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 Rajhi Invest Group CEO Mohammed El Samman (LinkedIn). Edited excerpts of our conversation:

I’m Mohamed El Samman, and I’m the Group CEO of Rajhi Invest. I’ve spent the better part of 20 years navigating the intersection of banking and investment. Before taking the helm at Rajhi Invest in May 2021, my career was built on the floors of institutions like HSBC, Al Ahly Capital, and Beltone. I’m an accountant by training, a CFA charterholder, and an alumnus of London Business School’s private equity program.

Rajhi Invest is one of Saudi Arabia’s most storied and dynamic investment powerhouses. Founded over 60 years ago by the late Sheikh Mohammad bin Abdul Aziz Al Rajhi, we manage a multi-bn USD diversified portfolio that touches nearly every pillar of the Saudi economy. Rajhi Invest is a crucial shareholder in Alrajhi Bank and maintains a massive footprint in industry through Rajhi Steel and Al Watania Gypsum. From real estate via Daem to essential consumer goods like Berain Water — where we recently closed a major 40% stake sale to Hassana Investment Company — we aren’t just investors; we are operators of the Kingdom’s essential infrastructure.

For me, each day actually begins from the night before. Before I sleep each night, I take stock of the day that’s coming to an end and what needs to be done the following day — that really helps me maintain focus throughout the day and avoid being purely reactive.

My day starts early, usually with a quiet moment to myself before the noise of the markets begins. I’m a big believer in getting an early start — and getting the day started with some sunlight to kickstart my transition from a “sleep state” and into productivity. I use my commute to read EnterpriseAM and other news sources to stay on top of global headlines and see how the overnight sessions might ripple into the GCC.

Once I’m in the office, my day is a series of strategy sessions and board meetings. I’m often moving between very different worlds — one hour it’s the technicalities of home appliances production, the next it’s a high-level banking discussion. My role is to bridge the gap between long-term family office heritage and modern institutional rigor.

I stay organized by being ruthless with my calendar and my focus. I rely on my team to filter the noise so I can focus on the signal. For me, organization isn’t just about a to-do list — it’s about ensuring that every meeting is driving toward a specific strategic milestone. If there’s no clear “why,” it doesn’t get a slot.

The trends taking shape in Saudi Arabia right now are unlike anything I’ve seen in my career. We are moving past the era of simple diversification into one of deep industrial and digital maturity. I’m seeing a massive flight to quality and a real appetite for institutional-grade governance in private companies. Within our own portfolio, the shift toward sustainable manufacturing and tech-enabled distribution is the next frontier.

Personally and professionally, my next steps are about building for the long term. I want to ensure that Rajhi Invest remains at the forefront of the Kingdom’s transformation, helping the next generation of Saudi and regional investment professionals navigate this new economic era. Looking further ahead, I eventually want to apply all my years of experience into building something from the ground up and setting up my own boutique investment outfit.

To decompress, I look for things that take me entirely out of the world of finance. I’m a reader, and I tend to gravitate toward history or leadership biographies — books that offer a different perspective on how the world works. A great read that I enjoyed a lot was Tuesdays With Morrie by Mitch Albom. When it comes to shows, I look for quality storytelling that allows for a total mental reset. It’s important to have that “off” switch — it’s what allows you to be sharp when you’re “on.”

The best piece of advice I’ve ever received? It’s a combination of two things that boil down to focusing on the fundamentals and keeping it simple. Focusing too much on the small things and trying to perfect your execution will only slow you down. Every business prospect has a heartbeat that you have to maintain by moving forward. Real value is built by focusing on the fundamentals, the operations, and the people. If you get those right, the scoreboard eventually takes care of itself.

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