From Endurance to Equity: How Samer Shaaban Turns Challenges into Strength
A Life Built on Family and Adventure
Samer Shabban calls himself “a family man first.” Married for 23 years and father to three daughters, his happiest memories are of hiking trips and shared challenges like the unsupported three-day trek across California’s Catalina Island, carrying food and tents and facing buffalo, snakes, and their own limits. “At the end, my daughter told me, ‘Baba, this is the highlight of my life so far,’” he recalls. “It was a moment I’ll never forget.”
Early Lessons: Dyslexia and Resilience
Samer discovered he had dyslexia only at university, after a counselor intervened. By then, he had already learned to work around it, excelling in math, developing creative problem-solving skills, and relying on tools and teamwork. “Challenges are part of progression,” he says. “I expect them, and I hammer away at them with persistence.”
From Supermarket Floors to Global Brands
His fascination with finance began as a boy watching his father run a supermarket in Jeddah. By high school, Samer had already invested in Al-Rajhi Bank’s IPO, a stock he still owns. After earning his degree at California State University, Long Beach, he joined Unilever, rotating through Dubai, London, and Jeddah. “I learned how to move a product from factory to shelf, how to drive a consumer from their couch to buy,” he recalls.
Building a Career in Private Equity
Today, Samer is Senior Vice President of Private Equity at SCO, having also led finance, real estate, and corporate transactions across multiple countries. He is candid about mistakes, like a German investment that went sour during the global financial crisis. “Losing money is personal,” he says. “You have to face your investors and be transparent.” The property later recovered, but the lesson in patience and accountability stayed. “Real value takes time. That’s what I try to teach my kids and the people I mentor.”
Leadership Philosophy: Empathy and Empowerment
For Samer, leadership is not command and control. “It’s about inspiring and coaching others,” he explains. “There’s always ego that gets in the way, so I listen a lot, empower employees, and try to balance humility with discipline.” His own journey across cultures and setbacks has deepened his empathy for entrepreneurs, employees, and his own children.
Health, Well-Being, and the Second Half of Life
Endurance sports aren’t just hobbies for Samer; they’re part of his mission to inspire well-being. His capstone project created an app to encourage physical activity, and his Instagram followers tell him, “You inspired me to run today.” He wants Saudis in the second half of their lives not just to live longer but to live well. “We see it in the West, older people still active, enjoying their grandchildren. I want that for our society.”
Rooted in Jeddah, Open to the World
Having lived in China, India, Latin America, and Australia, Samer credits Jeddah’s openness for making him receptive to other cultures. “Jeddah is home,” he says. “It’s memories. It’s Hijazi culture and people’s stories.” He brings back global lessons to share with his family, colleagues, and community.
Defining Happiness and Legacy
When asked about happiness, Samer pauses. “Inner peace,” he says. “Prioritizing family, health, career, and well-being in the right balance. Alhamdulillah, at this stage I’m very pleased with where I am and where I’m heading.”
Patience, empathy, and giving back are the traits Samer embodies, on the trail and in the boardroom. Through his leadership and example, he’s showing a whole generation how to persevere.
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