In this next installment in our Leadership Perspectives video interview series, Heidrick & Struggles’ Tom Clarke speaks to Amal Dokhan, managing partner for the Middle East and North Africa at 500 Global, a venture capital firm founded in 2010 that invests early in founders building fast-growing technology companies. Dokhan, who was named one of Forbes Middle East “100 Most Powerful Businesswomen 2025,” shares what attracted her to the venture capital space as well as what makes Saudi Arabia a top destination for venture capital investments. She also discusses the challenges she foresees for the next five years and how companies can best prepare to tackle them successfully; where she sees leadership gaps in the current competitive and dynamic business environment; the critical skill sets or capabilities that the next generation of founders and leaders must now acquire in order to be successful; and how corporate governance can be improved as firms prepare for IPOs. Finally, she shares her insights on the challenges and opportunities for female leaders in the venture capital space.

About the interviewer

Tom Clarke (tclarke@heidrick.com) is a partner in Heidrick & Struggles’ Dubai office and a member of the global Technology & Services, Technology Officers, and Digital Officers practices.