Bedeir Rizk, Chief Executive Officer of Paragon Developments: 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 Bedeir Rizk (LinkedIn), Chief Executive Officer of Paragon Developments.

My name is Bedeir Rizk, and I’m the CEO and co-founder of Paragon Developments. I work in the real estate sector, but my focus is on making it more exciting and human-centric. At Paragon Developments, we’re building a more regenerative ecosystem — one that prioritizes innovation, community, and long-term economic impact. Our goal is to create value not just for the local market, but also for the wider region.

I focus on what we call service leadership — facilitating the work of our management team and ensuring they have the support they need to meet their targets. A large part of my role involves working across internal committees, while also leading business development and identifying new opportunities. At the same time, I manage relationships with our board and investors, balancing both internal and external responsibilities. My work is split into three key areas: investor and board relations, business expansion, and fostering a strong company culture that helps our team members achieve their goals.

Paragon Developments rethinks what a workspace should be. The company’s approach goes beyond just building offices — it’s about creating environments that help people work better and grow within their daily routines. This starts with infrastructure: well-designed buildings that maximize natural lighting, prioritize thermal comfort, and incorporate advanced technical components to enhance efficiency. These elements are key to making workspaces more functional and conducive to productivity.

But infrastructure alone isn’t enough. Paragon sees workspaces as part of a broader ecosystem, one that extends beyond desks and meeting rooms. The company embeds industry-specific communities into its projects — partnering with accelerators and ecosystem providers, creating spaces for arts and culture, and integrating wellness and fitness facilities to foster a more dynamic and connected work environment. The goal is to create spaces that don’t just serve businesses but support the people and industries within them, making work environments more connected, engaging, and dynamic.

The company was founded to address a gap in the real estate market: While office buildings often focus on impressive exteriors, little attention is given to the functionality of the spaces inside. Many offices look modern from the outside but lack thoughtful design that supports the people working in them. Paragon set out to change this by prioritizing user-centric workspaces, focusing on how people interact with their environment rather than just the structure itself.

Another key focus for Paragon has been sustainability and smart building technology. When the company started in 2019, these concepts were gaining traction globally, but the local market had yet to fully embrace them. Seeing the need for more energy-efficient and tech-integrated office spaces, Paragon sought to introduce smarter, more sustainable developments that could better align with evolving industry trends.

I usually wake up between 6 and 7am, thanks to my two young daughters — one is three and the other is two. Mornings start with family time, and I make a point of spending quality time with them before heading to work. Most days, that means taking them out for coffee at 7:30am.

After that, I either fit in a quick workout or head straight to the office. My workday starts with a structured review of tasks, setting priorities for the day ahead. From 11am till 5pm, my schedule is packed with meetings, after which I use the late afternoon to wrap up and organize any remaining tasks before finishing around 7pm.

I stay focused and organized by writing everything down — on paper, on walls, and now, finally, on my iPad, which I only started using properly in 2024. Writing helps me process information and structure my thoughts. A few years ago, we introduced a Google Doc template for every company meeting, and I took notes myself for the first two years to stay engaged. Now, it’s become a habit across the company — every meeting has a shared document with action steps and key takeaways to keep discussions structured and productive.

Another key to staying focused is waking up early. The first few hours of the morning — before the workday officially begins — are some of my most productive. I’ve always been an early riser, even before having kids, but now I wake up before my alarm, which is set for 6:30am but is rarely needed.

The real estate sector is shifting towards mixed-use developments that blur the lines between work, leisure, and living. The traditional model — where offices, malls, and residential areas are distinct entities — is being replaced by integrated environments that cater to changing lifestyles. As remote and hybrid work patterns persist, demand is growing for spaces that offer greater flexibility and convenience, eliminating the rigid separation between professional and personal life.

At the same time, AI is becoming a central force in real estate and workplace design. And a third key trend is the increasing focus on sustainability and property technology (proptech). Developers are incorporating sustainable building materials, including 3D-printed components and recycled materials, while technology is improving property management and accessibility.

On a personal level, I focus on two things — spending quality time with my family and building a social life beyond work. I want to be there for my kids’ first experiences — whether it’s their first snowfall or their first time seeing rain. Creating those moments is a priority. At the same time, I try to avoid the common executive trap of making work my entire social life. To counter that, I organize monthly dinners, booking a table for ten and inviting a mix of people — some I know well, others I’m meeting for the first time. It’s a way to maintain connections and create a space for new conversations outside of work.

Professionally, we’re focused on building a company that operates with global standards while remaining deeply rooted in the region. Our goal is to lead in regenerative development, creating workspaces that add long-term value. If you're a global company looking to expand into the Middle East, we want Paragon to be your first call.

Work-life balance isn’t always sustainable — it’s more about constant juggling than strict separation, especially with technology keeping us connected around the clock. Instead of trying to divide work and personal life, we focus on work-life integration, designing spaces that make it easier to manage both. One example is incorporating nurseries in office buildings, allowing parents to bring their children to work, drop them off, and check in on them during the day. Some days work takes over, other days life does, but the goal is to create environments where people don’t have to choose between the two.

The best piece of advice I ever received came in 2014 while I was working in M&A advisory at KPMG Frankfurt. A partner at the firm, who liked me and meant well, told me to cut my hair because it made me stand out too much in a corporate environment that valued uniformity. At first, I was frustrated, but I understood his perspective. Over time, though, I came to see it differently: rather than toning down what makes you different, you should lean into it. What sets you apart is what makes you valuable.

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