In line with Saudi Vision 2030, and its call for diversification of employment opportunities for youth in the Saudi private sector, Landmark Arabia, has announced the launch of its Retail Leadership Program at an exclusive ceremony held at the Marriott, Diplomatic Quarter, Riyadh. Held in the presence of Saudi Arabia's very own inspirational athlete and pioneer, Raha Moharrak, the event was attended by employees and leaders across the Group. Building on its success of employing over 7,000 Saudi nationals, the newly launched program will offer the employees an opportunity to fast-track their career and take on key retail and managerial roles. 44 of the company's best performing employees, including 38 Saudi women, were selected to take part in the developmental initiative. The selection process was rigorous with multiple levels of interviews and performance appraisals to ensure the formation of an esteemed group of performers. As a part of this year-long training program, the selected candidates will be provided with extensive practical and experiential training by managers to improve their skills on the job. This will allow them to grow in a real retail environment understanding various key aspects of the business. The driving force behind the launch of such innovative and experiential learning modules at Landmark Arabia is Nisha Jagtiani, Group Director, Landmark Group. Speaking about the launch of this programme she said, "As a leading retailer in the region we have always been focused on investing in the growth of Saudi youth and women, to develop their skills and help them meet their career goals. Having been in the region for over two decades we employ some very bright Saudi talent in retail. More than 66% of our existing Saudi National employees are women, and we are delighted to see them progress in their career to take on leading retail roles in our business. The Retail Leadership Program was specifically designed with the aim to fast-track the growth of our Saudi workforce. It gives me immense pride to introduce our first batch of RLP stars, of which 90% are Saudi women. This is a huge milestone for us and stands testament to our deep commitment in building future leaders in Saudi Arabia." With the Saudi government initiating several programs to ensure equal opportunities for both men and women, Landmark Arabia has been at the forefront of supporting this goal. The Retail Leadership Program will serve as a platform for all Saudi nationals working with the retailer to accelerate their growth within the company, and inspire talented individuals to pursue a long-term career in the retail business. The selection of the candidates RLP will be completed in two different phases and is completely based on experiential learning where in each employee will shadow an existing manager. The first phase will focus on store retail roles, and the second phase will coach trainees on senior retail roles and key support functions. After completing the program, trainees who are the most equipped for the role will be given promotional priorities, along with suitable compensation. — SG
