Miral Youssef is the President of Kering Middle East & Africa, based in Dubai, where she plays a pivotal role in shaping the Group’s strategic vision, growth trajectory, and brand presence across a diverse and fast-evolving region.

Miral joined Kering in 2019 as the Middle East General Manager at Balenciaga, where she led the brand’s establishment and growth across four countries, successfully overseeing all business operations in the region until 2023.

Before joining Kering, she held roles at internationally renowned fashion houses including Vivienne Westwood, Theory, and Ralph Lauren in the UK, where she contributed to brand development and market positioning. Her journey then led her to Chalhoub Group, a leading luxury retailer in the Middle East, where she played a pivotal role in shaping the regional retail landscape. There, she oversaw commercial and franchise operations for a portfolioof prestigious brands, while also spearheading new retail concepts and driving business development initiativesacross the Group.

The mentorship program gives students the opportunity to work on a Kering brand (Balenciaga or Gucci) to increase its desirability among the next generation of luxury consumers in Saudi Arabia. 

Students begin by conducting an in-depth analysis of the brand’s current positioning through market visits, online research, social media analysis, and competitor benchmarking, in order to structure their strategic recommendations.

The experience goes beyond observation: students are challenged to build a clear and consistent narrative that translates insights into a strategic direction and into concrete brand initiatives designed to strengthen the brand’s desirability among this audience.