Unplugged with iSolution

17 Episodes
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By: iSolution

"Unplugged with iSolution" offers listeners a rare glimpse into the minds of the Middle East and North Africa's most influential business leaders. Go beyond the polished facades and corporate speak as iSolution sits down with key figures across diverse industries for intimate, unscripted conversations.Each episode dives deep into the personal journeys, strategic thinking, and unique perspectives of these prominent individuals, providing listeners with:Invaluable insights: Learn from the successes and challenges of those who have shaped the MENA business landscape.Fresh perspectives: Discover innovative ideas and groundbreaking approaches to navigating today's ever-evolving market.Authentic stories: Hear candid reflections and...

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When Everyone Uses AI Who Owns The Outcome
When Everyone Uses AI Who Owns The Outcome episode artwork
#6
Today at 7:00 AM

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A smart city sounds like shiny apps and seamless services, but the real work is the unglamorous grind of standards, support, and people who have to deliver under pressure. We talk with Dr. Tamir Al-Khadi, Director of Information Technology, about leading IT in Qatar and building systems that hold up in the real world, especially when teams are multicultural and expectations are high. If you’ve ever tried to scale “good vibes” into repeatable execution, this conversation is for you. 

We get into what makes an IT team effective across different backgrounds: clear procedu...


From Full Stack To VP: Building Platforms That Survive Traffic Spikes
From Full Stack To VP: Building Platforms That Survive Traffic Spikes episode artwork
#4
09/14/2026

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If you have ever watched a platform fall over during a big campaign and thought, “There has to be a better way,” this conversation is for you. We sit down with Hosamin Marzuk, VP of Engineering at Zid, to unpack what it actually takes to run an e-commerce platform that merchants can trust during peak seasons like Ramadan and Green Friday.

We start with the messy reality of engineering careers: hardware, software, and the painful lessons that come from debugging the real world. From there, we move into startup life, funding paradoxes, and what...


Why Don't Great Products Always get funding? Unplugged with iSolution with Stuart bateman
Why Don't Great Products Always get funding? Unplugged with iSolution with Stuart bateman episode artwork
#3
06/17/2026

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AI can feel like a toy right up until it starts outperforming your process. We talk with Stuart Bateman, VP of Technology and Marketing at 1957 Ventures, about what “bank-grade AI” really means when you’re building in fintech where speed, regulation, and security all collide. From his career digitalizing major organizations in Saudi Arabia to helping a venture arm invest in fintech startups, Stuart brings a pragmatic view of what actually works when the stakes are high.

We get specific about the investing and product side: why traction is the new entry ticket for fu...


Why "Superhero" Employees Are Ruining Your Company's Growth
Why "Superhero" Employees Are Ruining Your Company's Growth episode artwork
#2
06/09/2026

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Relying on "superhero" tech talent isn't a strategy—because superheroes don't scale. ❌

In this clip from Unplugged with iSolution, we dive into the operational realities of modern tech leadership. From the fallacy of thinking AI implementation is as simple as "installing ChatGPT" to building truly scalable, secure systems that don't depend on a single person to survive. 

We also explore the incredible momentum in Saudi Arabia, discussing how Riyadh has rapidly transformed into a global magnet for top-tier engineering talent, moving forward like a high-speed train toward Vision 2030, Vision 2040, and beyond.
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The Light Bulb Paradox: Why Great Teams Adapt to the Dark
The Light Bulb Paradox: Why Great Teams Adapt to the Dark episode artwork
#1
06/02/2026

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Why do brilliant teams choose to adapt to darkness instead of changing the light bulb? 💡 

In this episode of Unplugged with iSolution, Wessam Fawzy (Elsewedy) shares a powerful, real-life anecdote about how easily organizations grow complacent with outdated legacy technology. 

When a system is broken for long enough, teams stop complaining and adapt to the friction—mistaking stagnation for stability. Wessam breaks down how leaders can challenge the "we've always done it this way" mindset, push for continuous improvement (POCs), and keep their teams constantly evolving.

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From Paper Trails To Peace Of Mind: How Tech, Analytics, And UX Are Reshaping Insurance
From Paper Trails To Peace Of Mind: How Tech, Analytics, And UX Are Reshaping Insurance episode artwork
#10
01/29/2026

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Peace of mind doesn’t come from a thicker policy packet; it comes from a cleaner journey and a fair claim. We sit down with a seasoned insurance and technology leader to map the shift from dot‑matrix paperwork and multi-copy forms to a digital experience built on UX clarity, analytics, and AI. The conversation starts with first principles—how loss ratio and experience drive pricing—and moves into practical levers that reduce friction, improve conversion, and keep customers loyal at renewal.

We dig into what makes a modern journey work: minimal fields, smart de...


What Every Founder Learns After Nine Years And A Hard Exit
What Every Founder Learns After Nine Years And A Hard Exit episode artwork
#9
01/14/2026

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What actually keeps a company alive when markets shift, timelines slip, and the hype fades? We get honest about the unglamorous decisions that turn fragile ideas into durable operations: cutting wait times with clever logistics, stabilizing systems before scaling, and choosing focus over vanity metrics when money and time run thin.

We walk through the scrappy solutions that started it all—AM radio channels for truckers, early bets on RFID—and how those experiments grew into real throughput gains at ports. From there, we zoom out to the founder mindset: cash flow as the...


From Finance To Fleet: Building A Smarter, Safer Ride Service
From Finance To Fleet: Building A Smarter, Safer Ride Service episode artwork
#8
12/22/2025

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What if a ride could be cleaner, safer, and still fairly priced? We pull back the curtain with a regional financial controller at Jeenu to show how disciplined leadership and practical technology can outmaneuver bigger ride-hailing brands. From FMCG and retail finance roots to mobility operations, the through line is simple: build systems that make great service repeatable, then let people do their best work.

We start with the market problem: riders want reliability and safety without price games, and drivers need better margins to stay. That sets the agenda tight operational loops...


Unplugged with iSolution: Google Cloud's Middle East Strategy & The Future of AI with Julien Rateau
Unplugged with iSolution: Google Cloud's Middle East Strategy & The Future of AI with Julien Rateau episode artwork
#7
12/10/2025

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What happens when a lifelong chess player runs platform strategy for one of the world’s biggest clouds? We sat down with Google Cloud EMEA platforms director Julien Rateau to unpack the surprising mix of competitive fire, humility, and approachable leadership that powers real results across the Middle East and beyond.

Julien maps his decade at Google, from France to the broader EMEA stage, and explains why hiring smarter, trusting local expertise, and staying close to the field beat top-down control. He shares how imposter syndrome can sharpen leaders, why comfort is a gr...


Unplugged with iSolution: How A Failed Restaurant, Bold Pivots, And Tenacity Built A Regional Leader
Unplugged with iSolution: How A Failed Restaurant, Bold Pivots, And Tenacity Built A Regional Leader episode artwork
#8
11/27/2025

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Open an app to pay a bill and everything just works until it doesn’t. That invisible reliability is the world Rami Kishli builds, from stitching APIs to orchestrating data so services actually deliver. We sit down with Rami to chart a candid, energetic arc: a failed restaurant that taught differentiation, a leap from Lebanon to Kuwait with no job but a plan, and a startup called HITS that sprinted from a $2,000 first order to a successful exit. He then navigated Exact’s structure, sold business outcomes at Cisco, and mentored rising talent at SAP, befo...


Unplugged with iSolution: My Naghi: When Software Drives And Culture Steers
Unplugged with iSolution: My Naghi: When Software Drives And Culture Steers episode artwork
#7
11/24/2025

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Want to know why your next “car” might be a subscription, a shared ride, or a hybrid one you upgrade by software? 

We sit down with Dr. Zakaria to unpack how mobility is transforming the automotive business far beyond EV hype. From dealership floors to data platforms, we trace the shift from one-time sales to lifetime relationships where software, service, and trust define winners.

We get practical about market readiness: when EVs make sense, where hybrids lead, and why charging reliability, financing, and skilled technicians drive adoption more than press releases. Dr. Z...


Unplugged with iSolution: Trust, Guardrails, And The Hard Truths Of Building AI-Enabled Businesses!
Unplugged with iSolution: Trust, Guardrails, And The Hard Truths Of Building AI-Enabled Businesses! episode artwork
#6
11/06/2025

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If your security stack feels like a Jenga tower of dashboards and alerts, you’re not alone. We break down the messy reality of SecOps—fragmented tools, noisy signals, and endless integration work—and share how we built a cloud-native security operations platform that actually simplifies the job. From one-day data onboarding to opinionated defaults, we focus on cutting time to value, reducing false positives, and giving lean teams a clear path to action.

We open up about the founder journey behind the product: choosing SaaS over on‑prem for speed, handling pricing puzzles...


Unplugged with iSolution: Building Strong Teams Through Clear Vision and Value Communication
Unplugged with iSolution: Building Strong Teams Through Clear Vision and Value Communication episode artwork
#5
05/05/2025

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What makes a technology leader truly effective in today's rapidly evolving landscape? In this fascinating conversation, we're joined by Abu Talal, whose journey from technician to visionary leader offers powerful insights for anyone navigating a technology career.

Abu Talal takes us back to a pivotal moment in his professional journey when he stepped away from his programming comfort zone to tackle a comprehensive service management project. This decision transformed not just his career trajectory but his entire approach to technology leadership. Rather than seeing technology through the narrow lens of development, he gained...


Unplugged with iSolution: Got Camel Milk? One Company's Tech-Powered Quest
Unplugged with iSolution: Got Camel Milk? One Company's Tech-Powered Quest episode artwork
#4
04/28/2025

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The convergence of ancient traditions and cutting-edge technology creates fascinating business opportunities that few have fully explored. In this thought-provoking conversation with Mohamed, IT Director at Sawani, we journey through the unexpected realm where Saudi Arabian heritage dairy meets digital transformation.

Mohamed reveals how Sawani has positioned itself as a pioneer in bringing traditional goat and camel milk products to modern consumers. Beyond just milk, they've expanded into cheese, yogurt, and even gelato while preserving the cultural significance and exceptional nutritional benefits these products offer. What's particularly ambitious is their vision to take...


Unplugged with iSolution: Trailblazing Leadership: Dina Amin's Journey in Tech and Empowerment in the Middle East
#3
01/09/2025

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Discover how Dina Amin, the powerhouse behind Google Cloud's marketing in the Middle East, Turkey, and Africa, navigates the dynamic world of tech leadership. As she shares her decade-long journey with Google, Dina opens up about the nuanced challenges women face in leadership roles, particularly in a rapidly evolving region. She offers a candid look at how overcoming unconscious biases and building strong networks can pave the way for future female leaders. Plus, her personal insights on tackling imposter syndrome, backed by initiatives like the "I Am Remarkable" program, provide invaluable advice for aspiring leaders.<...


Unplugged with iSolution: Pivoting to Success: Samir Mubarak's Journey through Entrepreneurship and AI Innovation
Unplugged with iSolution: Pivoting to Success: Samir Mubarak's Journey through Entrepreneurship and AI Innovation episode artwork
#2
01/09/2025

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What if being at the right place at the right time could ignite the next big thing in your career? Join us as visionary entrepreneur Samir Mubarak takes us on a journey through his bold endeavors, from his beginnings in logistics to launching more than a dozen companies. With candid insights, Samir shares his experiences navigating the fast-paced world of entrepreneurship, unraveling the delicate balance between timing and innovation. Discover how collaborations with tech giants like iSolution and Google Cloud were instrumental in steering Nafiz Logistics through the complexities of cloud technology.

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Unplugged with iSolution: From Hobby to Success: Saber and Mumzworld Journey in AI and E-Commerce Innovation
#1
10/22/2024

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Ever wondered how a simple hobby could evolve into a thriving business? Join us for a captivating conversation with Saber, a distinguished engineering and marketing enthusiast, who shares his incredible journey from crafting websites to spearheading a successful web hosting company back in 2005. As the Director of Engineering at Mumsworld, Saber provides unique insights into the transformative power of AI in the e-commerce landscape, especially for new moms. Discover how Mumsworld carves out its niche in the MENA region by leveraging cutting-edge technology to offer a personalized shopping experience that resonates with its audience.
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