The Philosopher CEO

‘‘With high spirits carried by a positivism displayed in a body sculpted by intense physical activities... The CEO of Aspen Global Incorporated, a subsidiary of the multinational pharmaceutical company Aspen Pharmacare Holdings, is one of those people who live life in the fast lane’’.

On the occasion of Women’s Day celebrated on the 8th March, what do you think about the growing importance of substantial female participation in the upper management echelons of companies??

Research done by Korn Ferry showed that boards with diverse representation are more successful than boards that are not diverse. Therefore, the importance of having females in the highest ranks in organizations is a no-brainer. We just need to be careful about trying to force an outcome, instead of forcing the equal opportunity. We absolutely need to work on corrective actions but more important would-be prevention, which starts from parenting.

You are the father of two daughters. Do you think you would have raised them differently if they were boys?

The problem in the world is that we raise our kids differently based on gender. This makes some more entitled and others feel more inferior, among many other issues. Then we spend all our lives and many generations to correct something that we created from the cribs and classrooms. We simply need to teach boys and girls to be good human beings and respect the “other” no matter who the other is: irrespective of their skin color, religion, gender, etc. If we do so from the comfort of our kids’ bedrooms, we don’t need to take this to boardrooms and beyond.

What is the best life rules passed on by your father or parents that you have passed on or would like to pass on to your children?

Respect is more important than likes. Earn Respect rather than chasing to be liked. And that was way before Facebook was invented!

Moving on, what is your wish for 2022?

My wish for 2022 is for everyone to continue striving for the protection of one another, to continue to trust science and facts, and to continue walking through life with compassion and kindness. There is an opportunity for humanity to be more united as we face challenges from a common threat like COVID.

The best remedy to combat the lingering gloom??

I always said that we should follow facts and science instead of adding to the chaos by following conspiracy theories and scaremongering. Equally important, is for us to have a positive outlook. We have managed to combat so many diseases in the past and we learned how to live with others, therefore we know for a fact that this too shall pass.?

I prefer simplicity when thinking about complex matters. My advice would be to be vaccinated and live life as normally as you can as long as you are not causing danger to someone else, hence my focus on outdoors activities and sports to keep my mind in a positive frequency and at the same time boost my immunity.?

It seems that laziness bores you...

“Bores me” is an understatement. (Laughs) If I have a lazy day, which I never do but let’s call it a lazy hour, I feel that my brain is shrinking, and my health is deteriorating. I prefer an active lifestyle mentally, physically and spiritually as this will enable me to smell the roses while planting some.

What’s next on your bucket list??

I’ve got two: I hope to visit Tibet, and Varanasi in India.?

The best music to party??

My taste is definitely elastic: I like and listen to all sorts of music from Lil Wayne to Pavarotti. If it’s a dance party, then I would go for Electronic Dance Music.?

What do you miss most when you are away from your homeland?

I miss my relatives. Being an expatriate, you miss a lot of things, like witnessing aging parents or seeing your young family members grow and develop. Also, Lebanese cuisine, which, according to me, is the best in the world.

What activities do you enjoy with your family or on your own??

Given that it never gets really cold in Mauritius, and our kids enjoy swimming, our favourite activity is going to the beach. I personally like kitesurfing and swimming. It allows me to reach a meditative state. The ocean has this unique ability to challenge the body and connect the mind to the soul.?

As a travel enthusiast, what is the most cherished trip you have made so far?

Every trip has taught me something and contributed to my growth. Although I’ve been to more than 60 countries, the most cherished trip is the one I just made to Costa Rica, as it was transformational at a higher level than any other trip. Among many highlights was a visit to Nicoya, which is one of the few places in the world with a very high number of centenarians. The stories from the elderly are charged with wisdom.

If you were the prime minister, what necessary actions would you take for the country??

Leaders, whether a prime minster or not, have acute accountability to ensure that the future is bright. If I were PM, I wouldn’t do anything that is different from what I do in my business. First of all, I would be out in the field, listening to what the people need (although that doesn’t mean that you can attend to every wish). I would create a clear and exciting vision of the future and the path to get there. Thirdly, communicate, communicate, communicate. Mauritius has a lot of potential and tapping into that potential is important to make this beautiful island, despite its size, shine bright on the world map.

BIO EXPRESS

“I was a Christmas present to the world or the world was a Christmas present to me,’’ says Samer Kassem mischievously, as he was born on 24 December in Beirut, the capital of Lebanon. He would describe his parents as ‘‘amazing, as they sacrificed everything they had for the wellbeing of their five children’’. A childhood spent during a difficult period when civil war was happening on all fronts, and resources were scarce, pushed Samer to craft a better future for himself. ‘‘Studying was my ammunition back then to fight back in a frightening world’’. He was in his late 20’s when he moved to the USA. I started my studies in Finance as I was good with numbers. ‘‘I had many enriching roles before I signed up to set up Aspen’s Global business in our beautiful island, as a CEO. I have worked in finance, consulting, brand management, strategy and mergers and acquisitions and was exposed to many cultures and disciplines across the globe’’. Samer is married to Lindsay, a nutrigenomic counsellor and health coach in Mauritius and abroad, and they have two bundles of joy, Reya, who is 6 years old, and Dalia, who is 4.?

• This is an English translation of the interview published in Essentielle Magazine, p.44-46,?La Sentinelle Ltd, 4 March 2022. "Samer Kassem - Le CEO Philosophe".