Enjoy the journey.
Tareq Alangari
PROGRAM: IMBA
GRADUATION YEAR: 2013
CURRENT LOCATION: Saudi Arabia
ABOUT TAREQ:
Tareq Alangari, currently is the CEO of Etisalat Digital Saudi Arabia, a subsidiary of Etisalat Group focusing on the acceleration of the digital transformation of Saudi Arabia.
Tareq enjoys more than 20 years of experience in business development, corporate start-ups, corporate governance, strategic planning, and execution, in addition to his awards in investors relations best practices.
In addition to his current role with Etisalat, Tareq is a Board and an EXCOM Member of Leejam sports company, he is also the Chairman of the Audit Committee and Board Member at Tabuk Cement Co., parallel to his supervision of the operations of IE Business School in Saudi Arabia. Previously, he chaired the board of Mobily Ventures and was a member of the NRC committee of FIPCO.
Tareq holds an MBA from IE Business School in Madrid, a Bachelor in Business Marketing from King Fahad University of Petroleum and Minerals, a Diploma in Corporate Banking, and currently he is finishing his Executive Master in Change from Insead.
Q&A WITH TAREQ
Define your experience in the IMBA in one word.
Transformative
What were some of the main challenges that you encountered on your way? How did your master program and IE help you through these challenges?
Working under pressure and managing time. While doing my MBA, I had my family with two daughters in Madrid with me. On top of the MBA workload and family, I started the Saudi Club, organised a visit to Saudi, worked on a start-up, and managed maximising my learning academically and socially. I travelled around Spain and abroad with my classmates and also with my family.
The soft skills I learned during the MBA, allowed me to do that and maximise my experience in Madrid. These learnings helped me add value now in multiple sectors at the same time in my current career.
How did your experience at IE prepare you for your professional career? In what ways do you think program has changed your life professionally and personally?
The non-academic aspects of the program, the Career Management center during my time was a great support. The career coaching sessions with Daniel Porot added a lot of value to me post graduation. I am still using these tools till now.
What was networking like in the program?
The networking was enriching and diverse. In addition to the career networking, I made connections throughout multiple industries all over the world.
IE allowed me to have life-long friendships. I travelled to several weddings around the globe and visited many alumni in their hometowns.
What was your favorite memory from your time at IE?
There are many. What comes to mind now was the Saudi visit I organized for the President of IE University to attend the Saudi Embassy with the IE Saudi Club. The attendees were able to meet Saudi ambassador for the first time.
The work on the graduation project at venture lab was an amazing experience I can’t forget.
Why did you choose to study this program at IE?
I feel I share the same values with the school, the passion for Diversity, entrepreneurship, and of course Madrid.
What is one thing you wished you knew, when you were a student? What advice would you give to students who are about to begin the program?
Enjoy the journey, focus on the learning not the grades only.
Tell us about the IE alumni community and the impact they have had in your life and/or career. Why do you think it’s important to engage with the IE alumni community?
My time at IE gave me friends for life in multiple places around the word. We are still in contact and meet over multiple occasions.
In Saudi, the alumni community grew a lot. Became a talent pool and a place to mentor and to make a difference too.
As one of the contributors towards the Illuminated Bricks campaign, how does it feel?
The overwhelming feeling is a feeling of gratitude for being able to extend a hand to help someone who could make a difference in the world.
What made you decide to give this gift?
Two main reasons, first the stories of the people who are going to benefit from it. Second, the memory that will have my name in the IE Tower. I am sure this will make an impact over others to do the same.
In your opinion, why is it important to give back? Why does this cause matter to you?
It’s simply a value I grew up with. In my country and my family. Giving back is a basic duty.
What can we do within our IE Community to create an impact and support education?
Stay innovative, stay agile and keep growing.
What would you tell someone who was thinking about contributing?
Think about the impact a small contribution can make.
If you had a billboard you could display to the entire world, what you would put on it?
Enjoy the journey.