John Crane highlights how developing leaders from within is supporting the next generation of industrial talent in the Kingdom
Saudi Arabia’s industrial transformation is reshaping more than factories, infrastructure and supply chains. It is creating new opportunities for talented professionals to build leadership careers across manufacturing, engineering, supply chain, procurement and operational business functions.
John Crane, a global leader in flow control technologies and a business of Smiths Group plc, is supporting that transformation by developing local leaders from within its own business. The appointment of Bedour Bubshait as Regional Procurement Manager reflects both her career progression and the wider opportunities emerging across the Kingdom’s industrial sector. It also aligns with Smith’s commitment to building a more diverse engineering workforce and creating an inclusive environment where talented people can develop, lead and thrive across engineering, manufacturing and technology.
Under Vision 2030, the Kingdom has accelerated investment in industrial capability, local production and workforce development. Saudi Arabia’s National Industrial Strategy is focused on strengthening global supply chains, expanding local manufacturing and increasing the export of advanced products. At the same time, the country’s labour market is changing rapidly, with the General Authority for Statistics reporting that Saudi female labour force participation reached 36.2% in the third quarter of 2024.
As more women build careers across manufacturing, supply chain, procurement and operational business functions, companies have an opportunity to develop leaders who bring broader experience, customer understanding and different perspectives to the future of industry.
Bedour’s promotion recognises an eight-year career built on curiosity, resilience and continuous learning. It also marks an important milestone for John Crane in Saudi Arabia, with Bedour becoming the first woman to hold a management position within the company’s Saudi Arabian business.
For Bedour, the journey began not in procurement, but in customer service.
When she joined John Crane in 2018 as a member of the Customer Service Team, procurement was already her ambition. Earlier in her career, while working in retail administration, she had become fascinated by the movement of products, the complexity of supplier relationships and the commercial decisions that keep businesses operating. Rather than waiting for the ideal procurement role, she chose to learn John Crane’s business from the customer’s perspective first.
“Starting in customer service gave me an understanding of our customers and our business that I still rely on today,” said Bedour. “It taught me that every decision we make ultimately affects the customer. That experience has shaped how I think about procurement and how I want to lead.”
After four years supporting customers, Bedour moved into procurement, progressing through increasingly senior roles as the function evolved to support a changing regional business. She helped navigate organisational transformation, supported the development of new procurement capability and gained experience across a function that is now central to resilience, supplier partnerships, operational performance and long-term value creation.
The route to leadership was not always straightforward.
During a period of significant organisational change, Bedour found herself managing operational responsibilities while supporting the recruitment and development of new teams. The workload was demanding, and there were moments when she questioned whether she should continue. Instead, she chose to stay, keep learning and trust that the experience would make her stronger.
“There were times when I questioned myself,” she said. “But every challenge taught me something. I learned to stay patient, keep developing and believe that if I continued to work hard, opportunities would come.”
A defining influence was the support of her former manager and mentor, Abdullah, whose belief in her potential helped Bedour see a future for herself in leadership.
“He believed in me before I fully believed in myself,” she said. “That gave me confidence, but it also taught me something important about leadership. Sometimes one person’s encouragement can change how someone sees their own future. That is the kind of leader I want to be for others.”
Today, Bedour leads regional procurement at a time when the role of the function is becoming increasingly strategic. For industrial businesses, procurement is no longer only about purchasing. It is about supply chain resilience, localisation, supplier collaboration, commercial discipline and the ability to support customers in a more complex operating environment.
For Bedour, that makes leadership as much about people as process.
“Procurement is ultimately about relationships, collaboration and creating long-term value,” she said. “Technical knowledge is important, but so is listening, supporting your team and continuing to learn. I want people to feel trusted, encouraged and confident to grow.”
Ruben Alvarez, President of John Crane, said: “Industrial businesses are changing rapidly. As supply chains become more complex and customers expect greater resilience, procurement plays an increasingly important role in our business. At the same time, Saudi Arabia is developing an exceptional generation of industrial talent. Bedour’s appointment reflects both trends.
“She has earned this opportunity through eight years of continuous learning, resilience and commitment to our customers. Her journey demonstrates what can happen when organisations invest in people, recognise potential and create opportunities based on capability. We are proud of her achievement and excited to see the impact she will make in this important regional leadership role.”
When Bedour joined John Crane, she was one of the first two women employed by the company in Saudi Arabia. Today, she has seen more women joining the organisation and building careers across a wider range of business functions, a change she believes reflects the broader progress taking place across the Kingdom.
“The opportunities available today are very different from when I started,” she said. “I hope my journey encourages others to believe in themselves, stay curious and keep learning. You do not need to know exactly where your career will take you when you begin. Sometimes the opportunities that shape your future are the ones you never expected.”