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Leading Ladies

Energizing Change: Female Leadership Reshaping Saudi Arabia's Future

In Saudi Arabia, versatile female leaders are shaping the nation's future. A journalist empowers women, a project manager excels at the Ministry of Culture, and another makes history at the World Customs Organization, breaking barriers for Arab women. Together, they show the transformative impact of female leadership, inspiring future generations.

By Natalie Kebbe

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Lama Al-Shethry, Board Member of the Saudi Journalists Association

On January 28, Lama Al-Shethry secured a position on the board of directors of the Saudi Journalists Association, an organization established in 2003 to represent media professionals in Saudi Arabia. Al-Shethry, known for her editorial leadership at Sayidaty and Al-Jamila magazines since 2020, brings over a decade of experience in digital and print media. Noteworthy achievements include Sayidaty's website ranking among Forbes' top five most-visited sites in the Middle East and North Africa in 2021. Al-Shethry, a dynamic editor with extensive experience, oversees editorial content across various digital and print platforms, focusing on women and lifestyle topics. She co-founded Bintnet Network, an Arabic online magazine empowering women. Her educational background includes a master's degree in marketing communications from Middlesex University, Dubai, and a bachelor's degree in English translation from King Saud University, Riyadh.

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Maha Alnofaiei, Director at Saudi Arabia’s Music Commission

Maha Alnofaiei, appointed as director of the general education department in the Music Commission under the Ministry of Culture, also works as a program manager in the corporate project management department in Riyadh. With extensive experience, she shapes projects, coordinates proposals, and assesses governance mechanisms. Previously, she led initiatives at the ministry's project management department and was a senior analyst at the Public Investment Fund and Investcorp. Earlier roles include team assistant at Deutsche Bank. Alnofaiei's event planning skills were evident at Pink Diamond. She holds a certificate in administrative studies from Brock University and a bachelor's degree in English literature from King Saud University.

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Munerah Al-Rasheed, Chief of World Customs Organization’s Regional Intelligence Liaison Office

Munerah Al-Rasheed, an Arab trailblazer, made history by leading the World Customs Organization's Regional Intelligence Liaison Offices, which was announced at the 31st Global Meeting of RILO in Brussels. She's the first Arab woman in this prestigious role, with 18 years of diverse experience, notably as director of RILO Middle East. Her career spans impactful roles in program management and public relations, showcasing her versatile leadership. Representing 11 local offices in the Middle East globally highlights her influential presence. Al-Rasheed's educational background, including a bachelor's from the University of New Haven and an executive master's from Hochschule Furtwangen in collaboration with Al-Yamamah University, fortifies her capacity for excellence.