Strategy& Middle East unscripted

Join Mansour Mansour, Strategy& Middle East alum and GM, Fuse at Amazon, as he reflects on a career shaped by persistence, curiosity, and a drive to build. Mansour shares the rejections that taught him the difference between a “no” and a “not now,” and the role community has played throughout his life. He also discusses giving back, supporting women in the workplace, and the questions leaders need to confront as AI changes how we develop talent, structure organizations, and lead. For Mansour, the companies that succeed will not necessarily be those with the best AI, but those with the best people and the ability to adapt.Powered by Podeo — Listen to this episode

Join Abdulla Abunayyan, Strategy Middle East alum and Chief Business Development Officer at Abunayyan Holding, as he reflects on his transition from consulting into the family business. Abdulla shares the consulting lessons that continue to shape his leadership style, including ownership and discipline. He discusses the mindset behind giving 120% when the mission feels personal, the realities of leading within a family enterprise, and the opportunities emerging in Saudi Arabia's water and power sectors as AI, data centers, and economic transformation create new demand.Powered by Podeo — Listen to this episode

Join Leyla Azizova, Strategy& alum and founder & CEO of Endocare, as she shares her inspiring journey from consulting to launching a startup tackling obesity and metabolic health. Get a behind-the-scenes look at her approach to entrepreneurship, the real talk on juggling a growing business and motherhood, and her vision for the future of healthcare, where cutting-edge technology meets the human touch. You won’t want to miss it!Powered by Podeo — Listen to this episode

Join Ashish Labroo, Strategy& alum and CEO of Careem Rides, as he reflects on a journey that spans hardcore operations, a dozen years in consulting, and leading ride-hailing across the Middle East. He opens up about staying connected to local markets, managing complex teams, the role of meditation in finding balance, and why kindness drives his leadership style.Powered by Podeo — Listen to this episode

Join Anna Germanos, Strategy& alum and Group Director for FMCG, Luxury, Retail, and E-commerce (MEA) at Meta, as she reflects on a career shaped by curiosity, resilience, and bold choices. From being the third daughter in a traditional Arab family to leading in tech and retail, Anna shares how her mantra “What’s the worst that can happen?” helped her embrace change, navigate motherhood, and leave a lasting impact across industries.Powered by Podeo — Listen to this episode

Join Christos Mastoras, founder and managing partner of Iliad Partners, as he brings us the untold stories of seizing opportunities and overcoming challenges in emerging markets. From shaping bold investment strategies to fostering relationships across cultures, Christos shares lessons from the front lines. This Unscripted episode is packed with insights and inspiration for entrepreneurs ready to make their mark!Powered by Podeo — Listen to this episode

Join us as Tarek Kabrit, Strategy& Middle East alum and co-founder of the automotive AI company Seez, walks us through his startup journey – from launching a car buying app to expanding across 16 countries and eventually being acquired. In this Unscripted episode with Karim Sarkis, Tarek shares how Seez navigated multiple pivots, tough investor conversations, and the financial pressure between funding rounds. He opens up about taking loans from employees, staying committed when things got difficult, and why trying – even without guarantees – matters more than playing it safe.Powered by Podeo — Listen to this episode

Join us as Godfrey Sullivan, a Strategy& Middle East alum with an intriguing background, takes us through his unique career path from a consultant to SVP at Visa. In this 'Unscripted' episode with Karim Sarkis, Godfrey explores the skillsets he honed during his consulting days, his deep-rooted curiosity, the moral choices he faced in the corporate world, and his takeaways on parenting and leadership. Discover how his focus on what truly matters shaped his career and personal life.Powered by Podeo — Listen to this episode

Shant Oknayan, VP of Global Business, Asia, Oceania, and Africa at TikTok/ByteDance and a Strategy Middle East alum, shares insights from his journey working across multiple continents. Hear his thoughts on the power of cultural intelligence and how taking risks and calculated leaps of faith shaped his career.Powered by Podeo — Listen to this episode

J.K. Khalil, EVP and Division President at Mastercard, is an investor, advisor, cooking enthusiast, and Strategy ME alum. In this ‘unscripted” conversation with Karim Sarkis, he shares the story of how he got his nickname, what becoming a father has taught him about leadership, the importance of listening to your gut, and the value of asking for feedback as well as giving it.Powered by Podeo — Listen to this episode