Organizations often emphasize technology, processes, and profit margins. But what truly sets successful companies apart? It’s the people—their creativity, passion, and emotional intelligence. A single innovative idea from a motivated employee can spark transformation, while a supportive team environment fosters morale and productivity.

Unlike machines, humans bring irreplaceable qualities like empathy and ingenuity that drive meaningful change.
To explore what makes individuals invaluable assets, we sought insights from industry leaders. Their perspectives revealed common themes: adaptability, collaboration, and a drive for excellence.

Ultimately, their wisdom highlights that the human touch is the cornerstone of an engaged and thriving workplace.

Here’s what they had to share:

Ahmad Darwish, Group Chief Administrative Officer, Red Sea Global

Being an invaluable asset to an organization requires more than technical skills and experience. It’s about being a catalyst for change, a visionary who can adapt to evolving circumstances. To truly make a difference, one must embrace a mindset of growth, or Kaizen, as the Japanese would say it, always seeking to be better than the day before.

By staying curious and open to new ideas, individuals can position themselves as valuable contributors to their organizations. Ultimately, an organization’s most valuable asset is a team of passionate and dedicated individuals committed to achieving shared goals.

Ahmed Nasser, Corporate Vice President Middle East & Turkey Cluster and Head of Sales MEA, LATAM, and APAC, Henkel Consumer Brands

To drive meaningful impact, one must embrace resilience, empathy, and adaptability. It is essential to remain open to new trends, maintain a relentless focus on innovation and digital transformation, and pay attention to the insights of the new generation.

Alice H.Chang, Founder and CEO, Perfect Corp  

To be an invaluable asset to an organization, one must possess a unique blend of skills and qualities. Firstly, a deep understanding of the industry and a customer-centric mindset are crucial. By staying ahead of trends and prioritizing customer needs, one can position themselves as a valuable asset to any organization. Secondly, strong leadership skills are vital. Effective leaders inspire and motivate teams, fostering a positive and productive work environment. Lastly, a relentless pursuit of innovation complemented by a strategic approach is essential. By constantly challenging the status quo and embracing new technologies, individuals can align with the organization’s overall goals to drive company growth and personal progress.

Angel Viña – Founder and CEO, Denodo

Building positive relationships with everyone you interact with adds value to any organization. The best way to achieve this is by staying open and approaching each interaction with curiosity. Like brainstorming, curiosity fosters openness and an engaged team and generates new ideas and innovation. It ensures that all participants feel seen and heard, which builds trust. Being curious means learning and understanding another’s perspective, even if you disagree, which is a vital skill for all employees, from entry-level newcomers to C-suite leaders. My advice is to stay curious.

Barry Lewis, CEO, ALEC

Always aim to exceed requirements and work to create constant added value. You make yourself indispensable when you proactively seek impactful work and when management can confidently trust you to execute high-value tasks with minimal oversight.

Butheina Kazim, Founder, Cinema Akil 

In 2025, the most invaluable thing you can do is embrace your voice and originality. In a world saturated with stories of pseudo-success and one-size-fits-all models of excellence, it’s easy to lose sight of what’s truly authentic to you. Instead of chasing others’ paths or imitating perceived ideals, focus on crafting your unique perspective and contribution—one that reflects your experiences, values, and creativity. By doubling down on what makes you distinct, you not only create something irreplicable but also foster a meaningful journey rooted in humility and respect for yourself and those who share it with you. My advice is simple: respect yourself, honor your journey, and cultivate the humility to embrace those who choose to share it with you. Originality is your most compelling asset—lean into it, trust it, and let it shape your world.

Charbel Mhanna, CEO, Black Spoon Group 

Reflecting on my journey, I’ve understood that never stopping the pursuit of learning and innovating. Every achievement is a reminder to stay humble and keep growing. I’ve learned the importance of stepping in where needed, filling gaps, and working alongside others to build something greater than any one individual could alone. Embracing feedback, owning my mistakes, and striving for improvement play a key role every day. The goal has always been to exceed expectations, but with the understanding that actions speak louder than words. Above all, I’ve learned the importance of acting with a sense of ‘NOW’—taking action today to create the impact that will shape tomorrow.

Donna Varley-Turner, CEO, Resicare Alliance

As a CEO in children’s residential services, being an invaluable asset requires a commitment to strategic leadership and compassionate care. Prioritize building a culture that values empathy, safety, and inclusivity. You can create an environment by leading with vision, empathy, and accountability.

Ergul Hemmingsen, Chief Human Capital Officer, Core42

To be an invaluable asset, focus on driving impact by going the extra mile. It’s not about working harder but being intentional with where you invest your time and energy. The most impactful individuals know how to channel their efforts into areas that create lasting value, and they consistently seek opportunities to go above and beyond to make a difference. Even if you’re not in a formal leadership role, you can be a role model by taking ownership of your work, inspiring others through your actions, and demonstrating leadership in every interaction. Whether you’re driving a project forward or helping a colleague solve a challenge, your influence can create a ripple effect that motivates and elevates the entire team.

JS Anand, Chief Executive Officer & Founder, Leva Hotels

To be an invaluable asset, you need values such as adaptability, wonder, and execution. Adaptability keeps you aligned with the evolving needs of the business. Wonder drives continuous learning and innovation. Execution turns ideas into measurable results. ‘People don’t follow titles; they follow impact.’ Focus on making meaningful contributions that resonate beyond your role, and you’ll become indispensable for what you do and the value you create.

Jordan Davies, Managing Partner, Chaps & Co

Sharing a piece of advice I received as a marketing management trainee: Make an effort to fully grasp the company’s long-term goals, mission, and values. This allows you to align your day-to-day work with the bigger objectives and make decisions that support the business’s overall success. When facing challenges, consider how your solution will affect the bigger picture and how it will influence the stakeholders before making recommendations or decisions. Looking back, this shows a level of maturity and strategic thinking that businesses value and want to promote.

KD Adamson, Futurist, Ecocentrist and Writer 

Business consensus is fracturing in our new multipolar world. Geopolitical impartiality, moral ambiguity, and neutrality are disappearing, while climate-related impacts and broader externalities could make the future profitability of products and services marginal.

Organizations need knowledge and wisdom, not just data and technology, to navigate this. What’s invaluable now is cognitive diversity, cultural competence, resilience, and adaptability – which AI can’t deliver. 

Their greatest assets are curious, creative problem solvers who defy the algorithmic ‘tyranny of relevance’ that determines the information we see based on what machines assume we need to know. They use their innate power to seek, contextualize, and connect.

Khaled Fadly, Co-founder and CEO, Epik Foods 

To be truly invaluable in 2025, adaptability and proactivity will be key – not just reacting to change but anticipating it. A few years ago, when the pandemic struck, we had to completely rethink our operations, transforming almost overnight from a single restaurant into a multi-brand, tech-driven food group. What set us apart wasn’t just our speed of response; it was our willingness to embrace change, identify opportunities, and boldly evolve. Being invaluable means continually asking, ‘What’s next?’ and positioning yourself to guide your organization toward that future.

Matt Cloke, CTO, Endava

AI is driving a new wave of change, but people remain at the heart of making it work. Keep learning and stay curious to stay valuable in today’s AI-focused world. Get to know the AI tools that are most relevant to your role — this way, you can play a direct part in your organization’s transformation. Being adaptable is key. Embrace changes in how you work, and look for ways AI can simplify and improve what you do. Take an active interest in how AI tools impact outcomes and share feedback to improve them. By staying engaged and open, you’ll help your organization make the most of its AI investments, positioning yourself as a vital part of its success.

Miguel Viana, Founder, Chief Creative Officer and Co-CEO, Un-lock Brands

The future calls for something special—something only humans can offer: empathy. It’s this amazing ability to connect, understand, and appreciate the unique differences that make us who we are—our cultural roots, viewpoints, and personal journeys. As our cities transform into thriving, multicultural melting pots, we’ll need “bridgers”—those incredible individuals who embrace diversity and create real, meaningful connections. Empathy is the secret ingredient in the creative realm that turns ideas into unforgettable experiences. It’s the backbone of success, ensuring that our creativity strikes a chord and our humanity shines through, even as the world becomes more automated.

Moza Al Futtaim, Chief AI Officer, Al-Futtaim Group

To become an invaluable asset to an organization, blending a people-first approach with technological innovation is crucial, especially in our digital age. Adopting a growth mindset is essential, encouraging us to foster a culture of continuous learning. This mindset keeps us open to discovering new areas for collaboration and innovation, driving the organization forward. In AI, where the inspiration for solutions is often unexpected and diverse, being invaluable requires maintaining an open mind and engaging in discussion. This will ultimately uncover opportunities that might be overlooked, making us indispensable contributors to our organization’s success.

Mufazzal Kajiji, CEO, Zurich International Life Middle East

To be an invaluable asset, embody values such as agility, customer focus, and an entrepreneurial mindset. Agility isn’t just about adapting to change—it’s about anticipating it and embracing it as an opportunity. Customer focus isn’t simply about being empathetic; it’s about deeply understanding others, listening, and fostering genuine relationships built on trust. An entrepreneurial mindset means taking ownership—finding creative solutions, driving results, and leading initiatives with passion. When you combine these traits, you’re not just responding to the world around you but shaping it. These values will empower you to create a meaningful impact, not just for yourself but for your organization.

Phoebe Song, Founder, Snow Fox Skincare

Focus on adaptability, foresight and resilience. Adaptability allows you to thrive in shifting landscapes, while data-driven insights help anticipate challenges and opportunities, enabling strategic, informed decisions. Resilience ensures you turn obstacles into stepping stones, demonstrating leadership during uncertainty. Together, these traits empower you to navigate while driving growth and innovation. Over the years, I’ve learned that staying flexible and agile, relying on data to shape the future, and maintaining composure under pressure are essential qualities for a leader to remain invaluable in 2025 and beyond.

Rami Shaar, CEO, Washmen 

Being invaluable in 2025 means staying relentlessly customer-obsessed. At Washmen, we’ve built a global-scale operation by solving a simple yet enduring challenge: delivering quality at scale—something that small shops struggle with. We compete with ourselves every month, pushing to be better than the month before. Our customer-centric approach and commitment to excellence have created something the industry hasn’t seen globally. It’s not about the competition; it’s about constantly evolving and outdoing the version of ourselves from yesterday.

Rolando Jessurun, VP, Global Talent Acquisition, Backbase

Proactively tackle challenges and seek solutions, even in ambiguous situations. Demonstrating resilience and a positive mindset shows you’re committed to advancing personal and company goals. Be the person who bridges departments, shares knowledge openly, fosters collaboration, and contributes to a culture of collective problem-solving. Think beyond the immediate project or task and consider how your work impacts the customer experience.

Sharifah Alhinai, Cultural, Creative Industries, and Strategic Communications Advisor & Founder of Sekka and the Khaleeji Art Museum 

One of the most essential qualities a team member, collaborator, or the like should possess to be a vital asset to an organization is efficiency. I cannot tell you the number of times I have refused to work with a talented person or collaborate with a big entity due to their evident waste of time or resources. No matter how creative a person is or how well-known an entity may be, inefficiency outweighs those strengths as it is a gigantic hurdle to successfully executing projects or achieving desired results. It is a quality that should be cultivated.

Tadeu Baldani Caravieri, Director of Prototypes for Humanity 

We live through very special times of fast-evolving priorities in society and for customers, and—as a result—within organizations, too. We work with the next generation of exceptional problem-solvers daily and are convinced they will create the leaps and bounds for which markets, governments, and communities yearn. Their superpower is their ability to decode a problem scientifically and then use science to address it head-on. That superpower has always been – and will continue to be – a major force for progress.

Vaibhav Vohra, President at Epicor

To become an invaluable asset to your organization, empower the customer’s workforce as part of your mission. In today’s AI-driven landscape, automation is everywhere, but the true value lies in enabling customers to thrive. When you position your customer as the story’s hero, your solutions become the enablers of their success. A customer-centric approach means understanding their unique challenges and delivering technology that feels intuitive, supportive, and genuinely beneficial. Focus on a differentiated experience by combining innovation with empathy—because when you help customers realize their potential, you unlock new avenues for growth, loyalty, and long-term impact for your organization.

Responses have been lightly edited and pared down for length.