Lulwa Al Hamad

Saudi Arabia's trailblazing businesswoman who transformed women's economic participation through tech ventures

Lulwa Al Hamad (b. 1985) is a Saudi Arabian entrepreneur and CEO of Sodali, a digital platform connecting women-owned businesses with global markets. As a pioneer in empowering Saudi women's economic participation, she launched Sodali in 2016 during the kingdom's Vision 2030 reforms. The platform has since registered over 10,000 female entrepreneurs and facilitated $150 million in business deals, directly contributing to the 30% increase in Saudi women's workforce participation since 2019. Al Hamad's work aligns with the Saudi government's goals of diversifying the economy away from oil, while challenging traditional gender roles in business.

Her breakthrough came with the 2019 launch of Sodali's Blockchain-based supply chain solution, which ensures transparency in cross-border transactions for women-led SMEs. This innovation was adopted by major companies like Aramco and Saudi Airlines, establishing Sodali as a key player in the region's fintech scene. Al Hamad also founded the Women's Economic Forum in 2021, hosting 500+ delegates from 20 countries to discuss gender equity in business. Her initiatives have been recognized by World Economic Forum and CNN.

Al Hamad's personal journey reflects her mission: after graduating from Harvard Business School, she returned to Saudi Arabia to challenge cultural norms by founding tech ventures while raising three children. In 2022, she launched the first Sharia-compliant investment fund for women entrepreneurs, raising $50 million in seed capital. Her TED Talk 'Breaking Barriers in the Desert' has garnered over 2 million views, inspiring women across the Middle East. Current projects include expanding Sodali's operations into UAE and Egypt, aiming to create 50,000 jobs for women by 2025.