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'Give bright young Saudis a chance'

By ABDUL HANNAN TAGO RIYADH: Saudi Arabia has a bright new generation of brilliant leaders and well-funded entrepreneurs. Those leaders should be given more opportunities to lead and not just manage.

This suggestion was made by Rene Carayol, UK's renowned management guru and a sought-after speaker in the corporate world, in an interview with Arab News here.

The visiting HR expert believes that culture is a more powerful strategy that can be expressed powerfully through one's communication skills. The Kingdom, therefore, needs a younger generation of leaders in future to guide and inspire the Saudi youth.

Carayol's advisory service, together with other communication experts in the Middle East, will launch a leadership event on May 5 this year at the British Embassy, which will be attended by 100 selected leaders of the region.

Carayol is one of the world's leading business gurus specializing in leadership and culture, drawing inspiration from his own unique experience. He serves on the boards of the biggest British and American organizations, from Marks & Spencer and Pepsi to IPC Media and the Inland Revenue Service.

He is the best-selling author of the leadership and culture Bible, "Corporate Voodoo," and has had the privilege of working closely with some of the world's best leaders - from former US President Bill Clinton to the seventh Secretary-General of the United Nations Kofi Annan, and from former US Secretary of State Colin Powell to Sir Richard Branson.

"I think we have to take the region on its leadership journey and Saudi Arabia especially has a distinct leadership opportunity by being visionary and inspiring.

He suggested that those leaders should be given more chance to lead and serve a little bit on management. "The best advice I can see here is to give a little-a-bit management and more-a-bit on leadership. The key words are to energize people to leadership, not to control but to excite.

Talking about economic recession in Europe and comparing it with Saudi Arabia, Carayol said, what is killing Europe is not economy; it is the lack of confidence. " Whenever the confidence rises, the economy rises too. We are a highly educated people, but are we thinking enough? Are we collaborating enough?"

He observed: "When I came to Saudi Arabia, I saw them not concerned on local political issues; they are concerned on their business. What makes America great is because it is open to various immigrants from across the world and some of them are the smart immigrants in the world. And that makes and produces the different types of talent drawn from different religions, races and attitudes."

He concluded: "I think that those countries which open their doors to the talented people will win in the future. What makes London the most tolerant city on earth is a broad mix of people with a varied cultural background living in the city."

Carayol spends much of his time working with leaders from a variety of organizations from the private, public and not-for-profit sectors. He is engaged as a speaker, facilitator and compere for a wide range of activities, from chairing leadership summits and management conferences to facilitating crucial board meetings.

© Arab News 2012