Draft:Ahmed Almuhr

Ahmed Almuhr is a Saudi businessman and the founder of Amplifier Financial, a firm specializing in financial and investment advisory services. He pursued higher education in the United States, earning a degree in Industrial Engineering and Finance from Pittsburg State University, where he graduated Summa Cum Laude (Perfect GPA, 4.0/4.0). He later obtained an MBA from Johns Hopkins University.

Early Life & Education

He was born in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, the capital city, where he grew up as the second oldest among seven siblings. His early years were spent in both Riyadh and Dubai. Growing up, he developed a passion for art, specifically drawing, which became a significant part of his childhood. His passion led him to participate in a national competition, where he achieved second place across all elementary schools in Riyadh province.

After completing high school, he moved to the United States for higher education. He initially attended Penn State, where he focused on improving his English and taking engineering college courses before transferring to Pittsburg State University. There, Ahmed studied Industrial Engineering and Finance, excelling in both fields. He consistently earned a place on the Dean's List. throughout his academic journey and graduated Summa Cum Laude, earning the distinction of being at the top of his class. As a recognition of his academic achievements, the president of Pittsburg State University, Steven A. Scott, invited the valedictorians from each field to his private house for an exclusive celebration.

Additionally, due to his academic excellence and leadership at Pittsburg State University, the College of Business named him the Outstanding Senior for the 2016-2017 academic year. He was also recognized by several honor societies, including Phi Kappa Phi, Beta Gamma Sigma, and Tau Sigma

Almuhr also engaged in extracurricular activities, such as leading a soccer team to victory in a university tournament and serving as president of the Saudi Club at Pittsburg State University.

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Outstanding Senior Recognition Certificate

In addition to his academic success, Ahmed's passion for finance led him to pursue the CFA (Chartered Financial Analyst) certification, one of the most challenging exams in the world. He successfully passed Level I and Level II.

He later pursued an MBA at Johns Hopkins Carey Business School, and graduated with honors once again. He also continued to be actively involved in student initiatives.
His Involvement at Johns Hopkins University

Upon joining Johns Hopkins University, he noticed the absence of an investment club. As a result, he took the initiative to create one, providing students with a platform to deepen their knowledge of investing through discussions on current investment trends, company analyses, and guest speakers from the industry.

Furthermore, he recognized the fragmentation among many alumni from the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. In response, he approached the Johns Hopkins Alumni Association, requesting access to their contact details. He then reached out to the majority of alumni, inviting them to unite. Subsequently, he established a platform to foster meaningful connections.

Ahmed speaking with prospective students at Johns Hopkins, Feb 2024

Moreover, due to his active involvement at Hopkins, he was chosen to serve as an ambassador. He collaborates with the Admissions Committee to connect with prospective and admitted students, sharing his experiences and guiding them in building networks to secure opportunities after graduation [1].

Ahmed at a student event at Johns Hopkins

Driven by his passion for finance and business, he also volunteers as an advisor to the Johns Hopkins Venture Technology Center. He mentors students on how to position their companies for growth and analyze their financials.

During his time at Johns Hopkins, he was selected by Professor Bar-Or to serve as a teaching assistant for investment courses, assisting over 100 MBA and MSF students in understanding quantitative finance concepts, financial modeling, and valuation methodologies

Finance/Investment Career

Bupa (UK-based healthcare firm) & MASIC (Riyadh-based Investment firm)

After completing his undergraduate studies, Almuhr began his career as a Corporate Development Analyst at Bupa Arabia, where he conducted market research and data analysis. He later joined MASIC, working first in asset management and then private equity, where he gained experience in financial modeling, due diligence, and investment analysis.

Saudi Aramco

Bloomberg Report

During Aramco's IPO—the largest IPO in history to date —the company sought to hire investment professionals to optimize its portfolio companies. Therefore, he contributed to several major transactions; notably a $25 billion deal (reported by Bloomberg $12.4 billion in equity), $1 billion deal in the 3D printing industry , $1.4b power plants divestment, (Wall Street Journal report) .

Wall Street Journal Report

Wall Street Calling

Ahmed is an avid reader with a profound interest in finance, and one of the books that left a significant impact on him is Wall Street History by Charles R. Geisst. In this book, the author delves into how Wall Street played a crucial role in propelling the success of numerous global conglomerates, including iconic names like Ford Motor Company (founded by Henry Ford), Carnegie Steel Company (founded by Andrew Carnegie), Standard Oil Company (founded by John D. Rockefeller), and Hudson River Railroad Company/New York Central Railroad Company (founded by Cornelius Vanderbilt).

Ahmed with his collogues on Wall Street at Bloomberg Center, meeting Mike Bloomberg (Former Mayor of New York, ran for president of the U.S in 2020, and the 17th richest man in the world). Bloomberg an alumnus of Johns Hopkins University

Additionally, Ahmed was inspired by how prominent financial figures on Wall Street steered the course of financial history, such as J.P. Morgan, known as the "Financial Gorgon"; Jay Cooke, known as "Modern Midas"; and Amadeo P. Giannini, founder of Bank of America. Inspired by the book’s insights, Ahmed sought to deepen his financial acumen by immersing himself in the heart of the financial world—Wall Street. To this end, he enrolled at Johns Hopkins University and then secured an internship at a private equity firm on Wall Street with $40 billion in assets under management. Upon graduating, Ahmed’s trajectory led him to Morgan Stanley, where he embarked on the next phase of his career in investment banking.

Morgan Stanley

Ahmed talking to his friends at an event on Wall Street, at Yale Club

Upon joining Morgan Stanley, Ahmed became part of the structured finance and investment team, where their mandate encompassed working on corporate debt, equity securities, leverage analysis, and various financial instruments such as mortgage-backed securities and asset-backed securities. He also collaborated extensively with prominent international financial institutions—including JPMorgan, Goldman Sachs, Bank of New York, Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, Barclays, State Street, BlackRock, and Blackstone—as well as central banks like the U.S. Federal Reserve and the European Central Bank.

Upon joining Morgan Stanley, he worked in structured finance and investment team, focusing on corporate debt, equity securities, and financial instruments such as mortgage-backed and asset-backed securities. He collaborated with major financial institutions and central banks.

Ahmed at a networking event on Wall Street, at Harvard Club

World Bank

He later moved to the World Bank, where he specialized in investment analysis, managing both short- and long-duration products and hedging strategies, while also spearheading the development of Finance-AI-driven automation strategies.

Politics

Almuhr participated in the Salam Program, an initiative by the King Abdulaziz Center for National Dialogue aimed at fostering cultural understanding and international dialogue. He was selected as one of 60 participants from over 800 applicants . Overall, Ahmed dedicates his time to volunteering for causes he is passionate about, such as education, community engagement, sports, and more.