A financial analyst with Masdar Capital, Mohammad Al Bader believes he is among the fortunate UAE nationals who happen to be at the right place at the right time. He is determined and has a clear purpose for his personal ambitions and for his country.
Just 29 years old, he has already packed in enough experience to inspire his peers. Wearing his confidence with composure, he says, "I would like younger nationals to regard me as a person who can make things happen. In doing that, I would like them to believe in themselves and in the certainty that they too can make things happen with selfless, motivated and diligent effort."
Al Bader spent most of his younger years in the US. Shortly after he was born, he moved to Michigan with his parents. But at 13 he returned to the UAE. The American International School had just opened in Abu Dhabi and Al Bader was in the first group of students who gained admission in 1995.
"My early years in the US and the subsequent ones in the UAE have helped shape the person I am," he says. "From the West, I cultivated open-mindedness and a zest for learning. From the East, I embraced our values of hospitality and the way we unquestioningly accept people from other countries."
After graduating from high school in 2000, Al Bader returned to the US to join the University of the Pacific in Stockton, California. A recipient of the UAE Government sponsored scholarship, he graduated in 2005 with a Bachelor of Business Administration with a specialisation in financial management.
When he returned to the UAE he took some time off to get settled in the country again and later accepted his first job as a senior relationship officer at First Gulf Bank in Abu Dhabi. He was 24 at the time. "As a UAE national, I had a responsibility to prove my calibre and refute the notion of the Emirati stereotype that we are a laid-back lot," he says.
Al Bader always showed tenacity and was keen to learn from his colleagues. "I was fortunate that I got to learn valuable lessons from seniors who possessed 20 to 30 years of banking experience," he says. "It was interesting to see them handle the trickiest of issues with nonchalance. I tried my best to learn as much as I could about multiple aspects of the bank."
After gaining experience, learning from mentors and proving himself at work, Al Bader began managing risk-asset portfolios for the bank. He was also responsible for developing new and existing client relationships and introducing the bank's products to the corporate marketplace.
In September 2007 an opportunity came up at Masdar Capital working with small- to medium-sized enterprises that deal with climate change and new clean technology.
"The job had to do with the investment aspect of business in a sector that is very close to my heart - renewable energy. It was an enviable opportunity," he says.
"I dove into it right away and after a series of interviews with multiple levels of executives including the CEO of Masdar Dr Sultan Al Jaber, I stepped on board as a financial analyst."
Work
It was a tough walk at first. Masdar was a new company that was being built from the base, up. A work culture was also being created around its people. During the early days, I was as nervous as any newcomer while participating in meetings with the CEO. The more I interacted with Al Jaber, the more I saw him as a person who nurtured an extraordinary vision for the company, for the UAE nationals and for the country.
One of the first things he said to me was, "Mohammad, this is not going to be easy and you'll be constantly challenged to rise to expectations. I want you to go out there and prove yourself every day." His words impressed me. He is someone who not only knew what he wanted but also knew how to make it happen.
My initial challenge was to grasp the way the umbrella entity - Masdar - functions.
At Masdar Capital, we seek investments through two funds with assets under management of over $550 million (Dh2 billion), jointly managed with Credit Suisse and Deutsche Bank. Some of the investors in these funds include INPEX Corp, Japan Bank, Nippon Oil Corp, GE, Siemens, Japan Bank International, and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries. Currently, our investments range from solar thin-film, waste-to-energy and water purification companies to Chinese wind development companies and North American glass recycling enterprises.
My work involves conducting due diligence and financial assessments of potential deals and equity investments. This includes financial modelling of cash flow and reviewing income statements and balance sheets. I research clean-tech companies, financial statements, various industry regulatory regimes, economic information, and provide an analysis of this information to develop an understanding of the investment trends and risks.
I must admit the learning process that started the day I joined Masdar Capital continues even today. Functioning in a dynamic global landscape, we are groomed to expect new lessons and surprises every morning.
A couple of years later when I felt ready to take on a new challenge, I was placed on a team that worked on bringing the International Renewable Energy Agency (Irena) into the UAE. As part of the delegation led by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, I travelled to over 30 African countries to meet with heads of state and key decision makers. We were there to lobby for the UAE's bid to host the Irena headquarters. The rest, of course, is history. In 2009, it was truly a proud moment for all of us at Masdar when Abu Dhabi won the Irena bid.
Within Masdar, we have integrated units such as Masdar Power, Masdar Institute, Masdar Carbon, Masdar City and Masdar Capital. Organising events like the World Future Energy Summit (WFES) help us showcase our many achievements in the energy sector.
The growing participation since 2008 is a testimony to the success of this international event. This year, we had 25,000 policymakers and entrepreneurs from over 150 countries. We've come a long way since the first year when we had 8,000 participants.
A large percentage of the workforce at Masdar comprises UAE nationals, from the front end to the executive management level. This gives me an opportunity to meet and interact with the CEO or the executive management as well as people on the other side of the spectrum that are trying to enhance their careers and develop their skills. I regard this diverse exposure as extremely valuable.
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As the only son in a family of five children, it has been wonderful to watch four young women grow - all of them educated and self-thinking with a drive of their own. My parents are very progressive.
We are fortunate to have received the unique experience of living outside the country even while being firmly rooted in the Emirati culture. We have always been encouraged to articulate our thoughts, no matter how trivial; probably the reason why I rarely hesitate to express an opinion.
Essentially a city person, I like driving around and watching the sights. Although I love my country and my home, travelling gives me the space I need and helps me fuel my enthusiasm and my energy.
From the places I have travelled, Argentina is a personal favourite. I have great admiration for its well-conserved and beautiful architecture and irresistible cuisine. New York and San Francisco are the other cities that are unlike any other and have a tremendous energetic buzz about them. The beauty of Africa is equally incredible. No picture, no person, speech, or book can ever describe what Africa is unless you see it for yourself.
When I am not thinking about work or drawing up an itinerary for my next trip, I always look forward to playing basketball. I have played at the club and regional level for Masdar teams. At high school, my team was the school and national champion for successive years. The sport has taught me values such as team spirit, to push myself to stay on top of the game, to never give up, and to stay focused 100 per cent on the goal of winning. I always try and bring the lessons I learn from the basketball court into the workplace.
On the flip side, I must confess I do not like to lose, although I have lost several times in my life. But each failure has offered a new lesson.
I am an avid reader, and enjoy reading both fiction and non-fiction. I am currently reading Buffettology by Warren Buffet.
I also enjoy collecting quotes and over the years managed to put together a good number of phrases. A personal favourite is a quote from Shaikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan, the UAE's founding father. It says, "No matter how many buildings, foundations, schools and hospitals we build, or how many bridges we raise, all these are material entities. The real spirit behind the progress is the human spirit, the able man with his intellect and capabilities."
Dream
I dream with my eyes open and in many ways I am living a dream. I go to work every day and watch ideas turn into solid business models.
The influence, the people, the vision, the capital, the hard work, and perseverance - I see all this on a daily basis.
I enjoy going for a walk in the grounds of Masdar City and taking in the magnificence of the buildings we have completed. It's really a dream come true for Abu Dhabi that everyone in the city gets to see.
It is fascinating to witness the success of the UAE and watching the vision of the rulers come true. It makes me grateful to be a part of a country that only wants the best for its people. I therefore consider it my moral responsibility to contribute to its ambition and success by tapping into my creativity to help.
Needless to say, my meeting with His Highness Shaikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE, Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces and Ruler of Abu Dhabi remains one of the most precious ‘dream moments' of my entire life. I met him last Ramadan when he invited the Masdar team that worked on the Irena project to congratulate us on our efforts.
I would like to see Masdar become a bigger, world-class player in renewable energy and drive the long-term ambitions of our mother company Mubadala Development Company. And I'd like to be part of all the crucial moments that go into translating a concept or idea into reality. I don't want to miss anything!
Personally, I would also really like to further leverage my public speaking skills to benefit the company and our initiatives. I realised this strength during the World Future Energy Summit earlier this year when every unit from Masdar was offered a chance to address the elite audience. It felt great to take the podium and speak about Masdar Capital - our objectives, achievements and goals for the future.
I do not plan my life but allow destiny to chart the way. Although I do have goals, I rarely feel compelled to chase them. Five years from now, I hope to be in an executive managerial role in Masdar Capital.
Alternatively, I would like to contribute to the vision of the Abu Dhabi Government in some way or successfully implement one of my own entrepreneurial ideas that I would like to try and grow in this country.
While I am engaged in this process of pushing myself to action all my dreams, I also hope to create some personal time for myself to expand the scope of my involvement in social responsibility activities, particularly on the medical or educational front.
Vasanti Sundaram is a Dubai-based freelancer
