Abdulhadi Al-Thawadi

VISION 2030: Realising the Vision‍

Abdulhadi Al-Thawadi has one of the most demanding public sector roles in the dynamic economy of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. As VISION 2030 continues to transform the Kingdom, it’s clear that those leaders responsible for bringing to life – and delivering - the Vision are central to its success.

In one of the country’s key strategic Ministries – the Ministry of Industry and Mineral Resources - Abdulhadi holds the position of Vice President of Vision Realization Office, which places him firmly at the heart of the action with the clear responsibility for ensuring the alignment of the Ministry’s strategy with the Kingdom’s VISION 2030 and supervising its execution.

More specifically, his role includes the development of a methodology for ensuring the alignment of institutional and sector strategies with operational business and project objectives. Abdulhadi also provides support to initiative owners throughout the life cycle of strategic initiatives by managing, monitoring, and assessing their implementation. Not least, his scope of work embraces the creation of a central support unit that develops methodologies and policies, monitors quality, measures compliance, and provides the necessary tools to assist in the implementation of initiatives.

The Ministry of Industry and Mineral Resources was established in 2019 by Royal Decree with the powers, tasks, and responsibilities related to industry and the mineral resources sectors to develop it. The Ministry seeks to advance the industry and mining sectors and contribute to achieving sustainable development, in line with the Kingdom's VISION 2030, which identifies these two sectors as strategic options for diversifying the national economy and aims to increase their contribution to the country’s gross domestic product (GDP). This will be achieved by implementing the initiatives of the National Industrial Development and Logistics Program to transform the Kingdom into a leading industrial and mining power and a global platform for logistics.

The Ministry is working on a number of initiatives aimed at achieving the goals of Saudi Vision 2030 through the National Industrial Development and Logistics Program, which aims to transform the Kingdom into a leading industrial power and a global logistics platform. The initiatives aim to achieve added value, maximise and diversify economic impact, and create an attractive investment environment in the industrial and mining sectors, providing a mature infrastructure that attracts quality investments.

As you would expect, Abdhulhadi has a substantial CV embracing public and private sector experience in leadership roles, including consulting. He describes himself as an organisational transformer, a multifaceted professional with 20+ years of experience encompassing portfolio, programme and project management, performance management, business process management, change management and strategy management.

There’s no doubt that in his current role, he will be drawing extensively on all his vast experience and expertise, including his time at Ernst & Young Global Consulting Services, where he was Head of Vision Execution Office (Riyadh Municipality). 

Abdulhadi took a brief pause from his demanding responsibilities to share his thoughts on the Manchester Global MBA journey he undertook, which he started around the same time as his move to the Ministry of Industry and Mineral Resources.

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Why did you choose to do the MBA and why the Manchester GMBA?  

“My MBA was not directly linked to my career move into the Ministry. I actually decided to pursue an MBA to gain the courage and confidence to take my first steps in entrepreneurship. It is an investment decision and so you should choose a reputable educational institution to make the most of your investment.”

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Did you have a specific learning objective or was it more an interest in the overall learning 

experience?

“Master's degrees cover a crucial aspect of entrepreneurship and provide confidence when knocking at the door of the C-level. The MBA learning that I still use today is around developing ecosystem partnerships.”

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How do you manage the pressure of your role and how do you see your career developing?

“I manage the demands of the role and on my team by institutionalising, automating, and empowering the team to push them to the limit, so we can mitigate the work pressure. In terms of career development, we’re living in a golden era in Saudi Arabia and there are plenty of opportunities to develop our careers.”

You are one of the University’s most dedicated mentors – why are you an active mentoring volunteer and how has it impacted you?

“It's noble work and I enjoy mentoring. I see it as an opportunity to create impact, gain insights into new industries, and expand my network.

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Abdulhadi is set to speak at a University Alumni Mentorship event in Dubai at the end of July when he will focus on leadership, mentoring, and his MBA journey.

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