Eiyad Alsughayer is the Saudi Arabia Sales Head at NetWitness, where he leads operations across Saudi Arabia with a focus on cybersecurity solutions, client growth, and strategic team development.
With over 18 years of experience in cybersecurity, including serving as a Chief Information Security Officer, he brings a unique blend of technical expertise and business acumen. Eiyad is driven by challenges, continuous learning, and building trust-based relationships with clients and colleagues, positioning him as a leader who inspires both performance and loyalty.
Redefining Success Through Milestones
Eiyad sees success as a dynamic concept shaped by personal goals, the organizations he supports, and the milestones he sets for himself, whether financial, positional, or knowledge-based. He believes that success is never the end but the start of a new chapter, and that “for every goal reached, a new milestone emerges, giving life meaning and purpose.”
Whether it’s reaching a professional target, gaining new knowledge, or achieving financial independence, Eiyad emphasizes that each accomplishment is a stepping stone toward the next challenge. “Success is the start of another story after achieving a milestone,” he reflects. For him, milestones are not just markers of achievement – they are opportunities to grow, push boundaries, and create impact for himself, his team, and the organizations he works for.
“Success is not the end but the beginning of new milestones.”
Turning Opportunity into Exponential Growth
At NetWitness, Eiyad has grown from a regular account executive manager to leading operations for Saudi Arabia, overseeing multiple sectors and managing teams to drive client growth and business development. For him, advancing in responsibility required more than just meeting targets – it demanded strategic thinking, marketing the solution effectively, developing leadership skills, and promoting himself in ways that aligned with both the company’s vision and his personal goals. “Stepping up meant thinking beyond growth to personal and organizational development,” he observes.
His journey into sales was sparked by a deep curiosity about how business functions beyond the technical cybersecurity space. “My background includes education in computer science and career progression in cybersecurity, which led to my interest in understanding business operations and eventually joining NetWitness,” he recalls.
After 18 years in cybersecurity, culminating as a Chief Information Security Officer, he realized that leadership alone wasn’t enough; he wanted to understand finance, HR, and organizational management to eventually lead a company of his own. When presented with the opportunity at NetWitness, a mentor encouraged him to embrace the business side, recognizing his natural aptitude for leadership and strategy.
Eiyad accepted the challenge, starting as an account manager, leveraging his cybersecurity expertise while learning sales, account management, and relationship-building. Within his first year, he exceeded his target by 260 percent. “Taking the chance allowed me to grow in new directions and realize my potential,” he reflects. This experience cemented his belief that curiosity, risk-taking, and openness to new opportunities are essential ingredients for meaningful growth, both professionally and personally.
Managing People, Not Just Targets
Eiyad identifies working with people as his most significant leadership challenge. His major challenge was dealing with people, including direct reports, peers, and stakeholders, which required understanding their perspectives and negotiating effectively.
To strengthen this skill, he took a negotiation course at London Business School, which taught him how to read people psychologically and navigate differing opinions. “Managing relationships and understanding different perspectives is essential to achieving common goals. Understanding and guiding people toward a middle ground was the hardest challenge for me,” he notes.
Eiyad’s definition of success has evolved with different responsibilities and achievements. In his current role at NetWitness, leading the Saudi market, his goals have expanded beyond business growth to leadership and marketing. Transitioning from internal team leadership to a vendor representative role gave him insight into how CISOs perceive and receive messages.
His cybersecurity background helped him connect with clients, address their pain points, and communicate solutions efficiently. “Speaking the same language as the client made it easier to convey value and build trust,” Eiyad reflects.
Leading a Turnaround with Team Empowerment
Eiyad joined NetWitness, a cybersecurity platform originally part of RSA and launched in 2006, because he believed in its technology and growth potential. NetWitness excels in cybersecurity monitoring, operations, and forensics, particularly in its forensic capturing capabilities. “Believing in the product made it easier for me to convince clients of its value,” he reflects.
As Saudi Arabia Sales Head at NetWitness, Eiyad initially managed specific sectors within Saudi Arabia, including healthcare, telecommunications, and education. His responsibilities included retaining existing clients, opening new accounts, and building strong relationships with CISOs and cybersecurity experts.
Upon joining, he set two primary goals: to retain existing clients and bring in new ones. He achieved both within the first two years. When the Saudi team faced turnover, he took on full responsibility for the country’s accounts. His extensive network and social approach gave him an edge in engaging clients effectively. “Knowing the people and understanding their needs made opening doors and building trust much easier,” he observes.
Eiyad’s dedication and results earned management support and internal resources, enabling him to scale his impact. “I received support from management to handle the transition from managing a few accounts to leading an entire country,” he shares. “It was a major challenge, but also a key opportunity for growth.”
Eiyad considers his greatest achievement to be the ability to build and strengthen cybersecurity departments from scratch across government, private, and financial sectors. He thrives on challenges rather than routine work, seeing them as opportunities to gain experience and grow stronger over time.
His diverse experience also taught him how to navigate different regulations, organizational structures, and mindsets, providing a foundation for his success in sales. “Challenging myself in every role has been the key to gaining strength and expertise,” he reflects.
Now leading the country, Eiyad focuses on strategy and team growth. He sets goals for account managers, supports them with compensation and internal resources, and ensures they can focus on client retention and acquisition. NetWitness has grown significantly in cybersecurity technology and market share. “Empowering my team to succeed allows us to grow together and achieve broader company goals,” he reflects.
Boundaries as a Leadership Tool
Eiyad acknowledges that balancing personal and professional life is challenging in sales, where revenue targets create constant pressure. To create balance, he made a personal commitment to protect his weekends for family, children, and personal time, allowing exceptions only for emergencies.
“I set boundaries, such as not working on weekends unless there is an emergency,” he says, adding that enjoying life and spending time with family and friends is important to balance professional responsibilities with personal enjoyment.
Eiyad explains that market slowdowns and increased competition, particularly in Saudi Arabia, add to the stress. To manage this, he regularly steps back to analyze his approach and rebalance his priorities. Taking vacations and setting clear boundaries helps him recharge and maintain focus.
“Taking vacations helps to rebalance personal time and professional responsibilities. Stepping back and reassessing work processes is important. If work consumes my personal time, it means I need to rethink my approach,” he explains. “Creating clear boundaries and taking time for myself ensures I can perform at my best professionally and personally.”
Leading by Driving Impact
The primary driver for my team and me is top-line revenue growth and the cash flow generation that comes from strong sales execution. The financial upside of our performance, specifically through variable compensation structures like commissions, directly fuels our individual wealth creation and capital appreciation.
Equally vital to our success is how we optimize human capital here at NetWitness. Our local team is close-knit and highly collaborative; we support each other both operationally and personally, which acts as a natural risk-mitigation strategy by reducing turnover and stabilizing our efficiency. I feel a deep financial responsibility for my team because our sales run-rate is the baseline for the entire organization’s health. Our consistent pipeline execution directly secures capital stability, preserves corporate value, and mitigates enterprise risk,” he explains.
Eiyad describes the team as a family, working professionally together while also bonding through dinners, gatherings, and outdoor activities. “Seeing the team thrive and knowing my efforts help them stay motivated drives me every day,” he reflects.
He also feels a deep responsibility for his team’s success, knowing that strong revenue performance ensures stability and retention. This sense of accountability fuels his dedication and commitment. “Bringing results not only meets targets but also protects the team and their future in the company,” he notes.
Trust as the Foundation of Leadership
Eiyad’s personal values of honesty, transparency, and trust strongly shape his role as Saudi Arabia Sales Head. “Transparency, honesty, and building trust with clients and colleagues are crucial,” he says. He believes that people buy from people, and building trust with clients and colleagues is essential for long-term relationships.
He maintains professionalism while caring for the connections he develops, ensuring that integrity guides every interaction. “Professionalism and strong relationships are important in both personal and professional life. Being honest and transparent builds trust that lasts beyond individual transactions,” he notes.
He also applies these principles at home, striving to be a positive role model for his children by demonstrating good deeds and ethical behavior. “The way I lead professionally and personally reflects the values I want to pass on to the next generation,” he affirms.
Growth, Independence, and a Life by Design
Eiyad’s future goals focus on both professional growth and personal fulfillment. Professionally, he aims to start his own business and achieve financial independence, creating wealth that works for him rather than the other way around. “I aspire to start my own business to achieve financial independence and have my money work for me,” he says.
He sees calculated risk-taking as essential to growth, drawing on his experience as a CISO and business leader to pursue new opportunities with due diligence. “Taking risks and making informed decisions is key to achieving financial gains. Challenging myself and taking risks allows me to achieve more and build lasting impact,” he reflects.
Personally, Eiyad prioritizes enjoying life with family, friends, and loved ones. He believes that routine or comfort can stifle ambition, so he continuously sets new goals to stay energized and purposeful. “Building a secure future for myself and my family while living fully today is my ultimate objective,” he shares.
Leadership Lessons from the Frontline
Eiyad values the experience he has gained through leadership, executive roles, and team management, but he emphasizes the importance of continual learning. He encourages others to keep sharing ideas, taking calculated risks, and embracing challenges to achieve growth and success. “Evaluate and analyze risks carefully, but never stop taking them, because challenges lead to greater achievements,” he recommends.
Eiyad advises aspiring leaders to believe in their teams, giving people space to innovate and deliver while earning their loyalty. “Believe in the people you work with and give them space to innovate and think outside the box. If you do that, they will give you their best and stay loyal,” he affirms.
He also urges surrounding oneself with people who challenge one’s ideas rather than saying yes all the time, as diverse perspectives help leaders make better-informed decisions. “Avoid surrounding yourself with people who always agree; diverse perspectives are important. People smart enough to challenge you give a different angle and make your decisions stronger,” he explains.
Finally, Eiyad encourages continuous learning and understanding other disciplines beyond one’s expertise. “Continuous learning and staying updated on trends and technologies are essential to remain effective as a leader,” he insists. For example, he studied finance as a technical professional to better communicate with financial leaders, fostering trust and transparency. “Speaking the language of others in your organization builds trust, confidence, and effective collaboration,” he observes.
Conclusion
Eiyad Alsughayer’s professional journey is defined by ambition, integrity, and a commitment to growth – both his own and that of the teams he leads. He combines deep technical knowledge with business insight to deliver results, while maintaining a strong focus on personal values, work-life balance, and lifelong learning.
Looking ahead, he aims to create a lasting impact through entrepreneurship, financial independence, and continued leadership, guided by the principles of trust, accountability, and calculated risk-taking. In his words, “taking risks, evaluating them, and moving forward is vital to achieve more.”
