Author: Alain Bejjani
In “Next,” Alain Bejjani offers a clear-eyed reflection on what it means to lead in an era defined by disruption, technological acceleration, demographic shifts, and environmental urgency.
Drawing on his journey from wartime Beirut to the helm of Majid Al Futtaim, Bejjani frames leadership not as a position but as a disciplined practice shaped by mindset, character, and the ability to navigate “stormy seas.”
As he writes, leadership is ultimately about “making people feel that you are touching their lives.”
Bejjani structures the book around four defining realities of the 21st century: continual change, the rise of artificial intelligence, the age of talent, and the global imperative for sustainability.
These forces, he argues, are not trends but structural shifts reshaping societies, economies, and institutions. Leaders who fail to adapt will be left behind; those who embrace them can help shape a more resilient future.
A central theme is trust, which Bejjani calls “the bedrock of leadership.” He recounts how, during the COVID‑19 crisis, his organization chose not to terminate employees despite widespread shutdowns — a decision that reinforced credibility and strengthened internal cohesion.
“It’s all about showing up when others need you most,” he notes, emphasizing that trust is earned long before crises strike.
The book, published by Whitefox Publishing, explores the widening gap between technological progress and institutional capacity.
AI, he suggests, may prove as transformative as the “invention of writing,” altering how humans sense, decide, and create. Yet technology alone is insufficient; the real differentiator is talent — the ability of people to learn, adapt, and ask better questions.
Bejjani’s Middle Eastern perspective adds a distinctive dimension. He highlights the region’s historical contributions to science and culture, its current reinvention through energy transitions and AI investment, and its potential to lead rather than follow global change.
Ultimately, “Next” is both memoir and manifesto, a call for leaders to cultivate courage, openness, and stewardship in a world that is “as slow and simple now as it will ever be.” It is a timely guide for anyone seeking to lead with clarity amid uncertainty.
