Crossing Miles, Crossing Generations

Crossing Miles, Crossing Generations

By Jessica Berger, Director of Communications

Essam Albakr ’96 credits his Menlo education with helping to establish his business success, most recently as founder and CEO of Ejada Capital, a Riyadh-based private equity firm that manages assets of more than a billion dollars. Initially unsure of what to study when he arrived here from Saudi Arabia, he applied to Menlo and soon fell in love with the Peninsula and San Francisco.

“I am an entrepreneur by nature. I observe the world around me and learn by trial and error. With this I have built a personality of determination,” Albakr said. “I make the best of what I have, and most recently have retooled to a different career altogether. I gained an understanding of how to invest in new start-ups, reflecting on how I did this myself. Now, I am proud of the team as we invest in robotics, trade finance, private debt, and more.”

Albakr most recently reconnected with the College as part of Vice President for Academic Affairs and Business School Dean Mouwafac Sidaoui’s initiative to strengthen the College’s ties with the Middle East, notably the Academic Global Immersion program in Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates with current students and President Steven Weiner. An alumni event in Dubai left Albakr impressed with the Menlo of today. “It’s an excellent college for anyone who wants to connect in Silicon Valley, and it brings together the East and West.”

Among Albakr’s memories of his days Menlo are strong connections with classmates, friendships that have endured even after his return to the Gulf region. He vividly remembers sitting next to classmate George Hamilton ’95 in his first class and was looking forward to George’s upcoming visit to the Gulf Region. They planned to attend the Saudi-Mexico game in the World Cup in Qatar with George’s family.

Albakr’s son Abdulmohsen, who turns 18 in the coming year, is now looking down a familiar path. Together, they visited Menlo College on a visit to the Bay Area in the summer of 2022, connecting with President Weiner and Dean Sidaoui once again and reuniting with Menlo College alumni. Albakr advises his son, “The time from when I pursued a degree has changed to how it is today. I see it as my responsibility to help him assess what each region can offer.”