Born and raised in Lebanon, Maya Ziadeh learned resilience and persistence at an early age. Although she initially studied law, she quickly transitioned to hospitality, and in 2002, she relocated to Dubai to work as a hostess in F&B in the hospitality business. Since then, she has worked her way to becoming the CDO of Accor, overseeing the expansion of the brand’s portfolio across the Middle East, Africa, and Turkey. 

“I first accepted the opportunity to work in hotels simply because I didn’t want to work as a lawyer. I fell in love with hospitality and with the human connection that we experience every second with colleagues or guests. When I decided to move to development, I knew that I would be able to harness my legal knowledge and skills to level up my negotiation techniques, improve my power of persuasion, and foster a winning attitude to acquire and close deals, always following the humane way in dealing with colleagues and partners,” she tells us.  

In addition to business success, Ziadeh believes in the importance of contributing positively to wider communities in the region. “I lead a team across MEAT to grow the hospitality sector, increase revenues and share price but the most important aspect for me is to give back to the community,” says Ziadeh.  

Maintaining relationships and focusing on strategic growth to expand the franchise is part of her role, and Ziadeh remains driven by positive and influential relationships in all aspects of business. “Leadership is about inspiring others, influencing my team, the company, the business, and society. It is all about shaping the future whether internally or externally,” she explains.  

Ziadeh’s fortitude is best exemplified by her fight to change perceptions that women were not fit to manage a development job in a male-dominated environment. “I was able to prove them wrong with determination, passion, and a winning attitude,” says Ziadeh.  

Today, Ziadeh champions women who are eager to excel and take up senior positions. In addition to investing time in panels to share her experiences and lessons, she sponsors a six-month program for female leaders with high potential at Accor, so that they can be mentored for leadership positions within the company.  

With her eyes firmly set on the bright future where she can continue to inspire others, she says: “My goal is to be the global CDO. The plan is to have cross-continent exposure, training, and drive exceptional results.”