From Dalni Business Center to the Royal Commission for AlUla, and on to leading digital transformation at Avalon Pharma — a career that has touched every part of human capital.
A seasoned professional with more than 17 years developing and delivering innovative HR strategies. I have led digital transformation initiatives in several of Saudi Arabia's leading institutions, building cultures that motivate people and lifting organisational performance.
An employee is not a line in the budget. Managed well, people are the highest-returning asset an organisation owns.
Every riyal spent on people should have its return measured, exactly like any other investment.
Before any plan: turnover, cost-to-hire, cycle time. Numbers first, opinions second.
A project succeeds when the system keeps running after it ends — owned and improved by an internal team.
Leading the full digitisation of HR operations and talent systems.
Tying human capital plans to the organisation's goals and indicators.
Attracting, developing and retaining capability at regional scale.
Leading organisational change and building a high-performance culture.
From airline recruitment to leading human capital in the pharmaceutical sector.
Director of Human Capital & Global Partnerships
Leading digital transformation, developing company culture, and building the human capital and global partnerships strategy.
Nov 2023 — Present
Director of Community Engagement & Partnerships
Developed the social development strategy and built strategic partnerships with government bodies and local entities.
Feb 2022 — Nov 2023
Partnerships & Development Manager
Secured major institutional partnerships supporting the SME initiative and widening access to its programmes.
Sep 2021 — Feb 2022
HR Partnerships & Development Manager
Reviewed every HR policy and secured more than 30 strategic partnerships to support talent attraction.
Aug 2018 — Jul 2021
Executive Operations Development Manager
Designed and delivered an organisational growth plan and aligned the people strategy with business goals.
Apr 2015 — Nov 2015
Business Development Manager
Executive search for senior and confidential roles, representing new groups in their organisational strategies.
Jul 2013 — Oct 2014
Head of Talent Acquisition
Led the recruitment of more than 300 technical and professional experts to support rapid growth.
May 2011 — Jun 2013
HR & Development Manager
Built the HR department from the ground up, with its policies, procedures and recruitment frameworks.
Oct 2008 — Dec 2011
Recruitment & Training
Led cabin-crew recruitment campaigns and built a full onboarding programme for new joiners.
May 2008 — Dec 2008
The best is next.
Get in touchStrategic planning Performance management Digital transformation Talent management Organisational development Change management Succession planning Learning & development Government relations Project management Data analysis Executive leadership
Qualifications from Harvard, CCL and Virginia, and accredited professional certifications.
Leadership & Coaching Programme — with Avalon Pharma
Mastering Negotiation
2021
Intensive programme — Organisational Leadership (Paris)
2023
Mini MBA — Marketing & Sales
Diploma in Education — Quality & Excellence Management
BA, English Literature
Diploma in Quality & Excellence Management
Professional HR Diploma
Strategic HR Development
Project Management Professional (PMP)
Gulf International Board for Quality
July 2024
GPMF Capability Series
Global Project Management Forum — Riyadh
September 2026
Certified in Labour, Workers & Immigration Law
United Arab Emirates
Leading Transformation: Manage Change
Macquarie University
November 2023
Leadership Development Program
Center for Creative Leadership
May 2023
Certificate of Appreciation
Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development
October 2023
Certificate of Thanks & Appreciation
AlUla Social Development Center
2024
HC AI Intelligence and Analytics Accelerator
Blue Ocean Academy — with Avalon Pharma
2026
Talks and interviews on human capital and digital transformation in institutions.
Short answers to what people ask most about her: who she is, where she works, her expertise and credentials.
Lamia Baradah is a Saudi human capital leader based in Riyadh. Since November 2023 she has been Director of Human Capital & Global Partnerships at Avalon Pharma. She has 17 years of experience leading human capital inside Saudi government, banking and pharmaceutical institutions, and writes about HR digital transformation, performance and talent in the Saudi market.
I write every week about human capital in Saudi Arabia: what works, and what is talked about more than it is practised.
A new article every week
from inside the Saudi market
