Zeinab Hassaan, CEO of Egyptian Spinning & Weaving Company: For a special Ramadan edition of our weekly My Morning Routine column, which we are running through the holy month, we spoke to Egyptian Spinning & Weaving Company CEO Zeinab Hassaan (LinkedIn). We asked Hassaan the usual questions to find out how a successful member of the community starts their day, and threw in a few more to find out how she adjusts to Ramadan and what she looks forward to in the holy month. Edited excerpts from our conversation:

My name is Zeinab Hassaan, and I am the CEO of Egyptian Spinning & Weaving Company. Growing up in Mit Ghamr, Dakahlia, school trips to local spinning factories sparked a lifelong fascination with how raw fibers are transformed into woven fabrics. That curiosity drove me to study textile engineering — an unpopular choice at the time, but one I pursued with absolute conviction.

My morning routine in Ramadan is grounded in simplicity and family. I start the day with household chores before heading to the office, wrapping up my workday by 5:00 pm for Iftar.

I must admit, however, that I haven’t always maintained this balance. When I first stepped in to turn the struggling company around, I worked for three to four months without a single day off — not even a Friday — to achieve a year’s worth of progress. I quickly realized this relentless pace was severely draining my mental energy. As a naturally social person, I have started pulling back slightly to focus on my extended family and inviting friends to my home. Today, I fiercely protect my weekends, dedicating them entirely to my extended family and friends — my true sources of happiness.

My career is rooted in a blend of academic and practical experience in both the public and private sectors. After navigating the challenging balance of raising a family while earning my master’s and PhD from the Faculty of Engineering at Alexandria University, I began my professional career as an engineer and eventually transitioned into consulting. Over the years, I worked with affiliates of the Industry Ministry, while simultaneously serving as certified trainer for international agencies, and held the role of non-executive chairperson for a public sector enterprise. Three years ago, I consulted for the Egyptian Spinning & Weaving Company. I proposed a comprehensive turnaround strategy and was subsequently appointed CEO to execute it.

People often ask a pressing question: How can a woman successfully lead a company in the spinning and weaving sector? It is unusual in this sector due to the difficulty of its operations; the factory environment is demanding and male-dominated, particularly in spinning mills. My advice to young female professionals is this: genuine passion breaks down these barriers. However, we must also recognize that our journey as women is not easy and requires a great deal of wisdom to navigate the competing pressures of career and family. The secret lies in learning how to effectively prioritize these roles across different stages of life.

Technical expertise is essential, but with career progression, the importance of relationships and a general understanding of everything related to the industry and the economy emerges. This diverse experience is acquired through working in different places and varied study. This blend of field expertise and strategic relationships grants me the ability to read the market and make immediate decisions with flexibility in dealing with market variables. This is where the importance of cumulative experience shines, gained through a long career.

We are currently navigating complex global economic shifts. Despite a looming global recession, I see a golden opportunity for Egypt’s textile sector. As manufacturing pivots away from Turkey and China, Egypt is emerging as a premier hub, bolstered by our proximity to Western markets, abundant labor and raw materials, and competitive energy costs. To capitalize on this, we must optimize our use of domestic cotton and pivot aggressively toward exporting high-value finished products. Furthermore, we urgently need a unified regulatory body for the whole industry, with a source of accurate data for everything related to this industry. Accurate analytics are critical for informed decision-making, streamlining supply chains, and maximizing our export potential.

I view success as a holistic ecosystem. Professional and personal achievements do not compete; they are symbiotic. When you approach success methodically and honestly, you realize that a stable home life anchors your professional ambitions, and career fulfillment enriches your home. The key is continuous self-reflection — constantly recalibrating your priorities to maintain that delicate balance through every phase of life.

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