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 school 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 group of leaders brings valuable experience, strategic perspective, and deep commitment to the school’s mission and to the Vision 2030. Their inspiring support enhances our governance, strengthens institutional performance, and supports the school in continuing to contribute to the achievement of the Kingdom’s 2030 Vision, while advancing our mission of developing capable, principled leaders who are equipped with advanced education and prepared to drive impact.
We were equally proud to receive full institutional accreditation from the Education and Training Evaluation Commission (NCAAA). 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 school. It was my privilege to share the current direction of MBSC 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.
A further success story involving one of our alumni community is the case on Labayh, founded by Basim Albeladi, Class of 2020. Labayh is a mental health platform based in Saudi Arabia, which is expanding in the Middle Eastern region. The case was written by our Case Center manager Doris John, and it won first prize at The Case Hub’s 2025 Case Competition.
Academically, this has been a year of continued growth and accomplishment. Our faculty strengthened the school’s research output, with one notable highlight being Dr. Timofey Shalpegin’s recent FT50 journal publication, “Generative AI and Empirical Research Methods Operations Management” in the Journal of Operations Management. 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.
April 2025 marked a proud milestone as we graduated the largest class in MBSC history, with 476 graduates across our EMBA, MiM and MiF 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.
In addition, 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 third edition of an 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.
In August 2025 MBSC held the latest edition of Summer@Babson in Wellesley, Massachusetts, where 162 MBSC Master 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.
Our momentum continued into the fall with the largest incoming class in the history of MBSC: seven EMBA classes, five MiM classes, and one MiF class, operating in both KAEC and Riyadh, totaling 874 new students. This year also saw the growth of our global academic offerings through two iterations of an immersive elective course 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.
Throughout 2025, 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 startups, 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 and sustainability.
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 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 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 appreciation. Your achievements, your engagement, and your continued commitment to the school 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
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 school 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 group of leaders brings valuable experience, strategic perspective, and deep commitment to the school’s mission and to the Vision 2030. Their inspiring support enhances our governance, strengthens institutional performance, and supports the school in continuing to contribute to the achievement of the Kingdom’s 2030 Vision, while advancing our mission of developing capable, principled leaders who are equipped with advanced education and prepared to drive impact.
We were equally proud to receive full institutional accreditation from the Education and Training Evaluation Commission (NCAAA). 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 school. It was my privilege to share the current direction of MBSC 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.
A further success story involving one of our alumni community is the case on Labayh, founded by Basim Albeladi, Class of 2020. Labayh is a mental health platform based in Saudi Arabia, which is expanding in the Middle Eastern region. The case was written by our Case Center manager Doris John, and it won first prize at The Case Hub’s 2025 Case Competition.
Academically, this has been a year of continued growth and accomplishment. Our faculty strengthened the school’s research output, with one notable highlight being Dr. Timofey Shalpegin’s recent FT50 journal publication, “Generative AI and Empirical Research Methods Operations Management” in the Journal of Operations Management. 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.
April 2025 marked a proud milestone as we graduated the largest class in MBSC history, with 476 graduates across our EMBA, MiM and MiF 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.
In addition, 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 third edition of an 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.
In August 2025 MBSC held the latest edition of Summer@Babson in Wellesley, Massachusetts, where 162 MBSC Master 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.
Throughout 2025, 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 startups, 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 and sustainability.
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 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 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 appreciation. Your achievements, your engagement, and your continued commitment to the school 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
