What does it mean to bring humanity back into our systems, and to see ourselves as part of them?

In this conversation, Dr. José-Rodrigo Córdoba-Pachón, Associate Professor at Royal Holloway, University of London, joins Marilyn Zakhour to explore the intersection of systems thinking, rituals, and the art of being. Together, they reflect on how leaders can find balance between doing and being, structure and spontaneity, efficiency and presence.

They discuss:
🔹 How philosophy, poetry, and systems thinking can inform modern leadership
🔹 The role of rituals in creating meaning, boundaries, and connection
🔹 Why reflection and lightness are essential to navigate complexity
🔹 How to design systems that leave space for silence, creativity, and humanity

This conversation invites leaders to slow down, question assumptions, and rediscover the simple, human truths at the heart of every system.

Innovation rarely fails because of a lack of ideas. It fails because the systems around it are built for compliance, not experimentation.

In this episode, Wissam Adib, Executive Coach and former Advisor at the UAE Prime Minister’s Office, joins Marilyn Zakhour to explore what it really takes to build systems that foster innovation at scale. Drawing on two decades of experience shaping national innovation frameworks in the UAE, Wissam shares lessons that apply to both governments and organizations everywhere.

Together, they explore:
🔹 How to build a system that makes innovation repeatable and sustainable
🔹 What it means to balance governance with experimentation
🔹 Why ambidexterity is a core leadership muscle
🔹 How leaders can separate themselves from the systems they shape
🔹 What organizations can learn from the UAE’s journey of embedding innovation

This conversation blends systems thinking, leadership, and strategy with practical insights from one of the region’s most experienced innovation architects.

In leadership, we often focus on strategies, frameworks, and structures. But what keeps systems alive are the people within them — their purpose, presence, and connection.

In this soulful conversation, Rawan Albina, Leadership & Wellbeing Academies Director at Chalhoub Group, joins Marilyn Zakhour to explore the human and emotional dimensions of systems. Together, they discuss how leaders can nurture balance, resilience, and meaning within complex organizations.

They explore:
🔹 What it means to fully occupy your place within a system
🔹 How comfort zones and flow coexist, and why both matter
🔹 How leaders can stay grounded while in constant motion
🔹 Why purpose doesn’t have to be grand, it can be as simple as opening hearts
🔹 Practical ways to bring connection, feedback, and mindfulness into everyday leadership

This episode is an invitation to slow down, listen deeply, and remember that every thriving system begins with a centered, conscious human being.