The WFE's Women Leaders 2021 - Maha Mohammed AlBesher, Chief HR Officer, Saudi Stock Exchange (Tadawul)
Nominee’s name: Maha Mohammed AlBesher
Member: Saudi Stock Exchange (Tadawul)
Nominee’s job title: Chief Human Resources Officer
1. - Brief description of nominee’s role/job:
Responsible for designing and developing HR strategies that support the exchange to achieve its mission and strategic vision. Oversee the areas of talent management, OD, learning and development, leadership development, reward strategies, internal communication and employer brand. Initiate, articulate and amplify values, culture and goals within the organisation through different channels. Develop recruitment strategies and plan to meet manpower needs. Developing and implementing policies that support in enhancing the working environment as well as efficiency of the organisation.
2. - Short bio (career highlights, education, interests/hobbies):
Maha joined Tadawul in 2018 as a Chief Human Resource Officer. She has accumulated experience in the field of human resources, HR development, support services, corporate communications and leading fintech initiatives.
Before joining Tadawul Maha was VP Support Services responsible for HR, facilities & administration, procurement and corporate communication, also fintech lead where she has shepherded FinTech Saudi from initial conception to fully reality, managing the approval process, designing the event with a well-defined and focused scope of activity and building a team to bring the event to full fruition. Maha was also Director Human Resources and Administration in Saudi Payments. The Saudi Payments Network is the only and major payment system in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia that operates under the supervision of Saudi Central Bank (SAMA)
Maha holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Economics from King Saud University and a Master’s Degree in HR from Catholic University of America.
3. - What were your professional highlights and challenges of 2020?:
Uniquely 2020 has presented a universal challenge, although the severity and impact of that challenge varies, we were unified in facing the same challenge of a pandemic. Being able to manoeuvre successfully through 2020 was the greatest highlight and challenge. Adaptability was key in quickly assuming solutions to settle into the new norms.
The wellbeing of our people was the top priority throughout the pandemic, while we focused on leadership, engagement, communication, and learning solutions that would cater to our people’s needs and the organisation’s. We were careful to convey caution not panic, stability not disruption, to achieve a remarkable year of success on both the strategic and operational level.
4. - What and who inspires/has inspired you to achieve your professional success:
Being a female growing in the Middle East naturally presents challenges that planted the seed within me to dream differently and to be determined to attain my aspirations. Although I am fortunate to be living in a country where the possibilities for women grew with a pace that enabled me to widen my horizon even further.
5. - What advice do you have for other women who aspire to be in leadership positions:
To be authentic to yourself wherever you are and what ever culture and background is yours. It is highly important that we don’t fall into the dominant stereotype of the culture we are in. We need to recreate our versions of who we are as women in leadership and provide as many archetypes of successful women as possible.