- February 14, 2025
EPISODE #
The deal maker: Ziad Awad on compromise, deal killers, negotiation, and Trump’s ‘drill baby drill’ impact on GCC economies
About this episode
I sat down with Ziad Awad, the Founder and CEO of Awad Capital, a boutique investment bank, specializing in mergers and acquisitions (M&A). We kick off by exploring the broader implications of President Trump’s ‘drill baby drill’ policy and how it could shape GCC economies, from oil markets to capital flows. We then deep dive into the art of deal-making, from knowing when to sell, to navigating high-stakes negotiations, to creating a win-win scenario to uncovering the one thing that kills a deal. Ziad gives us a behind the scenes look into how a deal is made and what can go wrong. Whether you’re an entrepreneur, investor, or just curious about the inner workings of M&A, this conversation is packed with lessons on valuing time, thinking strategically, and winning in business.
00:00:00 Teaser
00:01:04 Introducing Ziad Awad
00:01:13 Impact of Trump’s inauguration on GCC
00:03:35 Discussion on U.S. dollar and oil prices
00:08:34 Saudi Arabia’s economic strategies
00:11:29 Mergers and acquisitions in the Middle East
00:21:47 Challenges in selling a business
00:24:49 Understanding market expectations
00:25:21 Due diligence and company analysis
00:27:02 Challenges in M&A transactions
00:27:51 Time: the enemy of M&A
00:31:58 Speeding up the deal process
00:35:58 Negotiation strategies
00:38:57 Running a competitive process
00:42:44 Crisis management in business
00:45:14 Transition from corporate to entrepreneurship
00:49:20 Final thoughts and conclusion
listen to the episode
guest profile
Ziad Awad
Ziad Awad is the Chief Executive Officer of Awad Capital, an independent, Dubai based, DFSA regulated, Financial Services firm focusing on Mergers and Acquisitions, Corporate Divestitures and Exits, Capital Raising and Buy-Side Advisory.
Prior to founding Awad Capital, Ziad was the Managing Director at Merrill Lynch where he held a number of senior roles including, Head of Investment Banking for Industrials, Energy and Power in the Middle East and North Africa, Senior Executive Officer of the Merrill Lynch International Dubai branch and Head of Capital Markets and Financing.
Prior to Merrill Lynch, Ziad was an Executive Director at Goldman Sacks where he held a number of roles including Head of Middle East Capital Debt Markets Origination in London and Dubai.