My Morning Routine: Hesham Mahran, CEO of Orange Egypt

Hesham Mahran, CEO, Orange 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 the CEO of Orange Egypt Hesham Mahran (LinkedIn). Edited excerpts from our conversation:

I am Hesham Mahran, CEO of Orange Egypt. My journey with the company began in 1998, when I joined as a sales executive at what was then Mobinil. Over the years, I have grown within the organization, but more importantly, I have grown with it. Remaining in the same institution for nearly three decades is not a matter of tenure. It is a matter of conviction. It reflects a belief that meaningful impact is built over time through continuity, accumulated understanding, and sustained contribution.

When you spend this length of time within one organization, you begin to see it not as a structure, but as a system. You understand how decisions echo across years, how culture compounds, and how resilience is forged through cycles of challenge and progress. This perspective shapes how I lead today. I am not only responsible for performance in the present, but for preserving direction across time.

My role is inherently multifaceted. It begins with setting a clear strategic direction, but the real challenge lies in ensuring that the entire organization is aligned behind it. Organizations do not move because strategies exist. They move because people understand them, believe in them, and act on them with consistency.

A significant part of my role is interpretive — translating strategy into something people can feel ownership over, and ensuring that every individual understands how their contribution connects to the larger picture. Leadership today is less about directing and more about orchestrating. It is about creating the conditions where insight can surface and ownership takes root naturally.

What motivates me every day is the realization that what we do has become foundational to how people live, learn, and grow. Orange Egypt began as Mobinil in 1998, the first mobile operator in the country. At that time, the challenge was access. Today, the challenge has evolved. Access alone is no longer sufficient. The real question is how to translate connectivity into capability, and capability into potential.

We have grown into a digital partner, enabling individuals, businesses, and government entities through infrastructure, digital services, and intelligent solutions.

The most significant shift in telecommunications today is structural. It is no longer a supporting sector. It has become the foundational infrastructure underpinning how economies function and how societies operate. We are seeing a convergence of technologies — artificial intelligence, cloud, fintech, and smart infrastructure — all built on top of this foundation.

Artificial intelligence, in particular, represents a deeper transformation. It allows organizations to redirect human effort away from repetition and toward areas where judgment, creativity, and strategic thinking are truly required. In that sense, it does not replace human capability. It redefines and elevates it.

I wake up around 5am. The first part of the day exists before urgency. It creates space for intentional thinking. I begin with a spiritual routine, followed by coffee and quiet reflection.

I then review global and local developments. EnterpriseAM is part of my daily reading. It provides a structured perspective that helps me connect broader trends with local realities. Leadership requires context. Without it, decisions become reactive. With it, they become directional.

There is no standard day, but there is a consistent principle. People are always at the center. My day is built around continuous engagement with teams and stakeholders. I prioritize listening.

The one constant is challenges. Every day presents a different set of variables, both internal and external. What matters is perspective, and perspective comes from listening. Alignment, however, remains fundamental.

Professionally, my focus is on strengthening Orange Egypt’s role as a market leader and a central enabler of digital transformation. We are proud to be a trusted partner to government entities, supporting infrastructure, AI, and public services as part of Egypt’s Vision 2030. A key priority is enabling startups, supporting SMEs, and empowering youth.

I prefer to think in terms of work-life harmony. I genuinely enjoy what I do. The office feels like a second home, and the team feels like family. At the same time, time with my family provides grounding.

At the end of the day, I like to unwind by watching movies or football and spending time with my children.

I am particularly drawn to books and podcasts that explore leadership, innovation, and human behavior. Continuous learning is essential. The most valuable advice I have received is to be clear about your purpose and remain consistent in how you pursue it.