We recently had the honor of sitting down with Hussein Salloum, Director at Energypro Electricals and conversing with him. Hussein Salloum is a skilled director with a track record of success in the electronic manufacturing sector and excels in this field in areas including power distribution, power systems, and sustainable solutions.
Leaders such as Hussein Salloum, who has over twenty years of experience in this field, lead the industry throughout this transformative moment. In this interview, Hussein speaks about his professional journey and background. He also shares his vision of overcoming adverse situations, suggests approaches for beginners to adopt while starting in this field, and addresses some common industry myths.
Spark Behind The Passion
We started the interview by asking, “What inspired you to start your professional journey in this field?”
Hussein shared, “For the past period post-COVID, UAE has been increasingly investing in innovative and renewable electrical solutions due to several factors such as visions for sustainability, abundant resources for solar, technological innovations, environmental concerns, and economic diversification.
The combination of these factors has inspired all professionals in this region to tackle developing and implementing intelligent and renewable electrical solutions. As an electrical engineer and business focused in UAE for the last 20 years, I have chosen to adapt to the market shifts and lead on related topics.”
More About Hussein Salloum’s Profession
Eager to learn more about Hussein Salloum and his business, we asked, “Could you tell us more about yourself and your business?”
He responds, “I am Lebanese and have been in the UAE since 2005. I graduated from the American University of Beirut as an electrical engineer in 2003 and hold a Master of Business Administration (MBA) and Master of Philosophy in Management (MPHIL). I have worked in the electrical and electronic manufacturing industry for the last twenty years, focusing on power distribution and low- and medium-voltage switchgear manufacturing.
After 2020, I have been focused more on developing sustainable solutions, innovative energy systems, water generation, and solar energy. Currently running an executive director at Energypro Electricals and doing my doctoral research on transformational leadership post-COVID-19 in UAE SMEs.”
Busting Common Myths
Every industry has certain prevalent misconceptions that need to be addressed by an industry expert. So, we asked, “What’s a common misconception about your industry or role that you’d like to address?”
Hussein replied, “One of the common misconceptions about smart cities and renewable industries is that they are only about environmental conservation. However, they incorporate many other benefits.
First is that these industries offer significant economic benefits. They can create job opportunities, drive innovation, and contribute to economic growth through new technologies and infrastructure development. Second, they generate resilience and security where cities can become more resilient to disruptions, including natural disasters and cyber threats.
Third is the quality of life, as they improve the quality of life for residents and can create efficient public transportation and intelligent infrastructure, which enhance convenience, safety, and overall well-being. In addition, developing smart cities and renewable solutions fosters technological innovation across various sectors and leads to long-term cost savings despite their initial investment costs.”
Overcoming Major Hurdles
Businesses will inevitably come across specific challenges that need to be handled efficiently. We asked, “What have been the major challenges in your business? How did you overcome it?”
Hussein responded, “We have encountered significant challenges in power quality, smart cities, and renewable solutions. Overcoming these challenges requires a combination of technological innovation, policy frameworks, and investment.
On the inter-company levels, we faced market shifts, supply chain disruptions, uncertainty, and planning challenges. On the external levels, we face challenges related to integrating intermittent renewable energy sources, such as solar, into the existing power grid and the need for efficient energy storage solutions. In addition, we face the challenge of developing and implementing effective public and private policies and regulations that support the growth of smart cities and renewable energy.
It was dealt with by creating vision and leading, building resilience for the team, leveraging technology, and making strong collaboration and networking among staff and customers. We were flexible in the working environment yet kept monitoring and adjusting our actions as required. In addition, we always encourage collaboration between government, private sector, and academic institutions to drive innovation, knowledge exchange, and skills development in smart cities and renewable energy.”
Plans We Asked Hussein Salloum
We were intrigued to learn more about Hussein Salloum’s professional aspirations. So, we inquired, “Tell us more about your professional goals and how you aim to achieve them?”
He shared, “I have been working with the team to establish sustainable products and services in power, water supply, and solar energy and develop regional marketing strategies. In this regard, we would focus on extending our market share in UAE and GCC and communicating our company’s brand identity.
We aim to maximize the tangible advantages of the joint venture with our valued customers. This is supported by ongoing research in leadership, organizational change, and enhancing SME performance in the UAE market.”
Promoting A Healthy Workspace
Having strong cooperation among the team is paramount for the growth of any business. So, we asked, “How do you foster collaboration and teamwork within your organization or group?”
He shared, “I have kept the team’s focus on maintaining smooth operations and sales, giving them flexible working hours, and trying to get used to the new norms of the market conditions. I have also tried to avoid hiding surprises from the staff and kept informing them of the results so we know the situation. If any employee had difficulties or other stressful situations, we worked to assist them as a team in resolving them. Above all, we have regular meetings to ensure all works are done properly and act in case of any crisis.”
Envisioning The Future
To learn from Hussein Salloum’s perspective on the future of his industry, we asked, “How do you envision the future of your industry or field in the next 5-10 years?”
Hussein replied, “The future of power quality, renewable energy, and intelligent cities holds significant potential for transformative advancements over the next 5-10 years. We look to see the widespread adoption of advanced monitoring and control systems that enable real-time assessment and management of power quality parameters. In addition, we expect to see more focus on energy storage technologies that will play a pivotal role with new energies since ongoing technological innovations will drive down the costs of renewable energy systems.
Moreover, in the longer run, we look forward to the Intersection of Power Quality, Renewable Energy, and Smart Cities industries, especially in Microgrid Development and Demand Response Solutions. Integrating renewable energy resources within smart city microgrids will strengthen local energy resilience, reduce dependency on centralized grids, and enhance overall power quality within urban environments. Advanced demand response solutions will leverage intelligent city infrastructure to optimize energy consumption, balance supply and demand, and improve power quality across diverse urban settings.”
Offerings Of Energypro
We asked, “Would you like to tell our visitors about your services and products?”
He shared, “We offer competitive solutions of electrical power quality products and services, smart metering systems, solar solutions, EV Chargers, and water generators for all market segments.”
Suggestions For Beginners
Addressing the aspiring entrepreneurs, we asked, “Do you have a piece of advice that you would like to say to people just starting in this industry?”
He passionately responded, “Absolutely. For newcomers in the dynamic fields of renewable energy, smart cities, and power quality, here’s some valuable advice: Embrace a mindset of continuous learning and skill development.
Gain a holistic understanding of renewable energy technologies, power systems, urban planning, data analytics, IoT, and sustainability principles. Strive to contribute to the development of solutions. Be prepared to navigate technological disruptions, regulatory changes, and market dynamics, and prioritize the ethical implications of your work, especially in influencing the design and deployment of technologies.”
Follow Hussein Salloum on LinkedIn.
Visit Energypro Electricals on their website www.energyproelec.com
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