Casablanca – For many Moroccans who leave home to build a life abroad, the journey begins with a difficult choice. They leave behind family, familiar surroundings, and sometimes an entire career, only to start again in a country where they must find their footing, prove themselves, and work toward a future that may look very different from the one they had imagined.
That journey began in 1999 for Youssef El Aobaidi, when he left Morocco for Germany. A former French teacher from Marrakech, he took on physically demanding jobs before finding his way into airport operations. Today, he leads parking operations and customer service at Munich Airport, carrying the experience of starting over into his work as an international leader.
His journey began with a decision to leave his first profession behind and pursue further education and new opportunities abroad.
“When I arrived, I wanted to be financially independent. I did not want to depend on financial support from my family, so I started working through temporary employment agencies,” El Aobaidi told Morocco World News (MWN).
He worked in warehouses, a bakery and a hospital before finding his way into the aviation industry. Some of these jobs were physically demanding, but he said they taught him discipline, patience, and respect for different kinds of work.
He later joined Munich Airport’s baggage handling operations, loading and unloading aircraft on the apron. The position marked his first direct experience in the airport industry.
El Aobaidi eventually moved into parking operations and continued developing his skills while working. In 2006, he completed an advanced business qualification, known as Betriebswirt (HWK), through the Chamber of Crafts in Munich and Upper Bavaria. He then continued his business administration studies alongside his professional responsibilities.
“Progress does not always happen quickly. Sometimes you need patience, determination, and the courage to take the next step, even when the path is not clear,” he said.
From airport operations to international leadership
Several career changes helped El Aobaidi move from operational work into management. One of the most important was his involvement in establishing a new parking customer service center at Munich Airport, where he began developing processes, organizing services, and taking on leadership responsibilities.
In 2017, he moved to Berlin Brandenburg Airport to gain experience in a new environment and contribute to the development of a new airport. He worked on the commissioning of its rental car center, gaining experience in project management and coordination with different stakeholders.
After the airport’s opening was delayed, he returned to Munich and assumed new responsibilities in campus parking. He later moved into process and quality management, focusing on service quality, efficient operations, digital solutions, and clearer working processes.
Since May 2022, El Aobaidi has served as Head of Parking Operations & Customer Service at Munich Airport, overseeing parking services, operational management, landside mobility, and traffic coordination.
He also supports colleagues through coaching and training, drawing on his own experience in frontline operations.
“Leadership is about people. A good leader should listen, communicate clearly, make decisions, and take responsibility,” El Aobaidi reflected.
His approach also speaks to the influence of his Moroccan background and years of working in Germany. He said growing up in Morocco taught him the importance of family, respect, hospitality and personal relationships, while his professional experience in Germany strengthened his understanding of planning, quality, and accountability.
Leading a multicultural team has also shaped El Aobaidi’s approach to management. Working with colleagues from different nationalities and cultural backgrounds has taught him that people can have different ways of communicating, approaching problems and understanding their responsibilities. He believes effective leadership means recognizing these differences, building trust and bringing people together around shared goals.
His own experience of adapting to a new country has influenced how he supports others, particularly when they face unfamiliar environments or different ways of working. He also places importance on coaching and training, helping colleagues develop their skills and confidence.
“For me, being Moroccan and having built my career in Germany are not two separate identities. They complement each other and have shaped the person and leader I am today,” he said.
Moroccan diaspora and international cooperation
Beyond his airport responsibilities, El Aobaidi serves as vice president of the Bavarian-Arab Society and is involved with the German Moroccan Automotive & Industry association (GMAI).
Through these organizations, he hopes to connect people, businesses and institutions,and encourage professional exchanges. He sees opportunities for cooperation between Morocco, Germany and the wider Arab world in mobility, infrastructure, technology, education and professional training.
And he believes that exchanges between universities, companies and institutions, alongside workshops and training programs, could help professionals share knowledge and develop joint initiatives.
“Building bridges between cultures is not only about networking. It is about creating trust, sharing knowledge, and turning contacts into meaningful cooperation,” he said.
El Aobaidi also believes Moroccans living abroad can contribute to their home country’s development in ways that go beyond financial investment and remittances.
Professionals working in aviation, engineering, healthcare and technology, for example, could connect Moroccan institutions with international experts, support training programs, and contribute to new projects. Mentoring can also help younger professionals gain practical advice and build useful contacts.
In particular, El Aobaidi called for more structured cooperation between Moroccan professionals abroad, local businesses, universities, and public institutions.
“We should move beyond talking about opportunities and start developing practical projects that create long-term value,” he said.
Upgrading transport networks for 2030
El Aobaidi also sees opportunities for Morocco to improve its airport and transport services as it prepares to co-host the 2030 FIFA World Cup.
He said managing large numbers of international travelers will require coordinated planning across airports, road networks, parking facilities, public transport, taxis, buses and rental car services.
Digital parking reservations, real-time traffic information and smarter use of operational data could help improve passenger flows. Artificial intelligence could also support demand forecasting, traffic management, and resource planning, he said, while stressing that technology should support operational teams rather than replace human decision-making.
For El Aobaidi, the tournament should bring lasting improvements to Morocco’s transport infrastructure and services beyond 2030.
Looking ahead, he wants to continue developing his career in airport operations, mobility, and customer experience while expanding international cooperation and sharing his experience through mentoring, training and partnerships.
His advice to young Moroccans is to remain patient, develop professional skills, and stay open to learning, even when their first jobs do not match their ambitions.
“You can build a successful career abroad while staying connected to Morocco and contributing to its future,” he said.
