Ahmed Heider, CEO of Al Ahly Pharos: 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 Ahmed Heider (LinkedIn), CEO of Al Ahly Pharos.

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I’m Ahmed Heider, CEO of Al Ahly Pharos Investment Banking. I’ve been in investment banking for more than two decades, working across Egypt and the GCC with institutions like HSBC and several regional firms. In early 2021, I joined Al Ahly Pharos to build a fully integrated investment banking platform. Today, we offer a comprehensive suite of services in equity capital markets, debt, and M&A advisory,

Outside work, I’m a husband and a father of two. My family has been a pillar of support throughout this journey.

I lead the investment banking firm and serve as chairman of our special purpose vehicles Al Ahly Sukuk and Al Ahly Securitization. My role blends strategy, execution, and relationship-building. I spend my time meeting clients, regulators, and partners, representing the firm while keeping our teams aligned and moving forward.

Our job is to help companies raise capital — through equity, debt, or sukuk — and structure the right funding mix to support their growth. We also help companies achieve their strategic objectives — divesting non-core assets, expanding operations, entering new markets, and consolidating or integrating within industry sectors. Our broader goal is to channel investments into Egypt, and we’ve been quite successful in doing so.

We’ve been involved in some of the country’s most high-profile transactions, including the IPO of E-finance and the follow-on offerings of Abu Qir Fertilizers and Telecom Egypt. We’re also quite active in the M&A space, where we’ve closed more transactions than I can recount. Three years ago, we expanded into debt capital markets (DCM), and we’ve topped the sector every year since in terms of market share, among other metrics. We aim to keep that lead by remaining innovative in the products and transaction structures we introduce.

The company’s real transformation began in December 2019 when the National Bank of Egypt acquired the firm. The idea was to establish a full-fledged investment bank to back the state’s privatization program as well as to give the private sector greater access to capital markets. At the time, the company had a solid M&A track record, but little presence in equity or debt markets. We built both lines of business from scratch so we could better cater to the bank’s clients.

One of the biggest shifts in our field right now is the rise of AI and digital tools. Investment banking relies on research and execution, and that’s exactly where these technologies can make a difference. We’re already seeing improvements in speed and accuracy, especially in areas like data analysis and documentation. Over time, this will reshape how we hire, how we operate, and what types of mandates we can fulfill. The firms that embrace the trend will move ahead, while those that don’t risk falling behind.

My mornings are pretty structured. I wake up at 5:30am, start with prayer, then go for a short walk or a light workout. I have breakfast at around 8:30am before I head to the office. I’m usually at my desk by 9:30am, reviewing my agenda for the day, following up with the team, and preparing for meetings.

Most workdays are a string of back-to-back meetings with current and prospective clients. I try to group them by location to save time, but it rarely works out that way. The afternoons are more focused on internal matters, such as checking in on mandates and ensuring everything is progressing as planned.

One thing that doesn’t stop is my phone’s ringing. Calls are constant, but I try to switch off later in the day. In the evenings, I spend time with the kids, catching up on their day and offering any advice or guidance they might need before they go to bed at around 8:30pm. After that, I have some quiet time until I go to sleep at around 10:30pm.

Professionally, I’m focused on building on Al Ahly Pharos’ momentum. We’ve delivered record numbers in terms of revenues and transaction volumes, and I believe we’re just getting started. With the current team and backing from the group, I’m confident we can reach new highs. My job is to support this growth and help the team achieve it.

Personally, I’m committed to growth — learning from challenges, honing my skills, and staying ahead of the curve. My long-term goal is to be a reference point in this space, someone who helped shape the financial industry and left a positive mark.

Work-life balance comes in cycles. There are weeks when it doesn’t exist, and others when you can finally catch your breath. I encourage my team to enjoy the light periods while they last. Balance isn’t daily — it’s something that’s maintained over time.

To unwind, I play basketball. I used to be a pro. Now I just play with my daughter. I also travel and squeeze in video game time with my kids during holidays. Anything that takes my mind off work helps.

One podcast I always recommend is HBROnLeadership. It offers practical, thought-provoking ideas on managing teams, leading through change, and making better decisions. It’s helped me become a better leader.

The best advice I’ve received? Listen more than you speak. It sounds basic, but it’s powerful. Real listening allows you to see the full picture and move conversations forward.

Another one I live by: Know exactly what you don’t know, and be okay with it. No one knows everything. Surround yourself with people who fill in the gaps. Know the strengths of your people and amplify them. That’s how you build strong, resilient teams — and how you grow as a leader.

If I could say one thing to people starting out in finance: Stay ahead of the curve. Understand the trends, especially around tech and AI. Every sector is evolving, not just ours. The more you adapt, the more relevant you’ll stay.

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