‘Crazy' is the word his friends often use to describe him - because he can never stay rooted in one job; because he craves challenges; and because he is a man who is in a race to complete his work far ahead of schedule. "The list doesn't end there," laughs Ali Al Suwaidi, senior manager, facilities management, industrial zones, Abu Dhabi Ports Company, "but crazy is the one word I'm always being described as!"
Ali is least perturbed by this description; rather, he believes he kind of fits the portrayal. "I am like a well-oiled machine that is constantly running," says the 37-year-old Emirati. "I always need to do more and give more. I yearn for challenges and I thrive under pressure."
Precisely the reason why, he says, "when I've accomplished all that I can in a job, I need to move on, look for better opportunities and more challenging tasks."
This trait of seeking out the most demanding situations is an inherent characteristic - so much so that when he completed his education at a government school in Sharjah in 1991, and had to choose a branch of engineering for his higher studies, he decided to opt for electrical engineering simply because it appeared to be a challenging subject. "I chose this only because I was told it was the toughest course available in the university at the time," he recollects. "I grabbed it, thinking, why not?"
Up until then, Al Suwaidi had had no plans of what he wanted to be in life. "Left to myself, I would perhaps have been a football player," he muses, "because that was my passion as a young child." However, a government scholarship saw him join the University of Toledo (in Ohio, USA) in 1992 as an engineering student.
The US was an eye-opener in many ways for Al Suwaidi. "I come from a family of very modest means, and we had never travelled abroad. This was a first-time experience and it taught me the essential skills of learning to be patient and respecting and adapting to several new cultures and people. I also learnt to be self-responsible; to wash my clothes and cook my food..."
Yet, his thoughts often turned to the land he grew up in. "The UAE's transformation from a barren desert land to a modern country had always fascinated me," he says. "I grew up learning about the founding fathers and their visions for the nation. In the government school I went to, we were given food and granted allowances to learn the Holy Quran. So I always wondered how, as a citizen, I could give back to the country that had provided so much for me. That remained my main motivationfor studying.
"I'd always wanted to be a part of the success of the UAE," he says. "I had no intention of staying on in a foreign country. It would be impossible perhaps to not be affected by another culture and way of life but as long as you know where your roots are, I think you can stay true to yourself."
His stint abroad also made him rediscover what the Middle East had to offer: "Here, we attach great value to family life and togetherness and it made me really appreciate what we have and where we come from."
I, ME, MYSELF
I began my career as an electrical engineering trainee for etisalat. This was a very good learning curve, and I remained here for nine years during which period I also completed my Masters, got married, and had my first child.
I then joined du for a year but as I wanted to move on to the core business of my career - Facilities Management - I joined Imdaad where I was director of operations and took charge of businesses worth more than Dh100 million. However, I couldn't resist the temptation when I was offered the post of senior director of operations for the Burj Khalifa. Taking charge of the complete operations of the world's tallest building was something I truly cherished but after its completion, it was again time to move forward.
I joined Abu Dhabi Ports Company as senior manager, Facilities Management, for the Industrial Zones in September 2010.
I like to work with passion. If my work doesn't make me feel passionate, I will leave it. Being passionate makes me give 200 per cent to my job and wherever I go; I work with passion and pass that on to the team.
People who work with me love or enjoy what they do because I make them see their future; I make them share the vision. I do not like to be a team leader who merely gives orders. Instead, I help the team do their job and improve their skills. Perhaps that is why there are several crying faces each time I leave an organisation!
I am a firm believer that if you have a vision, you can achieve it. I believe in trusting in my ability and having confidence in myself. If you believe in yourself, and have the vision, wherever you go, you will leave a positive impact.
I believe success is measured by the happiness you can impart to people around you. If my family and my team are happy, then I am successful. I am humbled by success. The more success you achieve, the more humble it should make you. Being proud and having an egoistic personality is a disease in itself. It is also important to share success as you are only one member of the team responsible for the achievement.
I've been told that the race to the top involves being tough, hiding weaknesses, keeping a distance from the team, and being firm with them. But it is not in my nature to work that way. I like to sit with people; ask my team their opinion and then take the right decisions.
I am proud of being an Emirati. I always strive to give the right and positive image of a UAE citizen. As Emiratis, we have to set excellent examples of role models. We should not sit back, but take the initiative and lead the way. A leadership culture is what we have to create.
I believe that a nation's prosperity lies in the welfare of its people. A nation's most important asset is its people, and when the people are well taken care of, it brings more than triple-fold benefits for the nation as a whole.
I read management books, and books that talk about leadership or those that delve into Facilities Management. I enjoy reading the Harvard Business Review because it gives a global perspective on leadership and management.
I seek inspiration in challenges, and challenging situations. I like to be part of a team that works to meet or achieve those challenges. I enjoy being under pressure! When the going gets tough, I talk. I talk to people around me; try to be creative, go to the root of the problem; and then make an analysis.
The most important tool humans have been gifted with is communication and I believe in making full use of it - whether it be communicating with the team, colleagues or family. But communication is also a two-way process - you have to give others the chance to speak and listen to them. Communication is vital in finding solutions at a personal level or in work-related matters.I prefer to forget sad moments though it helps to remember how you overcame some of the more poignant moments of your life. These sad moments often give you the energy to do better.
The change in my career path, for instance, was the direct outcome of a negative incident early on in my career but I did not brood or fume over the incident. Instead, it instilled in me the desire to not remain content with engineering, but to further my career and move on. So every time I think of this incident, I remember the decision I took to do my Masters which has been a very positive change for me.
I value my family and especially my parents. I think all of us are eternally indebted to our parents and that we ought to give back at least a minimum of what they have given us. I also value people - be it colleagues and friends or other members of society.
I take a leadership approach to life wherein I try to balance my commitments towards my family, my work, my social life and myself. It is important to integrate these four elements. In my lectures, I always advise people to not split these four life domains. If you do so, and treat each individually, you will not be able to give your best.
If you do not integrate, you may end up with a fascinating career but a miserable family life, or you may be a leader at home but be hidden behind piles of files at work. When I advise others on balancing the four aspects of life, I put more pressure on myself to implement it.
Often I ask myself whether I am doing enough for the community. Today, I am a member of the Facilities Management Association as I believe that if I am part of an industry, we should take steps towards standardising it to encourage best practices and to create a benchmark for that industry in the region. I am happy with the progress we are making and the value we are adding to the organisation and the industry as a whole
I, ME, MYSELF
Me and my family
My wife and I have four kids - a daughter, Maitha, who is ten; and three sons: Majid, eight; Khalid, five; and Zayed, two. When I am with my children, I prefer to remain silent and let them do the talking!
Me and my style of management I am a very sociable person and that reflects in the way I work and treat the staff. Even when I point out their weaknesses, I do so in an amiable way. I am always ready to help them, even in personal matters. At work, I always strive for a relaxed atmosphere - so there is a lot of laughter and smiles going around.
Me and my working habits I am very quick in my job - whatever needs to be done in one year, I want it done in two months! Sometimes when I've accomplished all I can, I begin to look for new opportunities.
Once at an interview, I was told I would have to restructure the organisation within a year. But I told them that if I were to come on board, I would do it in less than three months. My premise was that, restructuring often instils fear among employees, and if the process takes time, people will begin to leave in search of new opportunities. And almost always, it is the good employees who leave before the others.
Me and the need to give back to society This is an important mission in my life. I am always willing to help the students who often call to seek advice. In July, I appeared in a programme on Noor Dubai that was telecast live - it was about the art of finding a job. Though I am no HR specialist, I had researched well so that I could offer the right advice.
Me and my leisure pursuits I am happiest when I am with my children, either playing with them or just being in their company. I also enjoy playing football with friends, or indulging in a game of billiards or bowling. Another favourite passion is camping. I enjoy getting away from city life to be one with nature in the company of friends and family. We grill and cook our own food - I take delight in these simple pleasures.
I, ME, MYSELF
The future of the UAE is built on opportunity. Your comments.
Our leaders are visionaries, and when you have a vision, you tend to grab all the opportunities that come your way. This is precisely what has propelled the UAE towards prosperity and renown.
We have laid the framework in terms of infrastructure such as ports, airports and free zones which are the key enablers of economic growth and these have fuelled ample opportunities for the nation to flourish. An enabled economy will certainly lead the way to more sustainable development and growth.
What advice would you give young Emiratis on how they can contribute to the growth of the nation?
My advice is to always grab the opportunity to learn as much as one can.
It is imperative to take the opportunity to read, learn more about the world around you and focus on attaining your goals.
Education does not encompass solely what you have learnt in college and read in textbooks; you can often learn more from the people around you. A technician, for instance, will teach you more about the practicalities of a job than your professor or textbook ever will.
One area that requires attention is documentation as it is very important to benchmark and set standards for each industry.
How do you view the changes that have occurred in the country over the last three decades? What are the positive elements that you associate with such rapid changes?
We have proven to the whole world that the UAE as a country is challenging time - we have done more in less time. This would not have been possible without great leadership.
In 1992 when I first went to the US, nobody knew where on the map the UAE was but now, that has changed dramatically. Today, the UAE also boasts a very attractive lifestyle - we have good hospitals and the educational standards are constantly improving. Fewer Emiratis now go abroad either for education or medical treatment. On the contrary, reputed hospitals and universities are making a beeline for the region to offer their services.
We have shown the world that we are capable of action, of building our expertise and of communicating, interacting, co-existing, and cooperating with myriad cultures.
On the whole, I think that both Emiratis and expatriates need to be proud that we are all part of the success of the UAE. It has been 39 years now and we have really come a long way.
