HEC Paris, Doha has welcomed 44 professionals to the 2026 cohort of its Executive MBA – Emerging Leaders Track (ELT), bringing together high-potential talent from Qatar, and beyond representing a diverse range of industries and organizations.
Qatari professionals account for 84% of the cohort, while women represent 68%, underscoring the importance of developing human capital and nurturing the talent needed to advance Qatar National Vision 2030 and support the country's continued economic and social development.
Building on more than 15 years of developing talent in Qatar and connecting it with global opportunities, HEC Paris, Doha welcomes this new cohort into a community of more than 1,500 alumni in Qatar and as part of HEC Paris' global alumni network of over 80,000 professionals worldwide.
The Executive MBA - Emerging Leaders Track is designed to develop the next generation of business leaders equipped to contribute to diversified, knowledge-driven economies in Qatar and across the wider region. Combining world-class management education with a strong understanding of the regional business environment, the program develops strategic perspective, management capabilities, and leadership capacity, preparing participants to take on greater responsibility and contribute to organizational and economic transformation.
The 2026 cohort includes professionals from government, technology, education, finance, aviation, energy, healthcare, and other key areas of the economy. This diversity of professional backgrounds provides participants with exposure to diverse perspectives and enables them to engage with a wide range of challenges shaping organizations and industries across the region.
Joshua Kobb, Chief Growth & Impact Officer at HEC Paris, Doha, said the profile of the 2026 cohort reflects the importance of developing leadership capabilities to support organizations and economies navigating an increasingly complex environment.
"Qatar's economic diversification is creating opportunities across established and emerging industries. Realizing this potential depends on people who can think differently, and translate ideas into practical business outcomes. By bringing together professionals from a range of sectors, the 2026 Emerging Leaders Track cohort provides a valuable setting to exchange experience, challenge familiar approaches, and explore how learning can contribute to organizational progress and the wider economy."
Delivered in a flexible, part-time format, the EMBA - Emerging Leaders Track enables participants to balance professional responsibilities with a rigorous program of management education and leadership development. The program combines core management disciplines with applied learning, helping participants translate new knowledge into practical solutions and respond effectively to complex organizational challenges.
For Shk. Sheikha Al-Thani, a participant in the 2026 cohort, joining the program represents an opportunity to prepare for greater leadership responsibility while contributing to continued development in Qatar.
"I see leadership development as both a personal opportunity and a responsibility. Qatar is creating extraordinary opportunities for the next generation to play an active role in shaping its future, and I want to ensure I have the knowledge, perspective, and confidence to make the most of that opportunity. The EMBA - Emerging Leaders Track gives me the chance to learn alongside people from different sectors and backgrounds while immediately applying innovative ideas in my professional life," she said.
Rashid Alnaimi added that the diversity of the cohort is an important part of the program appeal.
"Leadership today requires us to look beyond our own organization or industry. Being part of a cohort that brings together professionals from many fields exposes us to different perspectives and challenges. I believe that exchange of experience, combined with the global expertise of HEC Paris, Doha, will help us become more adaptable and effective leaders," he said.
Through HEC Paris, Doha and its global academic ecosystem, participants gain access to internationally recognized faculty and a diverse learning environment. This global-local approach enables emerging leaders to connect international management perspectives with the realities of the regional business environment and apply new insights to the challenges facing their organizations.
As Qatar and the wider region continue to strengthen their focus on economic and social development, the expectations placed on professionals and organizations also continue to develop. HEC Paris, Doha remains committed to ensure the relevance of its academic portfolio in response, ensuring that its executive education offer reflects changing economic priorities, organizational demands, and talent development. By connecting academic rigor with practical application, the institution equips professionals to contribute to their organizations and the region's long-term economic and social progress.