Dr. Manal GUEN, Founder and CEO, BluOcean Consulting

In the bustling province of Algiers, the pulse of North Africa’s healthcare and industrial sectors beats against the backdrop of a massive transformation: giving birth to a new breed of leadership. It’s the kind that doesn’t chase disruptions, but instead redefines progress with precision. Here, in the crossroads of tradition and ambition, women entrepreneurs aren’t just occupying space; they’re creating blueprints that blend discipline with strategic foresight, and structure with soul. At the forefront is Dr. Manal GUEN, a medical physician by training, an organizational strategist by evolution, and the Founder of BLUOCEAN CONSULTING. 

Dr. Manal’s journey isn’t one of abrupt career pivots; it’s one of iterated innovation. Her story is shaped by early years spent in Radiodiagnostics, which was refined in the pharmaceutical industry and later catalyzed during the global stillness of the COVID-19 pandemic. It was during this moment of global pause when Dr. Manal didn’t just reflect on her professional goals; she recalibrated boldly, through both a clinical and strategic lens. And it was from that clarity that BLUOCEAN CONSULTING was born. Her cross-functional quest doesn’t begin with a startup pitch deck, but from an inner calling to merge the clinical precision side of diagnosis with the transformative power of strategic thinking. Today, she crafts solutions for Algeria’s complex systems, leaving a legacy of empathetic leadership, purposeful performance, and elegant metamorphosis. This is Dr. Manal GUEN’s odyssey. 

A Dual Calling with Decades in the Making

Long before the title of “Founder” came into play, Dr. Manal was already at a stage where she was envisioning a life led by duality. By her adolescent years, she found herself torn between choosing two highly selective careers, human medicine and public administration (ENA: L’École nationale d’administration). She ultimately chose human medicine, trusting wholly that her second calling, strategic leadership, would someday find its way back into her life. 

One of the most defining moments that affirmed this dual path came directly from her time in medical practice. “Even the most accurate diagnosis can fall short if the organization behind it isn’t functioning as it should,” Dr. Manal points out. She witnessed firsthand how even the most capable doctors were limited when systems failed, medicine stocks ran dry, or essential equipment was unavailable for critically ill patients. In those moments, it became clear: effective management can save lives. By speeding up access to treatment and equipping healthcare professionals with the right tools and environment, leadership and structure became just as essential as clinical expertise. That realization alone wasn’t limited to healthcare. Rather, it became a guiding principle she now brings to organizations across sectors striving for true performance. 

And it did first through 14 years in the pharmaceutical industry, and then through a dual Executive MBA degree pursued at ESAA and Audencia on the cusp of the pandemic. “The idea of founding a meaningful company wasn’t an impulsive choice, but a logical next step. It was an assertion of my autonomy of thought and vision,” she explains. Thus, she charted a new path, from a medical doctor to a strategist, committed to designing fair, personalized, and sustainable performance. And then in January 2023, BLUOCEAN CONSULTING was born, not out of urgency, but out of complete clarity, drawing together structural intelligence with a human touch. As an independent consulting firm specializing in strategy, management, and organizational performance, BLUOCEAN CONSULTING reflects both vast ambition and deep intentionality. 

Carving Out a Signature Path

The early days of Dr. Manal’s entrepreneurship were marked by challenge, specifically that of perception. Her path straddling medicine and strategy didn’t quite fit the mold. And in industries where career templates are often predefined, standing out with a nonstandard profile required something more than just industry expertise. 

“It wasn’t about imposing myself, but about proving, one mission at a time, that this cross-functional approach does in fact create real value,” she says. And indubitably so. By applying the same diagnostic precision she once used in radiology to strategic dysfunctions within organizations, she developed a methodology rooted in clarity and performance. What was once perceived as marginal has today become her trademark, attracting partners from Algeria to Europe, the Middle East, and across Africa. 

A Human-Centered Leadership

Dr. Manal’s leadership style rests on three core pillars: clear vision, active listening, and a structured method, all supported by sharing and collaboration. But what actually sets her apart is how naturally this style evolved, shaped by the necessity of precision in human medicine and the complexity of leading strategic change. Her experience as a woman, most importantly, navigating male-dominated sectors like pharma and strategic consulting, has added more nuance to her leadership. 

“I had to build my legitimacy silently, but always with conviction. I learned to embody demanding leadership with empathy, and believe that true leadership doesn’t impose itself; it inspires,” she reflects. Over time, Dr. Manal has shifted from being the expert in the room to being the orchestrator at BLUOCEAN CONSULTING, as the one who mobilizes, aligns, and elevates business operations. 

The Discipline of Being Present

In the high-performing realm of strategic consulting, work-life balance often feels like an unattainable myth. But Dr. Manal GUEN doesn’t see this as a static equation. For her, a healthy work-life balance is “a harmony in motion.” It’s a daily commitment to being mentally and physically present, both when at work and home. “It’s not about the quantity of time that matters, but how I spend it with my family, showing them how much I love and care, with attention, purpose, and understanding,” she muses. 

Dr. Manal’s ability to efficiently toggle on and off between strategy meetings and family moments, and between quiet reflection and multifaceted decision-making, speaks to a rare kind of discipline. One that values real impact over activity. 

Shaping a More Ethical Strategy Landscape

Looking ahead, Dr. Manal is fully focused on scaling BLUOCEAN CONSULTING as well as redefining what organizational performance looks like, especially in the healthcare sector. “I want to promote a smarter, more humane, and fairer way of thinking about strategy,” she expresses. For her, growth and business ethics aren’t opposing forces, but complementary drivers of long-term value. 

Beyond the project delivery aspect of the business, Dr. Manal’s vision includes intellectual contributions and trans-border partnerships that shape how strategic excellence is defined and practiced in emerging markets. “What I wish to leave behind isn’t a model, but a legacy, a leadership capable of combining precise diagnosis and organizational transformation with depth, elegance, and discernment,” she shares. 

When asked what advice she’d offer aspiring entrepreneurs, her answer is grounded, yet quietly powerful: “Stay true to what guides you internally, even if it doesn’t fit your usual patterns. It’s not only about daring to venture into something, but also about daring to embody a vision that reflects you.” And to all the people whose dreams and goals aren’t acknowledged yet, she says, “Entrepreneurship is a deeply revealing, but sometimes solitary, path. It takes courage and perseverance to defend an intuition when it isn’t yet visible to others, and even more so to maintain your direction when the winds change.”

In a world obsessed with disruption, she stands as a rare example of transformation done right with care. She didn’t just pivot careers; she aligned two completely different paths and brought them together. And today, with conviction, clarity, and compassion, Dr. Manal GUEN continues to turn diagnosis into direction, one strategy at a time.