Under the patronage of H.E. Sultan bin Salim Al Habsi, Minister of Finance, the Royal Academy of Management (RAM) concluded the “Leadership for Startups” programme, delivered in collaboration with the The Rising Omani Startups Programme, and attended by a number of officials, specialists, and entrepreneurs.
The programme represents one of RAM’s strategic initiatives aimed at developing promising national leaders. It focuses on empowering executive leaders in Omani startups built on innovation and technology, equipping them with the latest executive leadership tools to unlock broader opportunities for business expansion and enhance competitiveness in regional and global markets, in line with national efforts to build a diversified and sustainable economy.
Dr. Fathiya bint Abdullah Al Rashdiya, Assistant President for Programmes at the Royal Academy of Management, affirmed that the programme served as an effective strategic platform for empowering startup leaders, stating: “The strong engagement and practical outcomes demonstrated throughout the programme clearly reflect the competitive readiness of Omani entrepreneurs to expand into wider global horizons. RAM was keen to design a rich learning experience that combines deep knowledge with the latest applied methodologies, ensuring the development of a flexible leadership ecosystem capable of achieving sustainable and efficient growth.”
She added: “At RAM, we believe that investing in young national leaders is a key driver for transforming the national economy toward innovation. Our objective goes beyond training; we aim to create sustainable institutional impact that enables participants to achieve qualitative shifts in their companies’ growth journeys and strengthen the presence of Omani brands in regional and international markets.”
Over six months, 18 founders and executive leaders from Omani startups undertook a comprehensive learning journey that combined theoretical and practical tracks, featuring interactive workshops, real-life case studies, in-depth dialogue sessions with leading local and international experts, as well as direct mentorship and applied projects linked to participants’ business realities. The programme focused on four main modules—strategic leadership, financial planning, growth and expansion management, and human capital management—equipping participants with the tools to enhance expansion readiness, develop sustainable growth strategies, and build effective relationships with investors and partners.
The programme also included international field visits to global accelerators and business incubators, along with meetings with experts and startup CEOs, enabling participants to explore global best practices and gain leadership insights to support their growth and expansion journeys. At the conclusion of the programme, participants presented the outcomes of their applied projects, including executable strategic expansion plans that reflected the leadership and knowledge maturity gained throughout the programme, while directly strengthening the competitiveness of their companies and enhancing their readiness to attract quality investments.
Several participants also highlighted the programme’s impact on their leadership capabilities. Moosa bin Mohammed Al Hadrami, CEO of Eknan Technology, noted that the programme effectively integrated leadership and entrepreneurship concepts through a professional methodology that directly influenced his company’s growth plans and decision-making efficiency, praising the quality of expertise and continued engagement with mentors beyond programme completion.
Dr. Omar bin Mohammed Al Rasbi, CEO of Raqmana, stated that the programme represented a distinctive developmental journey that refined leadership skills and equipped participants with modern strategic tools, adding that the outcomes achieved mark a starting point toward fulfilling professional ambitions and enhancing contributions to the national economy.
Eng. Waleed bin Mohammed Al Maawali, Executive Director of iLab Marine, highlighted that the programme provided deeper understanding of international expansion strategies and institutional culture building, contributing to the development of expansion plans across financial and administrative dimensions, while identifying growth opportunities and enhancing readiness to enter new markets.
The programme comes as part of ongoing national efforts to support the entrepreneurship ecosystem and strengthen the role of startups in the national economy, in line with Oman Vision 2040 objectives toward a diversified, knowledge-based, and innovation-driven economy.
RAM continues to deliver specialised initiatives and programmes through a strategic approach aimed at empowering leaders across sectors and enhancing their capabilities in innovation and executive leadership, contributing to sustainable institutional impact.
