Kraft Heinz's Mary Gukasyan On How People-Centered Leadership Drives Sustainable Success
For Gukasyan, real success goes beyond results or key performance indicators—it is instead rooted in values, trust, and the ability to help others grow.
At the 2025 edition of the Women Empowerment Convention (WE Convention) in Dubai, Inc. Arabia asked accomplished female leaders speaking at the event to reflect on the experiences that shaped their careers—and what they know now that they didn’t then.
With over 22 years of experience in the fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) industry, Mary Gukasyan brings a people-centered perspective to her role as Managing Director for the Middle East and Africa at Kraft Heinz, one of the world’s largest food and beverage companies. For Gukasyan, real success goes beyond results or key performance indicators—it is instead rooted in values, trust, and the ability to help others grow.
At the heart of Gukasyan’s leadership approach are human values such as respect, integrity, and empathy. She believes sustainable achievement is built when leaders create the right environment for their teams to thrive. “A strong leader creates space for others to grow and shine,” she tells Inc. Arabia, while also emphasizing that leadership is not about doing everything yourself.
Additionally, while reflecting on the realities of success, Gukasyan points out that while many expect seniority to bring confidence and peace, it often comes with greater pressure and visibility. Maintaining inner balance, she believes, does not happen automatically; it requires conscious effort. By combining high performance with strong values and a deep respect for people, Gukasyan’s leadership story is thus one of growth, self-awareness, and shared success.
Pictured in the lead image is Mary Gukasyan, Managing Director for the Middle East and Africa at Kraft Heinz. Courtesy of Kraft Heinz.
This article first appeared in the December 2025-January 2026 issue of Inc. Arabia. To read the full issue online, click here.
