From growing up in Kuwait and studying petroleum engineering in Colorado to managing institutional portfolios and now pursuing an MBA in Switzerland, this is the story of Abdulaziz “Aziz” Akbar.
In this episode, John and Konsti sit down with Aziz to explore how his family roots and Kuwait’s merchant history shaped his values, the pivotal lessons he’s learned from investing and teamwork, why trust is built not on brilliance but consistency, and how he plans to carry forward the legacy of his culture and character through the next generation.
Key Takeaways and Highlights:
Focus and Opportunity Cost: Aziz lives by the motto “You can’t kiss all the girls”, serving as a metaphor for prioritising what matters and recognising trade-offs in life and investing.
Kuwaiti Heritage and Vision: Aziz reflects on Kuwait’s evolution from a pearl-diving trade hub to a forward-looking financial center, highlighting how this journey forged a national character rooted in resilience, ambition, and shared prosperity. That same spirit shapes his own philosophy: “I’m a builder, whether through people, portfolios, or an entrepreneurial mindset.”
Education as Leverage: A recurring theme in Aziz’s journey, from engineering and finance to an MBA, has been utilising education as a tool for personal and national development. “Education is the tool we used to prosper, not oil.”
Trust Built on Character, Not Credentials: For Aziz, technical brilliance matters less than the more important qualities, such as discipline, reliability, and integrity, attributes that develop over time and lead to long-term success. As he says, “Trust is not about talent or technical skill — it’s about discipline, humility, and pattern recognition.”
Legacy Thinking: Beyond career ambitions, Aziz’s long-term aspiration is to build a large family, pass on values through example (not instruction), and lead with honesty, vulnerability, and purpose. “The most important thing I want to pass down is not advice but a foundation of values.”
Enjoy the show!
Bonus link to one of Aziz’s favourite novels: If on a Winter's Night a Traveler.
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