Next Gen Leaders: Top 10 Women Shaping Business in 2026

Every year, new business stories emerge. Some companies grow quickly. Some leaders solve problems in fresh ways. Others create opportunities that help people, communities, and industries move forward.

This year’s Next Gen Leaders: Top 10 Women Shaping Business in 2026 highlights women who are making a difference in very different fields. Their backgrounds are not the same. Their journeys are not the same either. Yet each of them has built something valuable through hard work, persistence, and a clear sense of direction.

Leading this year’s list is Siddikka Naznin, a business leader and entrepreneur whose career reflects determination and resilience. Through her work in sales, business development, and entrepreneurship, she has helped drive growth while encouraging more women to pursue leadership roles and believe in their own potential.

The beauty industry finds a strong voice in Inaas Abdalla, founder of Inês Cosmetics and InêSKN. Her brands focus on making beauty and skincare simpler and more accessible. Through practical products and educational content, she continues to help women feel confident in their everyday routines.

Business consultant and entrepreneur Kyi Kyi Thein has spent years helping professionals turn their knowledge into successful businesses. Through training, mentoring, and consulting, she works closely with entrepreneurs and experts who want to create lasting value from their experience.

Building meaningful connections sits at the heart of Manahil Ijaz’s work. As a marketing consultant and founder of Dubai Circle, she helps businesses communicate more authentically while creating spaces where people feel supported, heard, and included.

Hospitality entrepreneur Jennifer Abi Raad has built a career around creating memorable experiences. Through Thalexa Events, she combines creativity, service, and attention to detail to help clients bring their ideas to life while raising the standard for customer experience.

In the beauty and skincare sector, Alison Atia continues to push for products backed by both science and quality. Through Skin O2, she has built an internationally recognized brand that focuses on clean beauty and real results.

Brand strategist and public relations expert Jessica Kopach has helped businesses, organizations, and entrepreneurs strengthen their visibility and reputation. Through The JKO Agency, she works with clients to tell their stories in ways that build trust and create lasting connections.

The list also features Michelle Calios, an entrepreneur, investor, and mentor known for her experience in the food and beverage sector. After helping build one of Europe’s leading food brands, she now supports founders who want to create strong and sustainable businesses.

Media entrepreneur Esmeralda Baez has dedicated her career to helping people share their stories. Through Elite Vision Media, she works with entrepreneurs, executives, artists, and brands to increase visibility, strengthen credibility, and create new opportunities.

Completing this year’s list is Dr. Nairouz Bader, a respected leader in executive search and leadership advisory. For more than two decades, she has helped organizations identify talented leaders while supporting greater representation and opportunity within the workplace.

These women work in different industries and come from different backgrounds. Some build brands. Some mentor entrepreneurs. Others help businesses grow, connect people, or create opportunities for future leaders.

What brings them together is their willingness to keep moving forward, even when the path is not easy.

In the section ahead, we share the stories behind these remarkable women and the work they continue to do as they shape business in 2026 and beyond.