Riyadh Alhabshan: from new challenges to legal leadership

Riyadh is now general manager at solutions by stc, after climbing the ranks through senior legal and leadership roles at Siemens and Saudi Telecom Company. His journey from struggling with English in Sydney to managing major contracts in Saudi Arabia shows how determination and collaboration open doors.

Determination is paramount if you want to achieve your goals.

When Riyadh Alhabshan first arrived in Sydney in 2008, he barely spoke a word of English. It was a huge challenge for the young Saudi lawyer, who had never been outside his home country except as a baby in America.

“It was shocking and a little bit scary at the beginning,” Riyadh recalls. But joining UTS College for English language and cultural classes helped him settle in. More than language skills, those early days introduced him to a diverse community and an Australian way of learning that emphasised collaboration.

Within a year, Riyadh was enrolled in a Master of International Law at UTS. His studies involved attending court hearings, writing reports, conducting case law research, and giving presentations.

“Everyone was super-friendly and helpful,” he says. “I met people from all over the world — different countries and backgrounds. That was an education within an education. It was really invigorating!”

Riyadh admits the workload was heavy and sometimes overwhelming. But he emphasises how important determination was to push through the tough moments.

The best lessons often come from stepping into the unknown.

After graduating, Riyadh returned to Saudi Arabia and spent almost five years with Saudi Telecom Company and Al Rajhi Bank as a legal advisor. His experience there paved the way to a significant role at Siemens.

He joined Siemens’ legal team in 2016, first as a commercial lawyer, then legal department manager. There, he helped manage legal risks for the company’s growing operations in the Kingdom, gaining experience across diverse business areas.

Since August 2020, Riyadh has held key leadership roles at solutions by stc. He started as director of contracts and legal affairs before becoming general manager in August 2022.

“I like this organisation,” he says. “It gives me a variety of work. It’s diverse and operates globally. Maybe in ten years, I’ll be somewhere else but in a more senior position.”

In October 2024, Riyadh also became a board member at Amana Tech in Jeddah, further expanding his leadership footprint in the tech sector.

Riyadh’s advice to students is simple: embrace uncertainty. “Determination is paramount if you want to achieve your goals,” he says. “You just get through it in time. The best lessons often come from stepping into the unknown.”

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