London Business School Concludes Inaugural Global Experiences Course in Riyadh with 63 International Students
In a landmark initiative that bridges world-class business education with the Kingdom’s ambitious transformation agenda, London Business School (LBS) has successfully concluded an intensive Global Experiences course in Riyadh. The week-long immersive program brought together 63 students representing 31 nationalities, providing them with unprecedented access to the institutions and leaders spearheading Saudi Arabia’s economic diversification and innovation drive.
Led by Professor Florin Vasvari and Professor Emre Ozdenoren, the course offered students far more than classroom learning. Through direct engagement with government ministries, private sector innovators, and strategic enterprises, participants gained first-hand insights into how the Kingdom is reshaping its economy, developing future-ready talent, and driving sustainable growth across high-growth sectors. The week featured a carefully curated series of company visits, expert panels, and interactive sessions with leading Saudi institutions including the Ministry of Finance, Diriyah Company, Dar Al Aila, El Seif Engineering, HUMAIN, Lucid Motors, Milaf Global Food Company (a PIF Company), Mozn, and Redco International. Each engagement provided students with authentic perspectives on leadership, innovation, and strategic decision-making in a rapidly evolving market.
At the heart of London Business School’s mission lies a commitment to developing leaders who think and act globally. The Riyadh Global Experience exemplifies this philosophy, transforming the classroom into a real-world laboratory where students confront actual business challenges and witness transformational change firsthand. By stepping into decision-making environments across government and private sectors, participants develop the cultural awareness and market understanding essential for navigating an interconnected world. “Seeing Saudi Arabia’s transformation up close was both inspiring and deeply personal,” reflected Sara Almazro, a Saudi student who participated in the course. “It was especially meaningful to see my country’s transformation through the eyes of classmates from around the world, showcasing how far we’ve come and the ambition driving our future. This experience will stay with us as future global leaders learning from one of the world’s most ambitious transformations.”
The success of this course marks a significant milestone in London Business School’s long-standing relationship with Saudi Arabia, a partnership spanning more than a decade. The initiative follows the recent opening of LBS’s Executive Education Office in Riyadh, which serves as a strategic hub for expanding the School’s presence in the Kingdom and strengthening its commitment to developing the talent driving Saudi Arabia’s next phase of sustainable, knowledge-driven growth. Dr. Mohammed Alhussein, Founder and CEO of Mozn, emphasized the value of such collaborations: “As an enterprise AI company, we were honored to welcome the bright minds of London Business School to Mozn’s headquarters. This was an excellent opportunity to have meaningful discussions on how we are shaping the future of AI, advancing financial crime prevention, and driving enterprise knowledge intelligence.” Graham Hastie, Associate Dean of Degree Education at London Business School, underscored the strategic importance of the initiative: “Saudi Arabia is undergoing one of the most ambitious economic transformations in the world, and there is no substitute for seeing that change up close. Courses like this give our students direct insight into how leadership, innovation, and long-term strategy come together in a rapidly evolving market. We are proud to deepen our engagement with the Kingdom and contribute to its growing leadership ecosystem.”
As international interest in Saudi Arabia’s diversification and innovation agenda continues to grow, the Global Experience course represents London Business School’s commitment to bringing the world’s brightest minds to witness and learn from the Kingdom’s progress firsthand. With more than 57,000 alumni working across more than 160 countries, LBS continues to shape a global community of leaders equipped to understand and drive transformation in markets like Saudi Arabia. The School’s 259 faculty members from over 30 countries cover seven subject areas: accounting, economics, finance, management science and operations, marketing, organisational behaviour, and strategy and entrepreneurship.
