Michael Padilla-Pagan Payano

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DISC Type : DC

Managing Partner/CEO at Al Thuraya Investments

Qesm El Maadi, Cairo, Egypt

Overview

Michael Padilla-Pagan Payano is the CEO, Founder, and Chairman of Al Thuraya Holdings, a global group focused on delivering results in complex frontier markets. A former U. S. Army Special Operations Colonel with degrees from The George Washington University, he is described by colleagues as innovative, passionate, and a dynamic solution provider who excels in high-risk environments.

Passionate about problem-solving through collaboration, Michael emphasizes building human connections and often holds his most important meetings outside of a traditional corporate setting. He is a frequent traveler, stating he is often "36, 000 feet in the air, " and has a personal philosophy of achieving success by staying true to his values.

Unique fact: Michael transitioned from a distinguished 28+ year career in U. S. Army Special Operations to founding and scaling a multinational conglomerate active in over 155 countries.

Personality Overview

Rigorous & Demanding

Thorough Evaluator

ROI Driven

They put a lot of effort into ensuring personal success.  They are less concerned about the product and more about its potential impact. They like to stay in control of the negotiation or defining of the terms.

Topics They Care About

Frontier Market Investment
He builds companies and investment vehicles specifically designed to operate and thrive in high-growth, high-risk frontier markets, a core focus of his current roles.
Military Strategy in Business
He explicitly applies military concepts like the OODA loop (Observe, Orient, Decide, Act) to business execution, leveraging his background as a former SOF Colonel.
Geopolitical Risk
His analysis of "Pax Transactionalis" and work in over 155 countries show he is deeply engaged with how global political shifts impact business and security.

Media Appearances

Michael J Padilla Pagan Payano – CEO of Al Thuraya Holdings. Featured in The Gulf Entrepreneur

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Al Thuraya Holdings Chairman and CEO Michael Padilla-Pagan Payano speaks at a recent event. Featured in Al Thuraya Holdings – Facebook

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Al Thuraya Consultancy Chairman and CEO Michael Padilla-Pagan Payano will be present at an upcoming conference. Featured in Al Thuraya Consultancy – Facebook

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Work History

1-2025
Managing Partner/CEO at Al Thuraya Investments
11-2015
CEO and Chairman at Al Thuraya Holdings
1-2006 - 11-2015
Chairman and CEO at Al Thuraya Consultancy
1-1995 - 9-2006
Colonel at US Army
CEO at Mi2international, Inc

Education

7-1994 - 11-1996
MS EE/IS from The George Washington University
1986 - 1989
Master of Business Administration (M.B.A.) from The George Washington University School of Business

More Information

Social Presence :

Prographics :

Exp : 31 Location : Qesm El Maadi, Cairo, Egypt Job Level : Leadership Designation : Managing Partner/CEO at Al Thuraya Investments
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Insights For Selling To Michael

During A Call Or A Meeting

DO's

  • Use phrases like ‘it’s your decision’, ‘strategic impact’ etc.
  • Get to the point quickly instead of spending time doing small talk
  • When negotiating terms, help them build an impression that they are the ones calling the shots

DONT's

  • Do not hesitate from asking counter questions, just avoid challenging their authority
  • Avoid being a storyteller and don’t try to oversell
  • Don’t take too much time in sending them information if they ask for any

When Cold Calling

When Writing An Email

While Negotiating & Closing

    The secret to closing fast with Michael is

  • Confidence in impact is paramount to them, followed by a sense of achievement and ROI.
  • Will you ever get a clear answer from Michael

  • If they decide not to go ahead, they will say no without hesitation.

Insights For Deal Planning

    How fast (or slow) will Michael move?

  • If convinced, they can reach decisions quite fast.
  • Can Michael take some risk or not?

  • They do not shy away from taking risks, but can be quite binary about them.

You And Michael

Personality Compatibility


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