SE Advisory Services’ Farrukh Shad on green jobs, AI-powered ESG platforms, and why execution is the missing link in sustainability.
As sustainability expectations intensify across the Middle East, businesses are under increasing pressure to deliver measurable environmental impact without compromising financial performance. In markets such as the UAE and Saudi Arabia-where ambitious climate commitments intersect with rapid economic expansion – the question is no longer whether to act, but how to execute effectively.
Schneider Electric is positioning its newly consolidated SE Advisory Services arm at the center of this shift. Moving beyond traditional advisory, the firm is emphasizing end-to-end delivery -integrating strategy, digitization, decarbonization, and implementation. With AI-powered ESG platforms, enhanced climate risk capabilities, and a growing regional footprint, the company argues that profitability and sustainability are not competing priorities, but mutually reinforcing drivers of long-term value.
We spoke with Farrukh Shad, who leads SE Advisory Services across Asia-Pacific, China, India, the Middle East, and Africa, about execution, AI-driven ESG tools, climate risk strategy, and the region’s evolving green talent landscape.
Q&A
You represent Schneider Electric’s Advisory Services, particularly sustainability. Tell us more about your push in the Middle East.
I lead Schneider Electric’s Advisory Services across Asia-Pacific, China, India, the Middle East, and Africa, with a strong focus on sustainability. I’m now based in Dubai, reflecting both the region’s growing importance and our commitment to expanding our advisory footprint here.
While Schneider Electric is globally recognized for its industrial hardware, software, and services, our consulting and advisory capabilities have existed for quite some time. What’s new is that we’ve consolidated these capabilities under one unified structure-SE Advisory Services – to provide greater clarity, scale, and impact for our clients.
The Middle East is entering a pivotal phase in its sustainability journey, and we see significant opportunity to support organizations as they move from ambition to execution.
The advisory sector is crowded, especially in Dubai. What differentiates your offering?
Execution.
Many firms focus on strategy alone. Our differentiator is that we deliver across the full lifecycle. Our capabilities span electrification, sustainability, cybersecurity, and digitization. We begin with strategy, transition into digital transformation, advance decarbonization initiatives, and ensure implementation.
We work with approximately 40% of Fortune 500 companies globally, applying the same rigor internally at Schneider Electric that we bring to our clients. That ability to move seamlessly from advisory to operational delivery is what truly sets us apart.
The UAE is committed to building a green ecosystem while maintaining profitability. How do you help clients balance both?
Profitability and sustainability must reinforce each other. At Schneider Electric, we have a clear belief: you do well to do good. If a company is not financially strong, it becomes very difficult to deliver meaningful sustainability outcomes.
True sustainability sits at the intersection of profit, people, and planet. When these elements align, long-term value is created – not just short-term compliance. That philosophy underpins our approach and explains why Schneider Electric has been consistently recognized as one of the world’s most sustainable companies.
In practical terms, this means identifying efficiency opportunities, reducing energy intensity, optimizing assets, and digitizing operations — all of which improve both margins and environmental performance.
Technology plays a major role in this journey. What new offerings are you bringing to the market?
Technology is a critical enabler. We offer one of the most advanced enterprise ESG platforms globally – Resource Advisor. Building on this foundation, we are launching Resource Advisor+, an AI-powered, agent-based intelligent platform, which will be available in the UAE next year.
We’re seeing strong demand across sectors including construction, industry, hospitality, and retail. Organizations want to digitize sustainability data, improve reporting accuracy, and turn data into actionable insights.
AI significantly enhances this process. It accelerates data analysis, improves decision-making, and helps bridge the gap between ambition and measurable outcomes. The future of ESG is not just reporting – it’s intelligent, automated execution.
Climate risk is becoming increasingly critical. How are you addressing this area?
Climate risk has moved from theoretical to material. Businesses are now facing regulatory, physical, and transition risks that directly impact operations and asset values.
We strengthened our climate risk capabilities through the acquisition of EcoAct, a UK-based global climate consultancy. EcoAct brings deep expertise in climate risk modeling, carbon strategy, and digital climate tools.
While their footprint has historically been strongest in Europe and the United States, we are actively expanding these capabilities across the Middle East and Africa. We are currently engaged in several regional projects, particularly in Saudi Arabia and the UAE, supporting clients in understanding and managing climate exposure at both strategic and operational levels.
Talent remains a major challenge in sustainability. How do you see this evolving in the region?
Talent is one of the biggest structural challenges in the Middle East’s sustainability transition. Currently, less than one percent of Gen Z in the region enters green jobs. That needs to change.
We must attract younger generations into sustainability-related careers and significantly increase upskilling efforts. Sustainability is not an individual function – it is cross-functional and requires collaboration across finance, operations, digital, and leadership teams.
Without the right talent pipeline, even the best technology and strategy cannot succeed. Building that ecosystem of green skills will be critical to achieving long-term climate ambitions in the region.
Closing Perspective
As regional governments accelerate climate commitments and regulatory expectations rise, execution is emerging as the defining differentiator. For businesses navigating this transition, sustainability is no longer a standalone initiative – it is a core business strategy.
According to Farrukh Shad, the companies that will lead are those that integrate profitability, technology, and execution into a single operating model – proving that sustainable growth and financial resilience can, and must, advance together.
