Before joining IMD, Shaima AlHusseini was an academic teaching in various undergraduate academic institutions. Drawn to IMD for its distinct focus on leadership development, with its intense coaching and training, she went on to build a diverse and impactful career across the Saudi Arabian public and sports sectors.
The EMBA brings together participants from different backgrounds who share long years of experience and expertise. “What initially drew me to IMD was the diversity of the cohorts and the small numbers, which allows us to connect and learn from each other,” she says.
Since graduating, Shaima has held leadership roles at the Institute of Public Administration, where she founded the Social Responsibility Department, trained thousands of professionals, and provided strategic consulting to nonprofit organizations. She also led sports education initiatives in the Olympic Committee and the General Sports Authority (now Ministry of Sports), playing a vital role in the early stages of Vision 2030’s sports transformation.
She is now CEO of the Saudi Sports for All Federation, which aims to motivate individuals from all backgrounds and abilities to live a healthier life; to increase community levels of physical activity and social interaction; and to engage the private sector and delivery partners to lead key elements of the strategy.
Shaima’s IMD education has provided her with an invaluable strategic and global leadership perspective. Since completing the Foundation of Business Leadership certificate and her Executive MBA, she has applied IMD’s frameworks to refine organizational structure, performance evaluation, and impact measurement at the Saudi Sports for All Federation. Her IMD journey continues to fuel innovation, governance, and international collaboration in the Kingdom’s sports ecosystem.
The EMBA gave her the confidence to lead across different functionalities and the organization as a whole. “It stretched me beyond my comfort zone and allowed me to lead beyond my comfort zone,” she says. “The constant feedback helped me develop and grow professionally in terms of my leadership style. It helped me understand myself better. I felt like I went through a powerful transformation.”
The IMD program has sharpened Shaima’s ability to lead transformational initiatives at scale. It has enhanced her strategic thinking, people management, and cross sectoral leadership key skills she now applies in steering a national federation.
Through IMD, she also gained confidence in global stakeholder engagement, negotiation, and organizational change, empowering her to shape a community-driven sports model that aligns with Vision 2030.
Shaima has created meaningful impact in both the public sector and the sports industry. As the Managing Director of the Saudi Sports for All Federation, she drives social change through inclusive, health focused initiatives. Her work advances public health, gender equality, youth development, and cross cultural collaboration. She has also contributed significantly to educational reform and nonprofit consulting in Saudi Arabia.
Shaima plans to stay engaged with the IMD community through active alumni participation, knowledge exchange, and international collaborations. She is particularly interested in building connections with fellow alumni working in public health, sports, and social impact sectors. She hopes to share best practices from Saudi Arabia’s transformation journey and contribute to IMD’s global network of impact driven leaders.
“What stood out to me as truly unique about the IMD experience was the program’s focus on self -awareness,” Shaima recalls. “It not only focuses on academics but also goes deeper to the person’s well-being as a leadership tool to guide a better quality of life for future leaders.”
Looking ahead, Shaima is committed to building a sustainable and inclusive sports and wellness ecosystem in Saudi Arabia. Her future goals include advancing women’s participation in sports, positioning the Kingdom as a wellness tourism destination, and supporting regional and global knowledge exchange in community health and active living. She also aims to mentor future leaders and expand grassroots sports access across the Gulf region and beyond.
