Tariq Aljabr, Chief Business Development Officer at Lahint: 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 Chief Business Development Officer at Lahint Tariq Al Jabr (LinkedIn). Below are edited excerpts from our conversation:

I’m Tariq Aljabr, Chief Business Development Officer at Lahint, a Saudi-based govtech company that automates government services for businesses. Beyond my role at Lahint, I’m an active angel investor and a member of Oqal Group. My career spans over 20 years in engineering, business development, and project management, and in recent years, I’ve focused on working with new ventures and collaborating closely with the next generation of entrepreneurs.

At Aramco, I held a variety of management roles over 15 years — in project management, supply chain, finance, planning, engineering, maintenance, and new business development — culminating in my appointment as board chairman for Aramco Capital Company. The diversity of these roles taught me how to manage complex projects, integrate multiple disciplines, and lead large teams across different functions.

At Lahint, flexibility and agility are key. Our team works from home, the office, or anywhere else, with only one mandatory in-office day per week. This allows us to respond quickly to fast-moving technology and government sector needs. Some of our solutions integrate multiple advanced technologies to deliver high-end, GovTech-specific outcomes — like reading and processing mns of data points in seconds. Staying on top of technology is essential in our work.

Patience is a quality I value deeply. In business, you can put in all the time, planning, and effort, but results don’t always arrive on schedule. I often see younger professionals frustrated when results don’t come quickly, but with consistency and sound decisions — ideally made after consulting people you trust — the payoff eventually comes.

I start my mornings by checking urgent messages, so I can quickly prioritize tasks that need immediate attention. I also dedicate at least two hours each day to reflection — thinking through business strategies, assessing potential ventures, and planning next steps. This quiet, focused time is crucial for developing new ideas and making strategic adjustments in my work.

Midday is reserved for physical activity. I usually head to the gym for an hour to clear my mind, recharge, and reset my energy. Afternoons are reserved for family, with a couple of hours spent with my external family to maintain strong personal connections.

I’m committed to taking regular vacations, whether it’s a weekend getaway or a month-long family trip. Even if I don’t manage to do everything I planned, the act of stepping away keeps me grounded and brings clarity when I return. Watching my father reinforced for me that balance isn’t something you wait for — it’s something you build everyday.

The best advice I’ve received is to keep life balanced. Achievements matter, but so do family gatherings, laughter with friends, and personal health. Success feels far more meaningful when it doesn’t come at the expense of the people and moments that matter the most.

One book that’s stayed with me is Give and Take. Its central idea — that life and business are about balance, not just giving or taking — resonated deeply. I believe negotiations, like life, require compromise. You have to give some to gain some.

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