7 Business Lessons From Egyptian Billionaire Mohamed Mansour

Egyptian Billionaire Mohamed Mansour

“Writing this book was such an interesting and rewarding experience,” said Mr Mansour. “When I embarked on the project, my main aim was to produce something that my beloved grandchildren would find interesting and be able to take lessons from. My life has not been easy – there have been times when I have struggled to overcome adversity and hardship, including some significant health issues and times when I have struggled to make ends meet. Today, as I lead an organisation that employs 60,000 people globally, I still feel a huge responsibility and the pressure is always there to succeed, but I remain motivated and driven, and above all, I love what I do.”

Mohamed Mansour, the Chairman, has recently published his autobiography titled 'Drive to Succeed'. This book, released by the prestigious Penguin Random House, narrates his extraordinary life journey. It covers his early challenges, including a car accident at age 10 which left him bedridden for three years, and his fight against cancer at 20 while studying in the United States.

In collaboration with journalist Andrew Cave, 'Drive to Succeed' also delves into the changes in Middle Eastern politics witnessed by Mansour. The narrative includes the nationalization of his father's cotton business and the confiscation of their family assets by Gamal Nasser's socialist regime in Egypt in 1964. Years later, Mansour accepted the Egyptian government's request in 2005 to head the transport ministry, focusing on reforming the country's struggling railway system.

After resigning from the ministry in 2009, Mansour has been residing in the UK, where his family office, Man Capital, is based. He has been a staunch supporter of the UK Conservative Party and was appointed the Senior Treasurer by Prime Minister Rishi Sunak in December 2022.

Mansour is recognized as one of the most prominent business figures from the Middle East over the past five decades. He currently leads the Mansour Group, a global conglomerate with a turnover of $7.5 billion, operating in more than 100 countries, and maintaining key partnerships with leading brands like General Motors and Caterpillar.

An early backer of tech giants such as Facebook, Spotify, Uber, and Airbnb, he founded Man Capital in 2010, one of Europe's top family offices. Its recent endeavors include launching a new Major League Soccer team in San Diego in a $500 million deal in May 2023. Man Capital also holds significant shares in Caffe Nero, a major global coffee chain, and invests in various sectors including education, technology, and renewable energy.

Mansour remarked that writing the book was an enriching experience. His primary goal was to create a work that would be meaningful and educational for his grandchildren. He reflected on the difficulties and health challenges he faced, and the financial struggles he overcame. Now leading an organization with 60,000 employees worldwide, he feels a great sense of responsibility and pressure to succeed. Nonetheless, he remains passionate and driven in his work.

'Drive to Succeed' is published by Ebury Press, an imprint of Penguin Random House, and is available in hardback . It can be purchased on Amazon and at major bookstores.

Forbes offered an insightful piece about lessons we can learn from the billionaire.

I love learning from billionaires!

Mohamed Mansour, an Egyptian billionaire and the head of the Mansour Group, shared seven key business lessons in an interview with Forbes. His life story, reminiscent of a Victorian novel, is marked by dramatic ups and downs. As a child, he survived a severe car accident and was bedridden for three years. Despite being born into wealth, his family's fortune was seized and their business nationalized by Egyptian President Gamal Abdel Nasser, leaving him penniless during his college years in the U.S. He overcame these challenges, including a battle with kidney cancer at age 20, to rebuild his family's business.

Mansour's conglomerate, which includes partnerships with General Motors and Caterpillar, is now a multibillion-dollar empire. His success in investments, including a profitable early investment in Facebook, and the establishment of his private equity firm Man Capital, contributed significantly to his wealth.

From his experiences, Mansour offers these seven lessons:

1. Underpromise and overdeliver: Start modestly and exceed expectations.

2. Identify market gaps: Leverage unique abilities to offer what others can't.

3. Foster teamwork: Avoid dominating leadership; encourage collaboration.

4. Avoid complacency: Continuously innovate and adapt.

5. Balance friendship and professionalism: Maintain clear boundaries with employees.

6. Consider macroeconomic factors: Understand and anticipate economic and political shifts.

7. Turn adversity into strength: Use challenging experiences to develop resilience and wisdom.

Mansour's approach reflects a blend of cautious planning and bold innovation, shaped by a life of overcoming personal and professional challenges. His story and insights provide valuable lessons for entrepreneurs and business leaders.

Read the full article here. https://www.forbes.com/sites/monicahunter-hart/2024/01/22/7-business-lessons-from-egyptian-billionaire-mohamed-mansour/?sh=3757c7cb1d25