Laila Al-Yousuf is the Partner and Design Director at SAY Studio, an interior design agency she co-founded in 2018. Under her leadership, the company has gone from strength to strength, designing transformative spaces for clients such as Google and LinkedIn that change the way people live and work, while inspiring waves of positive change beyond the design industry. As a designer, a number of her projects have received accreditations such as WELL and LEED, a testament to her holistic approach to individuals well-being, empowering businesses and their people to thrive at their full potential. As a mentor, Laila Al-Yousuf believes that coaching younger generations is a responsibility within a leadership role. She is a key figure in the development and growth of her staff, by incorporating trainings as well as encouraging them to take part in panels and industry events. As a dedicated humanitarian, Laila believes that design has the power to change lives. In 2013, she conceptualized the Surge for Water ‘Design, Dine, make a Difference’ competition that asks designers in the region to design sustainably and raises awareness around the global water crisis in third world countries. The competition still runs today. Laila Al-Yousuf has created a way for design to give back, while inviting people to ponder the responsibilities that we all have in making a difference. This has become so important to Laila, that in 2018, together with her partner, she dedicated her wedding to it and raised enough money to build 3 wells and a bathroom block in Uganda. Her passion for making the world a better place takes her to remote corners of the globe. An advocate for women, she prioritizes equality, diversity, and inclusion through design. She takes an active role in representing the women of the design and construction industry.