Dear Members of the MBSC Alumni Community,
As we reflect on this past year, I am honored to share the MBSC 2025 Year in Review. It is a record of our collective progress, a testament to our shared purpose, and a reflection of the extraordinary spirit that defines our college. Throughout 2025, MBSC advanced with clarity, ambition, and determination. We remain guided by our commitment to excellence and driven by the belief of those who support our mission. Today, MBSC stands at a moment of growth, strengthened by its community and inspired by the achievements of its alumni.
This year began with a historic milestone: the inauguration of a newly constituted Board of Trustees during our tenth Board meeting at KAEC. This distinguished body of leaders brings unmatched experience, strategic perspective, and deep commitment to the college’s mission and to the vision of the nation. Their inspiring guidance enhances our governance, strengthens institutional performance, and supports the college in continuing to contribute to the Kingdom’s vision while advancing our mission of developing capable, principled leaders who are equipped with advanced education and prepared to drive impact. This leadership focus stands alongside our commitment to expanding the entrepreneurship and innovation ecosystem. We are proud to once again present the composition of our Board.
We were equally proud to receive full institutional accreditation from the National Center for Academic Accreditation and Evaluation. This achievement affirms our academic standards, operational maturity, and dedication to continuous advancement. It is the result of many years of focused work by our faculty and staff and positions MBSC for greater global presence, stronger partnerships, and sustained development aligned with national priorities.
A highlight of the year came on 5 February 2025 in Riyadh, where we welcomed alumni representing nearly every graduating class since the founding of the college. The event served not only as a reunion, but as a meaningful reaffirmation of the bonds that unite the MBSC community. It was my privilege to share the current direction of the college and to engage in open dialogue with our graduates, continuing a tradition of honest exchange and mutual learning. The evening concluded with the presentation of the inaugural Exemplary Business Leader Award to two distinguished alumni from the Class of 2019, Mr. Rayan Alsharif and Mr. Ahmed Mirghani, the founders of BIM Ventures. Their entrepreneurial achievements, national contributions, and values-driven leadership embody the ideals we strive to cultivate at MBSC.
Academically, this has been a year of continued growth and accomplishment. Our faculty strengthened the college’s research output, contributing to scholarly dialogue across multiple business disciplines. We also welcomed new faculty members whose expertise enriches our academic offerings and reinforces MBSC’s position as a center of practice-driven instruction, research excellence, and thought leadership in management, finance, innovation, and entrepreneurship. MBSC was also recognized and awarded with the “Best Gender Inclusive Company” award at the MENA Women Leaders’ Summit.
April 2025 marked a proud milestone as we graduated the largest class in MBSC history, with 476 graduates across our MiM, MiF, and EMBA programs. This represents a 44 percent increase over the previous year and reflects the increasing demand for MBSC’s educational model. Our graduates continue to make a meaningful impact across sectors, industries, and geographies.
This year also featured the latest edition of Summer at Babson in Wellesley, Massachusetts, where 162 MBSC master’s students were welcomed by Babson President Dr. Stephen Spinelli Jr, Babson Global President and CEO Mr. David Abdow, and distinguished academic leaders, including Ms. Kim Stanhouse, the Director of Babson’s Global Center for Entrepreneurial Leadership. The experience reinforced our commitment to immersive, experiential, and globally contextual learning and further strengthened MBSC’s position as a regional leader in higher education.
MBSC reaffirmed its commitment to lifelong engagement and alumni empowerment through a strategic partnership with Babson’s Global Center for Entrepreneurial Leadership (BGCEL). Together, we launched the exclusive Scale-Up Entrepreneur Bootcamp at Babson College, enabling 40 distinguished alumni to accelerate their ventures and scale their impact. In addition, MBSC and BGCEL collaborated to feature inspiring alumni success stories in the annual Global Entrepreneurship Monitor (GEM) Report, showcasing the transformative power of our community.
Our momentum continued into the fall with the largest incoming class in the history of MBSC: seven EMBA groups, five MiM cohorts, and one MiF cohort, operating in both KAEC and Riyadh, totaling 822 new students. In recognition of exceptional student achievement, we also introduced the Dean’s List, honoring individuals who demonstrate outstanding academic excellence, leadership, and service. This year also saw the expansion of our global academic offerings through the launch of an immersive concentration delivered in Oxford, with intensive learning conducted in August and December. This initiative provides world-class applied learning and international exposure in a truly global environment.
Our alumni played a significant role in elevating the student experience this year. In partnership with our Alumni Relations Office and Career Office, they returned to campus to lead workshops, mentor students, support institutional initiatives, and advance social impact programs. Alumni and student participation in our extra-curricular Cityscape international trips broadened learning beyond the classroom. In Japan, participants visited the Tokyo Stock Exchange, met with innovative startup, and attended a visit to the Royal Embassy of Saudi Arabia in Tokyo, where they met with His Excellency Dr. Ghazi Binzagr, the Kingdom’s Ambassador to Japan and engaged in an insightful dialogue. Our learning expedition to Iceland further expanded perspectives on resilience, sustainability and development, translating academic theory into practical, real-world understanding.
MBSC was also honored to co-host the Harvard Health Systems Innovation Hackathon in Jeddah in collaboration with the Harvard Health Systems Innovation Lab and HMG Habib Medical Group. Led by Dr. Yasir Bhatti and MBSC alumnus, Dr. Abdulrhman Almohammedi, this effort brought together multidisciplinary teams to develop AI-powered solutions in healthcare, integrating clinical insight, systems design, and technological innovation. It stands as a powerful example of applied research that drives societal benefit.
Our students also demonstrated an inspiring commitment to civic responsibility. The Class of 2026 partnered with the Seen Foundation, raising sixty thousand Saudi Riyals to renovate a home for a family in need. This initiative serves as a reminder of what leaders can achieve when compassion meets purpose.
As we look forward, MBSC remains steadfast in advancing digital transformation, expanding international and national collaboration, increasing research productivity, and achieving measurable institutional growth. Central to our long-term vision is our ambition to become the first institution in Saudi Arabia, and the first in the entire Middle East, and African region, to achieve a position in the Financial Times global rankings. This aspiration reflects our confidence in the quality of our institution and the responsibility we hold in representing the Kingdom on the global stage. We are deeply appreciative of our alumni, whose exceptional participation in ranking initiatives has already produced strong engagement and promising results. Their continued involvement is vital on this journey, and we thank them sincerely for their partnership.
Our path ahead is clear. We will elevate academic excellence, strengthen global influence, deepen our ties to industry, and continue to develop leaders who will shape positive change within the Kingdom and beyond.
To every member of the MBSC community, and especially to our alumni, I extend my deepest appreciation. Your achievements, your engagement, and your continued commitment to the college are the strongest indicators of MBSC’s success and its future. It is your leadership that advances our mission and prepares the way for future generations.
With warm regards,
Dr. Zeger Degraeve
Dean, MBSC
