Riyadh (UNA/SPA) – The session “Women Leaders Shaping the Future: The Role of Women in Shaping Cultural Transformations,” within the activities of the Saudi Media Forum 2026, discussed the dimensions of women’s empowerment in the Kingdom and their role in leading cultural and institutional transformations, amidst emphasis on the integration of the roles of media, family and education in preparing leaders capable of making an impact and sustaining development.
The Secretary-General of the Family Affairs Council, Dr. Maimouna Al-Khalil, affirmed that empowering women in the Kingdom is no longer just about providing opportunities, but is based on successes and complementary roles, noting that women are an active element that makes a difference in institutional performance.
She stressed that the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 has established women as key partners in the labor market and at all levels, emphasizing that the family is the foundation for empowering all its members, and that preparing leaders begins early in childhood by opening up opportunities and choosing appropriate knowledge content to build future leaders.
For her part, the Chairperson of the Board of Directors of the Saudi Women Leaders Network, Amira Al-Taweel, said that wives and mothers still face challenges in the work environment, at a time when some boards of directors lack female representation, indicating that the “Women Leaders” network was established to discuss the labor market and empower women, and includes about 200 members with investments exceeding 30 billion riyals.
She emphasized that the network is open to everyone, noting the importance of expanding participation in influential positions, and expressing her hope that women's presence will become normal without the need for enabling descriptions, reflecting the maturity and development of the institutional experience.
For her part, MBC Academy CEO Zainab Abu Al-Samh stressed that women’s empowerment is achieved through partnership with men, explaining that institutional initiatives such as women’s empowerment committees represent a step towards awareness, provided that they include decision-makers capable of addressing challenges and facilitating obstacles.
The session concluded by emphasizing that the creation of cultural transformations is based on investing in people and enhancing integration between institutions, families, and the media, thereby establishing leadership models capable of keeping pace with changes and making women's empowerment a firmly established practice within the social and developmental system in the Kingdom.
(is over)
