Last week I visited Saudi Arabia to deliver my keynote “Switch On Your Strengths” to a fast growing logistics company. I was introduced to this opportunity by Eman, who was a participant on a virtual Women’s Leadership Programme I ran five years ago at the start of the pandemic.
As well as working closely with the senior directors in the organisation to co-create a really great event, I met with a fantastic range of connections, old and new.
My full immersion approach, talking with everyone I met in the capital Riyadh, worked well with my “get out and see” experiential learning style!
Things are moving quickly in Saudi Arabia. Do you know about the Saudi Arabia Vision 2030? Its strapline is “An Ambitious Plan For An Ambitious Nation”.
If you have responsibility for strategic direction or change management in your organisation, take a look! It is a masterpiece of how leadership messages, vision, strategic themes, vision realisation programs, metrics and measurement work together to make things happen!
The range of metrics is enormous, you can check out what they include. One metric close to my heart is the ability of women to contribute. The Vision 2030 shows that percentage of women’s participation in the labour market is now 35.4%, and the goal for 2030 is 40%.
The ambition for the contribution of women in Saudi was consistent with my own experience in the capital of Riyadh. As well as in the workplace, it was great to see Saudi women using the brand new metro and taking their place with ease walking around town with personal agency, friendliness and style.
At the weekend, with Eman and Justyna, I was also able to make a visit to “The Edge Of The World” (Jebel Fihrayn). I was keen to see this unexpected and dramatic geological wonder in the rocky desert, a two hour drive 100km northwest of Riyadh.
Cliffs rise dramatically from the desert, stretching toward the sky like a great natural wall. It is a rock-framed “window” on the world, with a wonderful, uninterrupted view of the horizon.
A sense of awe from nature such as “The Edge Of The World” I find very moving. It helps me gain, and re-gain again, valuable perspective.
Perspective from nature such as this has endured over centuries. This perspective which feels like it has been here forever, helps me feel more grounded, calm and resourceful, especially at troubled times in the world like today.
So now I’m wondering, where is, or might be, your “Edge Of The World”? How might the perspective it can bring add to your balance and wellbeing too?
Gill How is an internationally recognised speaker with her keynote “Switch On Your Strengths”, and a Leadership Developer designing and delivering programmes globally to enable senior managers, executives and professionals step into their strategic leadership capability. If you would welcome an exploratory conversation to see how Gill can help you meet your goals, get in touch:
“Gill delivered her keynote “Switch on your Strengths” presentation at a Rail Industry Association event I organised in November 2024. We worked together prior to the event to tailor the content to the audience, and Gill was able to tune into the business imperatives for helping colleagues to identify and leverage individual strengths to enhance leadership and team performance. She was able to effectively demonstrate that identifying what most energises employees, not just what they are most competent at, is the key to unlocking their full potential. The presentation was interactive, inspiring and very well received. I look forward to working with Gill again!”
Jessica Ellery, Director of Infrastructure & Industrial, Wincanton
