Shayma Kurz, CEO & Founder, Digital Advice Consulting
1. What do you consider the main achievements in your life?
My greatest achievements stem from turning adversity into action. Born a refugee and raised across war-torn regions, I transformed hardship into resilience, eventually becoming the CEO and Founder of Digital Advice Consulting, a boutique UAE-based consultancy driving AI adoption, future-readiness and inclusive leadership across governments, corporates and innovation hubs. Professionally, leading the AI Transformation for Mercedes-Benz and later building a 6- figure consulting business in under 12 months stand as proud milestones. But just as significant is mentoring dozens of women to step into leadership with confidence and purpose. Every woman I help rise, every room I open up for others, is an achievement that matters.
2. What drives you to be at the Top of your Game? What are your success strategies?
I’m driven by a deep sense of purpose, to open doors that were once closed to women and underrepresented voices. My mission is to make leadership and innovation spaces truly inclusive, especially for those who were told they didn’t belong there. My success strategy is a blend of courage, clarity and consistency. I trust data, but I also trust my intuition. I operate from values, not just KPIs. I show up fully, whether in boardrooms, on stage, or with startup founders seeking direction. And I surround myself with excellence, advisors, mentors and team members who challenge me to grow beyond what I believe is possible.
3. Have you dealt with failure? If so, how did you overcome it and resurge when all the chips were down?
Absolutely. I’ve faced closed doors, broken systems and moments when even survival felt uncertain. One of the most defining failures came in the early days of stepping into leadership, trying to fit into spaces that didn’t honor my voice. But failure taught me that rejection is often just redirection. I overcame it by reclaiming my narrative. I stopped waiting for permission. I built my own seat at the table and now I help others do the same. The key? Resilience, reinvention and remembering why you started.
4. How easy was it for you to speak up and share your story when times were tough?
It wasn’t easy at all. For years, I wore my strength as armor and buried my story under success metrics. But healing began when I realized that vulnerability isn’t weakness, it’s power. Speaking up allowed me to connect, lead, and inspire in more meaningful ways. It takes courage to say, “I was once broken, but I rebuilt.” Now I speak up not just for myself, but for every girl who feels unseen, every woman who doubts her worth and every changemaker rising against the odds.
5. What did you have to do in order to share your story to inspire others?
I had to do the inner work to turn pain into purpose. I embraced self-therapy and deep reflection. I owned my identity, as a refugee, a woman in tech, a mother and a founder and stopped fragmenting myself to fit into predefined boxes. I learned to articulate not just my successes but the lessons behind them. And most importantly, I gave myself permission to be seen. Today, I share my story with clarity and authenticity because I know it might be the light someone else needs to keep going.