Misk Academy Launches Program to Develop Leadership Skills

Misk Academy Launches Program to Develop Leadership Skills
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Misk Academy Launches Program to Develop Leadership Skills

Misk Academy Launches Program to Develop Leadership Skills

Misk Academy, which is affiliated with the Mohammed bin Salman Charity Organization (MiSK Charity), signed an agreement with General Electric (GE) in the domain of leadership skills development among high Saudi officials.

The agreement was recently signed by Omar Najjar, CEO of MiSK, and Hisham Albahkali, CEO of GE in Saudi Arabia and Bahrain.

The initiative aims to benefit from the expertise of one of the leading leadership academies in the world to support and improve the skills of Saudi leaders and develop authentic ways of working, thinking, and behaving that would improve the performance of civil and government institutions to achieve the Saudi Vision 2030. This is considered one of the first steps in the collaboration, with Misk Academy and GE launching the Accelerated Leadership Program for a group of major Saudi leaders who have high capabilities in both the public and private sectors for them to benefit from the program that will be held virtually in the GE Leadership Academy in Crotonville, New York.

The initiative was inaugurated by a virtual session of a chosen group of Saudi leaders in joint coordination between the Academy and GE.

In its academy in Crotonville, GE sheds light on the most modern leadership styles, instills its ideal behaviors, and shares ideas with the most influential intellectuals in academia and business. It organizes transformative educational experiences to inspire the leaders of today and prepare the leaders of tomorrow to plan additional programs in coordination between the two.

Omar Najjar told Asharq Al-Awsat, “We are happy to collaborate with GE in the domain of leadership development, considering that one of the distinguishing features of our leadership programs is to enable participants to develop an action-oriented leadership style that is appropriate to the volume and nature of Saudi’s goals and its particular challenges. We are certain that working closely with GE experts in Crotonville will enable participants to implement what they have learned in this transformative experience on the ground and in their work”.

In that regard, Hisham Albahkali emphasized the importance of the collaboration with Misk Academy and supporting the work that they do to enable Saudis to contribute to the aims of Saudi Vision 2030. “We are pleased to welcome talented Saudi leaders in the future in Crotonville and look forward to not only training programs but also to learn from them in a collaborative environment," Albahkali said.

MiSK Academy is working on developing a set of programs to develop and mold the skills of leaders in both the civil and government sectors. It also offers several programs that provide citizens with future skills to enter the job market.



Bilateral Consultations Boost Coordination Between Riyadh, Washington

The Saudi Foreign Minister’s official US visit caps week of high-level coordination between the two countries (Saudi Foreign Ministry)
The Saudi Foreign Minister’s official US visit caps week of high-level coordination between the two countries (Saudi Foreign Ministry)
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Bilateral Consultations Boost Coordination Between Riyadh, Washington

The Saudi Foreign Minister’s official US visit caps week of high-level coordination between the two countries (Saudi Foreign Ministry)
The Saudi Foreign Minister’s official US visit caps week of high-level coordination between the two countries (Saudi Foreign Ministry)

Saudi-US coordination has seen a notable uptick in recent days, with five rounds of bilateral consultations held over the span of a week. The talks, which covered political, defense, and security issues, as well as regional and international developments, reflect deepening engagement between the two allies.

The surge in activity comes amid growing momentum in the relationship, with Riyadh hosting multiple American delegations in recent weeks, including repeated visits by the US Secretary of State.

The heightened diplomatic exchange also precedes a planned visit by US President Donald Trump to Saudi Arabia in May — his first overseas trip during his second term in office.

As part of this intensified coordination, US Central Command chief Gen. Erik Kurilla conducted a five-day tour of the region from April 1 to 5, visiting five countries. He spent two days in Saudi Arabia, where he met with Saudi Chief of General Staff Gen. Fayyad Al-Ruwaili late last week.

Kurilla, Al-Ruwayli, and the other leaders discussed shared security concerns, the importance of joint readiness and interoperability, and their mutual commitment to addressing regional threats, according to a statement released by USCENTCOM.

Earlier this week, Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Waleed Elkhereiji met with Chargé d'Affaires ad interim of the US to the Kingdom Alison Dilworth at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Riyadh.

According to the Saudi Foreign Ministry, the two officials reviewed bilateral relations and discussed key regional and international developments, along with efforts to address them.

Saudi Minister of Defense Prince Khalid bin Salman also received a phone call from US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth on Monday.
They discussed defense cooperation between the two countries.

They also spoke about regional developments and shared efforts to enhance security and stability in the region and beyond.
The two officials reviewed the state of Saudi-US defense ties and explored prospects for deeper cooperation, according to a readout of the call.

Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell said in a statement that the defense chiefs discussed the regional security landscape, including progress in US operations aimed at degrading Houthi capabilities and ensuring freedom of navigation in the Red Sea.

Both sides also discussed opportunities to expand the US-Saudi partnership in defense affairs and agreed to maintain close communication going forward.

Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan arrived in Washington on an official visit, where he met US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Wednesday at the State Department.

The two top diplomats discussed developments in Gaza, Sudan, Yemen, and the Russia-Ukraine war, exchanging views on ways to support international peace and security. They also explored options to strengthen coordination and cooperation on regional and global issues of mutual concern.

The talks also focused on the strategic ties between the two countries and opportunities to deepen them across various sectors.

In a statement, State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce said Rubio thanked Saudi Arabia for its efforts to help mediate peace between Russia and Ukraine, bolster economic and defense cooperation, counter Houthi threats in the region, and restore freedom of navigation in the Red Sea.

Bruce added that the ministers also discussed diplomatic efforts aimed at securing the release of hostages in Gaza and achieving a permanent ceasefire that includes the full disarmament of Hamas and dismantling of its authority.

The statement said Prince Faisal and Rubio agreed on the need for Sudan’s armed forces and the Rapid Support Forces to resume peace talks, protect civilians, open humanitarian corridors, and return to civilian rule.

According to Ahmed Al-Ibrahim, an expert in US and international affairs, Saudi-US coordination is currently experiencing one of its strongest phases.

He told Asharq Al-Awsat that global and regional dynamics are pushing both sides to intensify consultation and cooperation - a trend reflected in five rounds of talks held in less than a week.

Al-Ibrahim said the heightened level of coordination underscores Saudi Arabia’s strategic importance to both regional and global peace and security, as well as to Washington’s foreign policy priorities.

Key issues such as freedom of navigation in the Red Sea, the war in Gaza, Sudan, and developments in Syria and Lebanon, highlight Riyadh’s central role, he noted.

He added that two of the most pressing US foreign policy challenges - the war in Gaza and the conflict in Ukraine - are seeing significant Saudi engagement.

Riyadh, he said, has been actively advocating for a ceasefire in Gaza and has taken a leading role in hosting and supporting peace talks related to the Ukraine war, along with broader Russian-American relations.