Most Influential L&D Leaders Driving Leadership Innovation and Talent Impact to Watch in 2026
In the evolving global conversation around leadership, learning, and talent development, few leaders embody the integration of purpose, science, and humanity as powerfully as Dr. Tom Dreyer. Featured in this edition, Most Influential L and D Leaders Driving Leadership Innovation and Talent Impact to Watch in 2026, Dr. Dreyer represents a new generation of leadership…
On Cover
Dr. Tom Dreyer
Leadership Director, Executive Coach, Board Member, Author, Misk Foundation & Leadership Blueprints
In the landscape of global leadership development, where credentials and corporate pedigrees often define success, Dr. Tom Dreyer’s story begins in a place most leadership textbooks never mention: the school of survival. At fourteen years old, while most teenagers worried about homework and friendships, Tom was navigating the realities of living independently in South Africa under challenging circumstances. It was here, in moments of profound vulnerability and resilience, that the seeds of his life’s work were planted.
Layal Abou Ghanem
Co-Founder & COO , Solutions for Training and Consultancy (STC) Middle East
In the evolving landscape of workforce management, where artificial intelligence meets human potential and hybrid models reshape traditional boundaries, Layal Abou Ghanem stands as a beacon of strategic transformation. Her journey from witnessing organizational change to orchestrating it spans over 15 years across heavy industry, construction, and healthcare sectors, culminating in her role as Co-Founder and COO of Solutions for Training and Consultancy (STC) Middle East.
Dr. Annepaul Vemagiri
Assistant Vice President – Learning & Development, Atmosphere Core
In the vast landscape of corporate learning and development, where metrics often overshadow meaning and processes can eclipse people, Dr. Annepaul Vemagiri stands as a beacon of human-centered excellence. Her journey from a young woman captivated by knowledge’s transformative power to becoming an award-winning educator, author, and corporate leader represents more than career progression. It embodies the profound truth that when passion meets purpose, extraordinary impact becomes inevitable.
