Ahmed Galal Ismail

CEO, Majid Al Futtaim

Ahmed Galal Ismail

Alumnus since 2007

 

Watch our exclusive interview with Strategy& Middle East alum Ahmed Galal Ismail, CEO of Majid Al Futtaim Holding. Ahmed opens up about his life and career in the first of our new "unscripted" video series.

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According to Ahmed, the path to success begins with curiosity. “If you’re in the mode of asking questions,” he says, “you need to be willing to listen… and listen very intently.”

Throughout his own career, Ahmed has shown an openness to both professional and personal growth, all while rising the ranks of leadership.

“I think being radically open is very difficult, but important,” Ahmed says. “You have to be able to show a certain degree of vulnerability and to admit when you've made a mistake. That level of transparency and vulnerability over time will actually relieve you more than anything.”

“I think being radically open is very difficult, but important”

Ahmed Galal IsmailCEO, Majid Al Futtaim

Before joining Majid Al Futtaim in 2007 as vice president of strategy, Ahmed worked as a principal at Strategy& Middle East for five years. Reflecting on that time, and his training as a consultant, he says he gained a lot of clarity in thinking that helped him learn how to structure and solve problems. That training has served him well at Majid Al Futtaim, where he was first promoted to CEO Ventures after just two years, and soon moved up once again to CEO Properties. Since filming our conversation with him, Ahmed has further been promoted to CEO of Majid Al Futtaim Holding.

“Success over time becomes more about how you lead yourself… and evolve yourself,” he says. “Give yourself time to think and reflect, to visit the markets, to talk to people that you usually won't talk to, sit in meetings that you typically won't sit in and interact with people that typically you would not interact with, to broaden your perspective.”

“Give yourself time to think and reflect, to visit the markets, to talk to people that you usually won't talk to, sit in meetings that you typically won't sit in and interact with people that typically you would not interact with, to broaden your perspective.”

Ahmed Galal IsmailCEO, Majid Al Futtaim
 

Highlights from the interview

Ahmed Galal Ismail on connections

Ahmed Galal Ismail on curiosity

 
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