
8. PR & Advertising
In a continuously evolving social and technological landscape, when brands need to seize new market opportunities and gain a competitive edge, and consumers demand more authentic interactions, PR & Advertising have never felt more dynamic than today, especially with the emergence of AI-driven technology.
The PR & Advertising subcommittee will explore the evolving world of the industry to uncover the techniques that drive success and innovative approaches. In this digital era, how can compelling content be crafted using AI-powered tools and data analytics that help brands connect with the audience while taking a more humanized approach? Along with taking a humanized approach, how authenticity in PR & Advertising can help build trust and credibility with clients.
PARTNERSHIP
Integrated sponsorship opportunities are available. Please contact, Fast Company Middle East Director Business Strategy Abhinav@fastcompanyme.com