Hala Abdel Wadood, CEO of Moharram & Partners: 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 Moharram & Partners, Hala Abdel Wadood (LinkedIn). Edited excerpts from our conversation:

My name is Hala Abdel Wadood. I’m the CEO of Moharram & Partners (M&P), the largest public affairs and strategic communications consultancy in Africa and the Middle East. I’m a mother of two sons, aged 24 and 21, and the daughter of a diplomat — a background that has profoundly shaped who I am.

Before joining M&P, I served as the director of public affairs, sustainability, and communication for Coca-Cola Atlantic in North Africa. Prior to that, I led public relations, CSR, and quality management for Orange Telecommunications’ B2B division. My career began at the Ministry of International Cooperation, followed by roles at the American University in Cairo and other organizations. I’m actively involved in various business associations, including AmCham, BEBA, and the French Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Egypt, and I’m a board member of Ahl Masr Burn Hospital. Additionally, I’ve been a Rotarian for nearly 20 years and am a certified NLP practitioner and life coach.

As CEO, I’m responsible for shaping M&P’s vision and long-term strategy while ensuring alignment with market dynamics. I lead by example, fostering a strong organizational culture and ethical standards. My role involves decision-making, problem-solving, and stakeholder management — both internal with employees, and external with clients.

While I prefer to empower my team without micromanaging, I step in when guidance or coaching is needed. Client satisfaction is paramount. Being a consultancy, we must deliver exceptional service and ensure client needs are met. Profitability is also a key focus, achieved by guiding and supporting my team alongside our founder, Moustafa Moharram. We continuously adapt to innovations like AI, social media, and evolving global challenges, from economic shifts to geopolitical events.

Moharram & Partners was founded in 2015 by chairman Moustafa Moharram to revolutionize public policy and strategic communication in the Middle East and Africa. We identified a critical gap — while PR and marketing agencies were common, few specialized in government relations and public policy. Many multinational companies lacked the resources to navigate regulatory environments, leaving room for a firm like ours to step in as an extension of their teams. For instance, when I was at Coca-Cola, M&P complemented our small team, managing multiple countries’ regulatory needs. Our mission is to empower clients by providing expert guidance to navigate policy challenges, combat misinformation, and engage with stakeholders. Whether clients need support for a single project or ongoing partnership, we offer tailored solutions to help them expand and thrive in new markets.

The rapid pace of change, driven by social media, AI, and global economic and political events, is transforming public policy and strategic communication. Covid-19 normalized remote work — once a rare privilege — and digital communication tools have become essential. Additionally, sustainability and corporate social responsibility are now integral to our clients’ strategies. We help them navigate crises, decide when to act or remain silent, and manage their online presence proactively.

My day starts with a cup of tea and a quick review of morning readings, including EnterpriseAM. I skim through WhatsApp messages and emails, connecting with people through short messages. While getting ready, I catch up on news, perform household tasks, and prepare for my commute from Heliopolis to the Smart Village. During the drive, I listen to audiobooks and handle morning calls, ensuring a productive start before diving into my day’s meetings.

An exceptional day is when I don't have back-to-back meetings. My workdays are packed with back-to-back meetings, both internal and external, but I prioritize one-on-one time with my team to discuss work and personal challenges to foster strong connections. During my commute home, I catch up on missed calls and connect with family and friends. Despite the time zone difference with my sons in the US, I communicate with them daily, even if through a text message. Evenings are often filled with business events, family gatherings, or extracurriculars, such as Rotary meetings, which I’ve attended consistently for 20 years.

Daily prayers and connecting with loved ones are a constant in my day. I make sure I focus on my daily prayers and remembering my late parents in my prayers everyday. I also make it a point to check in with family and friends, either through calls or messages. These rituals provide emotional grounding and a sense of connection throughout my day.

Balancing diverse responsibilities requires disciplined time management. Each night, I list the next day’s priorities, ensuring nothing critical is overlooked. At some point when my kids were younger, I had my responsibilities as a mom and my responsibilities at work, which could be quite difficult to balance. Achieving work-life balance in a dynamic consultancy environment is challenging. I’ve learned to disconnect when needed, recognizing that burnout is inevitable without proper rest. I recharge by traveling, engaging in new activities like rally judging or shooting, and spending quality time with friends and family. These experiences invigorate me and help me maintain balance.

I've been mentored and I want to mentor others. I want to pass on the information, the knowledge, and the experience to others — whether my colleagues, family, friends, or anybody who wants any sort of help or guidance.

Several mentors, including my parents, emphasized the importance of passion, values, and work ethic. They taught me that when you keep your values and work ethic and work with passion while believing in yourself, you can achieve anything you want. Believing in myself has been transformative, enabling me to achieve what I once thought impossible. This advice has shaped my career, boosted my confidence, and driven my personal growth.