Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, 21 November 2024 — The second and final day of the KAFD Annual Leadership Conference (KALC) concluded on a high note, delivering a series of insightful discussions that charted a new roadmap for the future of leadership.
The conference saw another day of masterclasses and discussions that started with “Innovation 360 Power Hours” by Peter Glasheen, a dynamic workshop redefining the concept of innovation leadership. In his session, Glasheen noted that “capabilities are required to deliver on our aspirations, and our measures of success reflect our ability to achieve these aspirations for innovation.” The session was followed by “The Innovation Circle” where Magnus Penker provided a two-hour immersive experience that equipped leaders with tools to unlock their organization’s potential. Penker highlighted “that innovation is a journey into the unknown. Creating something unprecedented—like a sustainable city or a Mars mission—often involves few precedents and limited expertise. The true challenge is to develop new methods to transform visionary ideas into reality.”
The day placed innovation, resilience, empathy, and female leadership high on the agenda. Olympic rower Hussein Alireza led “Scaling Peaks and Breaking Waves: Lessons from an Olympic Rower,” drawing parallels between his resilience in sports and strategies for overcoming personal and professional challenges. In “Leading with Empathy: The Future of Human Connection,” Vishen Lakhiani, founder of Mindvalley, shared practical techniques to foster trust and authenticity, emphasizing the transformative power of empathy in leadership.
Mishaal Ashemimry, a trailblazing Saudi aerospace engineer, inspired attendees with her masterclass “Breaking Barriers in the Final Frontier: Engineering the Future of Space Exploration,” where she shared her journey to push boundaries and innovate in uncharted territories, offering a masterclass in visionary leadership.
Fireside chats brought deeply personal and forward-thinking discussions throughout the day. In “Stress-Proof Leadership: The Future of Intelligence,” Mo Gawdat and Abdulrahman Tarabzouni explored the role of resilience in shaping intelligent leadership.
“Strategic Corporate Governance: The Future of Female Leadership” brought Maryam Ficociello, Group Chief Governance Officer of Red Sea Global (RSG), and Moudi Alhumaid, Vice President of Corporate Audit at KAFD, together to discuss the evolving role of women in leadership and their strategic role as female leaders in shaping mega-projects.
In “The Art of Communication: The Future of Cross-Border Interaction,” Wonho Chung delivered an engaging session on bridging cultural divides. Chung’s insights equipped attendees with strategies to master cross-cultural communication and elevate their brands on the world stage. The two-day conference hosted over 20 distinguished speakers and welcomed 500 attendees who came together to explore the evolving dynamics of leadership, sparking conversations around empowering leaders to navigate modern complexities with innovation, adaptability, and empathy—all aligned with KAFD’s mission to build a forward-looking leadership ecosystem that inspires transformation and resilience.
