Enhancing Outsourcing Leadership Skills: Attracting Investment and Boosting Competitiveness

With the rapid developments in the global outsourcing and IT services sector, developing executive leaders has become a fundamental pillar for any country’s ability to attract investments and enhance its competitiveness.

Today, the world is moving toward more open markets, and companies are seeking competent professionals capable of managing expansion and achieving sustainability in a constantly changing environment.

Egypt is considered one of the most attractive destinations for outsourcing companies in the region, thanks to its qualified human resources and a developing digital infrastructure.

However, strengthening Egypt’s position on the global map requires focusing on qualifying executive leaders through professional training programs that align with international standards and help managers develop their financial, operational, and administrative skills.

A Global Company Official: Professional Programs for Executives Must Be Expanded

A prominent official at a global outsourcing company operating in Egypt stated that developing executive leadership skills is a crucial factor for raising the efficiency of the local market and increasing its ability to compete regionally and internationally.

The official noted that the Egyptian government has taken significant steps to support and qualify human cadres, but there is an urgent need to expand the scope of professional training programs aimed at executive managers.

He added that these programs should focus on developing skills in financial management, technology management, and digital transformation, in addition to enhancing abilities to deal with global markets.

He clarified that the responsibility for self-development primarily lies with the executives themselves, emphasizing the importance of continuous learning and gaining experience as a prerequisite for success in a rapidly changing and highly competitive work environment.

“Within our company, we encourage a culture of continuous learning and self-development, but we also believe in the importance of strong partnerships with the government, universities, and international research centers to provide advanced training programs targeting executive leaders and helping them keep pace with global best practices,” he said.

He also confirmed that the government’s role is not limited to preparing training programs but extends to facilitating the participation of executives in international conferences, forums, and exhibitions, which contributes to transferring successful experiences to the Egyptian market.

Danish: The National Training Academy Is a Key Step, But…

Dr. Adel Danish, the “founding father” of the outsourcing services industry in Egypt, confirmed that government initiatives like the National Training Academy are an important step in qualifying and training executive leaders within companies.

However, he stressed they need to be linked to real-world challenges in various economic sectors.

Dr. Danish stated that the Egyptian market suffers from a gap in advanced training programs for company executives compared to global markets, especially concerning applied content and the use of modern methodologies.

He emphasized the importance of government support for leaders’ participation in international conferences to exchange experiences and enhance institutional readiness.

He continued: “The government can also play an effective role in building partnerships with international universities and research centers, which contributes to knowledge transfer and the localization of global expertise.”

He suggested establishing a specialized government unit for international academic cooperation, in addition to providing targeted training grants for executive leaders in vital sectors, including the outsourcing industry.

Allam: Training Must Address Global Market Skills and Digital Transformation

Ahmed Allam, Business Development Sector Manager at Octopus Outsourcing Services, stressed the importance of training programs that combine practical and applied aspects to connect executives with global experiences and provide mentorship.

He believes that the Ministry of Communications and ITIDA need to expand the scope of their training programs to also include strategic skills for managerial cadres, not just young professionals.

Allam noted that the local market suffers from a gap in training programs for executives compared to other countries like Singapore and India, explaining that an executive in Egypt might have to travel abroad or take online courses that align with their personal needs and skills.

He said that skills for dealing with global markets and keeping up with digital transformation should be at the forefront of training programs for company executives, commenting: “The market is changing fast, and a leader who can’t understand the dynamics of the global market and grasp the role of technology will find themselves falling behind.”

He also believes that participation in international conferences and exhibitions shouldn’t be limited to networking but should also involve learning about new industry trends and experiences from others.

He suggested that the government can play a role by providing financial or logistical support and opening channels with organizing bodies.

He added: “The government represents a link between local companies and international universities through cooperation agreements or launching joint grants with specialized entities in business management or technology, which would create a significant qualitative leap in the sector.”

Fouad: Investing in Executive Leaders Is a Pillar for Enhancing Sector Competitiveness
Shaimaa Fouad, CEO of Winners Outsourcing Services, affirmed that developing executive competencies and leaders is an essential element for increasing the Egyptian market’s attractiveness to global investments in the outsourcing field.

Fouad explained that there are a number of government initiatives that can effectively contribute to raising the efficiency of executives, including executive leadership programs offered in cooperation with international universities and the “Future Technology Leaders” initiative, which can be expanded to include executive leaders in addition to technical cadres.

She added that adopting advanced postgraduate programs, such as MBA programs in partnership with global universities, will have a direct impact on enhancing strategic and administrative skills.

She pointed out that Egypt already has excellent institutions and initiatives in this regard, such as the Sadat Academy for Management Sciences, the Presidential Leadership School, and the Executive School of the National Training Academy, which offer specialized programs targeting government and executive leaders.

However, she noted that the number of international programs available in the Egyptian market is still limited, despite the presence of some branches of international universities like “Coventry” in the New Administrative Capital.

She confirmed that these efforts are important steps but are still insufficient to cover the market’s demand.

Regarding the government’s role in strengthening international partnerships for qualifying executive leaders in the outsourcing sector.

Fouad stressed the importance of signing cooperation agreements with universities and research centers specialized in management and technology, in addition to supporting the establishment of outsourcing excellence centers in partnership with international research institutions.