We recently had the privilege of interviewing Shadi Rashed, Founder and CEO of Concrete Investments Group. With more than two decades of experience across wealth management and real estate, Shadi’s guiding principle is simple — to transform vision into value.
His group of companies, the Concrete Investments Group is dedicated to real estate investments, development, and consultancy across major European cities. Throughout the years, the venture successfully managed high-value projects, empowering clients with access to high-performing real estate investment opportunities. Shadi Rashed’s journey from international banking to real estate entrepreneurship is driven by strategic growth, innovation, and a passion for creating long-term value.
Shadi Rashed’s Career Trajectory
We started the interview by asking, “Can you walk us through your professional journey and what inspired you to start your business?”
Shadi Rashed shared, “My journey began in Wealth Management and global finance, where I spent over 15 years working for large banking institutions managing assets for international clients. This experience certainly taught me the value of trust and long-term perspective principles that have guided every step of my career.
In 2011, I founded Concrete Investments Group in Switzerland with a vision to bridge investment discipline with hands-on real estate expertise. Over the years, we expanded across Europe. The strong performance of our European real estate portfolios has positioned us to strategically align ourselves with evolving new market trends and capitalize on high-value opportunities. Today, the group expanded to two other companies Concrete Real Estate in Barcelona and Concrete Consulting, where we have built a platform that combines financial sophistication, deep market presence, and local expertise.
The inspiration came from realising that large banking institutions were increasingly driven by profitability targets, often at the expense of truly understanding and serving their clients’ interests. This growing misalignment made it clear that a fully client-centered approach was needed, revealing an opportunity to create a firm founded on alignment and integrity. And of course, my conviction of the asset class itself, real estate being the most resilient asset class.”
Values at the Root of Concrete
Intrigued to learn more about the company’s principles, we asked Shadi Rashed, “What guiding vision and values have shaped your company’s mission and growth over the years?
“From the very beginning, my vision has been to bridge the discipline of real estate investment with the depth of local market knowledge. Coming from a wealth management background, I have always valued accountability in relationships and clarity in how we look at our ventures.
At Concrete, we strive to create real value by aligning opportunity with structure and expertise. Our mission has always been simple: to invest intelligently while placing risk management at the top of our priorities,” he explained.
Balancing Goals Amidst Uncertainties
We further asked, “How do you balance long-term goals with short-term business challenges?”
Shadi Rashed added, “Years in global finance taught me that volatility is part of progress. I approach short-term challenges as part of a broader investment horizon by remaining focused on the fundamentals that dictate our real estate investments. We have to navigate the short-term challenges and uncertainty as an opportunity while working towards long-term sustainable growth.
However, due to today’s frequent and high volatility in market cycles, proper market timing is becoming a more significant variable to take into consideration when investing in Real Estate.”
Adaptability Amidst Challenges
Challenges are a part of every journey. To learn how Shadi Reshad overcame the same, we asked, “What major challenges have you faced, and how did you overcome them?”
Shadi Rashed reflected, “Expanding across multiple European markets, particularly during shifting economic cycles, required patience and adaptability. Each city, regulation, and client base brought unique challenges. We overcame them by staying deeply informed, building trust with the right partners, and never compromising on due diligence. Resilience, for me, comes from preparation and from the people you choose to work with.”
Embracing Innovative Practices
Innovation forms the backbone of the success of a business. To learn more, we asked Shadi Rashed, “How do you integrate innovation and technology to stay ahead in your industry?”
“We have embraced technology not as a replacement for expertise, but as a way to enhance our operation. Innovation for us is not just about adopting new tools, it’s about rethinking how we manage and communicate, as we remain investor-driven. Of course, we use technology to our advantage, whether it is market intelligence and data analytics, digitalisation, streamlined client experience, and ESG,” he mentioned.
A Relationship-driven Approach
We also asked, “What strategies do you use to maintain strong customer and employee engagement?”
“Our approach is entirely relationship-driven. We operate on an alignment basis at every stage. Clients trust us because we treat their investments as if they were our own. Within the company, I encourage an entrepreneurial culture, forward thinking, and courage. When people feel ownership, they perform with purpose. That energy translates directly to client satisfaction,” Shadi replied.
Triumphs at the Journey
Intrigued to learn more, we requested Shadi Rashed to share a recent milestone or achievement that highlights his company’s growth and progress.
Shadi Rashed responded, “The formal establishment of Concrete Real Estate in 2022 in Barcelona has been a defining milestone. What began as a strategic extension of our Geneva-based activities quickly became a full-fledged platform with its own development projects and advisory structure. It reflects both the maturity of our group and our ability to go beyond our comfort zone, whether geographic or strategic, a model we plan to expand further across new markets.”
Words of Wisdom for Beginners
Addressing the young entrepreneurs in his field, we asked Shadi Rashed to share some advice on how to get started.
“Take time to understand your market before you try to lead it. Real estate is a long-term business built on trust and timing, and both take years to earn. My advice would be to surround yourself with the right people, and never compromise your standards. What others are doing may not necessarily be the trend to follow. What has worked for me as an entrepreneur is a combination of discipline and conviction.
Success rarely comes from comfort, it comes from the ability to take calculated risks at moments when opportunities present themselves. Every major step in my journey came from identifying a window others were hesitant to act on. Take the time to think where the future is heading and move in this direction,” he shared.
Building a Strong Legacy
Lastly, we asked, “How would you like your business to be remembered in the years to come?”
“I would like Concrete Investments Group to be remembered as a company that combined vision with integrity. One that brought together investors and opportunities in a meaningful way. Beyond numbers and projects, our true legacy will be in the trust we have earned and the value we have created for others. That, to me, is the real measure of success,” Shadi mentioned.
Connect with Shadi Rashed on LinkedIn to gain more industry insights.
Visit Concrete Investments Group at http://www.concreteinvestments.com and http://concrete-consulting.es to learn more.
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