Welcome to the Arena from ICR – Conversations with Today's Innovators & Business Leaders Mohammed Alardhi, Executive Chairman, Investcorp — Scaling New Heights: Empowering Teams to Achieve Global Success
Summary:
In business, leadership isn’t just about taking charge — it’s about enabling others to thrive. As companies grow and stakes rise, fostering trust and collaboration becomes essential. Today’s guest has embraced a leadership style rooted in empowerment, driving innovation, and turning ambitious visions into tangible success.
Today we're sitting down with Mohammed Alardhi, Executive Chairman of Investcorp, a leading global manager of alternative investments. Under his leadership, Investcorp has grown its assets under management from 10 billion to 53 billion in just nine years, all while diversifying and expanding its global footprint.
Mohammed leads the firm's activities across its global network in New York, London, Bahrain, Abu Dhabi, Riyadh, Mumbai, Delhi, Beijing, Singapore, and Japan. He is a retired Air Vice Marshal and was the youngest and longest-serving Chief of the Omani Air Force, having joined the Royal Air Force of Oman in 1978.
In addition to his role at Investcorp, Mohammed also serves as Chairman of the Muscat Stock Exchange. He sits on several boards, including the International Advisory Board of the Brookings Institute in Washington, D.C., the Eisenhower Fellowship in Philadelphia, The World Economic Forum's Community of Chairpersons, and the Harvard Kennedy School's Dean Council, among others. Mohammed is the author of three published books, the most recent is Connecting to the Future, which became a U.S. bestseller in 2023.
He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Military Science from the Royal Air Force U.K. Staff College and a Master's in Public Administration from the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University. He is also a graduate of the Royal Air Force Military Academy in the U.K. and the National Defense University in Washington, D.C.
In this episode, we discuss how Mohammed redefined his leadership style at Investcorp, blending military precision with visionary strategy to scale operations, foster innovation, and create lasting impact on a global stage.
Highlights:
- How Mohammed spearheaded Investcorp's transformation plan (5:36)
- Mohammed describes his military experience and how it informs his approach to business (7:47)
- Situational awareness, and its application to work environments (9:39)
- How Mohammed views investment decisions on a global scale (11:27)
- Mohammed's leadership style (12:21)
- How challenging the status quo helped Investcorp set growth and transformation goals (13:50)
- What Mohammed has learned from navigating high-profile deals (17:58)
- How to balance short-term results with long-term strategic planning (19:15)
- Breaking free of nostalgia in business (20:40)
- How the Investcorp team maintained internal stability amid substantial growth (22:34)
- Navigating cultural and economic environments on a global scale (25:19)
- Investcorp's outlook and goals for 2025 (26:27)
- Incorporating AI into Investcorp workflows (29:33)
- Investcorp's influence on corporate social responsibility (30:37)
Links:
Mohammed Alardhi LinkedIn
Book: Connecting to the Future by Mohammed Alardhi (2023)
Feedback:
If you have questions about the show, or have a topic in mind you'd like discussed in future episodes, email our producer, marion@lowerstreet.co.