Misk and NEOM Partner to Supercharge Execution in Leadership Program

Saudi Arabia’s Mohammed bin Salman Foundation, better known as Misk, has teamed up with NEOM to roll out the latest stage of its flagship 2030 Leaders Program. The partnership centres on Module 4 of Cohort 7, which carries the rather telling theme: *“Execute: Delivering strategies in a dynamic world.”* The sessions will be held inside NEOM itself from 14–18 September, a setting that in many ways mirrors the forward-looking leadership skills the programme wants to instil.

The focus of this round is all about execution – turning strategy into impact without getting bogged down in a bit of a faff. With NEOM positioning itself as a “living laboratory” for cutting-edge projects, participants are expected to benefit from real-world lessons in agility and change management. From what I gather, the module blends training in negotiation, cross-cultural collaboration and alliance building with on-the-ground site visits guided by NEOM’s own executives. That said, it isn’t just about theory; it’s about picking up tools that can help senior leaders cut through the noise when decisions have to be made quickly.

I reckon the choice of NEOM wasn’t accidental. The city project has been touted as a blueprint for executing giant, multidimensional ventures – something most leaders, whether in government or business, only dream of navigating successfully. And believe it or not, despite all the splashy headlines, the real lesson here might be in the quieter systems NEOM has in place: project delivery frameworks, tight change management processes, and the way they weave multiple disciplines together under one vision.

For years at Arageek, we’ve seen plenty of impressive programmes spring up across the MENA region, but I remember thinking during a panel in Riyadh last year how often brilliant strategies fall flat when it comes to day-to-day delivery. Spot on leadership can be the difference between a glossy vision paper and lived impact. That’s why initiatives like this aren’t just nice to have – they’re crucial.

The 2030 Leaders Program itself isn’t new. It was designed as an intensive track for senior Saudi executives from across the public, private and third sectors. It mixes academic theory with hands-on learning, tying it back to the larger Saudi Vision 2030 agenda. In short, it’s meant to shape leaders who can not only adapt to rapid change but actually thrive in it.

As for Misk, the foundation has been nurturing youth talent since its establishment in 2011, prioritising education and entrepreneurship but also giving space to culture, technology and creative industries. Meanwhile, NEOM continues to style itself as both a future city and a magnet for innovators, with plans for everything from hyper-connected hubs to sustainable tourist destinations.

It’s easy to be sceptical – grand projects sometimes look shinier on paper. But seeing Misk connect its leadership pipeline with the practical setting of NEOM suggests an honest attempt to bridge vision and execution. That’s something many other countries, and even startups, struggle to do. And if this programme pulls it off, participants will be chuffed to bits with the value they take back to their organisations.

In the end, empowering leaders isn’t about slogans or glossy announcements. It’s about equipping them with the courage, networks and know-how to act decisively in challenging situations. And that, I’d say, is where this collaboration could really make a diference.

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