A Pioneering Path: Insights from a Visionary Female Executive
In this issue of Saudi Projects, Emma Burdett, Founder of WILD (Women in Leadership Deliver) talks to Samar AlAmro, Director of Corporate Services & Sustainability Middle East at Accenture Regional Headquarters, to explore the compelling journey of Samar, a trailblazing force in the business world, celebrating not only her accomplishments but also inspiring other female leaders to seek their own leadership heights.
Emma: You come from a corporate background, tell us about your industry journey.
Samar: During the first 13 years of my career I was in the public sector as a government employee, and I shifted my career to the private sector joining SAP Middle East in 2010, when they were establishing the Saudi branch. This is where I grew my knowledge and experience in the technology and digital sector and moved further to a leadership role with Accenture in 2018, which was another big shift in my career.
Emma: What inspired your drive to pursue a career in a male-dominated industry?
Samar: It was a new era of transformation in the Saudi job market, it was not very common to leave a Government job to join a private company but I was looking for new learning and exploring how I could grow my career in a very new field. It was very challenging for me personally to enter a new organization and a completely new role, but I think that was the best motivation for me to challenge myself and get out of my comfort zone … and I think it was the right time to join the private sector.
Emma: What has been your biggest career achievement to date?
Samar: My achievements include:
- First Saudi female leader to join Accenture Middle East, the leading corporate function and sustainability company in the Middle East and Turkey since 2018.
- Part of the first cohort of the INSIAD Saudi Digital Academy Digital Leadership Program hosted by the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology of Saudi Arabia.
- Leading the project of setting up and building the 2020 hospitality lounge
On a personal level, I am proud of my achievements as a mother of three amazing children (adults now): one daughter graduated from Prince Sultan University Business School in Marketing and is now working with a semi-government entity. She became a mother recently of a beautiful baby girl. I also have two sons (twins) who are very artistic and passionate about their talents in choreography, designing and performing contemporary dance in theaters and shows with the Ministry of Culture and ‘Terhal’.
Emma: What changes have you seen for women in KSA over the last 4-5 years?
Samar: Women in Saudi Arabia are now equally contributing to the GDP of the Kingdom, with workforce participation rising to 33.6% in Saudi Arabia in Q1 2022: Report published in https://www.arabnews.com/node/2151926/business-economy
Saudi Arabian women now drive economic growth in a variety of industries, from aviation to banking, as per the article published in The National News: https://www.thenationalnews.com/business/economy/how-saudi-arabia-s-women-are-pushing-into-the-workforce-and-transforming-the-economy-1.1236956
Emma: What notable changes have you seen in the workplace for women?
Samar: Deep-rooted in Accenture’s ethos is a culture of diversity, equity, and inclusion that enriches the company’s daily operations. In recent times, the workplace landscape for women has undergone significant transformations, as exemplified by Accenture’s progressive approach: With a resolute vision, Accenture is actively pursuing gender parity by 2025. This mission involves implementing gender-smart solutions that foster an inclusive and just workplace, offering equal opportunities for all individuals to flourish.
Women in Saudi Arabia are now equally contributing to the GDP of the Kingdom
At Accenture, our thinking and approach to diversity and inclusion have progressed to a point where we can do away with prefixes such as ‘male’ and ‘female’ and view the industry irrespective of gender. We strongly believe that the future workforce is governed by equality and we have set bold goals to accelerate gender equality.
Today, more than 300,000 women work at Accenture. Additionally, 50% of our board of directors and 27% of our global management committee are women.
Accenture ensures comprehensive support for 100% of its female members throughout various career stages, underscoring the company’s dedication to nurturing their professional growth.
Accenture harnesses its diverse team’s expertise in areas such as inclusion and diversity consulting, leadership alignment, and training. This approach draws from the company’s internal successes and external client collaborations.
We champion and advocate gender diversity and inclusion through strategic partnerships with third-party organizations such as everywomanNetwork and Catalyst to encourage self-development.
At Accenture, we have built an environment where members are encouraged to call out biases in the workplace and can have an open and honest dialogue with the company’s leaders.
Emma: What challenges do women still face in the workplace?
Samar: Gender bias is one the main challenges we as women face in the workplace, although the national agenda of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is promoting women’s roles in leadership positions we are still facing some discrimination and gender bias throughout our career growth in all levels.
When I think back, the nature of the jobs that were accepted by our Saudi society were very limited (the education sector and medical sector were not very popular, and in banking, there were limited jobs in women’s branches ) and this gave me the courage and enthusiasm to move to a totally new ‘private sector digital and technology client engagement’.
The social barriers were always there (I can call them cultural barriers) but with the support I had from my husband and extended family, I was able to overcome those challenges.
Emma: How do you suggest companies in KSA attract and retain the best female talent?
Samar: Attracting and retaining the best female talent is a critical focus for companies in today’s hypercompetitive corporate landscape. Research and evidence emphasize the significance of mentorship and a gender-neutral approach, both of which play pivotal roles in this endeavor.
According to global research, 70% of Fortune 500 companies have mentoring programs.
This statistic is very telling of the importance and direct impact of mentorship on the success and growth of a company’s employees. Further research and studies state that mentoring improves both the promotion and retention of diverse groups by 15%-38% compared to non-mentored minorities. However, there is a misconception that mentorship is only crucial and instrumental at the start of your career; mentors are a trusted ally for mentees at the workplace all through their careers and more so when they are about to take on leadership roles.
A gender-neutral approach, especially at the leadership level, isn’t just a tick-box exercise; you need to genuinely embrace it to get the most out of the benefits it brings to a company. Hence, Accenture is promoting women at all stages of their careers and investing in targeted support, flexible work arrangements, and comprehensive training programs to help women thrive at Accenture.
The Accenture Women’s Network—an employee group across more than 150 locations globally—serves as an in-person and online resource for our women to network, learn, grow, and connect through everyday experiences.
Today, more than 300,000 women work at Accenture
Emma: Have you seen any benefits of cross-functional teams working together, such as men and women from different races and ethnicities? If so, do you have an example?
Samar: Cross-functional teams that include men, women, and individuals from diverse racial and ethnic backgrounds bring together a wealth of unique perspectives and experiences.
These differences can be harnessed to drive business success and attain a competitive edge.
Accenture’s inclusive view of diversity encompasses people from different cultures, faiths, ethnicities, and racial backgrounds across every country of operation. This approach ensures that everyone has equal opportunities to belong, advance, and thrive.
Accenture’s culture of equality not only attracts, develops, and rewards top talent but also fosters an environment that cultivates innovation and optimal performance. This culture results in better solutions for clients.
By establishing mentorship and sponsorship programs, along with employee resource groups (ERGs), Accenture is providing structured avenues for individuals of diverse backgrounds to grow, share knowledge, and contribute effectively. Additionally, fostering diversity and inclusion can help companies attract top talent and better understand and serve diverse customer segments, further strengthening their position in the market. Regular diversity assessments enable companies to monitor their progress, identify areas for improvement, and ensure that inclusivity remains a core principle.
Accenture supports its global workforce of 738,000 individuals to remain connected by valuing and preserving their distinct local cultures while upholding the company’s global core values.
WILD is a great initiative and community for women in KSA. The events see a variety of diverse female role models come together to share their stories and experiences.
Emma: Do you see differences between generations? For instance, are older generations more resistant to change?
Samar: We (the old generations) were always ready for change. The new generation sees it as the future, not a change, so between the wisdom and experience of the old generations and the enthusiasm of the new generation the change force is unstoppable.
Emma: KSA has a high percentage of youth, with 65% of the population being under 35, do you see a different mentality with this generation?
70% of Fortune 500 companies have mentoring programs
Samar: Of course, there will always be a mentality gap between the two generations, but the gap is breached through knowledge transfer, sharing experiences, and mentorship.
Emma: What is your personal intention and motivation?
Samar: I am enjoying the transformation in my country; I used to say facing the challenges but now I am proudly saying finding opportunities.
Emma: What has been the biggest challenge for you and how have you overcome this?
Samar: The first 20 years of my career was a series of challenges on a professional and personal level, but with support and persistent investment in myself I am now harvesting the results of my seeds.
Samar: Cross-functional teams that include men, women, and individuals from diverse racial and ethnic backgrounds bring together a wealth of unique perspectives and experiences.
Emma: What advice would you give to a younger Saudi female starting their career?
Samar: Do what you are good at, don’t be shy or refrain from taking challenges, and be patient.
Emma: How important do you feel the WILD network is for women in the region and why?
Samar: WILD is a great initiative and community for women in KSA.
The events see a variety of diverse female role models come together to share their stories and experiences. WILD also allows women to connect with other women, helping to expand the network across GCC by exchanging knowledge and promoting inclusivity.
WILD: Women In Leadership Deliver