International Professional Certification Preparation
Empowering trainees to successfully obtain professional credentials in Human Resources.
LEADMINDS
About Us
LeadMinds was established to be the leading strategic partner in the training and development sector by creating innovative training solutions that meet the aspirations of individuals and companies. We focus primarily on preparing participants to pass international professional HR certification exams, alongside our specialized programs in management and organizational fields. We are committed to building outstanding professional leaders capable of driving transformation and making a difference in today’s labor market.
Specialized Training ProgramsCreating Impact That Starts with People
LeadMinds was established to be the leading strategic partner in the training and development sector. We deliver innovative training solutions that meet the aspirations of individuals and organizations and contribute to building sustainable capabilities that drive impact and excellence in modern work environments.
We are committed to empowering individuals and organizations to achieve their strategic goals, drive transformation, and make a tangible difference by focusing on the core services that define our work:
Specialized Training Programs
Providing advanced development solutions in Human Resources, management, and organizational development.
Corporate & Government Training Solutions
Programs and solutions tailored to each organization’s needs and objectives.
Training Portfolio Design
Providing advanced development solutions that support organizations’ strategic objectives.
Assessment Centers
Applying advanced assessment tools to measure competencies, identify skill gaps, and support hiring and promotion decisions.
Vision, Mission & Values
To shape and lead minds toward sustainable excellence by transforming potential into capabilities, and capabilities into tangible results, through integrated human capital development solutions.
We invest our global expertise to create sustainable local impact by empowering minds and leading organizational transformation, committed to integrity and excellence in execution to deliver exceptional results for our clients.
Uncompromising Integrity
Uncompromising IntegrityWe operate with absolute transparency and rigorous ethical oversight. We serve as a trusted advisor, prioritizing confidentiality, fairness, and compliance in every professional engagement.
Agility & Resilience
Agility & ResilienceWe adapt swiftly and efficiently to evolving business dynamics, turning challenges into valuable opportunities. By embracing agile practices and innovative solutions, we ensure continued success and sustain long-term impact for our clients in all circumstances.
Excellence in Execution
Excellence in ExecutionEvery initiative we undertake is driven by a rigorous, structured methodology that ensures complete transparency, unwavering accountability, and high-impact, measurable results across all our engagements.
Executive Management Team
Co-Founder
Abdul Elah Al-Ahmadi
Co-Founder | Managing Partner | HR Strategist & Corporate Governance Consultant
SHRM-CPSPHRiHRBP
Years of Experience: 25 years of leadership experience in HR management within the Saudi market
A seasoned executive with extensive experience leading Human Resources and Corporate Governance functions across major Saudi groups and companies, including Al Murjan Holding Group, Goody, STC, and Alhamrani Group. He specializes in organizational design, delegation-of-authority matrices, HR process design, and policies and procedures aligned with global best practices. His experience also includes workplace culture strategy, performance management, and establishing and managing corporate training academies. Known for translating theoretical concepts, regulations, and bylaws into practical tools, he enables organizations to build agile, high-performing, and sustainable work environments.
Co-Founder
Essam Elbanna
Co-Founder | Managing Partner | Lead Consultant & Professional Mentor
SHRM-SCPSHRM-CPSPHRi
Years of Experience: More than 27 years in HR transformation and leadership development
Essam Elbanna is an HR consultant, executive coach, certified assessor, HR certification instructor, and professional mentor with more than 27 years of experience in HR transformation, leadership development, talent assessment, competency frameworks, performance management, and strategy execution.
He holds SHRM-SCP, SHRM-CP, and SPHRi credentials and has delivered HR certification preparation programs in Saudi Arabia since 2012. He was among the early HR leaders selected to participate in the pilot stage of SHRM certification exams and among the first certified professionals in the region.
Throughout his career, he has supported more than 1,000 HR professionals and leaders in certification journeys across SHRM, HRCI, and CIPD, and has delivered CIPD Level 3 and Level 5 programs. Known for his practice-oriented mentoring style, he helps professionals understand the discipline deeply, build confidence, and develop professional judgment. His approach combines professional depth, practical examples, behavioral insight, and a strong understanding of the Saudi and GCC business context.
Faculty & Expert TrainersThe Right Expertise
The Right Expertise
for the Right Capability
LeadMinds works with a selected network of trainers, consultants, executive coaches, and subject-matter experts who bring practical experience and strong delivery capability.
Our faculty model allows LeadMinds to match every program with the right expertise, ensuring relevance, credibility, and practical impact.
Practical experience in the subject area
Ability to connect concepts with workplace application
Understanding of Saudi and GCC business culture
Strong facilitation and participant engagement skills
Alignment with LeadMinds standards of quality, professionalism, and impact
Our Faculty Approach
Expert-Led
Programs are delivered by practitioners, consultants, executive coaches, and mentors with direct field experience.
Context-Aware
Learning is adapted to the realities of the Saudi and GCC business environment.
Application-Focused
Delivery emphasizes tools, examples, practical discussions, exercises, and real-world use.
Outcome-Driven
Every faculty member is expected to help participants move from understanding to application.
Featured Experts and Consultants Across Our Programs and Services
Featured Expert
Mike Hoff
Consultant & Trainer | Business Mentor | Executive Leadership Coach
Mike Hoff is a consultant, trainer, and executive leadership coach with extensive experience in the Middle East. He has held senior leadership roles in multinational organizations and has a strong record of energizing teams, aligning people around strategic goals, and helping leaders turn strategy into practical execution.
His contribution areas include
- Strategic business planning and strategy execution workshops.
- Executive coaching and business mentorship.
- Leadership team alignment and high-performance team development.
Mike is part of LeadMinds’ Faculty & Expert Trainers Network and is positioned as a consultant, trainer, business mentor, and executive leadership coach.
Featured Consultant
Craig Hiles
Consultant & Trainer | Business Mentor | Executive Leadership Coach
Craig Hailes is the founder, managing director and principal consultant of Craig Hailes Consulting. He has extensive experience spanning more than 30 years in the Middle East and Europe, during which he held successful corporate positions in the areas of operations, sales, marketing, and training. He has a strong record of providing cross-cultural advisory, training and mentoring services.
Craig specializes in strategy, alignment and execution, and has worked with Saudi Aramco, Etisalat, Emirates NBD, Microsoft, Toyota, Shell, Unilever, BNG and the Institute of Banking in Saudi Arabia.
His contribution areas include
- Strategic planning, business alignment and strategy implementation.
- Executive coaching, leadership development, mentoring and mentoring.
- Building High-Performing Teams Using the Five Behaviors and DiSC.
- Designing training academies and excellence in customer service.
He has won global awards for customer service, visual communication and business excellence, and is a Certified Master Facilitator of FranklinCovey Programs, a Licensed Wiley Partner, a member of the CIPD and APM and an Advanced NLP Practitioner. Craig is part of the Leadminds network of experts and coaches.
Featured Expert Trainer
Hisham Nabi
Consultant & Trainer | Business Mentor | Executive Leadership Coach
Hisham Nabi is a senior management and human resources consultant and certified evaluator with more than 20 years of experience in the Middle East. He focuses on talent management and acquisition, training and mentoring, and assessment and development centers, and has a strong track record in leading human capital transformation and organizational development.
He worked with the Public Investment Fund, the Ministries of Foreign Affairs, Finance, Housing and Communications, the Zakat, Tax and Customs Authority, the Misk Foundation, STC, Mobily, Oman Tel, Al Rajhi Bank and the Saudi National Bank.
His contribution areas include
- Human capital transformation, organizational development and talent management.
- Establishing and managing evaluation and development centers.
- Coaching, executive and career guidance, and leadership development.
- Competency-based interviews and psychological and behavioral tests.
He holds a Higher Diploma in Business Administration from the University of Liverpool, is a BPS and EFPA Certified Professional Assessor, a Hogan, Saville and Korn Ferry Practitioner, and an International Goal Imagery Institute Certified Life, Career and Executive Coach. Hisham is part of the Leadminds network of experts and trainers.