Haitham Wahab is an accomplished business leader with 25+ years of experience helping steer companies towards success. He’s been both an investor and a company insider — as a business advisor, this makes all the difference.

Beginning his career as an investment banker with JPMorgan, Haitham supported companies on strategic transactions and growth initiatives before leading a management buyout (MBO) to acquire a specialized media company in the in-flight entertainment industry. After successfully managing, scaling, and eventually exiting the business, he now advises companies at various stages of maturity, with a special focus on entrepreneurial ventures.

Although investors and company insiders share the same goals, they might speak different languages or approach challenges in contrasting ways. Haitham’s dual perspective helps him understand both investor priorities and the daily realities of running a business. 

He shares that as a new CEO, he was surprised to discover certain challenges he might have overlooked as an investor. “Ninety percent of what I thought would be a problem was absolutely no problem,” he recalls. “But the ten percent I didn’t look at ended up using ninety percent of my time.” 

Having “been on both sides of the PowerPoint”, Haitham now sees his role as a mediator — a translator who can code-switch between the frontline fog of company management and external stakeholders’ birds-eye view. “I’ve staged mergers for major companies, but I’ve also worried about whether or not the coffee machine is stocked,” he notes. 

With plenty of consultants competing for founders’ limited capital, attention, and time, it’s important to carefully consider who can guide your company to the next level. To Haitham, a thoughtful advisor will first and foremost understand the founder’s point of view — and MFN agrees. 

That is why MFN is excited to partner with Haitham on a new roundtable focused on strategy and scale for B2B founders from all sectors. Haitham’s energy, enthusiasm, and expertise, built over time as an investor and internal leader, can help B2B founders navigate growth, prepare for acquisitions, and develop and execute successful exit strategies.  

“As cliché as it sounds, it can and does get lonely at the top,” Haitham says. “Person-to-person exchanges help identify what’s important. There’s value in the meandering, in voiding expectations, and in saying yes.” He is excited to facilitate ongoing, informal dialogue within the MFN network, creating a space where founders can learn from each other and thrive together. 

Interested in exploring roundtables further? Check out this article and email MFNfeedback@leverinc.org for more information.