Rawan Althagafy: A Vanguard of Emotional Intelligence and Leadership in a Thriving Saudi Arabia
In the heart of a rapidly transforming Saudi Arabia, where Vision 2030 has ignited waves of economic reform and innovation, Rawan Althagafy stands as a beacon of leadership, emotional intelligence, and inspiration. With over 15 years of experience across global industries – from Siemens and KPMG to leading national programs at the Council of Economic and Development Affairs (CEDA) – Rawan has carved a unique niche at the intersection of strategy, human-centered leadership, and emotional intelligence.
A Transformational Journey Rooted in Purpose
Rawan’s story is one of reinvention. From high-stakes strategy rooms and billion-riyal projects to mentoring C-suite leaders on emotional resilience, her path has not been linear – but it has been deeply intentional.
Beginning at Siemens, Rawan gained commercial leadership experience and insight into global systems. But it wasn’t just about numbers and negotiations – Rawan began to notice the unspoken dynamics of leadership: the quiet hesitations, the emotional toll behind boardroom decisions.
As she transitioned into the healthcare and food sectors, building governance systems and managing supply chains, she started asking profound questions: Why do well-built systems still fail? What’s missing in our organizational frameworks?
Those questions followed her to CEDA, where she led the national Project Management Office and oversaw billions in strategic portfolios. Even amidst policy successes and ministerial briefings, she saw that emotional disconnection was often masked beneath performance metrics.
Her time at KPMG and later as Chief Strategy Officer at the Saudi Equestrian Authority reinforced a truth that now defines her mission: “The most valuable asset in any organization isn’t the plan – it’s the people and their emotional safety.”
Elevating Minds: Leadership Through Emotional Intelligence
Rawan’s venture, Elevating Minds, offers a groundbreaking suite of services that tackle the human side of leadership—an area often overlooked in traditional corporate playbooks. Her offerings include:
- Executive Leadership Mentoring: Personalized support to help leaders navigate emotional and psychological hurdles.
- Certified Coaching: One-on-one coaching sessions focused on personal and professional alignment.
- EQ-Based Workshops: Hands-on sessions designed to cultivate emotional awareness and team cohesion.
- Culture Alignment Programs: Strategic initiatives to foster emotionally intelligent and trust-driven organizational cultures.
In a region known for its ambitious transformation goals, these services are no longer a luxury—they are a necessity. Emotional intelligence is now being recognized globally as a key leadership competency, and in Saudi Arabia, where new industries are flourishing and change is constant, leaders must be equipped not only with vision but also with empathy and resilience.
The Saudi Boom and Women’s Rise: A Perfect Convergence
Saudi Arabia’s economy is experiencing a historic boom. In 2022, non-oil sector growth reached 5.4%—the highest in over a decade – and foreign investment hit a record $33 billion. Sectors like tech, tourism, health, and entertainment are driving diversification, supported by the government’s commitment to modernization and reform through Vision 2030.
One of the most transformative shifts has been in women’s participation in the workforce, which has nearly doubled in recent years – from 17.7% in 2016 to over 36% in 2023. Saudi Arabia now ranks first globally for closing the gender gap in economic participation among G20 countries (WEF, 2023).
Rawan embodies this transformation. Not only has she broken barriers in traditionally male-dominated sectors, but she has also redefined what leadership looks like – anchoring it in emotional intelligence, human connection, and authenticity. In doing so, she inspires a new generation of Saudi women to lead boldly and vulnerably.
More Than a Mentor – A Movement
Rawan is more than a mentor or coach – she is a movement. Her belief that “presence, not pressure, creates great leaders” is a revolutionary idea in high-performance cultures. She is not just helping executives make better decisions; she is helping them become better humans.
Her work is aligned with national efforts to reduce leadership burnout, enhance workplace mental health, and improve retention in public and private sectors. Studies show that emotionally intelligent leadership improves team performance by 20% and reduces turnover by 25% – a crucial advantage for organizations in a fast-growing market like Saudi Arabia.
Through Elevating Minds, Rawan is building emotionally intelligent ecosystems – one conversation at a time.
A Role Model for the Region and Beyond
Rawan’s journey from corporate strategist to emotional intelligence mentor serves as a blueprint for future leaders—not just in Saudi Arabia but across the Middle East and the world. She reminds us that true leadership is not about control but about connection. Not about status, but about service.
As Saudi Arabia races ahead in its economic ambitions, leaders like Rawan ensure that its human capital is not left behind. Her story is a powerful reminder that transformation is not just about policies and projects—it’s also about people, and the emotional fabric that holds them together.
Rawan Althagafy isn’t just navigating change—she’s humanizing it. And in doing so, she is elevating minds, hearts, and the future of leadership.
