We recently had the privilege of interviewing Mahmoud El Sabbagh, co-founder and CEO of ByBagh. As a pioneering AI visual studio in Egypt, he has built ByBagh, empowering brands and production houses to deliver top-notch visuals that meet business requirements. From leading the execution of animated films to product demos, Sabbagh has established the platform as a trusted name in the field.
The Beginning
We started the interview by asking, “Could you walk us through how your professional journey began and what first drew you to this line of work?”
Sabbagh shared, “For the last two years, I’ve been living my dream by leading ByBagh as a co-founder and young CEO. ByBagh is Egypt’s first AI visual studio, and our daily game is to craft the coolest, most well-crafted visuals your eyes will ever see — as our clients always say! Whether that’s for film, commercials, or high-end photography, I am proud to serve top-tier, amazing clients like VML Cairo, Leo Burnett Cairo, Coca-Cola, Orange, and all the top Egyptian directors & production houses.
Getting here, though, took 11 years of serious hustle. It began with being one of 300 trainees producing those tiny classified ads on the back pages. Over the years, I have bounced between agencies, diving deep into various mediums in the visual world. All of that hustle eventually landed me a dream job as an Art and Design Director at VML by 2024.
As for what first drew me to this line of work — it was having a loving mom who let me draw all my fantasies right on the walls of our house with complete freedom, and a great dad who smoothly injected advertising into my blood since I was a kid.”
Lessons that Defined the Journey
We then asked, “Looking back, what was the most important lesson you learned in those early years that still guides you?”
He explained, “Actually, it’s very hard to single out just one lesson. I’ve made a lot of mistakes, and all the lessons that came from them are absolutely priceless to me. But if I had to name one gift God has taught me over the years, I’d say it’s the ‘law of attraction’ and the magic of the relationship between us and the skies.
As the years go by, life has made me certain that absolutely everything is achievable. I became all I dreamed of, and I have everything I wished I had. All of the success, from the smallest to the biggest, was written on paper before it happened. You just need to be a good human with total belief, and never give up. That’s actually why I’m pretty sure that very soon, I will become the future me I dream of. It’s just a matter of time.”
Focusing on What Matters the Most
Interested in learning what a typical workday looks like for Sabbagh and how he stays focused on what truly matters, we asked him to share the same.
“My day is naturally split into four distinct parts. The first part happens before office hours, and that’s strictly dedicated to my personal growth. I spend this time reading, studying the areas where I still have room to grow, and constantly refilling my visual references to make sure my eyes and perspective stay completely fresh.
Next comes the core of my day: the office hours, which are usually a highly focused 4 to 6 hours. This is my favorite part because I get to be with my people for whatever they need & to knock out my main tasks. After that, I shift into the ‘after-office’ hours to handle the secondary tasks. Because let’s be honest, running a business usually just means doing a little bit of everything behind the scenes.
Finally, I spent the last couple of hours winding down with things I genuinely enjoy as a personal treat. You will usually find me jumping into some gaming or watching talks from mentors I deeply respect to recharge for the next day,” Sabbagh shared.
Adaptability Amidst Uncertainties
Challenges are a part of every journey. So, we asked Mahmoud El Sabbagh, “What has been one of the biggest hurdles you have faced in growing your business or career, and how did you work through it?”
He added, “Honestly, the biggest hurdle has been passing through my own dark nights. Fighting depression and burnout, and finding the strength to keep taking care of things, no matter how much the pain was.”
Envisioning the Future
We were interested to learn more about Sabbagh’s perspective on the evolution of his work in the next few years, and what he is most excited about. So, we asked him to share a glimpse of the same.
He stated, “I am glad I trusted my gut and dared to take the leap and start the business exactly when AI was just beginning to rise. Because our paths crossed at that perfect time, I see our work naturally evolving so fast as the world grows. I see us having more and more power to serve people with highly impactful visuals that carry real value.
What excites me the most is the chaos of it all. The world has opened its hands to endless opportunities and massive changes that we can’t even fully imagine yet. You can’t easily predict where things are going next, and I genuinely love that. To be honest, I love living through the unpredictable, and I am just in love with change in general.”
Words of Wisdom for Beginners
Lastly, we asked, “What is one piece of practical advice you would give to someone just starting out in their professional journey?”
“Invest in yourself and surround yourself with good mentors. Write down exactly what you need. Learn to be flexible with high social and emotional intelligence, and observe as much as you can. Other points of view will teach you more than you imagine. Try different things and make a lot of mistakes without being afraid of anything. And no matter what happens, don’t stop trying,” Sabbagh shared.
Connect with Mahmoud El Sabbagh on LinkedIn and Instagram to gain industry insights.
Find ByBagh on LinkedIn and visit their website to learn more.
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