Saudi Arabia is going through a period of rapid economic and social transformation, with women playing an increasingly important role across the Kingdom’s growing range of industries.

To explore that shift, Franklin Templeton launched Women of Progress, a four-part series highlighting the stories of four Saudi women working across very different fields: mountaineering, aerospace, motorsport and art.

We were fortunate to speak with Balaaji Vaidyanathan, Director – Marketing for CEEMEA from Franklin Templeton’s leadership to better understand why these stories matter, how women’s talent is contributing to Saudi Arabia’s next phase of growth, and what their journeys can inspire in the generation coming next.

Why is it important for Franklin Templeton to tell these stories now?

Saudi Arabia is experiencing an extraordinary period of ambition and economic transformation, and the people bringing that transformation to life are a huge part of the story.

Women of Progress was created to put a human face on that progress through four women whose achievements span completely different worlds. Raha Moharrak took on Everest, Mishaal Ashemimry turned her childhood fascination with the stars into a career in aerospace and her own rocket company, Orjwan Ammar found her place behind the wheel of a rally car, and Lulwah Al-Homoud has taken Saudi artistic expression to global audiences while creating opportunities for emerging artists.

Their journeys are different, but they share a strong sense of possibility. Together, they reflect how ambition is finding opportunities across an increasingly diverse range of fields as Saudi Arabia continues to diversify and develop new capabilities under Vision 2030.

How do you see women’s talent shaping Saudi Arabia’s next phase of growth?

Women are playing an increasingly prominent role in shaping the Kingdom’s future, contributing their expertise and ideas across financial services, technology, entrepreneurship, science, tourism, sport and the creative economy.

What is particularly exciting is the multiplier effect. As more women build careers, lead organizations, establish businesses and develop expertise, they create opportunities for others too. Entrepreneurs create jobs, leaders develop other leaders, and artists can create platforms for emerging talent.

That wider impact was clear throughout Women of Progress. The achievements of the four women are remarkable individually, but their ability to show others what is possible is equally important.

That is how individual achievement becomes collective progress.

What might global audiences misunderstand about the opportunities available to Saudi women today?

Global audiences may not always see the full breadth of sectors in which Saudi women are building careers today.

The four women featured in Women of Progress offer a glimpse of that diversity, from aerospace and motorsport to mountaineering and contemporary art. Beyond them, Saudi women are contributing across business, finance, science, technology, entrepreneurship, culture and sport.

That is why storytelling matters. Statistics can show the scale of change, but individual stories bring that change to life.

Mishaal’s journey, for example, began with looking at the stars as a six-year-old in Unayzah before leading her into aerospace engineering and eventually establishing her own rocket company. Orjwan’s achievements in rally racing offer another perspective on the ambition emerging across the Kingdom.

These stories give global audiences a richer understanding of the talent, energy and possibility within Saudi Arabia today.

What qualities connect the women featured?

Their fields may be completely different, but their stories share several qualities: curiosity, courage, resilience, and self-belief.

There is also a willingness to invest in themselves. Behind every visible achievement, whether it is reaching a summit, building a company, winning a race or presenting an exhibition, are years of learning, preparation, and persistence.

For the next generation, the message is simple: invest in your abilities, stay curious, pursue ambitious goals and be willing to put in the work to turn possibility into achievement.

And when that achievement comes, create opportunities for others to follow.

How does supporting Saudi female talent fit into Franklin Templeton’s broader view of the Kingdom?

For Franklin Templeton, there is a natural connection between talent, opportunity, and long-term economic progress.

With more than 75 years of investment experience, the company understands the importance of recognizing potential and helping it grow. The same principle applies to human capital. As Saudi Arabia develops new industries and diversifies its economy, investing in skills, knowledge and talent will be critical to sustaining that growth.

That is where Women of Progress connects with Franklin Templeton’s wider work in the Kingdom.

While Women of Progress celebrates women already demonstrating what is possible, HeadStart, developed in collaboration with Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University, focuses on the next generation. The initiative gives female students theoretical and practical knowledge of the financial services industry, alongside mentorship and hands-on co-op experience with partner organizations.

The two initiatives represent different sides of the same idea: one creates possibility through storytelling, while the other helps turn that possibility into knowledge, experience and opportunity.

How can companies help turn women’s participation into long-term opportunities?

The next step is moving from participation to progression.

Companies can help create pathways that allow talent to develop expertise, expertise in leadership, and leadership into opportunities for others. That means supporting the entire talent journey, from education and exposure to employment, professional development, mentorship, leadership, and entrepreneurship.

Partnership is important. Universities, businesses, government institutions, investors and entrepreneurs all bring different capabilities, and bringing them together can create a much greater impact.

HeadStart is one example of this approach, connecting young Saudi women with practical skills, mentorship, financial-services experience and a network of local and global partners.

Ultimately, the goal is bigger than participation. It is about enabling women to become leaders, entrepreneurs and investors who can build businesses, create jobs, allocate capital and develop other leaders.

That is where individual opportunities can become an economic multiplier.

Looking ahead

Saudi Arabia’s transformation is still unfolding, and the stories being told today are only part of what comes next.

For Franklin Templeton, supporting women means more than celebrating individual achievements. It means recognizing the role talent can play in building a stronger, more diverse economy and creating opportunities that extend beyond one generation.

The women featured in Women of Progress have taken very different paths, but their stories share one powerful idea: possibility grows when people are given the opportunity to pursue it.

As Saudi Arabia enters its next phase of growth, that expanding sense of possibility, and the talent behind it, will be an important part of shaping what comes next.