Nervein Magdy, country manager at Property Finder Egypt: Each week, My Morning Routine looks at how a successful member of the community starts their day — and then throws in a couple of random business questions just for fun. Speaking to us this week is Nervein Magdy (LinkedIn). Edited excerpts from our conversation:

I’m Nervein Magdy, country manager at Property Finder Egypt. I’m a wife and mother to a beautiful 11-year-old girl. I have been with the company for five years, and I am responsible for leading the growth of its business operations in Egypt.

Our founder and CEO, Michael Lahyani, launched the Middle East’s first real estate classified in the UAE in 2007, and in 2013 we expanded to Egypt and Bahrain. Today, Property Finder is successfully operating in six countries, including Egypt, UAE, Qatar, Bahrain, Turkey, and Saudi Arabia. As a portal, we mainly focus on developers and brokers in each region, with a mission to motivate and inspire consumers to live the life they deserve.

My role involves managing and leading business growth in Egypt, so I am responsible for both the commercial and operational aspects of the company. We doubled our employee headcount in 2022.

My day usually starts at 6 am. I wake up early to prepare my daughter's lunchbox and take her to school. I then take my coffee while looking at my to-do list and plans for the day. I review my meetings for the day and make a checklist to ensure that I stay on schedule. I write everything down, even during meetings, on paper, as I am a little OCD about being super organized.

Since I operate with the headquarters in Dubai, my first meeting is usually at 8am, and this is followed by back-to-back meetings throughout the day. I also have face-to-face meetings with the team, HR, and finance functions in Egypt. We usually have pre-scheduled bi-weekly, weekly, and monthly sessions. It is essential for me that we stay organized and plan our schedules in advance.

Even though my workdays can be tight, I always ensure that I have dinner with my family, where we catch up and de-stress together. Even if there are work requests, I pause them and prepare dinner because it is a time that is truly important to me. I always have to make my daughter's lunchbox and set up dinner myself, even if we have help at home. It is something that I enjoy doing for my family. I also have to call my parents every single day on my way back from work. It is the most important phone call of the day.

Despite the long workdays, I genuinely enjoy my job as we are always learning something new,which makes work enjoyable and not routine. We currently have a hybrid situation where we work 2-3 days from the office and the rest from home. I also have some meetings outside of the office.

I stay focused and organized through my to-do list,by looking at what is done and what needs more time, setting a time for it, and ensuring that I meet my daily objectives. I am always focused on the people-orientated aspects of the business. I care about people's experiences, even when we’re interviewing potential candidates who don't pass interviews, I always ensure that they learn something valuable for their next move, even if they don't get hired.

I enjoy reading Enterprise as it covers a wide range of topics, and I find it exciting to learn about new trends and best practices in various industries.

In my spare time, I enjoy going out to dinner, and having a girls' night out with my daughter. I also enjoy drawing with her, which helps me relax and unwind. I also have to regularly meet up with my group of childhood friends. We've been friends for 40 years, and now our children are friends too. Our monthly Thursday get-togethers are something I always look forward to.

I recognize the importance of maintaining a healthy work-life balance, and it is something I know I need to work on, to be honest with you. I make sure to prioritize time with my family during weekends and holidays. When it's a day off, then it's a day off. For me, vacations are all about spending quality time with my husband, daughter, and extended family.

I enjoy reading leadership books, such as How Remarkable Women Lead. I’m not a big TV fan, but I try to keep up-to-date with current events through watching Amr Adib sometimes, but on a low volume [laughs], and reading articles related to my industry.

The best piece of advice I've ever received was from my father, who encouraged me to take ownership of my career. I started working while still in university, and his guidance helped me to develop the skills and mindset necessary to succeed. I now take full ownership of my career, confident that nothing will stop me as long as I have a plan in place. When I make a plan, there are no limitations. So own your career, that was the advice from my dad that’s always ringing in my head.

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