Princess Haifa Al-Saud has been the vice president of strategy at the Saudi Commission for Tourism and National Heritage (SCTH) since March 2019, and the secretary-general of Formula E Holdings since July 2018. She is also vice chairperson of the Saudi Fencing Federation and chairperson of the women’s committee at the Arab Fencing Federation.
Princess Haifa attained her bachelor’s degree in business administration from the University of New Haven in 2008, and her master’s in business administration from the London Business School in 2017. She started her career at HSBC Holdings as an analyst, progressing to senior associate of equity sales before leaving in 2012 to join the Ministry of Higher Education as a senior consultant. She was also managing director of the General Sports Authority between 2017 and 2019.
Recently Princess Haifa spoke at the Misk Global Forum in Riyadh on a panel about the evolving nature of the workplace and the challenges the new generation faces. Princess Haifa said that an important skill in the modern world is adaptability.
Princess Haifa reflected on what she had learned during her career journey, from the early days working for HSBC Bank — when she felt she was treated as something of an oddity — to her current prominent role in the growing Saudi tourism sector.
“As a woman, it was very challenging,” she said. “Women today don’t realize how much they have as employees. The government is pro-youth. My advice to you is seek opportunity, expand your mind, work in different industries. There are no more barriers.”
