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Strategy& Middle East unscripted

Strategy& Middle East unscripted

Hosted by Strategy& Middle East

Business
WebsiteRSS feed

Episodes

13

Latest episode

Jun 2026

Language

EN

About the show

<p>‘Unscripted’ is the Strategy Middle East alumni video series, now available on all podcast aggregators! Join us as we sit with inspiring alums to talk about their successes, vulnerabilities, and the learnings they’ve got along the way. 'Unscripted' offers a glimpse into the personal and professional lives of leaders who've made a mark. If you prefer to watch, head to our YouTube playlist: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL9AFhrGglhdJKVhAjlCjAazFi5Ic5CYfl"><span style="background-color:white;color:#1155CC;">https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL9AFhrGglhdJKVhAjlCjAazFi5Ic5CYfl</span></a></p><p><span style="background-color:white;">URL: </span><a href="https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL9AFhrGglhdJKVhAjlCjAazFi5Ic5CYfl"><span style="background-color:white;color:#1155CC;">https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL9AFhrGglhdJKVhAjlCjAazFi5Ic5CYfl</span></a><span style="background-color:white;"></span></p>

Listen to episodes

13 recent
June 10, 2026Episode 1335 min

Abdulla Abunayyan on ownership, discipline, and the future of water and power in Saudi Arabia

<p>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.</p>

November 20, 2025Episode 1240 min

Leyla Azizova on healthcare innovation, entrepreneurship, and determination

<p>Join Leyla Azizova, Strategy&amp; alum and founder &amp; 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!</p>

September 18, 2025Episode 1139 min

Ashish Labroo on navigating markets, fostering innovation, and the power of meditation

<p>Join Ashish Labroo, Strategy&amp; 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.</p>

July 31, 2025Episode 1047 min

Anna Germanos on bold pivots, building resilience, and leading with purpose

<p>Join Anna Germanos, Strategy&amp; 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.</p>

May 19, 2025Episode 942 min

Christos Mastoras on resilience, navigating boom-and-bust cycles, and the VC journey

<p>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.&nbsp;<br>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!</p>

April 9, 2025Episode 842 min

Tarek Kabrit on pivots, the startup rollercoaster, and following through even when it’s hard

<p>Join us as Tarek Kabrit, Strategy&amp; 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.</p>

January 7, 2025Episode 738 min

Godfrey Sullivan on exploring the world, giving back, and innovation in payments

<p>Join us as Godfrey Sullivan, a Strategy&amp; 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.</p>

November 6, 2024Episode 646 min

Shant Oknayan on cultural intelligence, leading a global business, and taking risks

<p>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.</p>

August 30, 2024Episode 541 min

J.K. Khalil on mentorship, following your instinct, and rediscovering yourself

<p>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.</p>

August 9, 2024Episode 444 min

Fares Akkad on media, startups, and the future of AI

<p>Motivated by curiosity, creativity, communication, and good food, Fares Akkad’s career has taken him on an exciting journey — from consulting, to makeup, to one of the biggest media and tech companies in the world. The common theme through it all? Making a positive impact on others. Press play to hear Karim Sarkis interview him as he opens up about his career path, the future of AI, and his personal passions.</p>

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