Thunderbird Executive Education partners with Xenel in Saudi Arabia

Thunderbird, in partnership with the Xenel Group, has delivered the first three modules of an executive development pilot program for middle and upper-level managers in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.

The program began in March and covered strategy, finance, marketing and leadership. It mixed classroom instruction and Saudi-based case analyses with hands-on involvement in real-world projects. The modules jointly blend the best of current academic research with a detailed knowledge of the Saudi Arabian operating environment.

The role of professional development is shifting, according to Dr. Ahmed Gabbani, Xenel's executive education director and one of those responsible for bringing Thunderbird and Xenel together.

"In the past, its focus was to provide managers with management knowledge and prepare them for promotion, and it was also used for reward and recognition," he said. "Today it is about moving it up a level in terms of business outcomes. As we all know, staying competitive in the global marketplace demands new skills and approaches to business."