At a time when female Gulf nationals are increasingly making their mark in the regional business world, heads turn to pioneer Nahed Taher, who is the founder and chief executive officer of Gulf One Investment Bank, as an example of how to reach the highest rung of the corporate ladder in heels.
She is one of four Arab women to be recognized by Forbes magazine as one of the top 100 most influential women in the world. Dr Taher is now a prominent figure in the local financial scene with many published articles on regional economics and trade.
She began her studies at the King Abdulaziz University in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia and cemented her interest in the field of economics and business by attending the Lancaster University Management School in the UK to obtain a masters degree and eventually a doctorate in economics in 2001.
Upon completion of her studies, she returned to Saudi Arabia to hold the position of senior economist at the National Commercial Bank in Saudi Arabia for three years, where she was the only woman employed at the bank among 4000 male coworkers.
By the end of 2005, Dr Taher had moved on to found Gulf One Investment Bank, making her the first female chief executive officer of a financial institution in the region. In her professional capacity, she was responsible for transactions such as the launch of the $10 billion private equity fund that earned her the nickname ‘Desert Rose’ by Forbes magazine. She remains a main proponent of economic reform and liberalization in Saudi Arabia.
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