Seif Saleh, associate minister for public policy and investment at the Planning Ministry: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 Seif Saleh. (LinkedIn). Edited excerpts from our conversation:

I’m Seif Saleh, associate minister for public policy and investment at the Planning Ministry. After graduating from King’s College London in 2020 with a degree in business management, I joined the ministry as an intern for three months. I then became a foreign policy analyst in Dr Hala El Said’s technical office, where I worked for two-and-a-half years before being appointed to my current role in January.

While studying in London, I worked at a research and advisory firm that focused on the MENA region, where I advised major clients on their strategies and business plans in the Middle East. I focused on economic and political research and used my personal experience and language skills to convey what’s happening in Egypt and neighboring countries to multinational corporations. I also did internships at financial institutions in Dubai, Cairo, and the UK.

My role is to manage various portfolios at the ministry. I’m involved in the policymaking process and act as a content expert. One of my focuses is investment, specifically attracting foreign direct investment (FDI) to the country. I meet with investors to address their concerns, develop public-private partnerships, and coordinate with the Sovereign Fund of Egypt.

I’m also heavily involved in supporting entrepreneurs and helping them promote their business models. Another important portfolio is advancing the transition to the green economy, which is happening across many ministries and government entities, including the sovereign fund’s work on the green hydrogen transition.

I also work with a variety of stakeholders, both internal and external to the ministry. This includes liaising with international institutions and coordinating the ministry’s involvement in major economic and financial gatherings around the world. I joined Her Excellency at events such as the UN General Assembly, IMF and World Bank meetings, and the World Economic Forum.

I always start my day with a superfood power smoothie, as I believe that what and how much you eat affects your energy levels, mood, and overall performance. The smoothie can keep me going until 7 or 8 pm, though it’s advisable to have a small lunch before then. After my smoothie, I take a cold shower for the health and psychological benefits, read the news including Enterprise, and respond to emails and letters. I usually work out at night since my workday is unpredictable, which is what makes it exciting.

The beauty of working in government is that you get to meet new people, work on new things, and you’re exposed to a lot. However, there’s also a lot of pressure since you’re dealing with high-level work and stakeholders. When I first joined the ministry, it was overwhelming, but I eventually got used to it. I’ve learned to reframe the pressure and befriend it — to try to envision the opportunities you get from delivering results.

Reading is the one constant in my day. It’s a part of my job and helps me stay aware of what’s happening and embed it in the policy and process at the ministry. Acquiring knowledge is imperative for my job.

Weekends are very important because how you spend them influences the following week. If you’re working through the weekend then you’re going to feel overwhelmed. If you get burned out, it’ll impact your performance the following week. Basically, the better my weekend is, the better my week ahead will be.

I use my weekends to engage in activities like reading, socializing with friends, and horseback riding at Saqqara, where I can take in the mesmerizing views of the pyramids — this beautiful, unparalleled heritage. Riding horses fills me with joy and allows me to meditate and visualize, giving me energy for the week ahead. Rest and sleep are also very important.

Meditation is a big thing that helps me stay focused. Enhancing my wellbeing and becoming more aware of myself helps with focus. I write down everything that’s on my mind to ensure that it’s processed and that I can always refer back to it. Filtering and prioritizing tasks and writing to-do lists also help keep me organized.

What I value the most is making an impact. Many people want to benefit their community, company, or country, but it all begins with yourself. You cannot transform the world around you without constantly improving yourself and challenging the status quo. By improving yourself, you can become brilliant in any field — whether it’s technical skills, leadership skills, or maintaining your health and wellbeing. My goal is to continue to acquire competencies, knowledge, and skills while building a stronger character.

I have a few favorite books that I’d like to recommend. One of them is The Leader Who Had No Title by Robin Sharma. It’s a personal and professional development book that distinguishes between being a leader and having authority. It emphasizes that leadership is a lifestyle and a continuous process — it’s not just about being in a position of authority. Another book that I really like is The Infinite Game by Simon Sinek, on how to become a transformational leader.

I also enjoy books on economics and business excellence. Freakonomics and SuperFreakonomics by Steven Levitt and Stephen Dubner promote microeconomics and provide an intriguing perspective on how people behave. Misbehaving by Richard Thaler underlines the importance of taking into account people’s biases and reframing policymaking and communication to effect change.

The best piece of advice I received was to take initiative. A manager at a previous institution told me not to wait for others to tell me what to do, but to find areas where I can have an input and create work for myself. Even without authority, I can effect change through the simple act of taking initiative.

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