Mr. Douraid Zaghouani Delivers Inspiring Seminar on Entrepreneurship and Business Excellence

The College of Business Administration (CBA) at Ajman University (AU) hosted a dynamic and well-attended seminar on Entrepreneurship and Business Excellence, with participation from MBA and DBA students alongside faculty members.

The seminar was delivered by Mr. Douraid Zaghouani, Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of the Investment Corporation of Dubai (ICD)—the Emirate’s sovereign wealth fund managing over $380 billion in assets.

With an impressive leadership track record at Xerox and board memberships in global companies such as International Hotel Investments, Dangote Cement, and SmartStream, Mr. Zaghouani brought a wealth of experience and insight to the session. He opened with a powerful message: “Before building a business, build yourself.” The session then delved into three essential foundations for successful entrepreneurship:

Innovation: Success is not just about having great ideas but about developing excellent ideas that can be realistically implemented by capable people. Innovation also involves introducing intervention ideas—those that reshape existing products or services.

People: A strong business is built by a strong team. Mr. Zaghouani emphasized the importance of surrounding yourself with highly skilled individuals, even those who may surpass your own expertise in certain areas.

Governance: Effective governance both directs and controls. Mr. Zaghouani highlighted that simply adhering to established rules and regulations can enable a business to achieve up to 85% of its key performance indicators (KPIs).

The session was rich with practical insights, leadership lessons, and inspiring strategies, leaving attendees motivated to lead with innovation, collaboration, and integrity.