Creating Impact Through Active Interaction

The Ministry of Education organized a Strategic Leadership Program led by Dr. Amer Al Rawas, designed to equip top leaders with the skills needed to navigate today’s fast-changing environment. The three-day program focused on three core themes: leadership resilience, strategic leadership fundamentals, and leading change effectively. Participants explored how to build self-awareness and emotional intelligence, strengthen resilience to adapt to disruption, and apply strategic frameworks to create value in an era shaped by artificial intelligence and digital transformation. Drawing on the RBL Leadership Code®, the program helped leaders identify critical leadership gaps and develop the competencies required to drive sustainable performance. Practical tools, such as the “pilot checklist” for change, provided participants with clear methods to inspire teams, manage complexity, and lead transformation with confidence. The program’s key message was that leadership today is no longer about traditional management. It is about cultivating resilience, emotional intelligence, and strategic foresight to guide institutions toward growth and long-term impact.

Dr. Amer Al Rawas delivered a powerful session on “Leveraging AI in Leadership Development”, showing how artificial intelligence is transforming the way leaders grow and organizations succeed. He outlined the challenges of the AI era and explained how AI provides deeper insights, creates personalized growth pathways, and sharpens decision-making. Drawing on global examples such as IBM Watson Talent, he highlighted how AI is already reshaping leadership development. His central message was clear: every AI transformation begins with leadership. Leaders must combine technology with emotional intelligence and take full ownership of ethical choices. The session concluded with a forward-looking perspective, emphasizing that ethical AI builds trust and resilience, and that leaders who embrace both innovation and responsibility will drive sustainable success.

Al Azm Institute organized a workshop on “Emotional Leadership in the Workplace” led by Dr. Amer Al Rawas. The session highlighted that while IQ accounts for only a fraction of success, emotional intelligence determines up to 80 percent of performance in business and leadership. Through engaging discussions, participants explored the core elements of emotional intelligence including self-awareness, empathy, trust, and emotional regulation. Dr. Rawas emphasized how these skills help leaders connect with their teams, manage relationships effectively, and inspire collaboration. Supported by global research, the workshop also shed light on the role of diversity, inclusion, and gender strengths in emotional leadership. The key message was clear: leaders who strengthen their emotional intelligence build environments of safety, belonging, and dignity, which in turn drive engagement, innovation, and long-term organizational success.

Dr. Rawas conducted a series of "Forge Your Fire" leadership workshops for the Royal Flight of Oman (RFO). These workshops supported RFO's ongoing efforts to develop a strong leadership team capable of driving strategic goals and shaping the organization's future. The curriculum focused on enhancing leadership capabilities, improving individual and team performance, and developing a shared understanding of key competencies and skills. Through story-based sessions, participants explored essential leadership skills, leading through change, emotional intelligence, effective team management, impactful communication, maximizing meeting outcomes, and adopting agility in business practices. The training was tailored specifically to RFO's needs, ensuring practical and actionable outcomes for its leadership team.

Dr. Rawas was the keynote speaker at Daleel Petroleum's town hall event, delivering a presentation titled "Emotional Intelligence: Enhancing Personal & Organizational Performance." He explored the crucial role of emotional intelligence (EQ) in both individual and collective success. Dr. Rawas explained how understanding and managing one's own emotions, as well as empathizing with and influencing others, are fundamental to effective leadership and teamwork. He highlighted the connection between EQ and improved communication, stronger relationships, and increased resilience in the workplace. The presentation also covered practical strategies for developing EQ skills, such as self-awareness, self-regulation, motivation, empathy, and social skills.

Dr. Rawas led three workshops at PDO, each tailored to a distinct audience, with the goal of enhancing performance and fostering a mindset shift. The first workshop, focused on emotional intelligence (EI), explored why this skill is increasingly essential in the era of AI. It offered valuable insights into how EI can be applied effectively in both personal and professional contexts. The second workshop delved into agility, sharing compelling stories that underscored its critical role in navigating a world marked by political uncertainty, technological advancements, social and cultural shifts, and economic changes. Participants gained a deeper understanding of the enablers of agility and its various dimensions within an organization. The final session, Turning the Tide, centered on effective change management. It equipped leaders with practical tools to stay ahead of change and take proactive steps to drive transformation within their teams and organizations.

Dr. Amer Al Rawas, in his intervention during an event attended by top government officials and officers, explained key concepts related to digital transformation, emphasizing its role in improving decision and service quality, increasing productivity and efficiency, fostering innovation, and enhancing transparency and accountability. He stressed that artificial intelligence cannot exist without digital transformation and highlighted the significant benefits of early adoption of AI for Oman and its people, including driving economic growth, improving public services, enhancing global competitiveness, addressing national challenges such as food security and unemployment, managing resources effectively, and attracting investments. Dr. Rawas also underscored the importance of aligning AI initiatives with Vision 2040 goals, building national expertise in the field, and adopting flexible approaches to adapt quickly to technological advancements, emphasizing the urgency of taking action in a rapidly changing world that will not wait for us.

During an event titled the Ethics of AI, Dr. Rawas highlighted the unique challenges leaders face in today’s rapidly evolving AI landscape. He emphasized that leaders play a critical role in embracing AI responsibly, with a strong commitment to ethical principles at the core of their mission. Dr. Rawas underscored the importance of establishing ethical frameworks within companies to navigate AI’s complexities and mitigate associated risks, offering guidance on how best to create policies that safeguard both technological advancement and ethical integrity.

Dr. Rawas addressed an audience of current and emerging leaders, delivering valuable insights on the distinct nature of transformational leadership as a unique discipline within the broader field of leadership. He explored the specific qualities that set transformational leaders apart, including their ability to inspire change, foster innovation, and motivate teams toward a shared vision. Dr. Rawas emphasized how transformational leaders not only drive meaningful, lasting improvements within their organizations but also positively influence the well-being and growth of their stakeholders. His discussion highlighted the profound impact these leaders have on shaping a company’s present and future trajectory, creating a legacy that extends beyond immediate business goals.