By: Sameer M. Abbasi
In the 7th grade, we had a guest lecturer at school who told us that the difference between a good leader and a great leader is their purpose. However, as I observe the world in today’s circumstances, the difference between a good leader and a great leader is their vision. Let me begin with a brief overview of the past.
The Industrial Revolution happened because of a vision – a vision of better manufacturing, better engineering, and better products. Martin Luther King’s “I Have a Dream” speech is another example of what vision is and how it separates a good leader from a great one. Prophet Muhammad P.B.U.H was one of the greatest leaders to exist, with a vision that allowed Islam to grow to such lengths.
Vision is what defines a leader or a person; it drives their ambitions. It was Lionel Messi’s vision of becoming one of the greatest football players that drove him to work harder and become better.
In today’s world, COVID-19 and the Ukraine-Russia affairs have set back giants of the planet. It was their inability to envision a future beyond the present circumstances, imposing lockdowns they could not afford or imposing sanctions they cannot manage. The West has not had a visionary leader for many decades, allowing them to decay, while the Chinese have been working on their vision to become a global superpower. During the tug-of-war between East and West, two great leaders of their time are changing the global scale: Narendra Modi and Prince Muhammad Bin Salman.
Narendra Modi envisioned India as an investment hub for the West. Once a tea-seller, he became one of the world’s strongest leaders through his vision. His vision allowed India to grow amidst global slowdowns and launch mega projects in the country’s infrastructure development. It was his vision that enabled him to identify and address hurdles, one of which was corruption within India. His Aadhaar Card scheme and the removal of 1000 Rupee Notes are examples of his visionary approach.
Muhammad Bin Salman, an inspiration for millions of Muslims around the world, has done nothing but prove every single enemy wrong. For my higher education, I left the Kingdom in 2015 and only returned a few months ago, leaving me in complete awe of current affairs. Muhammad bin Salman is truly the most visionary leader of our times. Perhaps that’s why the previous two US presidents made their first international trips to Saudi Arabia. Muhammad Bin Salman has put Saudi Arabia on a roadmap to become the ultimate go-to spot for any investor. With so much business in place and so much happening, he continues to outsmart everyone with his vision daily. The technological revolution has allowed Saudi Arabia to grow rapidly, with a focus on Vision 2030. This vision has enabled him to set goals for companies, businesses, and government authorities on how to achieve excellence.
Bin Salman has a strong vision of the present and where he wants to go. He may be considered ambitious or over-confident, but he has proven every single time that he is the future of the world. Any businessman looking to grow should invest in his vision, while global powers should join hands for their mutual benefit as MBS reshapes the Middle East.
The writer is a freelance columnist