Alumni
Profile: Khalid Zaid (MBA '99)
Khalid Zaid entered UNF with a mind to excel. After earning
his MBA in 1999, Zaid put his knowledge and leadership
skills to good use. He is now the CEO of AlAnwa Group,
a global company in Saudi Arabia that specializes in real
estate and investments with locations and affiliations
throughout the Middle East, Europe and Africa.
What is the secret to his success?
“You really must have ambition, drive, and a good
education,” Zaid said.
Like any good businessman, Zaid’s decision to attend
the University of North Florida was made after careful
research. Several critical aspects influenced his decision:
the program structure, Coggin College’s AACSB accreditation,
and UNF’s reputation for small class sizes. He
especially credits Dr. Adel El-Ansary as an inspiration
for teaching real-world techniques that he continues to
use to a great extent in his work.
“Marketing in the global arena, especially in the
Middle East, is relatively new. My MBA definitely gave
me the skills and cutting-edge knowledge to be a leader
in today’s competitive world,” Zaid remarked.
Learning and working internationally also gave Zaid a
unique perspective. His experiences enabled him to see
situations from multiple dimensions, both strategically and
culturally.
“The global market is different than what most people
are accustomed to. You must understand the culture in order
to function. It is critical for people to trust you, to
have the right team, and to invest in relationships.”
Such a formula is an investment with good returns. In
less than a decade since graduating, Zaid has led multiple
international companies, from Vice President of Marketing
and Sales for almajal ServiceMaster to his current position
as CEO of AlAnwa Group.
Though he takes pride in his successes, Zaid still believes “the
best is yet to come”. |
