In Saudi Arabia’s high-stakes motorsport culture, where passion and accuracy are intertwined and strategy and speed are combined, Khalid Waleed Alswaidan stands out. His sound financial judgement, carried over from his previous roles as a Chief Financial Officer and a member in the Executive committee at the Saudi Automobile & Motorcycle Federation to his current role, brings genuine governance passion and personal weight to a sector that is growing at previously unheard-of rates under Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 initiative. He developed a hoppy besides his professional career to get self-recharge from busy work and life and become a skilled Scuba Diver that accredited from PADI association and experience it since 2013 in Pacific & Indian Oceans.
From Accountant to Auto Visionary
From Accountant to Auto Visionary Alswaidan’s journey into the racing world began with a simple concept. He had three simple goals for himself early in his career: increasing his education and experience, being more respected in society, and maximizing his earning. A 25-years in profession that demands both technical expertise and strategic insight is increasingly acknowledged as the first systematic step towards career success.
After getting his accounting degree from King Saud University in Riyadh, Alswaidan showed his commitment to lifelong learning by enrolling in the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse to obtain a master’s degree in management while working a full-time job. His excellent collection of international qualifications, which includes ACCA, PMP, and CIFA certifications, further demonstrates his commitment to professional growth.
He served in the finance field for businesses in global firms like the United Nation (UNDP), companies like (National Water Company), and Governmental firms like (Real Estate Development Fund) in Saudi Arabia. Demonstrating ability to streamline business operations and people that drive growth, increase efficiency, bottom-line profit. That resulted with solid management, communication, and interpersonal skills supported him to establish rapport with all level of staff, management & board, clients, vendors, and other main stakeholders.
“I realised to constantly balance technical proficiency, planning strategy, leadership ability, and business change & development is for private and public firms,” Alswaidan reflects on his professional motto. That has been helpful to him because he moved from positions as chief accountant and financial controller to executive level positions before spending almost nine years as Chief Financial Officer, then to involved in boards and committees He step-up for extra mile to get additional C-Level roles and responsibilities besides his regular work during his career life journey believing that “Hard work, works” and also his career development philosophy that “If you need to be as your boss place, start to do his job without getting credit for it”. With this intensive career life, he experienced different type of businesses’ roles and tuned some hard work to smart work. This leverages his career to go for a Chief Executive Officer to Saudi Automobile & Motorcycle Federation and member in both the Executive Committee of the Saudi Automobile & Motorcycle Federation and Saudi Motorsport Company Board.
The Motorsport Connection
Alswaidan’s foray into the motorsport world had nothing to do with business considerations. It had to do with passion. “I am a car lover and I believe that to be working in this industry would enable me to know more about them.”
The industry demand of the motorsport industry and its path of growth it would be advisable for both interested Alswaidan’s strategic mind. He realized that the development in the automobile industry, more so in terms of safety, research and development, and sustainability, would lead him to the challenging projects that he liked. They involved problem-solving, thinking, and collaboration.
Most importantly, his position has a direct bearing to make towards the realization of Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 projects and towards pushing forward not only in motor racing but even the economy in general. “I see challenges as opportunities: to learn new skills, to grow, and to build a lasting legacy,” he says, the epitome of transformational leadership which has been his vocation.
Philosophy of High-Stakes Finance Leadership
Financial management of advanced caliber is exercised in a certain type of leadership. Alswaidan describes his own leadership as transformational-strategic with great emphasis on values and ethics. His is anything but run-of-the-mill team leadership to tough financial objectives to organizational culture of innovation, responsiveness, and making responsible decisions.
“Leadership behaviours are actually about how I lead culture, drive and motivate more broadly,” he explains. “How I structure projects, allocate work, and manage day-to-day team needs is my management practice.”
It has been worth hanging on to this two-way balance of operation and culture in the frenetic, fast-paced world of motorsport finance.
Redefining Financial Leadership
For him, more cautious money management in this volatile era of business is so much more than simply calculation. “It’s a matter of looking ahead to tomorrow’s challenges, investing to make innovation a reality and instilling accountability and flexibility in the Saudi motorsport vision and goal,” he maintains.
This is especially so in the motorsport world, where technology churns and evolves at phenomenal speeds. His working style is not merely running dull fiscal numbers but placing organizations in a way to capture possibilities for the future years and also saving money wisely.
Balancing Sustainability with Innovation
Amongst Alswaidan’s greatest achievements has been cleverly balancing growth and innovation strategies with financial health throughout his leadership career and especially within the Saudi Automobile & Motorcycle Federation. This was done through an interconnected strategy consisting of growing motorsport fan base, introducing complementing rules, enhancing both the customers journey and safety procedures at car circuits and championships, and forming diversified revenue streams.
The strategy has recognized strategic investments in newer technologies like digitalization of the customer and electric vehicle development initiatives like Formula-E. The investments would be made on the basis of priorities under Saudi Vision 2030 and making the investments economically sustainable in the long term.
“We are continuously seeking new sources of revenues other than the conventional membership fees,” Alswaidan describes. “They consist of the partnership with the private sector, sponsorship, event management, and acquiring funding and sponsorship through public programs and private sector investments.”
His approach is also focused on rigorous money planning and risk management practices, including sophisticated budgeting, forecasting, and risk detection methodologies. He uses human resources as a commodity by investing in training programs and skill development initiatives to ensure skills and expertise are enhanced within the company.
Economic Impact and Revenue Innovation
Alswaidan’s motorsport vision has little to do with the sport itself. “Motorsport is not a sport, it’s an economic driver,” he asserts. In his opinion, CFOs can do a great deal to crack open new revenues in areas such as this by using intelligent thinking and effective execution.
His innovation in revenue is intentional but revolutionary. CFOs need radical simplicity in financial activity, he opines. That is how they can free themselves and construct gargantuan things by keeping the laser focus on what is possible and getting the teams thrilled with constructing outsize value. It is a philosophy one embraces conscious that while brutal numbers drive financial performance, some of the biggest challenges are not numbers but behaviour-driven.
“Strategy is a state of mind, not a template solution or bureaucratic process,” he goes on. “CFOs will therefore have to simplify their strategy and figure out where reshape the process and technology can be an enabler within it.”
During times of international economic crises, Alswaidan reaffirms the imperatives of creation of liquidity, diversification of revenues, and judicious management of debt. Forward planning entails risk-proofing in the future by way of authentic scenario planning and enterprise risk management frameworks.
“To adopt a culture of agility and stubborn innovation is the way to overcome surprise shocks,” he goes on. It is the mantra ringing out so loudly today as the business enters post-pandemic reality and evolving customer behaviour.
His economic priorities are pragmatic and aim at flexibility and responsiveness to observe change is, for example, change of audience culture and technology shock. Ongoing observation of trends in the marketplace, development of innovation in culture, and conscious investment in research and development find a place here.
For the next few years, Alswaidan’s professional plan as a finance executive is digital transformation, strategic data analysis, cost optimization, and talent development. They were advised by his realization of the need to adapt to evolving business environments, harness new technologies, and react to economics’ volatility.
His number one priority is digitalization, i.e., using artificial intelligence and automation to take advantage of data analysis, reporting, and planning. “Finance chiefs are shifting away from data gathering to extracting valuable information,” he goes on to add.
Talent development and acquisition is also number one on his agenda, considering the finance function talent shortage in digital areas of expertise. His answer is hiring the best and keeping them and investing in human development and creating good working conditions that enhance innovation and productivity.
Vision for the Saudi Sports Investment Forum
Alswaidan’s attendance at Saudi Arabia’s Sport Investment Forum, which opened in April 2025, is an excellent opportunity to increase the economic contribution of the motorsport industry. The forum aims to unlock the sporting sector and gain the maximum private sector investment through successful partnerships and strategic development plans.
“Participating in such events is essential to financial viability while propelling development to bring interest prospects into the limelight aside from hosting foreign motor sporting events,” he clarifies. The forum goes exactly to his visions to expand participant bases and hold more events throughout Saudi Arabia.
Advice for Aspiring Leaders
To fund the future generation of finance leaders, Alswaidan recommends developing keen analytical capabilities, good business sensibilities, and stakeholder engagement. “Above all, instil a culture of lifelong learning and adaptability in order to address the ever-evolving world of finance,” he warns.
His leadership also include developing general accounting and financial analysis skills, communication abilities, and knowledge of general company planning and market conditions. He also stresses the importance of being adaptable when it comes to technology, building professional networks, honing leadership abilities, and being resilient in the face of constant change.
“Economic conditions do change and hence one must be adaptable and develop a sense of lifelong learning. Be prepared to accommodate new ideas, technology, and new ways of working,” he adds more.
Driving Toward the Future
As Saudi Arabia keeps moving forward with its Vision 2030 coercive modernization, Alswaidan and the likes of him are the finest embodiment of the union of centuries of financial prudence and millennial passion. he has role suited for making a direct contribution to economic diversification in the country while pursuing his own love for motor sporting excellence.
By comparing his budget-making skills as strong as his own recreational activity of racing, Alswaidan demonstrates the strength that comes with combining professionalism and passion to drive change. His approach of striking a balance between being a money saver and an innovator is the model to which other leaders who have to make the same compromise in high-growth, high-technology economies will have to look.
At the center of Saudi motorsport’s whirlwind, where every step possibly as exciting as a Hollywood blockbuster, Alswaidan’s measured approach and long-term focus ensure that the industry’s development trajectory is as bold as it is realistic.
