In April 2020, as the world adjusted to remote work, a new concept emerged. Marilyn Zakhour, founder and CEO of Cosmic Centaurs, saw professionals on video calls, dressed in work shirts and pajama bottoms, and envisioned them as modern-day centaurs: half in the office, half on the couch. This image, combined with the popular outer-space Zoom backgrounds, sparked the name for a company dedicated to helping organizations navigate the new world of work.
Five years later, Cosmic Centaurs has grown into an organizational and leadership development firm helping leaders build workplaces that are both high-performing and deeply human.
This article will explore their journey, their unique approach, and two major initiatives set to shape the region’s leadership landscape: the Global Psychological Safety Report 2025 and the 2025 Cosmic Conference.
Building Regional Influence Amid Global Disruptions
Cosmic Centaurs began with a clear mission: to make work better. Today, its role has expanded to support a diverse range of clients, from global names such as TikTok, Meta, and Adobe to regional champions like the Misk Art Institute and Dubai Electricity & Water Authority.
The common thread among these organizations is the need to build teams that can thrive and deliver results. Cosmic Centaurs addresses this through a combination of consulting, leadership development, and capability-building programs. In just five years, the firm has supported over 35 organizations across 18 industries, impacting nearly 100,000 people in 92 countries.
A few key milestones highlight their journey:
- The Omnichannel Organization® Framework: In 2021, Cosmic Centaurs designed and trademarked a proprietary model to help leaders identify barriers between strategy and execution. This framework analyzes culture, people, systems, and structure to build alignment and drive results. It has become a central part of how the firm supports its clients.
- Global Research and Thought Leadership: The firm has co-authored two Harvard Business Review articles, including “The Surprising Power of Team Rituals” (2025). This article was the result of a three-year primary research study on how team rituals drive performance, placing the MENA region’s experiences on the global stage.
- Advancing Psychological Safety in MENA: In 2025, Cosmic Centaurs became the first regional and official Arabic-language partner of the Fearless Organization Scan. This partnership makes the pioneering research of Harvard Professor Amy Edmondson on psychological safety accessible and measurable for organizations in the Middle East.
The Science of High-Performing Teams: Psychological Safety
Psychological safety is central to our mission because it brings a new dimension of leadership and organizational development to the region. It is the foundation for creating environments where teams can innovate, collaborate, and perform at their best. By partnering with The Fearless Organization, Cosmic Centaurs provides a proven, research-backed framework to measure and improve team dynamics.
This partnership allows them to offer the globally recognized Fearless Organization Scan in Arabic, tailored to the MENA context. This tool helps leaders apply Amy Edmondson’s research to gain practical, actionable insights.
Announcing: Join the 2025 Global Psychological Safety Report
Cosmic Centaurs is inviting organizations to participate in the 2025 Global Psychological Safety Report. By joining, companies can be among the first to shape a regional benchmark for workplace safety and culture.
Benefits for Participating Organizations:
- Gain a Competitive Edge: See how your organization compares to top multinational companies.
- Receive Actionable Insights: Get a tailored report that highlights your strengths and areas for improvement.
- Build Employee Trust: Acting on these insights demonstrates a commitment to employee well-being and positions your company as an employer of choice.
Cosmic Centaurs is looking for forward-thinking companies with 100+ employees to represent our region in a landmark global study.
Email psychsafety@cosmiccentaurs.com to get involved.
The 2025 Cosmic Conference: How the most effective leaders shift from fire-fighting to future-building
Beyond client work, Cosmic Centaurs has established a strong community dedicated to knowledge sharing and collaboration. The annual Cosmic Conference has become a key event for leaders to connect and explore the future of work.
This year’s conference theme is “The System is the Strategy: How the most effective leaders shift from firefighting to future-building.” The event will take place from September 15 to November 4, 2025, featuring a mix of online sessions and in-person events in the UAE, KSA, and Lebanon.
What makes this year’s conference different is its focus on systems thinking. Instead of celebrating the leader who constantly puts out fires, the sessions will explore how leaders can design structures, rituals, and processes that deliver results without constant intervention. The conference will address systems thinking at three levels: the leader, the leadership team, and the organization as a whole.
Beirut Leaders Circle
For the first time, the Cosmic Conference is coming to Beirut!
On Friday, October 16th, Cosmic Centaurs will host a 3-hour peer circle giving senior leaders the space to step back from daily pressures and see the systems they are part of with fresh eyes. Through guided reflection and dialogue, participants will:
- Uncover how the system shapes their decisions, behaviors, and leadership style.
- Identify where their own actions reinforce patterns they want to change, and where small shifts can create outsized results.
- Practice tools to move from reacting within the system to intentionally reshaping it.
This event is designed for senior leaders, CEOs & Founders who want to connect, reflect, and learn alongside peers.
Register to attend here.
A Human-Centered Approach to Organizational Growth
Cosmic Centaurs measures impact not by dollars earned but by the number of people they help. Over the past five years, their work has impacted nearly 100,000 individuals and touched every aspect of how organizations operate and grow. Their research on team rituals, published in outlets such as Harvard Business Review, provides practical tools and shapes conversations worldwide.
For BDD, companies like Cosmic Centaurs bring new ideas, drive lasting change, and put Beirut on the map as a center for leadership and organizational progress. Their work brings about real improvements in how organizations operate, affecting not just workplaces but also communities and industries.
If you want to learn more about how to build organizations that thrive and deliver on your strategy, Cosmic Centaurs welcomes open conversations.
