Ruqya Khan is the founder of SMILETASTIC, she is an internationally honoured change maker. Leading from chaos to clarity, she sees herself more as a S.M.I.L.E. Strategist than a motivational speaker or life coach.
She is a wordsmith - she works with words; delivering stories in print and on stage. In 2016 Ruqya presented a TEDx talk and coined her patented S.M.I.L.E. strategy for it. She is a Master Practitioner of NLP (Neuro Linguistic Programming), Hypnosis and Time Line Therapy® and a certified Life Coach and Mentor at the PCC level with the International Coaching Federation.
As a life coach who has been working with words since more than 22 years now, she understands the importance of communication and what we say to ourselves. Her mission is to enable stress free relationships, effective communication skills and improved outlook on life.
Andy is a thought leader, speaker and coach in the area of Team Work. Andy has spent 25 years working in and with teams in the UK and the Middle East and uses his experience and expertise to help work teams create the culture and practices necessary for them to achieve success. In 2020, Andy published his first book ‘Getting Teamwork Right – the key to happy, successful and resilient teams’ which became an Amazon #1 best seller. Andy was a featured author at the prestigious Emirates Airlines Festival of Literature in 2021. He has written for Gulf Business, Forbes and Arabian Business. Living and working in the UAE for over a decade also gives Andy extensive experience of the particular challenges that highly diverse and multicultural teams face.
I chose to sculpt my career in education due to my conviction that education empowers people and transforms lives. In my professional journey spanning over 35+ years, I had the opportunity to influence the lives of some 25,000 students and 1,500 educators. Our schooling system supports the overall development of children. However, I constantly felt that in the rapidly evolving complex social and technological environment, we need to do much more to equip students to face the future. HFS is created to inspire today's youth to create a better version of themselves constantly. HFS will hold their hands as they transform. HFS will ensure they learn tactics and strategies to remain competitive and on top. I have led reputed schools in India and the Middle East and brought about transformative changes. HFS is my initiative to provide direction and tools to pursue excellence.
VVS Laxman is a legendary Indian cricketer celebrated for his graceful stroke play, mental resilience, and match-winning performances under pressure. A mainstay in India’s Test middle order for over a decade, Laxman is best known for his iconic 281-run knock against Australia at Eden Gardens in 2001—one of the greatest innings in Test cricket history. With over 8,000 Test runs, he earned a reputation as a “crisis man,” turning around matches with calm and class. Post-retirement, Laxman transitioned into leadership roles as a cricket commentator, mentor for IPL teams like Sunrisers Hyderabad, and currently serves as the Head of Cricket at the National Cricket Academy (NCA). A role model for aspiring cricketers, Laxman brings insights on leadership, composure, and high performance in high-stakes environments. His legacy lies in his consistency, humility, and commitment to nurturing the next generation of talent.
Ajeet Khurana is a leading Web3 strategist, entrepreneur, and investor with over two decades of experience building, scaling, and advising ventures across fintech, blockchain, and emerging technologies. As CEO of ZebPay, one of India’s largest cryptocurrency exchanges, he led the company through a high-growth phase, shaping the country’s blockchain and crypto discourse as Head of the Blockchain and Cryptocurrency Committee at the Internet and Mobile Association of India. Currently, as Founder of Reflexical Pte Ltd, Ajeet enables Web3 startups to achieve long-term success through strategic guidance, tokenomics design, market adoption strategies, and industry connections. He has advised and mentored numerous global projects via accelerators such as Chinaccelerator, SOSV MOX, and 500 Startups, as well as through roles with Blockchain Founders Fund and Kalaari Capital. Ajeet’s expertise lies in navigating complex digital landscapes, fostering innovation, and transforming early-stage ventures into thriving, sustainable businesses.
Prof. (Dr.) Premankur Das is a seasoned business leader, CHRO, and thought leader with over 28 years of experience in Human Resources, leadership, and corporate strategy. He is the best-selling author of The Journey from EI to AI: Mankind Redefined, which examines the evolving intersection of emotional intelligence and artificial intelligence. As the CEO of PMA, a premier life skills and HR consulting firm, Dr. Das spearheads transformative HR strategies and technology-driven solutions across the Middle East, Africa, and Asia-Pacific. A TEDx speaker, podcast host, and coach, he is recognized for his people-first leadership approach and his expertise in leadership, mental wellness, and AI in HR. With a blend of humor and humanity, Dr. Das challenges traditional perspectives and offers innovative insights on the future of work, inspiring growth and change in business and HR practices globally.
Mireia is a dedicated Certified Executive Leadership and Team Coach with over 18 years of experience.
She supports entrepreneurs, executives, athletes and teams to be the most effective leaders through 1:1 coaching, team coaching, leadership assessments and workshops, always through the lens of holistic well-being.
Mireia holds a degree in Humanities and a Master's degree in Business Communication from Deusto University in Spain. She is certified as a Professional Co-Active Coach from The Coaches Training Institute and she is certified as an Executive Coach from the Center for Executive Coaching. She is also a certified Leadership Circle Profile practitioner which is a comprehensive 360 assessment. Mireia is trained in Systemic Coaching (ORSC) and has a solid knowledge of methodologies and philosophies such as Trauma Informed Leadership, Positive Intelligence, Sports Psychology, Enneagram, and Somatic Experiencing.
Shailaja Khan is a Certified Executive Coach and Systemic Team Coach with over 20 years of experience in HR, leadership, and organizational development across industries in the GCC. She specializes in boosting team morale, reducing burnout, and refreshing mindsets, enabling leaders and teams to perform at their highest potential. Shailaja partners with CEOs, senior executives, and teams in pharmaceuticals, healthcare, PR, IT, real estate, and consumer electronics, helping them navigate challenges, improve engagement, and achieve measurable business results.
Her coaching blends systemic thinking, human resource expertise, and practical leadership strategies to create transformative experiences that foster resilience, collaboration, and productivity. Known for her empathetic, insightful, and energizing style, Shailaja uses stories, interactive exercises, and actionable frameworks to reconnect teams with purpose and motivation. She also mentors entrepreneurs and young professionals, supporting them in self-discovery, building relationships, and achieving personal and organizational growth.
There are so many enticing Team Building speakers just waiting to speak at your next event. Bringing a top speaker or expert to your event can be a game changer. Whether it is inspiring, engaging life stories or driving change within your organisation or institution. Connect with Best Team Building speakers & leaders through UAE Speaker Bureau; a platform where leading organisations partner for their business conferences and events – via keynote presentations, cross-industry interactions, inspirational and leadership sessions.
