Elphas Malenje

Finding Stories Closer to Home Lubna Olayan is an inspiring leader known for her compelling narratives about women's empowerment, leadership, and entrepreneurship in Saudi Arabia. As the CEO of Olayan Financing Company, she has effectively used storytelling to shed light on the challenges and successes of women in the business world (Fry, 2015). Here's an exploration of her company story through the three-act structure of setting the stage, raising the stakes, and resolving the conflict. Setting the Stage Lubna Olayan was born into a privileged Saudi family, and doing what she did was not entirely predetermined. During that time in the region, women were rarely in the workforce; even if they were, it was minuscule; this made her decision to join the family business revolutionary. OFC is one of the leading companies in the Olayan Group, which has business in finance, manufacturing, and service (FII Institute, 2021). Lubna joining the company was the turning point for the company's betterment. She planned to update the business situation for the female portion, empowering women in the business kingdom as Saudi Arabia Vision 2030 developed to support women's participation in organizational leadership. Raising the Stakes Thus, when Lubna Olayan started getting recognition and climbing the ladder of success, she encountered many problems on both social and business levels. Hurdles and prejudices against women that kept them from entering leadership roles were well-realized, and she was in a man's world per se. Lubna was very much committed to the vision that she had set out for her. She also changed policies in the Olayan Group towards diversity and inclusion. In this campaign, she set the model for many Saudi organizations. During the economic reformation period of KSA, her leadership ability, as well as her ability to strategize, was evident. I teach them that everyone faces challenges in life. The mere difference resides in the kind of challenges one encounters; the main thing is how to overcome those challenges best. This is one of the big storylines, where she fought for women, especially their right to vote. Lubna always set a noble example by discussing the subject of education and the upgrade of women professionals. This has been made possible through her endeavours that have raised awareness and several changes in the social perception of women in business (Fry, 2015). Her speeches and appearances usually focus on the successes of women within her company, proving the practical impact of the female presence in management positions. Resolving the Conflict The Olayan Financing Company has grown under Lubna Olayan's leadership, which has seen it extend its businesses and improve the regional corporate governance benchmarks. So not only did she enrich the company's story and image, but she also changed the overall perception of the people of Saudi Arabia for the better. The constant advancement of women in KSA labor force and managerial positions witnesses the resolution of her story. Lubna's legacy is a testament to the power of storytelling in business (FII Institute, 2021). By sharing her journey and the stories of other successful women, she has inspired a new generation of female leaders in Saudi Arabia. Her narratives continue to influence and shape the perceptions of women's roles in the business world, aligning with the goals of Vision 2030 and beyond. Therefore, it can be concluded that Lubna Olayan's success story is one of the best examples of how the narration can positively influence others and promote attitude changes. Through creating context, increasing the antecedent elements and tying the bow on conflict, she has become a great leader and a role model to women aspiring to crack the glass ceiling in business. References FII Institute. (2021, November 2). Lubna Olayan and Robert Smith at #FII5. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_UIkvYNL2Qo&t=809s Fry, E. (2015, September 14). This CEO is helping Saudi women break a gender barrier. Fortune. https://fortune.com/2015/09/14/lubna-olayan-saudi-arabia/