Hassan Jameel, Deputy President and Vice Chairman, Abdul Latif Jameel joined a lineup of high-profile speakers at the Global Entrepreneurship Congress in Riyadh in March 2022.

The fireside chat session, “Disruption? Yes, Thank you!” saw Hassan speak to moderator John Rossant, Founder and CEO, CoMotion, and Founder and Chairman, NewCities Foundation.  During the session, Hassan spoke about the important qualities of strong entrepreneurs.

“One of the most important entrepreneurship characteristics is humility.  Humility in yourself and humility towards others, as you think about how you can improve every day.  Being open to change, being open to making mistakes, and knowing you will never be perfect but being committed to improving every single day.  It’s an exciting time here in Saudi Arabia.  Everything we’re doing here is for the future.  Resorts for the future, cities for the future, and we’re thinking about mobility for the future.”

Hassan Jameel
Hassan Jameel
Deputy President and Vice Chairman
Abdul Latif Jameel

Hassan and John went on to discuss the uncertainty brought about globally by the COVID-19 pandemic, and how it has presented Abdul Latif Jameel with an opportunity to cement itself as a global leader in sectors primed to shape the future of the global economy. 

Guided by the Japanese business philosophy of Kaizen – continuous improvement – Abdul Latif Jameel has positioned its mobility sector at the forefront of the next major wave of disruption. 

Hassan outlined how JIMCO (the Abdul Latif Jameel Investment Management Company), the investment arm of the Jameel Family, was an early-stage investor in US electric vehicle start-up Rivian, which has provided both Abdul Latif Jameel and Rivian with significant value-add and best practice sharing opportunities.  As part of a family-owned, globally diversified operator and investor, Hassan explained how he believes the changes impacting the mobility sector is shifting future trends in consumers’ preferences.

The Global Entrepreneurship Congress took place in Riyadh and featured 150 experts, speakers, international business leaders, economists and decision makers, as well as 26 global government ministers.  Organized by the Small and Medium Enterprises General Authority (Monshaat) in collaboration with the Global Entrepreneurship Network (GEN), the event theme was ‘Rethink, Reboot, Regenerate’.

Hassan Jameel joined the lineup of prominent speakers including Saudi Arabian ministers Prince Abdulaziz Bin Salman, Minister of Energy, Khalid Al-Falih, Minster of Investment, and Eng. Abdullah Al Swaha, Minister of Communications and Information Technology, as well as internationally renowned leaders such as Steve Wozniak, Co-Founder of Apple, Marc Randolph, Co-Founder of Netflix, Carl J. Schramm, economist and former President, Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation.