OREANDA-NEWS. October 10, 2013. Research has proven that businesses with diverse leadership teams generally do better in the marketplace. Saudi Aramco is taking a firm step in that direction with the introduction of the new program “Women in Leadership.”

Under the sponsorship of Huda Al-Ghoson, executive director of Employee Relations and Training, the Saudi Aramco Women in Leadership (WiL) program was successfully piloted in 2012 targeting Saudi Aramco women, grade codes 12-16. It is now a formal offering where the second WiL program will come to a close in November.

The WiL program was designed and developed by the Leadership Development Division of the Professional Development Department and is delivered in partnership with McKinsey Consulting and the Saudi Aramco Management Development Department.

The program stresses that to reach the highest levels of management and succeed consistently, it is essential for leaders to demonstrate their ability to motivate and align employees, build connections, think strategically and influence decisions.

Yet, in facing those challenges, women often struggle with how to develop a style that is both effective within the organizational culture and true to themselves and social expectations.

Effective leadership is not about brute force but rather about preparation, relationship-building, credibility, creativity, and understanding value — beginning with the individual. Women and men do need the same leadership skill.

However, women need a program to address the additional challenges that come from being a female leader in the current organizational and social environment and succeed without sacrificing their values.

Through a combination of self-awareness diagnostics, guided discussion, lectures, and interactive exercises, this program raises female leadership skills in two fundamental areas, namely self-management and people management.

At the conclusion of the last WiL Program, one participant reflected: “(This is) truly an eye-opening event where we can pause and look back at our journey and focus on identifying our future objectives. I feel that this session gave me the space to think and center myself and be optimistic for the future.”

Milton Buckelew, the Leadership Development Division’s administrator, said, “Our vision is to provide development opportunities for those who will transform Saudi Aramco, and we are optimistic that the WiL program offers the forum for Saudi Aramco women to translate their experience, education and knowledge gained from the program into actions toward that transformation.”