Lubna Olayan

A pioneering Saudi Arabian businesswoman who broke gender barriers to lead a global conglomerate

Lubna Olayan (b. 1942) shattered societal expectations in Saudi Arabia by becoming the first woman to lead a major multinational corporation. As CEO of the Olayan Group, she transformed a family construction business into a $12 billion conglomerate operating in 18 countries. Her leadership began in 1970 when she became the first woman to join the company's board, defying cultural norms that restricted women's professional roles. Olayan's strategic vision expanded the group into financial services, real estate, and manufacturing sectors. She pioneered corporate social responsibility initiatives including the Olayan Foundation, which has funded over 1,000 educational projects globally. Her 2014 Harvard Business School case study remains a landmark in gender studies, and she was featured in Fortune's '50 Most Powerful Women' list in 2019. Olayan's advocacy for women's economic empowerment inspired Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030 reforms, including the 2018 ban on gender segregation in public spaces. Her autobiography 《Transforming Saudi Business: The Lubna Olayan Story》 details her journey. She currently serves on the boards of Goldman Sachs and Mastercard, maintaining her commitment to gender equality through initiatives like the Olayan Women's Initiative.