BRINGING TRANSFORMATION TO THE DESERT: NOURAH ABUALSAUD’S SUSTAINABILITY JOURNEY IN SAUDI ARABIA

When Nourah Abualsaud, MA in Sustainability ’15, originally came to the United States as an international student, her career path was on a completely different track than the one she navigates today in the world of business. She held dreams of studying film and was thrilled when she was accepted to the New York Film Academy in Los Angeles. 

“English is not my first language,” she explains. “So while I was in school, my program gave books to those of us who wanted to improve our English language skills.” 

Completely unrelated to her field of study, Abualsaud was gifted The Ecology of Commerce: A Declaration of Sustainability authored by Paul Hawken. Described as provocative, it explores the necessity of merging good business practices with sustainability. 

“I did not have any background in sustainability and was unfamiliar with the broader environmental challenges we face. But when I read this book, it painted a portrait of how organizations are hurting the environment and having a negative impact on our world,” she said.  

It sparked an interest in Abualsaud, who came from a country where sustainability was still a new and emerging concept. “There is not much green in the desert!” she laughed. “But that book really had a ripple effect on my life. It referenced some other books to read, and I began learning and researching more about sustainability which then led me to search for programs focused on sustainability.” 

Charting a Path at HPU 

After learning about HPU’s Master of Arts in Sustainability, she knew the program was the right fit for her. “It’s been quite a journey to go from Saudi to Hawai‘i but I’m really happy,” she said. “I feel like the program made me more purposeful in life and is helping me to give back to the world that we as a global society are destroying, whether that is intentionally or unintentionally.” 

Abualsaud describes her time at HPU as transformative both personally and professionally, an experience anchored by the lessons she learned from Associate Professor of Environmental Science, Regina Ostergaard-Klem, Ph.D. 

“She taught me there is room for alternative ways of thinking or doing things. Critical thinking and questioning the status quo is not always welcomed,” Abualsaud said. “But in her class, I experienced a mindset shift and became more comfortable asking questions or challenging the way we’ve always done things.” 

Another highlight for her in the program was the acceptance she felt from her fellow classmates and peers. “We learned a lot from each other. Hawaiians are so in love and connected with the natural world around them. Their devotion to the environment made me more passionate about pursuing a career in sustainability.” 

 

Exploring Sustainable Opportunities in Saudi Arabia 

Following graduation, Abualsaud remained on island and worked with different organizations. In 2018, she relocated back to Saudi Arabia and accepted a role with a government entity focused on environmental protection. The position was more managerial and less technical, so after a year, she took a job with one of the Big Four consultancy firms in Riyadh in their climate change and sustainability services line where she supported clients on sustainability strategy, reporting, and stakeholder engagement. 

“It was really insightful for me because I learned a great deal about the real world application of sustainability,” she said. “I gained a greater understanding of how companies incorporate sustainability into their day-to-day operations.” 

After working as a consultant, an experience she encourages “everyone to work in for a few years because it gives you a quick understanding of any industry,” Abualsaud joined Red Sea Global, a real estate developer that is pioneering regenerative tourism, going beyond sustainability to have a positive impact. 

“As part of the sustainability performance team, we ensure that sustainability is embedded throughout the company,” she explained. 

Advocating for a More Conscious Mindset 

The work is fascinating, but Abualsaud says it comes with a unique set of challenges. “People want to do what they’ve learned which is to do business as usual, within a specific timeline and with a set budget. But sustainability doesn’t operate that way,” she commented. 

Much of what she does on a daily basis is to search for out-of-the-box or unconventional ways of accomplishing the same overall task or goal but using the core principles of sustainability. It involves a lot of discussions, generating awareness about alternative solutions and encouraging a lot of understanding. “I spend a lot of time persuading others,” she laughed. 

But in the end, she feels it’s worth it. “I try to make my colleagues and our clients see what we are trying to do can actually benefit them. Sustainability does not deliver a short term gain, but it will have a huge impact on everyone in the long run.” 

And with the implementation of major international agreements and rapidly evolving reporting standards, businesses will need to adopt sustainability measures into their corporate strategies or fear being left behind. “It’s becoming more mandatory and less voluntary,” Abualsaud explained. 

She advises students and aspiring professionals in the field to be prepared and understand all aspects of sustainability; however, she encourages specialization, particularly in its technical niches, to set themselves up for success. 

“I think it’s important to have really deep knowledge on one issue, whether it’s waste or energy efficiency or renewable energy, so that you can be the expert in your organization that people can turn to as leadership looks to shift from a traditional mindset and create a new sustainable framework to operate within. Of course, it’s important to be able to see the big picture, but I’ve seen people be really successful in this career field by having a specialty.” 

As the sustainability movement becomes more embedded in every single area of business, it is professionals such as Nourah Abualsaud who will affect greater change. Armed with the knowledge and skills she obtained from HPU, she is impacting the green initiatives that have taken root in the desert landscape and will certainly flourish with a new, conscious mindset.