Two Pakistani women, Shaista Asif and Shazia Syed, have secured positions in the top 10 of Forbes’ ‘The Middle East’s 100 Most Powerful Businesswomen 2024’ list, showcasing their significant impact and leadership within the region’s business landscape.
Shaista Asif, co-founder and Group CEO of PureHealth Holding, a top healthcare network in the UAE, ranked fourth on the list, while, Shazia Syed, General Manager of Unilever North Africa, Levant, and Iraq, clinched the ninth spot on Forbes’ list.
Who is Shaista Asif?
Shaista Asif co-founded PureHealth in 2006 and assumed the role of group CEO in December 2023. During the same month, the group’s initial public offering (IPO) raised an impressive $986 million listing 10% of its shares on the Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange (ADX).
The IPO saw overwhelming demand, with a 483 times oversubscription in the retail tranche and a 54 times oversubscription in the professional subscriber tranche.
In January 2024, PureHealth expanded its portfolio by acquiring the UK’s largest independent hospital operator, Circle Health Group, for $1.2 billion before debt.
Additionally, in January 2024, PureHealth acquired Sheikh Shakbout Medical City, the UAE’s largest healthcare complex, valued at $600 million with revenues totaling $585.4 million.
Who is Shazia Syed?
Shazia Syed, who took on her current role in 2021, also serves as the Arabia Senior Customer Development Lead. Her tenure at Unilever began in 1989.
Syed holds positions of significant responsibility beyond Unilever; she sits on the board of United Bank Limited in Pakistan, serving as a member of the Board Risk & Compliance Committee and chairperson of the Board Audit Committee.
Previously, she held board positions at Pukka Tea and Pepsi Lipton, served as president of the Overseas Investors Chamber of Commerce & Industry, and was a director of the Pakistan Business Council.
In a LinkedIn post, Syed said she was “delighted to be recognised” by Forbes and share the space with “99 other brilliant thought leaders and change-makers of the region.”
“To me, personally, it’s a wonderful reminder of boldly championing my values in my personal and professional leadership journey,” she said.
“I am humbled and proud to represent Unilever and deeply grateful to every person in the organization who has contributed to my journey of enabling change both internally and externally.”
Emerging from Abbottabad, Syed embarked on her professional journey as a Management Trainee at Unilever Pakistan, swiftly climbing the corporate ladder and slipping into leadership roles across Pakistan and Unilever’s global spectrum in Marketing, Sales, and General Management.
From leading Unilever’s Personal Care in Vietnam to steering as CEO in Sri Lanka and later ascending as the global Executive Vice President for Unilever’s Beverage empire, Syed’s trajectory is a tale of unparalleled success.