NADIA FAROOQ
Dubai, UAE | +971 50 245 7788 | nadia.farooq@example.com | linkedin.com/in/nadia-farooq
Director of Strategic Initiatives | Enterprise Transformation | Corporate Planning
Executive Summary
Refined enterprise leader with 17+ years of experience steering strategic initiatives, operating model redesign, corporate planning, and cross-functional transformation across regional and multinational environments.
Known for bringing structure to complex growth agendas, aligning executive stakeholders, and translating board-level priorities into measurable execution plans. Combines commercial judgment, governance discipline, customer focus, and calm leadership presence to deliver sustainable performance improvement.
Achievements
- Led an enterprise transformation portfolio covering 42 initiatives, improving operating cadence and reducing decision cycle time by 28%.
- Built a corporate planning framework used across 9 business units, strengthening accountability, investment prioritization, and quarterly performance reviews.
- Directed a customer success excellence program that increased enterprise retention from 86% to 94% within 18 months.
- Established ESG governance reporting for leadership committees, creating a practical roadmap for sustainability, ethics, and stakeholder transparency.
- Delivered AED 38M in cost optimization through process redesign, vendor governance, and automation-led efficiency programs.
Core Competencies
Strategic Initiatives
Enterprise Transformation
Corporate Planning
Operating Model Design
Executive Governance
Business Excellence
Customer Success Leadership
ESG Programs
Innovation Portfolios
Change Management
Performance Management
Stakeholder Alignment
PMO Leadership
Process Optimization
Risk & Controls
Board Reporting
Budget Governance
Data-Led Decision Making
Professional Experience
Director of Strategic Initiatives
Jan 2021 – Present
Emerald Gate Holdings
Dubai, UAE
Emerald Gate Holdings is a diversified enterprise group operating across services, technology, and regional investment platforms.
- Lead the CEO office portfolio for strategic initiatives, governance routines, operating reviews, and transformation delivery across 9 business units.
- Designed a group-wide corporate planning calendar linking strategy, budgeting, performance scorecards, risk reviews, and leadership accountability.
- Partnered with Finance, HR, Technology, and Commercial leaders to simplify decision forums and accelerate execution of priority programs.
- Introduced portfolio dashboards for executive committees, improving visibility over milestones, risks, dependencies, and benefits realization.
Senior Director of Operations Excellence
Feb 2017 – Dec 2020
Nexa Enterprise Solutions
Abu Dhabi, UAE
Nexa Enterprise Solutions delivers digital, customer, and managed service platforms for government and enterprise clients.
- Directed enterprise operations excellence, service governance, customer success improvement, and resource planning across regional delivery teams.
- Implemented a business excellence scorecard covering service quality, profitability, delivery risk, contract health, and client satisfaction.
- Reduced escalations by 35% through root-cause governance, clearer ownership models, and customer-facing recovery playbooks.
- Supported leadership in annual planning, investment cases, and transformation roadmaps for new service lines.
Head of Corporate Planning
Mar 2012 – Jan 2017
Al Noor Capital Group
Doha, Qatar
Al Noor Capital Group is a regional investment and operating company with interests in infrastructure, real estate, and business services.
- Managed corporate planning, budget coordination, performance reporting, and strategic project tracking for the group executive committee.
- Built financial and operational planning templates that improved comparability across subsidiaries and reduced rework during budget cycles.
- Coordinated market assessments, board packs, and investment committee materials for growth opportunities and restructuring programs.
- Strengthened governance controls around project approvals, benefits tracking, and post-implementation reviews.
Education
MBA, Strategy & Leadership - London Business School - London, UK
2009 – 2011
Bachelor of Business Administration - American University of Sharjah - Sharjah, UAE
2003 – 2007
Certifications
Certified Director - Institute of Directors - UK
2024
Focused on board effectiveness, governance responsibilities, stakeholder oversight, and ethical leadership.
Strategic Management Professional - Association for Strategic Planning - USA
2020
Covers strategy formulation, implementation governance, performance measurement, and enterprise alignment.
Projects
Enterprise Operating Rhythm Redesign
2023 – 2024
Program Sponsor & Transformation Lead
Client: Group CEO Office
Redesigned leadership review cycles, decision forums, initiative dashboards, and escalation governance to create a calmer, faster, and more accountable executive operating rhythm.
ESG Governance & Reporting Roadmap
2022 – 2023
Executive Workstream Lead
Client: Board Strategy Committee
Created a practical ESG governance model, reporting cadence, ownership map, and initiative backlog aligned with sustainability, ethics, stakeholder engagement, and operational resilience priorities.