AHMAD HAIKAL
العربية

Executive Coach & Strategic Advisor

Clearer Thinking. Better Decisions.

Sometimes moving forward starts with a question, a decision or the willingness to change direction. I work with people navigating challenges in life, careers and leadership, and with founders and teams facing business decisions. I bring professional coaching and more than 20 years of experience in business to help explore options and turn decisions into practical steps.

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Ahmad Haikal, executive coach and strategic advisor, in a dark suit

My Story

Change Starts With Will. Progress Starts With Action.

Ahmad Haikal seated in a relaxed portrait

I studied Veterinary Medicine at Cairo University and began my career in healthcare before moving into business. Over more than 20 years, I have worked across different industries, markets and organizations, which gave me a broader perspective. I hold an MBA and the Professional Certified Coach (PCC) credential from the International Coaching Federation (ICF).

Throughout my career, I have built business functions and teams from the ground up, led commercial performance, and worked closely with cross-functional leadership teams to turn plans into results. Working across different markets and with people from different cultures and backgrounds has broadened my perspective. It has taught me to listen carefully, understand the context, and consider different points of view before making a judgment.

I have had successes, and I have also failed. Some decisions worked; others did not. I am proud of what I learned from both. I do not have all the answers, and I am still willing to learn, try something different and change course when a plan no longer works. I do not accept the status quo simply because it is familiar.

Those experiences taught me that change begins with the willingness to question what is not working and make a different decision. But willingness alone is not enough. Progress depends on taking action, staying disciplined and learning along the way.

Today, I bring that experience to executive and career coaching, strategic advisory, and speaking and workshops. Whether I am working with an individual, a leader or an organization, I start by listening and understanding the situation before exploring what could work better.

  • International Coaching Federation (ICF), Professional Certified Coach (PCC)
  • Amazon
  • Unilever
  • IQVIA
  • Johnson & Johnson
  • USAID

50+ leaders mentored

Supporting people’s growth and readiness for greater responsibility during my corporate career.

350+ professional interviews

Practical experience assessing talent, making hiring decisions and understanding readiness for the next role.

Functions & teams built

Building commercial functions and leading teams across global organizations, markets and cultures.

Founders & SMEs advised

Commercial planning and growth support for Egyptian SMEs through a direct independent contract with USAID.

How I Help

Whatever brings you here, we can start with a conversation.

You do not need to have every answer before starting. Whether you are facing a personal decision, leading a team or running a business, we can look at what is happening, what you have learned, what could change and what practical step comes next.

01EXECUTIVE & CAREER COACHING

Make space for what comes next.

Change can feel difficult when you are unsure what to do next. Coaching offers space to think clearly, question assumptions, learn from past choices and decide what you are willing to do differently. I do not decide for you or promise a specific outcome. We work through your goals and choices together.

Life and change

Changes in life can bring questions about what matters next. Together, we can look at what is changing, what feels important, and what you want to do differently. The conversation is about your choices and your own pace, not someone else’s idea of success.

Career and direction

Whether you are exploring a new role, considering a career move or feeling uncertain about your direction, we can examine your options, what matters to you and what may be getting in the way.

Leadership and confidence

New responsibilities can bring new questions. I work with leaders and future leaders on how they think, communicate, develop others and navigate demanding situations without losing sight of who they are.

Preparation and practical experience

Interviews, negotiations and professional transitions are moments when preparation matters. Having conducted more than 350 interviews and mentored more than 50 leaders during my corporate career, I can bring practical perspective while keeping our coaching centered on your goals and decisions.

Starting the conversation

Our work begins with listening and useful questions. I am a Professional Certified Coach (PCC) credentialed by the ICF; coaching is a collaborative process, not therapy or a promise of a particular result. If you want to talk about where you are and what you may want to change, send me a message or use the individual booking option.

Other coaching arrangements and payment methods can be discussed directly. Your session is confirmed when you receive the agreed details by email or WhatsApp.

Talk About Coaching

02STRATEGIC ADVISORY

When things need to change, start with what is really happening.

Businesses do not always grow according to plan. When results fall short or the market changes, progress starts with an honest look at the facts, a willingness to learn and the courage to adjust the plan. I work with founders and leadership teams to explore alternatives, set priorities and put practical decisions into action, drawing on more than 20 years of hands-on commercial experience.

Build for growth.

At Amazon Egypt, I built and led Business Development & Vendor Relations from the ground up, establishing commercial frameworks, operating processes and relationships across more than 600 vendors. Earlier, I led the Consumables category during significant marketplace growth and the transition from Souq.com to Amazon. I understand the work behind growing a business, not only the plan on paper.

Make performance count.

At Unilever, I led Modern Trade commercial operations and worked on distribution, retailer relationships and account performance. Across my roles, I have managed P&Ls, improved margins, negotiated commercial terms and worked with teams to translate commercial priorities into execution. I look at how growth, profitability and the way an organization works fit together.

See the wider market.

My experience includes market entry, category and channel strategy, partnerships, pricing, vendor relationships and regional business development. In a separate consulting assignment contracted directly by USAID while I was employed at Amazon, I advised founders and leaders of more than 20 Egyptian SMEs on commercial planning, digital transformation and export opportunities.

Turn a challenge into a workable plan.

I start by understanding what is happening in your business: where growth is possible, what is affecting performance, which channels or markets make sense and what your team needs to deliver. We then define priorities and practical next steps. Where relevant, I can support the work of putting those decisions into practice.

Starting the conversation

Advisory starts with a conversation about what is happening in your business. Send me a message through the Contact page or WhatsApp, and we can discuss a useful next step. The engagement is confirmed when you receive the agreed details by email or WhatsApp.

Discuss a Business Challenge

03SPEAKING & WORKSHOPS

Real stories. Useful conversations. Ideas people can take with them.

I share real experiences from building teams, leading businesses, making difficult decisions and learning when things did not work. I do not speak as someone who has every answer. My aim is to create useful conversations that encourage people to question assumptions, explore alternatives and leave with a practical idea they can act on.

Ahmad Haikal speaking in a brown checked jacket

Leadership beyond the job title.

Leadership changes as responsibilities grow. I bring practical perspectives on moving into leadership, building teams, developing people, managing priorities and creating the conditions for better conversations at work.

Careers, interviews and professional growth.

With experience conducting more than 350 interviews and mentoring over 50 leaders during my corporate career, I can lead discussions on career transitions, interview preparation, professional development and what employers look for when assessing potential.

Business lessons from the field.

My speaking topics also draw on retail, e-commerce, market entry, negotiation, vendor relationships, profitability and commercial growth. I share lessons from leading functions and working with founders and businesses, while respecting the confidentiality of former employers and clients.

The right conversation for the room.

A keynote-style talk, a moderated discussion and an interactive workshop serve different purposes. I shape the topic, examples and format around the audience and the organizer’s goals, with time for questions and practical application where appropriate.

Starting the conversation

If you are planning an event or development session, send me a message through the Contact page or WhatsApp. We can discuss the audience, topic and format, then agree on the arrangements directly. Your engagement is confirmed when I send the agreed details by email or WhatsApp.

Discuss a Speaking Engagement

Contact

What would you like to talk about?

Tell me a little about what is on your mind or what you want to change. You can send a message here or reach me on WhatsApp.

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