Mohammed Altassan, CEO and Founder of OmniOps: Each week, My Morning Routine explores how a successful member of the community starts their day — and tosses in a couple of random business questions just for fun. Our guest this week is Mohammed Altassan (LinkedIn), CEO and Founder of AI infrastructure solutions startup OmniOps. Edited excerpts from our conversation:

My name is Mohammed Altassan. I’m the CEO of OmniOps. I began my career in the energy sector, but late in 2016, I transitioned my focus toward technology by pursuing a master’s degree in the US in data science, which is the foundation of AI.

After returning to Saudi Arabia, I joined the Saudi Data and Artificial Intelligence Authority, where I helped develop the nation’s AI strategy, particularly for the energy sector. Later, I worked with Amazon Web Services, focusing on digital native businesses, before co-founding OmniOps.

OmniOps originated with a DevOps and cloud-native mindset, initially concentrating on cloud technologies. A pivotal project for us was deploying AI and computer vision models at the Holy Mosque in Makkah, which exposed us to the real challenges of scaling AI solutions. This experience inspired OmniOps to specialize in building AI infrastructure and deploying AI models efficiently.

Initially, we tried to do everything, but as we matured, we quickly realized that deep focus on a specific domain is essential. Our flagship product, Bunyan, optimizes AI model deployment on Nvidia GPUs, simplifying work for AI practitioners.

We are actively working with sovereign entities and ministries to build AI solutions that respect data sovereignty. We also lend our expertise in managing complex AI infrastructure, especially GPS clustering, which is a core challenge for many clients.

As CEO, I am very hands-on, especially in the early days when I managed sales, operations, technology, and strategy myself. Over time, I’ve learned to focus on surrounding myself with talented people, recruiting both locally and internationally. I manage my time rigorously using the Eisenhower matrix, focusing on urgent and important tasks to lead OmniOps successfully.

Ownership is a core trait I embody and expect from my team. It means taking responsibility and acting promptly on important and urgent matters. This sense of ownership is essential for startup growth , as it fosters a culture where the team collectively owns both successes and failures.

A typical day for me starts at 9am. I begin by checking global market news and technology updates, especially from Nvidia, Google, and AWS, often over coffee or tea. I dedicate 1-2 hours daily to brainstorming, strategizing, and prioritizing before diving into meetings and daily operations.

Work-life balance is challenging as a startup CEO. Vacations are often postponed due to work demands, but I keep my weekends sacred for family time. Spending time with my children is my key source of peace and harmony. I also practice taekwondo and play padel to unwound.

One book I really enjoyed reading was Measure What Matters, where venture capitalist John Doerr shares his approach to goal-setting, and how to make tough choices in business. I also enjoyed watching Ex Machina and how it explored questions and dilemmas related to the world of AI.

The best advice I’ve received is to be persistent. Success comes from showing up every day, focusing on the right priorities, and continuing despite setbacks or chaos. I share this often with my teams. You also need to be focused on your domain: trying to do everything usually means you will do nothing well, and “the devil lies in the small details.”

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