In The Business of Healthy Masculinity Modelling the impact of healthy leadership with Rafik Zahy
Hi there,
Welcome to 2026, I hope that you are well rested and ready to take part in this year of the horse. I didn’t know much about this, but the energy of 2026 is looking to be positively fierce, so strap in.
I am excited to be back today with my first In The Business of Healthy Masculinity conversation of 2026 with chemicals industry peer and executive leader, Rafik Zahy.
Just a few of the key themes from today’s exploration to whey your appetite include:
* The Rarity of Healthy Masculinity in Business
* The Cost of "Inhumanity"
* The Principles of Good Leadership
* The Essential Skill of Listening
* Legacy and Lifespan
Please meet today’s guest:
Rafik Adel Zahy is a dynamic global business development professional with a remarkable track record of strategic growth and international market expansion. Born in Egypt and holding dual Egyptian-Canadian citizenship, Zahy has distinguished himself as a versatile leader in the pharmaceutical, chemical, and speciality markets.
With a robust educational background including a Master of International Business Administration from Business School in Paris and a Bachelor in Pharmaceutical Sciences from Egypt, Rafik has systematically built a career characterized by innovative market strategies and exceptional business scaling.
His most significant professional achievement came during his tenure at IMCD Group N.V., where he transformed the Egyptian operations from a startup to a €20 million enterprise in just four years. As Managing Director and later Director of Business Development, he successfully established operations in multiple African countries while managing a global pharmaceutical product portfolio generating €100 Million in sales across 50+ countries.
Prior to IMCD, Rafik demonstrated his expertise in regional sales and business unit management at companies like Eagle Chemicals and Maskem Middle East, where he developed comprehensive business plans and expanded territorial reach across complex international markets.
Complementing his corporate leadership, Rafik has been a board advisor and executive coach for many startup businesses in Europe, leveraging his extensive international business experience to guide emerging enterprises. A multilingual professional fluent in Arabic, English, and French, Zahy combines cross-cultural leadership with strategic acumen.
Beyond his professional achievements, Zahy is passionate about global business strategy, emerging market development, and sustainable business practices, positioning himself as a forward-thinking global business leader committed to innovative cross-border business solutions.
You can connect with Rafik on LinkedIn and do connect/follow him, he is a great guy.
Do you observe healthy masculinity within the workplace?
“Healthy masculinity resonates with me because it’s a very rare element to have at the workplace. It’s not an easy character or element that you can find nowadays” - Rafik Zahy
Why is it that we lack these key healthier leadership behaviours, in general, within business spaces? (See 21% global engagement stats as per Gallup to validate this question).
To what extent do you consciously balance being assertive and driven, with listening, and caring? Does this feel possible for you?
To what extent is healthier masculinity on display within your context?
I observe well-meaning, often men, wanting to do well, drive high performance, but giving away their humanity to the metrics on a spreadsheet. This, for me, is why I do not observe healthier masculinity too often in the workplace.
The myopic focus on metrics can lead to dehumanisation
“It resonates with me and what is happening in our world from financial pressure on the country, or war with another country, it’s the nature of the bad side of the human that is easy to implement, more than the real human, or the good side of the human” - Rafik Zahy
What are you thinking, feeling, and what are your thoughts on hearing Rafik’s comments? Do let us know.
Rafik’s comments here really impact me personally as I have been trying, for over two years, to open dialogue with leaders within big business and big business associations around the seeming disconnect between how certain parts of the world are treated versus others.
There seems to be an aspect of dehumanisation occurring within business spaces and their supply chains, and there is a real discomfort/ignorance within power bases to acknowledge and explore this.
To what extent would you agree or challenge this perspective from your context?
Intentionally designing healthy cultures is key
“I see the emotional and psychological impact on human beings at the workplace. People got diseases because of psychological imbalance at the workplace. Depression and other psychological diseases, which is a shame.” - Rafik Zahy
Rafik’s reflection here is further affirmed by Dr Jeffrey Pfeffer’s work in his book ‘Dying for a Paycheck.’ The book explores a range of important topics, including layoffs, health insurance, work-family conflict, autonomy, and why people remain in toxic environments, Pfeffer offers guidance and practical solutions all of us—employees, employers, and the government—can use to enhance workplace wellbeing.
And it is in this being that so much of this conversation with Rafik meanders. If we can design work to include and be healthy, we can get far better results.
The question is, do so-leaders see this as important as hitting numbers? Thankfully, Rafik can.
What are you thinking, feeling, and what are your thoughts?
To feel is to be human
“You should have some feelings. But whoever says that business has no feelings, this is not the right thing that should be told. Because in the end, we are humans. We cannot move or do something without having a feeling.” - Rafik Zahy
“We cannot move or do something without having a feeling.” - This simple sentence carries so much weight.
Why is it that we, especially men, so often cannot sit in the discomfort of negative or just not-so-nice feelings? Does this resonate with you at all? It does with me!
I stuffed down uncomfortable feelings for over 20 years from my early teens as I did not know how to process and sit in them.
With effect from today, Monday 5th Jan 2026, I shall be hosting an invite-only, safe, yet brave space to explore healthier masculinity within business on a group call.
If this is of interest to you and we do not know each other yet, please drop me a line at garry.turner@radicality.co.uk and let’s have a brief call to clarify boundaries and get to know each other.
Remembering our self-worth and agency
“If you’re watching us today, we are not talking about the soft stuff. We’re not talking about the easy stuff. We’re talking about the hard stuff of remembering our humanity, remembering we are all worthy. We all have validity. We are all dignified. We all have potential. Because of the systems we’re part of, we have to be very intentional to create space to allow that humanity and that potential to come through.” - Garry Turner
If you haven’t seen it, I was part of an INCREDIBLE two-hour livestream recently (Dec 23rd 2025) with Sahana Chattopadhyay, Hannah Litt (she/her) , and Trina Casey which spoke so directly to all of the above.
To what extent do you feel you are worthy before your job and before any money comes in?
Do you come from a place of high self-worth, or lower self-worth? Is this a question that you have ever explored before?
We would love to hear from you in the comments.
In your corner
Finally, if any of the above questions have ignited curiosity within you,I am here if you are looking for a 1-1 Thinking Partner that can be in your corner by voice note, virtually, and in-person, I have found 5 x 60 minutes calls + unlimited voice note communication to work the best.
If you are ready to embrace the journey towards healthier masculinity and the goodness that brings, at home and at work, drop me a line at garry.turner@radicality.co.uk.
Episode #13 of the podcast will be published next Mon 12th Jan 2026 with choir-master, education leader, and activist, Lewis Glynn.
Here is a little something to whet your appetite, and wishing you well with the rest of your week ahead.
I am always interested in your reflections, challenges, and anything else that pique your curiosity with these updates.
Until next time, take care
Garry Turner
garry.turner@radicality.co.uk
+44 7928 979358
Get full access to In The Business of Healthy Masculinity at inbusinessofhealthymasculinity.substack.com/subscribe