Rasha Alsaidi

Saudi Arabian entrepreneur revolutionizing women's education through tech-driven online learning platforms.

Rasha Alsaidi is a pioneering Saudi Arabian entrepreneur and founder of Scholarly Steps, an online education platform breaking barriers for women in STEM fields. Born in 1990, Alsaidi faced significant societal challenges pursuing a computer science degree in a culture historically restrictive to women's education. Her company now provides over 10,000 courses in Arabic, focusing on coding, AI, and digital marketing. Since its 2020 launch, Scholarly Steps has trained 200,000+ students across the Middle East, with a 70% female enrollment rate.

Alsaidi's innovation lies in localized content: courses are tailored to regional job markets, featuring partnerships with companies like SABIC and Aramco. In 2022, she introduced Remote Work Accelerator, helping students secure jobs with remote tech companies. This initiative has placed 1,500 graduates in roles across 30 countries.

Her advocacy extends beyond business. Alsaidi co-founded Women TechMakers, a nonprofit mentoring 5,000+ girls annually in coding and entrepreneurship. In 2023, she was named one of Forbes Saudi Arabia's Top 50 Innovators, citing her role in increasing female tech employment in Saudi Arabia from 12% to 28% since 2020.

Alsaidi's TED Talk "Code Breaking: How Education Empowers Women" highlights her vision: 'Technology isn't just about gadgets—it's about rewriting societal expectations.' Her next venture, AI4Saudi, aims to make the kingdom a global AI hub by 2030 through youth training programs. With 80% of her team under 30, her work exemplifies how education can drive both economic and social transformation.