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GEMS Education: Building Future Leaders across the Globe

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GEMS Education is a visionary initiative, starting as a family-owned school in Dubai to become one of the largest private school networks around the world today. Founded by Sunny Varkey, the company has continued to build its mission on providing quality education to a diverse global student base. GEMS today operates over 60 schools in the Middle East, North Africa, and other places committed to excellence in academics and sensitivity towards cultures. The exceptional journey that GEMS Education undertook, its philosophy, and its effect on the minds of the learners are discussed further in the article.

GEMS Education had begun its journey as a small tutorial centre all the way back in 1959 initiated by Indian educators Mariama and K.S. Varkey. They answered a need for English language education to the children of expatriates who were flooding into Dubai following the discovery of oil in 1966. Sunny Varkey then took it over and under the banner of the Varkey Group, expanded this network adding schools that were offering all sorts of curricula-Indian, American and British. GEMS is distinctive in the private education arena because of its network of schools that is diversified in terms of education at various price points and serving communities around the world.

Its approach has always run along cultural awareness, academic rigor, and holistic development of students. Empowering students to thrive in multicultural environments, instil universal values, and prepare them to become international citizens’ lies in the philosophy of the company. Based on the policy of inclusiveness and diversity, GEMS schools have adopted the curriculum according to local conditions by collaborating with various agencies in the host country. Such practice has been of essence for the successful entry into the markets and good relations with the host countries.

Global Education Management Systems was officially incorporated in 2000 as GEMS, establishing its name and establishing its operational expansion. This expansion led to school institutions being set up throughout countries around the world, starting from the United Kingdom and extending into Africa, Asia, and America. In the MENA region, GEMS has primarily contributed to filling the needs of the rapidly increasing expatriate population. Significantly, in 2012, it became one of the World Economic Forum’s Global Growth Partners, considered one of its most prominent destinations on the world education map. GEMS Education has also received many awards over the years. In 2012, it was Education Company of the Year at the Gulf Business Industry Awards. The Efficiency Index also made it a hit on a “study on the world’s education systems ranked based on value for money.” Such initiatives help place GEMS Education in a good light among its private and public educational spheres as having critical input about efficiency systems across schools all over the world.

GEMS Education Solutions is a consultancy arm that GEMS launched in 2011. The consultancy aims to offer advisory services across UK, Africa, and Asia. It has been helping governments and non-profits along with various projects regarding the accessibility and quality enhancement of education in developing regions. For example, the “Making Ghana Girls Great” (MGCubed) initiative of its consultancy has set up distance learning classrooms throughout Ghana, for the first time an interactive learning program in Sub-Saharan Africa.

Leadership skills and community commitment are the bedrock of what GEMS Education schools focus on, along with academic achievements. Students are encouraged to contribute actively to their local and global communities through active social responsibility. For instance, the Emirates Innovative Teacher Award, launched in collaboration with the UAE Ministry of Education, seeks to recognize those teachers who personify such ideals- a yardstick for teaching excellence in the UAE.

Through its commitment to quality and adaptive approach to education, GEMS Education has demonstrated the power of private schooling within cultural gaps; in building an informed and compassionate global citizenry. This legacy, based on the original Varkey family values, is inspiring the future of education on continents. Plans for further extension, the GEMS model of academic excellence balanced with cultural inclusivity now offers a pathway for other educational institutions seeking to make a lasting, meaningful impact.

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Jetex’s Global Journey: Elevating Private Aviation with Innovation and Style

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Rooted in the energetic city of Dubai, Jetex has evolved into the synonym for luxury, innovation, and superior service within the private aviation sector. Starting from its ambitious launch in 2005 at the Dubai Airshow, the company now has a footprint of 50 locations around the world and continues to push the bar up in the private aviation industry. Jetex’s offerings, beginning with Fixed-Base Operators, ground handling, refuelling, trip planning, and concierge services, are positioned for a seamless experience, across the globe, leading the company to become synonymous as a name in aviation services.

Starting with flight support and charter flight arrangements, it didn’t take much time before the opening of the company’s first FBO facility at Paris-Le Bourget in 2009 took place. That would soon open up a trajectory to further growth, since the management made strategic moves toward the world-wide client base. In Asia, Jetex had started to make its entry in 2010. In Beijing, the company unveiled a 24/7 operations center and went ahead with more expansion as the company also opened a facility in Kyiv to handle operations within the Commonwealth of Independent States. Each one added to Jetex’s list, which reflected how seriously the company was about boosting the access and convenience of private aviation clients.

Years rolled by and Jetex never rested on its laurels. One major landmark was in 2012 when the company made its way into the Americas market through supplying fuel to Brazil. It marked the entry of the company into the Western Hemisphere, hence opening up a series of strategic partnerships. Among those was the Jetex’s partnership with Honeywell in 2013, marking commitment to innovation. Through Honeywell’s Global Data Center flight support services, Jetex reaffirmed its commitment to delivering its clients with state-of-the-art technology and smooth flight management solutions.

As a part of its quest for luxury and customer satisfaction, Jetex signed an agreement with Bentley Motors in 2013. The company offered Bentley Mulsanne cars for chauffeured transport at Jetex’s Dubai facilities. This collaboration proved that Jetex was committed to providing not only effective service but a true luxury experience. By 2015, Jetex had cemented its position as the market leader in private aviation and was moving into new markets, such as Tokyo, Santiago, and Toluca, and partnered with companies like JetSmarter to improve charter options worldwide.

In 2016, the company introduced its world-first Rolls-Royce airside shuttle service at its FBO Terminal in Dubai. Jetex again further solidified its position in luxury and exclusivity. The same year also saw expansions in Morocco, France, and Dubai, solidifying Jetex’s relentless commitment to accessibility, letting private aviation clients benefit from a truly global network. Its operations in Brazil were initiated in 2017. Entry into the Omani market further underlined the company’s growth and strategic focus on high-potential markets.

Jetex’s innovation goes beyond its expansion, as it partnered with Wright Electric in 2018 to support the development of electric aircraft, making it the first general aviation company to back electric aviation for short-haul flights. That is how truly committed Jetex is to sustainable aviation. By 2022, Jetex reached yet another new height in sustainability: it became the world’s first Pure Green FBO, in partnership with Berlin Neuhardenberg Airport.

In the year 2023, Jetex continues to soar on. It entered the UK market, marking its presence at Biggin Hill Airport in London’s business aviation sector. Unveiling its flagship private terminal at Abu Dhabi’s Al Bateen Executive Airport, Jetex continues to further entrench its position within the Middle East. Its collaborations with companies such as Shell Aviation on sustainable aviation fuel again prove Jetex remains forward leaning, pushing ahead with most of its operations embracing greener options, making the company a leader in sustainable private aviation.

From a small FBO in Paris to being one of the world’s greatest powerhouses, Jetex strategically built itself into its present strong position for luxury-focused service innovation and environmental sustainability. With successive accolades through the World Travel Awards and continuous commitment to customer satisfaction, Jetex continues to be one of the leaders in private aviation that offers standards for excellence and luxury around the world.

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Inside ITP Media Group: Where Dubai’s Influence Shapes Global Media Trends

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ITP Media Group is a global influential media group. It has a long arm and influence that stretches beyond its headquarters in Dubai, to Abu Dhabi, Saudi Arabia, India, the UK, Germany, and the USA with more than 60 media brands under its portfolio of consumer, business, and influencer divisions. Through such a list of the most powerful and impressive lineups, this would reach more than 50 million visitors every month. Such forceful media presence in the Middle East and beyond are provided by ITP because it’s one of the most massive media companies. With powerful brands such as influencer marketing, the giant media companies keep on experiencing the transformations inside the ever-changing landscape of the media.

ITP Media Group has a portfolio of brands that speaks to its flexibility and influence across various industries. It’s most popular publications include Arabian Business, Cosmopolitan Middle East, Esquire Middle East, Grazia Middle East, and Harper’s Bazaar Arabia. These publications have gained great readership, making ITP a trusted name in lifestyle, business, and entertainment. Titles like Time Out are tailored towards regional consumers, but it has publications in the UAE, Abu Dhabi, and Doha, each giving local flavours and reporting on events suitable to a region’s own culture. For ITP, localization of knowledge has helped drive much of its success-that is to say, being able to attract different sorts of groups of audience while allowing for brand identity to spread broadly.

In 2017, ITP took the digital leap forward with ITP Live, a social media and influencer marketing agency that soon gained significant traction. ITP Live partners with famous international and regional influencers such as Omar Borkan, Logan Paul, Mo Vlogs, Amanda Cerny, and Ahmed Al Nasheet. This division has seen ITP take a spot in the rapidly growing economy that is influencer-based by being able to bridge the old with the new, that is, bridging traditional and digital media. Digital media now leads at ITP Live, providing social platforms for ITP Media Group, thereby opening access to new, younger markets.

This is again proved by its charity contributions. In 2019, ITP joined a 24-hour broadcast hosted by OHM Live for a COVID-19 relief programme. This included some well-known global celebrities like Dua Lipa, Jason Derulo, and Deepak Chopra. ITP is using its media fame for good and making sure its media presence will not only be one of entertainment but also positivity toward society.

Beyond content, ITP Media Group stands as the voice of media and entertainment, with distinguished awards and events. Arabian Business Awards recognizes key individuals in the Middle East-whether they be rulers or celebrities-to commemorate those who influence economic and cultural development. In 2019, ITP hosted the GQ Man of the Year Awards at the Louvre Museum in Abu Dhabi with attendance from some international stars including Mo Salah and Alessandra Ambrosio. This is events that really propel the brand of ITP and further position Dubai and the UAE as places where global culture and excellence congregate.

Even further evidence of ITP’s influence comes in the form of happenings like Harper’s Bazaar Arabia’s World of Fashion Capsule, which last year had Victoria Beckham hosting. Such events just make ITP Media Group trendsetters in the industry: always celebrating innovation, talents, and achievements while providing an inclusive and dynamic media landscape that speaks to audiences regionally and internationally.

It continues to be focused on Dubai and still enjoys the world’s view under the group umbrella, in which it stands, hence ITP’s success at being strong globally through having adapted itself in accordance with digital trends and advocating and hosting events in order to enhance their social responsibilities as well as hosting international quality events in the arena. This would push ITP Media Group on another pioneering journey to mould the stories that people would have to share across the globe with an eye toward the future.

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Latifa Al Shamsi’s Guide to Islamic Fashion: Inspiring Arab Women Everywhere

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Latifa Al Shamsi is, in fact one of the world’s most influential style icons, and to mix Islamic fashion with modern aesthetics in a way that looks both elegant and accessible. She is a known fashion blogger, stylist, and businesswoman and, in some way, inspires many Arab women who want to achieve modest yet stylish looks. Her dresses are a beautiful combination of bright prints, soft fabrics, and bold colour combinations; all this shows how abayas and traditional dressing can also be classy and elegant. It is by creating timeless pieces that Latifa has gained many followers in social media and made herself one of the top influencers in Dubai.

Latifa’s path into the world of fashion is marked by her devotion to Islamic dressing. She has turned her passion into a career and inspired women in the Middle East and beyond. Every post is something new-be it a colourful outfit with uniquely embroidered abaya or a subtle look that captures the luxurious lifestyle of Dubai. Latifa’s abayas are always embellished with intricate patterns and unique textures, giving a personalized touch to a garment deeply rooted in cultural values. She inspires men and women equally, wishing to harmonize humility with glamour. She can be seen as a new way for Arab women all over the world to express themselves in fashion.

Apart from her social media presence, Latifa Al Shamsi extends her influence into the entrepreneurial world. As a very hands-on mother and being an owner of a flourishing events company, Latifa always had to balance her personal and professional life. She gives the world a refreshing perspective on what it means to be a modern woman in Dubai—someone capable of handling motherhood and business ownership as seriously as an active voice in the fashion community. Her events company mirrors the attention to detail and creativity that have made her famous, not only as a stylist but as a trusted professional in the industry.

However, despite the hectic lifestyle, Latifa is not ready to give up her contact with the followers, as she wants to share a real point of view about her life. The life story of this mother, entrepreneur, and fashion icon Latifa is exposed on her social media platforms, showing the fans how to harmonize all these activities. With such a candid personal life, her appeal is so huge because viewers get to see the glitz and glamour besides her moments of down to earthiness that make her a figure to emulate for women across the region.

Going beyond personal style, Latifa’s influence in the fashion world extends to Islam fashion as she is quite often taken up as an icon to promote the wearing of Islamic clothes. Her styles tend to challenge the stereotypes given to traditional clothing, wherein modesty need not mean less style or less individualism. With each look that she creates, she recreates what Islamic fashion looks like, thereby making the style relevant and appealing today to the modern woman of today. The floral-abaya-clad woman might be paired with a completely neutral-toned hijab, making the wardrobe trendy and accessible for women to wear at any age.

What sets Latifa apart is that she builds confidence. Although this is something most of the women of Arab origin are after and long for in their fashion, Latifa has them all covered from style ideas that let them feel fashionable but also comfortable in their cultural garb. Her balance of modesty with trending pieces proves how modest fashion can be just as versatile and dynamite as anything else. She inspires women by showing that it is safe to freely express themselves while paying respect to their cultural value. In Dubai, being one of the most influential female fashion influencers, Latifa Al Shamsi indeed takes up the challenge through a series of inspiring performances: from being a budding young blogger, fashion icon and entrepreneur. She has made a niche in which Islamic fashion finds expression and endeavours to make the lady feel beautiful and attractive.

Through her beautiful ensembles and careful approach to fashion, Latifa continues to set trends and break boundaries in order to show modesty can indeed be chic in the world of fashion. Latifa Al Shamsi, as she spreads her influence, is going to remain an inspiration for the women all over the world – to be a symbol of grace, strength, and the power to remain true.

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