"This Is How Saudi Arabia Went Fully Digital" -H.E. Deemah AlYahya

<p>Her Excellency is a Saudi tech-diplomat shaping the future of the global digital economy. As the founding Secretary-General of the Digital Cooperation Organization (DCO), she leads international efforts to bring governments, innovators, and institutions together to ensure technology becomes a force for inclusive and sustainable growth. In doing so, she also made history as the first Saudi woman to lead the secretariat of an international organization. On this episode, we discuss what it took to build the DCO from the ground up during the uncertainty of COVID, often with limited resources but a clear global vision. The conversation explores Saudi Arabia’s rapid digital transformation and how it has become a real-world case study for modern government services, digital payments, and improving quality of life. We unpacked the idea of “tech diplomacy”, why digital governance, standards, and cross-border cooperation are now critical as technology reshapes economies, politics, and the global flow of information.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>0:00 Intro&nbsp;</p><p>4:43 What Is the Digital Cooperation Organization&nbsp;</p><p>7:49 Building DCO from Scratch</p><p>9:02 DCO’s Global Momentum&nbsp;</p><p>11:34 Why Technology?&nbsp;</p><p>12:31 Empowering Women Through E-Commerce&nbsp;</p><p>14:16 The Origin of Women Spark&nbsp;</p><p>17:24 Training, Incubators, and Angel Networks for Women in Tech&nbsp;</p><p>19:57 Working at Microsoft&nbsp;</p><p>23:09 What Is a Tech Diplomat&nbsp;</p><p>27:59 Social Platforms Influence&nbsp;</p><p>29:22 Why Self-Reliance in Tech Matters&nbsp;</p><p>34:14 Saudi Arabia’s Digital Government Transformation&nbsp;</p><p>36:12 Why Connectivity Alone Is Not Enough&nbsp;</p><p>38:59 Saudi Digital Systems and Global Readiness Gaps&nbsp;</p><p>42:46 Advice to Young People in the Digital Economy&nbsp;</p><p>46:31 Career Advice: Focus on the Step in Front of You&nbsp;</p><p>50:01 Why Digital Prosperity for All Is Achievable&nbsp;</p><p>51:21 The Next Big Challenge: AI and a New Digital Divide&nbsp;</p><p>55:34 Closing Reflections</p>