Wednesday 08 / April / 2026
Muscat: The Royal Academy of Management (RAM) concluded the Leadership for Startups Programme. Delivered in collaboration with The Rising Omani Startups Programme, the bespoke initiative focused on empowering eighteen executive leaders in Omani innovation- and technology-driven startups to scale effectively and contribute to socio-economic impact.
The closing ceremony was held under the auspices of Sultan Salim Al Habsi, Minister of Finance. It was attended by a number of officials, specialists and entrepreneurs.
Delivering on RAM’s mandate to ring national leaders who create socio-economic impact, the Leadership for Startups Programme provided participants with innovative leadership tools and techniques. This helps them access broader growth opportunities and enhances their regional and global competitiveness, in line with national efforts to promote economic diversification and sustainable growth.
Dr. Fathiya Al Rashdi, RAM’s Vice-President of Programmes, said, “Evidenced by strong engagement and practical outcomes, the Leadership for Startups Programme showcased the readiness of Omani entrepreneurs to expand into regional and international markets while balancing a global vision with local execution. In collaboration with The Rising Omani Startups Programme, we aimed to deliver a deeply experiential journey combining theoretical expertise with practical application and cutting-edge tools to foster a flexible and efficient leadership ecosystem capable of driving sustainable growth.”
She added, “At the Royal Academy of Management, we believe that investing in young national leaders, including entrepreneurs, is a key driver for Oman’s transition to a competitive knowledge-based economy that is fueled by innovation. With this programme, we aimed to create a sustainable institutional and societal impact by enabling participants to drive significant and meaningful business growth and strengthen the presence of Omani brands in regional and international markets.”
Eighteen founders and executive leaders from Omani startups completed the comprehensive and experiential six-month learning journey featuring interactive workshops, real-life case studies, in-depth dialogues with leading local and international experts, and direct mentorship and applied projects aligned with participants’ business realities. The programme included four core modules: strategic leadership, financial planning, growth and expansion management, and human capital management, enhancing participants’ expansion readiness, enabling them to develop sustainable growth strategies and build effective relationships with potential investors and partners.
The programme included international field visits to global accelerators and business incubators, alongside meetings with experts and startup CEOs to explore best practices and gain leadership insight supporting business growth and expansion.
At the conclusion of the Leadership for Startups Programme, participants presented their applied projects, showcasing actionable strategic expansion plans that reflected their gained leadership skills and knowledge, while strengthening their companies’ competitiveness and readiness to attract investment.
Many participants highlighted the measurable impact of the transformative learning experience. Moosa Mohammed Al Hadrami, CEO of Eknan Technology, noted that the Leadership for Startups Programme effectively blended leadership and entrepreneurship concepts, directly influencing his company’s growth plans and decision-making efficiency, and he praised the quality of expertise and continued mentor engagement.
Dr. Omar Mohammed Al Rasbi, CEO of Raqmana, described the programme as a distinctive developmental journey that refined leadership skills and provided modern strategic tools, creating a solid foundation for professional goals and enhancing contributions to the national economy.
Eng. Waleed Mohammed Al Maawali, Executive Director of iLab Marine, said the programme deepened his understanding of international expansion strategies and institutional culture building, supporting him in developing expansion plans, identifying growth opportunities, and improving readiness to enter new markets.
The Leadership for Startups Programme forms part of RAM’s ongoing efforts to support the entrepreneurship ecosystem and strengthen the role of startups in the national economy, in line with Oman Vision 2040 objectives for a competitive, diversified, knowledge-based, and innovation-driven economy.
RAM continues to design and deliver bespoke initiatives and programmes through a strategic approach, empowering leaders across levels and sectors and enhancing their capabilities to contribute to sustainable organisational and socio-economic impact.
