Building Toward 2030: Ridha Shaikh’s Leadership Journey

For Ridha Shaikh, receiving the Executive MBA diploma from HEC Paris marked not only an academic milestone, but also a moment of reflection on a career increasingly connected to Saudi Arabia’s transformation. Today, as Chief Commercial Officer of Expo 2030 Riyadh, the event that will welcome the world to the Kingdom, he is contributing to one of the most emblematic initiatives of Vision 2030. It is a role that reflects a career shaped by ambition, public service, and a lifelong commitment to learning. 

In the historic salons of Hôtel Le Marois, amid reunions, celebrations, and conversations with fellow graduates and their families, the graduate reflected on a professional journey that began in the energy and industrial sectors, expanded into prominent public-sector leadership roles, and eventually led him to one of the Kingdom’s most ambitious projects 

A graduate in Electrical Engineering from Purdue University, he began his career at Saudi Aramco, where he spent nearly thirteen years. Through a succession of responsibilities, he developed extensive expertise in project management, strategic planning, and performance management. His ambitions extended beyond the technical sphere. 

From there, Ridha Shaikh joined the National Transformation Program and contributed to several major government initiatives. He notably held leadership positions within Saudi Arabia’s national COVID-19 response committee secretariat before becoming Chief of Staff at the Saudi Ministry of Economy and Planning. These experiences gave him a broad perspective on the Kingdom’s transformation agenda under Vision 2030. 

Today, as Chief Commercial Officer of Expo 2030 Riyadh, he is helping prepare one of the most anticipated international events of the decade. 

Expo 2030: A Global Platform for the Future 

For Ridha Shaikh, Expo 2030 extends far beyond the traditional scope of a World Expo. He describes it as a national project designed to showcase Saudi Arabia’s transformation while also serving as a global platform where nations can come together to address the challenges of the future. 

In his view, the event represents both the culmination of many Vision 2030 objectives and an opportunity to foster dialogue among countries, businesses, and institutions around major economic, technological, and societal issues. 

In his current role, he oversees the commercial activities of Expo 2030 Riyadh, including strategic partnerships, sponsorships, ticketing, food and beverage, merchandizing, and concessions. The scope of the mission reflects the scale of the project, which is expected to welcome 42 million visits from around the world. 

Beyond the numbers, he emphasizes the importance of showcasing the Kingdom’s evolution to a global audience. For him, Expo 2030 represents an opportunity to present a Saudi Arabia that successfully combines heritage, innovation, and openness to the world. 

Returning to the Learning Journey 

The decision to pursue an Executive MBA at HEC Paris, Doha was not, for Shaikh, an obvious one. The idea had followed him since the start of his career, repeatedly pushed aside by professional responsibilities, travel, and family commitments. One earlier attempt was interrupted by an international opportunity that forced him to reassess his priorities. Nevertheless, the ambition remained in the back of his mind. 

Almost two years ago, a colleague, who is also a friend, encouraged him to apply for the Executive MBA at HEC Paris, Doha. This time, he took the leap. “If I didn’t do it then, life would only become busier,” he explains. 

The decision would add something meaningful to his journey, well beyond academic learning alone.  

Leadership at the Heart of Transformation 

Ridha Shaikh’s conviction about leadership took shape over years of structured leadership programs and hands-on experience managing complex initiatives and teams – a foundation that the leadership courses in his Executive MBA went on to sharpen and amplify.  

More than management tools or strategic frameworks, it was the human dimension of leadership that captured his attention. Understanding behavior, bringing teams together, managing uncertainty, and leading change are, in his view, essential capabilities for today’s leaders. 

“Leadership is often what determines whether teams are able to turn their skills, ideas, and effort into real impact” he says. 

For him, leaders must be able to move seamlessly between strategic vision and operational detail. They need to know when to intervene while granting teams enough autonomy to foster innovation and creativity. 

To these qualities, he adds two principles he considers fundamental: integrity and authenticity. 

The Strength of the HEC Paris Network 

Beyond the academic experience, the graduate highlights the importance of the network built throughout the program. 

The Executive MBA enabled him to connect with leaders from a wide range of sectors, including energy, finance, healthcare, telecommunications, industry, entrepreneurship, and the public sector. This diversity of backgrounds and perspectives enriched his thinking and broadened his professional horizons. 

He explains that he has already developed several collaborations and professional opportunities through relationships established within his cohort. 

According to him, the true value of an Executive MBA lies as much in the exchanges between participants as in the lessons delivered in the classroom. 

A Success Built on Family Support 

While Ridha Shaikh readily discusses the responsibilities he has held throughout his career, he also emphasizes that no success is achieved alone. 

Reflecting on his journey, he pays tribute to his family, and especially to his wife, whom he describes as a constant source of support throughout his professional evolution. 

When he joined the Executive MBA, he was already holding a demanding leadership position while fully embracing his family responsibilities. Balancing professional commitments, travel, and studies was not always easy. 

Yet he explains that he could always count on the support of his loved ones. 

“Without that support, I probably wouldn’t have achieved even 10% of what I have accomplished today,” he says. 

Beyond a personal achievement, pursuing an Executive MBA also carried an important message for his children: the value of lifelong learning. Even after twenty years of professional experience, it remains possible to challenge oneself, acquire new skills, and continue pursuing ambitious goals. 

A Class Looking Toward the Future 

In Paris, surrounded by fellow graduates, family members, and the HEC community, Ridha Shaikh was celebrating far more than a graduation ceremony. 

His journey reflects the values that defined the Class of 2026: ambition, resilience, intellectual curiosity, and a desire to contribute to transformations that extend beyond the boundaries of one’s organization or country. 

His cohort brought together leaders from across industries and borders, each already deep into demanding careers, each choosing to invest in their own growth. For Ridha Shaikh, the Class of 2026 stands as a fitting marker: not the start of something new, but a moment to pause, reflect, and carry that growth forward.