Manipal Academy of Higher Education (MAHE) Dubai hosted an engaging ESG Talks session featuring Ghada Rahal, a sustainability and ESG expert known for delivering enterprise-scale impact across climate innovation, built-environment decarbonization, and environmental performance advancement.
The session brought together students, faculty, and staff for a timely conversation on sustainability leadership, practical decarbonization pathways, and the evolving role of digital technologies in ESG implementation.
Driving ESG with strategy, technology, and people
During the talk, Rahal shared insights drawn from her work across multinational sectors including real estate development, logistics, retail, and energy-environment. She highlighted how organizations can build stronger sustainability governance, accelerate transition planning, and scale measurable climate action while keeping people at the center of the energy transition.
Rahal currently serves as Director of Sustainability and ESG, where she is involved in building AI + IoT solutions for digital emissions and environmental attributes management.
Key themes explored
The session covered several high-impact areas, including:
Transition planning and climate resilience for large systems
Decarbonizing operations through energy efficiency and retrofits
Renewable energy integration and carbon accounting fundamentals
ESG strategy, governance, and performance measurement
Human-centered leadership in the energy transition
A voice for women’s leadership in STEM
An advocate for women in STEM, Rahal also spoke about leadership pathways in technical fields and the importance of representation and mentorship. Her accolades include the ‘Rising Star in Sustainability and Energy Leadership’ recognition at the 2023 Women in Energy Summit.
Rahal holds two master’s degrees in Mechanical Engineering and Energy Studies, and carries multiple professional credentials including Certified Energy Manager (CEM), Certified Measurement and Verification Professional (CMVP), LEED AP O+M, and Pearl Qualified Professional (PQP).
