230 The One With A Water Strategist
I got to know this week\u2019s guest over LinkedIn and it was a blast to have him on the show. Walid Khoury is a water strategist, investor, and influencer and has such a wealth of knowledge to share with the water treatment industry.\xa0
Walid has 20 years of industry experience having worked for GE, Nalco, and Danaher. Over the years, Walid built and led diverse and inclusive water teams, selling technical solutions, developing strategies for direct and indirect sales channels, re-allocating resources, and driving sustainable and profitable growth.\xa0
In 2020, Walid founded Desalytics, a company that offers a diverse portfolio of water testing and water treatment consumables in Sub-Saharan Africa. Desalytics helps municipal and industrial customers produce reliable water, optimize processes, maximize returns at a competitive cost through expertise, technologies, and local footprint. For this, Walid is partnering with, coaching, and mentoring young African entrepreneurs to grow Desalytics' presence across the African continent and be close to customers.\xa0\xa0
Desalytics was established in 2020 to help municipal and industrial customers produce reliable water, optimize processes, maximize returns at a competitive cost through expertise, technologies, and local footprint. Desalytics\u2019 innovative business model relies on an impact investing approach where the company partners with young African entrepreneurs, and helps them start or scale their businesses, through working capital injection, mentoring programs, and global supplier relationships.
Walid is an active LinkedIn thought leader, inspiring engaging and insightful discussions with his 26,000 industry followers. He holds a bachelor's degree in water and environment, a master's degree in water sciences, and lastly a master's degree in management from Harvard University.\xa0\xa0
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Bottom line: Walid Khoury is going to inspire you to think about water treatment on a bigger and more global level.
Your roadside friend, as you travel from client to client.\xa0
-Trace\xa0
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Timestamps:\xa0
2021: the year that water treaters around the world came together to learn and grow [0:30]
James\u2019 Challenge: \u201cMake time for your family, friends, and you.\u201d [7:17]
Introducing water strategist, investor, and influencer Walid Khoury [9:10]
Desalytics in Africa [15:57]
Attending WEFTEC 2021 [18:15]
Walid\u2019s water treatment career journey\xa0 [20:47]
The value of coaching [27:30]
The importance of diversity in the workplace [32:00]
Continuous improvement [39:00]
Lightning round questions [42:45]
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Quotes:
\u201cOptimize your water footprint.\u201d - Walid Khoury
\u201cIt\u2019s not a straightforward job; it is interesting and exciting because you are trying to solve tough challenges. If it wasn\u2019t a tough challenge they wouldn\u2019t need us.\u201d - Walid Khoury
\u201cFind women engineers and help them grow in their careers and retain them.\u201d - Walid Khoury
\u201cDon\u2019t get stuck, there is always a constant challenge. Keep developing yourself.\u201d - Walid Khoury\xa0
\u201cOne of the best ways to learn is to teach.\u201d - Walid Khoury
\u201cIf you are bored at your job, you are not learning. It\u2019s time to move on to the next one.\u201d - Walid Khoury
\u201cAfrica is a similar market to other places.\u201d - Walid Khoury
\u201cI\u2019m passionate about water.\u201d - Walid Khoury
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Connect with Walid Khoury:
Phone: +971 56 5362147\xa0
Email: walid.khoury@gmail.com
Vlog: walidkhoury.com\xa0\xa0
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/walidkhoury
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Links Mentioned:
AWT (Association of Water Technologies)
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Books Mentioned:
What Got You Here Won't Get You There: How Successful People Become Even More Successful by Marshall Goldsmith and Mark Reiter\xa0
Hot Seat: What I Learned Leading a Great American Company by Jeff Immelt\xa0
Africa's Business Revolution: How to Succeed in the World's Next Big Growth Market by Acha Leke
The Black Swan: The Impact of the Highly Improbable by\xa0Nassim Nicholas Taleb\xa0
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