Precision and Purpose: A Marksmanship in Sports and the Corporate Realm

Joining us this month is the Egyptian champion and businessman, Islam Ghoneim, who has masterfully bridged an innate athletic passion with a forward-thinking investment strategy. He stands as an inspiring model of leadership, seamlessly transferring the values of discipline and precision from the shooting range to the corporate boardroom. Following a distinguished career as an athlete and shooter and having served as a board member of the Egyptian Shooting Federation, he ventured with sharp strategic vision into the worlds of finance, business, and contracting.  

Ghoneim currently serves as the CEO and Vice Chairman of Ghoneim Development Group “GDG” (since May 2025) and is a Founder of Cairo Green (since January 2017). His investment portfolio extends to key executive roles, including Vice Chairman of major institutions such as the Egyptian Real Estate Investment Company, EFKO Contracting, and Ras Dehesa Sailing and Diving Company.

His career includes notable leadership tenures, previously serving as CEO and Official Representative of Al Habtoor Group in Egypt, as well as heading the Al Habtoor Research Centre to support economic, geo-political, early warning, investments and development initiatives. 

Sports & Fitness Magazine is delighted to have the opportunity to feature Islam Ghoneim speaking about his success as a shooting champion as well as a successful businessman in multiple ventures across Egypt. 

Early Beginnings, Family Role, and Overcoming Challenges

1/ How did the initial spark ignite your passion for shooting at the start of your athletic journey? And what role did your family play in shaping your athletic identity?

- It started in my childhood, like any family keen on enrolling their children in sports for physical, mental, and health reasons. Like any young boy, I tried various sports, including swimming and karate. However, my father had an intense passion for hunting and target shooting because it demands extraordinary focus and creates a direct competition against yourself.

My father strongly believed in the classic adage: "Teach your children archery, swimming, and horseback riding," but I naturally gravitated toward shooting.

2/ The family is the bedrock of building any champion. How did your father's and family's support help shape your athletic identity and build your ambition?

- I owe immense gratitude to my father. His support extended far beyond shooting into every facet of my life. It started with a charming moment: during a family holiday, my father gifted me an air rifle. I practised target shooting in safe areas, aiming at targets and hunting pigeons, feeling overjoyed with the results. That was the spark of what I call a noble "sporting addiction." My family served as the ultimate foundation and primary support system throughout that transition into professional sports.

3/ From a sporting passion to professional elite competition, you achieved numerous milestones as an athlete. However, you faced a major turning point due to a discipline change. How did you handle your injury, and how did you turn it into a new success story?

- I had practised clay target (shotgun) shooting for years until I sustained a severe shoulder injury, forcing me to step away from shotgun shooting for about a year and a half. I found myself unable to live without the shooting, so I decided to try 25-meter pistol shooting. Fortunately, I discovered a strong natural talent for it, subsequently winning numerous high-level championships and medals. It turned out to be an exceptionally rewarding experience.

4/ Looking back at your athletic career today, what are the key human values and core lessons you have taken from the whole experience?

- Honestly, any athlete, regardless of their discipline, must remain empathetic toward their peers and fellow athletes across the nation. Truthfully, many talented individuals were simply unlucky. They were never given the right opportunity and ended up retiring due to a lack of support and attention. Furthermore, the athletic infrastructure in recent years was in desperate need of structure, discipline, and fairness.

5/ You anticipated my next question. Many people view skeet and trap shooting as an elite or exclusive sport. Is shooting truly accessible to everyone, or is it restricted to a privileged few and surrounded by obstacles?

- That is a crucial question. Shooting in Egypt and worldwide is categorised into three main disciplines:

1. Air Shooting (10 meters): Highly accessible to everyone (both rifle and pistol). It requires no complex security clearances or licenses and can be taken up from a very young age. With proper focus here, we can significantly expand the athlete base.
2. Firearm / Live-Ammo Shooting (between 25 and 50 meters range shooting): Requires formal security procedures and coordination, but registered shooters are thoroughly vetted by authorities and are exceptionally disciplined with their equipment. It does not require extreme physical conditioning, allowing anyone to participate regardless of fitness level.
3. Clay Target Shooting (Trap & Skeet) under the Olympic ISSF and non-Olympic FITASC (Compak sporting and Helice): We have world-class champions in this area, such as Azmy Mehelba. Its primary advantage is that it does not require starting at an extremely young age or possessing specialised physical traits; people of diverse ages and physical builds can excel in it.

It is essential to acknowledge that the state, the Ministry of Youth and Sports, and the Ministry of Interior exert immense effort. We look forward to even greater coordination to further streamline licensing procedures for competitive shooters.

The Nature of Shooting and Mental Preparation

6/ There is an ongoing debate about target shooting: does it rely primarily on physical fitness, strength, and conditioning, or is it fundamentally a mental and psychological game?

- My perspective might be biased because I am deeply passionate about shooting, but the truth is that shooting is far more than just pulling a trigger. Anyone who thinks otherwise will never reach the highest levels and knows nothing about shooting. While it demands a balanced set of skills, shooting relies on 80% or more mental training, mental toughness, and complete isolation. The core difficulty in shooting is not physical technique; any shooter can master the techniques. The real challenge lies in the intensity of focus: how to achieve complete mental detachment from the external environment and competitors while shooting. I consider it one of the most mentally demanding sports in the world.

7/ Given these heavy mental demands, what does a professional shooter's pre-competition routine look like?

- The routine centres around creating an environment of complete isolation and hyper-focus. Every shooter has a unique routine incorporating relaxation exercises to maintain absolute clarity, completely free from competitor distractions. Some individuals possess intense focus as a natural gift and talent requiring minimal conditioning, while others require extensive preparation. The goal of mental training is to ensure that live scores, neighbouring shooters, and ambient noise do not affect your execution. This is all backed by meticulous preparation and tailored nutrition plans.

8/ How do shooters handle changing weather conditions in open-air ranges?

- Regarding external variables like lighting and wind on outdoor clay target ranges, international shooters train to adapt to all environments. Federations support athletes by organising training camps in diverse weather conditions. Light wind or mild rain won't pause a competition; however, in severe rain or extreme conditions, the competition director and organising committee may halt shooting to ensure athlete safety and competitive fairness.

9/ We consistently witness the dominance of Gulf champions from Kuwait, the UAE, and Qatar, alongside Egyptian champion Azmy Mehelba and his brother in clay target competitions. What is the secret behind this sustained excellence? Is it environmental, or is structured support the real driver?

- It comes down to a single decisive formula: support, fairness, and proactive federation leadership. Weather conditions are not the primary cause; rather, it is the strength of the federation and its ability to secure corporate backing for shooters. Even when state resources are tight, a capable federation attracts sponsors to empower its champions. Nations that were once non-existent on the shooting map are now fierce global competitors due to this ecosystem.

Ultimately, shooting is a purely objective, numbers-driven sport with no room for personal bias. Whoever delivers the required results set by technical committees and operates under transparent, fair regulations deserves full financial backing, international training camps, and a spot on the national team. Clear regulations, applied impartially, are the only path to global success.

Business, Corporate Leadership, and Strategy

10/ Your investments within "Ghoneim Development Group" span real estate development, contracting, water sports and agriculture. What strategic vision unites these distinct sectors?

- We manage a family-owned group of companies, and our vision is guided by my father, focusing on balanced diversification within closely aligned investment and operational areas. Real estate development, contracting, and tourist resorts are managed under similar strategic frameworks and business models, providing us with strong market stability.

For the most part, the core management methodology is consistent; these sectors interconnect and support one another. Agricultural investment is perhaps the distinct outlier, which is why we value diversification.

Harmony Between Sports and the Business Realm

11/ Is shooting a way for you to relieve corporate stress? And do you see direct parallels between taking a shot and making decisions in business?

- Absolutely. For shooters and marksmen, shooting builds mental resilience. It is more than a sport; it becomes a deep passion. It is the ultimate outlet for disconnecting completely from daily pressures.

As for decision-making: shooting is a decision. Before pulling the trigger, you analyse every variable within a fraction of a second. The moment the shot leaves the barrel, it is final; it cannot be recalled. It conditions you to overcome pressure through focus and isolation.

This is precisely what I apply in business: we evaluate and analyse extensively in record time, then execute with confidence and precision, knowing there are no second chances. It is "one shot" that must hit the target.

However, the dynamic differs for high-level shooters competing on world stages and the Olympics, where the pressure to deliver top-tier results is of a different magnitude entirely.

12/ In the corporate world, high-stakes decisions are like shotgun cartridges; they leave no room for error. Has sports marksmanship made you a "sharpshooter" in corporate decision-making?

- I prefer not to evaluate my own success, but your question touches on a profound concept. Shooting directly influences how one thinks when managing enterprises and leading teams.

At its core, shooting is a decision. Before execution, there is an intense phase of analysis, but once the trigger is pulled, the trajectory cannot be altered. That is identical to our business approach: we analyse, reflect, and evaluate thoroughly, but within a tight timeframe that demands decisive action. Practising shooting instils high confidence and the certainty that there are no second chances; it is one shot, and it must hit the target.

13/ Does the competitive "champion mindset" dominate your executive management style?

- Yes. A champion's mindset keeps you in constant competition with yourself to achieve optimal results. It refuses to accept mediocrity and relies on constructive self-critique: why didn't we achieve perfection, and how can we improve next time? We apply this philosophy 100% across our companies. While it can be demanding for the team, it guarantees that we consistently maintain market leadership.

14/ The Reality and Future of Egyptian Shooting

With your customary candour, how do you see the current reality of Egyptian shooting, and what opportunities were squandered in the past?

- In my view, immense talent was overlooked and underutilised in the past; athletes who were fully capable of raising Egypt’s flag on international podiums. The root cause was the absence of methodical, professional management, fluctuating strategies, and a lack of consistent vision. Ultimately, Egypt as a nation lost those talents when it should have been the first to nurture them.

15/ How do you see state support for shooting? And what is required to achieve sustainable Olympic success?

- In Egypt, the matter comes down to two primary obstacles:

First, the solution lies in two words: support and fairness. Some nations were once completely off the global sports map but now compete fiercely thanks to strong federations, the equitable distribution of resources among shooters, and the impartial enforcement of regulations. As for federation backing, I am not authorised to comment on that directly, as it falls strictly under the purview of the Federation President. However, the private sector and corporate enterprises must step up to sponsor shooters, funding their training camps and equipment once they hit the required performance benchmarks, ensuring sustainable success on Olympic podiums. On a personal level, through our group of companies, we actively support several shooters along their journey, in the hopes of seeing them achieve outstanding results.

Second, the issue of permits and licensing. Quite frankly, the Ministry of Interior and security authorities exert immense effort and cooperate closely regarding licensing, which greatly helps revitalise the sport. However, the responsibility rests on us within the federation and the broader sports ecosystem to present these files properly and transparently; after all, to a marksman, a firearm is simply a piece of sports equipment, no different than a football to a soccer player.