��������

If there is one thing I have learned from more than five decades in business, it is that to really succeed you must be in what I call the “people business.”

Prioritizing people has always been the cornerstone of how I lead — because when you put people first, everything else falls into place. It is the key to inspiring, managing and motivating those you work with every day.

As an American working in �������� for the past seven years — the people I have had the privilege to work with have been simply extraordinary. The warmth and hospitality, the professionalism, the enthusiasm and the desire to succeed has been far beyond my expectations.

I can honestly say that it has been the greatest honor of my career to work with so many young, super-educated and passionate Saudis. And when you consider that the average age of our Saudi team at Diriyah is 31, their energy and dedication is a huge motivating factor for me 24 hours a day.

From the beginning, my philosophy has always been, “There is only one Diriyah,” and I am proud to say that it has been embraced throughout the Diriyah Company organization — at every level.

The people we serve within an organization are noble individuals and must be treated with dignity and respect

Jerry Inzerillo

We always need to remember that the people we serve within an organization are noble individuals and must be treated with dignity and respect. Because when you do that — we all serve with our hearts.

For many of the amazing young men and women we employ, working for a large-scale development company like ours can initially be overwhelming.

That is why, from the very beginning, we established strong training principles designed to help individuals grow — not just as professionals, but as people too. This foundation has helped drive their careers on a steady upward path and, over the past year, it has evolved to include international opportunities through collaborations with the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors and the London Business School.

Since arriving in the Kingdom, I have always been amazed at the hospitality and the welcome I have received. It is something I see everywhere I go, and I know that is a sentiment shared by millions of international visitors arriving in Saudi every year. Any preconceptions about visiting this wonderful, undiscovered country disappear the moment they arrive and start to meet and engage with the wonderful people of this nation.

At Diriyah, we have hosted hundreds of heads of states, sporting superstars and other luminaries in recent years.

For me, what truly highlights how special �������� is today is seeing visitors walking through Diriyah. Relaxed, curious, exploring and wide-eyed with what they are discovering around every corner of At-Turaif or walking along Bujairi Terrace, the newly opened Zallal or staying at our beautiful Bab Samhan Hotel. Sharing that same sense of wonder I had all those years ago, when I first saw how much untapped potential �������� has and what it can offer to the world.

My message to all is that to succeed in life — both at work and at home — you need to serve with all your heart

Jerry Inzerillo

These visitors and I have met so many young Saudis who are passionate, fired up and energetic about the transformation of the nation and the rich opportunities on offer thanks to Vision 2030 and the energy shown by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.

I have often joked with colleagues that the optimism and positivity shown by these young Saudis is my own daily dose of energy.

One thing that is very close to my heart — and a message to the incredible people I work with — is that we always need to remember that service is nobility. And it is something we have a duty to pass on to the next generation, who will continue to shape the future of a country that is advancing more rapidly and progressively than anywhere else in the world today.

My message to all is that to succeed in life — both at work and at home — you need to serve with all your heart. There are no shortcuts, and it is important to remember that, in life, you ultimately get out what you put in.

And finally, when it comes to our Diriyah team — I always ask them to remember that we are building something extraordinary out of the 300-year-old birthplace of the First Saudi State. A place that is to the Kingdom what the Colosseum is to Rome and the Acropolis is to Athens.

All are welcome. Please come visit and see for yourself.

“There is only one Diriyah.”

• Jerry Inzerillo is the Group CEO of the Diriyah Gate Development Authority.