Metin Mitchell & Company

Saudi Women Keen to see Kingdom Achieve Vision 2030

RIYADH, Saudi Arabia, September 17, 2017 /PRNewswire/ --

A new report by executive search firm Metin Mitchell & Co highlights the confidence that Saudi women feel about their working futures and what needs to be done to increase the number of women in the workplace. This is a critical part of helping the Kingdom to achieve its transformational Vision 2030.

While the findings are specific to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the women's comments will resonate across the Gulf region.

Roads to the Top for Saudi Women is based on interviews with pioneering women from education, medicine, financial services, philanthropy, e-commerce and the professions. They shared experiences of their working lives and success and their perspectives of what the government, society and women themselves can do to encourage the next generation of working women. Interviews were carried out with HRH Princess Banderi bint Abdulrahman AlFaisal, Dr Amal Fatani, May bint Mohammed Al-Hoshan, Hala Kudwah, Dr Taghreed M Al-Saraj, Dr Sameera Maziad Al Tuwaijri and others.

Mr Metin Mitchell, founder of the executive search firm behind the report, said: "The women's comments will resonate across the Middle East - the big picture is similar across the region. The biggest challenge is how we support women into middle management to see a step change in achieving targets. Our female interviewees talked about the importance of role models and mentors. The other strong message is that women themselves are keen to help the Saudi government achieve its Vision 2030 targets - and they gave practical suggestions to do this."

Mr Mitchell says he has long been an advocate of women in the workplace:  "I have seen first hand, in more than 20 years of headhunting in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and across the Middle East, that time and again it is the women who are the outstanding candidates on our shortlists. I have been delighted to see them excel in their careers and become wonderful role models to the next generation of women.

"That is what this report is about. These early female leaders have a wealth of insights and expertise to help future female leaders - but also to give their perspective on how to speed up the rate that women progress in the workplace and use their skills to help the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia succeed in its ambitions."

Mr Mitchell believes that to increase the number of women working and in more senior roles there need to be flexible working patterns to combine family and work balance. He added: "Work needs to be measured by outcomes rather than hours worked. Women are very good at working remotely and delivering results - they don't always have to be in an office. A mentor should be appointed to new female recruits and HR and management need to look at how they hire for talent rather than experience."