Interview by Pamela Quinzi, Owner & Editor in Chief WAVES AND RUNWAYS Magazine

In a world where strategy and excellence often operate in parallel, Ahmed Al Mahmood has made it his life’s work to unify them. As a strategic consultant, accredited excellence assessor, and awards juror, he stands at the intersection of visionary planning and rigorous measurement. From New York to Dubai, I sat down with Ahmed to explore the blueprint behind his success.  – Pamela Quinzi

“Strategy without excellence is rudderless; excellence without strategy is hollow. True mastery comes from integrating both.” – Ahmed Al Mahmood

UAE Leaders Inspiration: HH Shaikh Mohamed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan & HH Shaikh Mohamed Bin Rashed Al Maktoum   

PQ: That is a powerful connection. And speaking of dedication, your interview mentions your 22 years of devotion to developing national talent. How has the inspiration of HH Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan guided your commitment to training and developing UAE nationals?

AAM: My commitment to human capital development is directly inspired by the vision of HH Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan. His belief that a nation’s true wealth is its people is the foundation of my work in training and mentorship. Just as he launched the National Service program to prepare a generation with discipline, values, and advanced skills, I see my role in the professional sphere as complementary to that national mission. Over the past 22 years, my goal in training UAE nationals—whether they are jury members at the Sharjah Economy Department Awards or leaders in government entities—has been to instill that same sense of purpose and readiness. It is about building a resilient generation of Emirati leaders who are not just participants in the workforce but are its future architects, equipped to carry forward the legacy of our leadership.

PQ: Ahmed, your career is a testament to the UAE’s own journey towards global leadership. I’d love to delve into the inspirations behind your path. First, how has the vision of HH Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum shaped your philosophy on achieving UAE excellence?

AAM: It is impossible to speak about excellence in the UAE without acknowledging the foundational vision of HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum. His leadership has created a national DNA where excellence is not an option, but an obligation. His quote, “The government’s success is measured by regulatory agility, streamlined processes, and intelligent resource management”, is a principle I apply daily. His strategic foresight, from launching transformative planning cycles to initiatives like the ‘Great Arab Minds’ award, has built an ecosystem where my work as an assessor and strategist can thrive. He has taught us that true excellence is a continuous cycle of raising the bar, which is why in every project, from the 7-Star Standards to Sharjah’s strategic plans, I embed this philosophy of agility and proactive readiness. We are not just maintaining standards; we are following his directive to constantly redefine them.

The Dual Role: Strategist and Assessor  

Pamela Quinzi (PQ): Ahmed, your career is remarkable for combining strategy design and excellence assessment. How do you define your professional role?

Ahmed Al Mahmood (AAM): I see myself as having a dual, interconnected mastery. On one hand, I design strategic blueprints for government and institutional advancement. On the other hand, I measure their quality and impact as an accredited excellence assessor and awards juror. This isn’t a side function; it’s central to my work. The cycle of designing, implementing, and assessing creates a feedback loop: my advisory work is empirically grounded, and my assessments are strategically informed.

Structured Expertise: The Competency Framework  

PQ: You’ve developed a competency framework with over 100 skills. How does this guide your projects?

AAM: My framework is organized into five streams:

· SPEC 1.0: Development Plans – blueprinting ambition.

· SPEC 2.0: Assessment Matrices – measurable evaluation.

· SPEC 3.0: Performance Tracking & Optimization – continuous adjustment.

· SPEC 4.0: Foresight & Execution – bridging vision and action.

· SPEC 5.0: Long-Term Roadmaps – sustainable journeys.

“This framework is not theoretical; it’s an operating system behind complex multi-agency collaborations.”  

This methodology allows me to manage complex multi-agency collaborations. For example, I’ve synergized strategies for seven government entities, ensuring shared objectives, KPIs, and data-driven gap analysis. My work on Sharjah Government Sectors to create thier Strategy Plans since 2013 until 2026 shows this full-spectrum approach, from environmental scanning to phased milestones and long-term roadmaps.

The Assessment Portfolio: Benchmarking UAE Excellence 

PQ: You’re deeply involved in the UAE’s major excellence awards. Can you tell us about your assessment work?

AAM: Assessment provides a panoramic view of organizational excellence. I’ve led major government awards, including:

·      Mohammed bin Rashid Award for Family Business and Sharjah Excellence Awards: Leading assessment teams, evaluating entities like Al Fatim Group, and the Mohammed Arif Foundation.

·      Sharjah Excellence Award (Sustainability & Society Government Categories, 2021-2026): Key assessor applying EFQM and GEM 2.0 frameworks to push organizations toward long-term strategic sustainability.

·      Dubai Quality Award (2020-2023): Using RADAR methodology to evaluate government, semi-government, and private sectors, providing diagnostic scorecards and identifying strengths and improvement areas.

“Assessment is more than scoring; it’s about understanding the ‘why’ behind results and coaching teams in real time.” 

Systemic Excellence in Action 

PQ: Beyond judging awards, you implement systemic excellence projects. Could you elaborate?

AAM: Absolutely. Some examples:

·      7-Star Standards Implementation : Led a Sharjah Emirate project across 14 service centers, defining benchmarks, training staff, conducting audits, and recommending improvements, enhancing citizen experience tangibly.

·      Head of Jury, Sharjah Economic Department Awards: I define assessment criteria, train UAE nationals jury members, oversee evaluations, and chair deliberations. This positions me not just as an assessor but as an authority on economic and organizational excellence.From Assessment to Consulting  

PQ: Your assessment matrix spans government and private sectors. How do you maintain consistency?

AAM: I apply the same rigorous evaluation frameworks across entities—seven major government entities Basied on Shaikh Khalifa Excellence Awards standards, and private organizations like Dubai Quality Group for private and government sectors. The principles of excellence are universal, and I adapt the methodology for context-specific applications.Hands-On Methodology. 

PQ: How does your assessment work influence your consulting projects?

AAM: Assessment is more than measuring compliance; it’s the research behind strategy. Observing common pitfalls and success factors informs my strategic planning. My consulting spans change management, innovation, and smart government. For example, in Smart Government & Future Foresight projects, I use advanced tools for trend analysis and scenario planning to prepare governments for disruptions and opportunities. My work with Dubai Holding (2025) on excellence programs reflects how assessments open doors to architect future-ready strategies.

“Innovation in a private foundation can inspire government sectors’ customer service strategy; sustainability frameworks from organizations can elevate finance reporting.” 

Strategic Synergy: Where Assessment Meets Vision  

PQ: Your approach seems very hands-on. How do you execute assessments beyond just scoring?

AAM: I conduct evidence-based diagnoses, site visits, leadership interviews, process observation. I explain the “why” behind scores, link gaps to policy implications, and often coach teams in real time. Evaluating entities across sectors, aviation, utilities, culture, finance, gives me insights I ethically cross-pollinate, advising, for instance, a municipality on innovations seen in private foundations.

PQ: You describe your work as a convergence of strategy and excellence. Can you explain this?

AAM: Strategy without excellence is rudderless; excellence without strategy is hollow. Every evaluation informs strategy, and every project I design has built-in excellence metrics. KPIs are central from day one, ensuring initiatives are not just completed but executed with measurable impact. This synthesis makes me an integrated excellence architect for organizations.

Mastery in Strategic Projects  

PQ: In terms of strategic projects, what defines mastery for you?

AAM: Mastery is managing the full lifecycle:

1.    Foundation: Complex blueprints, gap analysis, and phased actionable roadmaps.

2.    Implementation: Projects like the 7-Star Standards Implementation, standardizing, transforming, verifying, and evolving processes.

3.    Evolution: Future-facing initiatives, like smart government and foresight projects, building resilience and strategic agility.

“True excellence requires integration: a visionary to chart the course, an assessor to ensure integrity, and an innovator to install new engines for the future.”  

PQ: And excellence mastery?

AAM: It’s about calibration. As a certified assessor, I ensure organizations meet the highest standards, serving as a gold standard benchmark and steward of award ecosystems. I cross-pollinate best practices, transforming insights from one sector to another.

PQ: Finally, what’s the overarching philosophy behind your career?

AAM: True excellence requires integration: a visionary to chart the course, an assessor to ensure integrity, and an innovator to install new engines for the future. I measure the present and plan for the future, helping entities not just achieve excellence, but redefine it. My work is about building a continuous cycle of improvement, ensuring the UAE’s institutions are not only operationally excellent but future-ready.

For more info: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ahmed-al-mahmood-a638b9191/

Thank you so much, Ahmed, for sharing your insights and journey with WAVES AND RUNWAYS Magazine. Your dedication to strategy, excellence, and innovation is truly inspiring, and it was an honor to explore the depth of your work with you. I’m grateful for your time and for letting our readers see the vision behind your remarkable achievements.

Pamela Quinzi

Owner, Editor in Chief, Waves and Runways

Melapa International