CareersTalks with Tamer

In this episode of CareersTalks with Tamer, we sit down with Ahmad Mara’yeh — a Bedouin entrepreneur and the Co-Founder of Rum Planet Camp in Wadi Rum, Jordan — to uncover life and career lessons shaped by simplicity, reflection, and human connection.

Recorded on-site in the stunning Wadi Rum desert, Ahmad shares how the support of his family, he built his camp from the ground up along, what he’s learned from hosting people from around the world, and why true wisdom comes from within — not from titles or social media noise.

Whether you’re navigating a career pivot or simply looking for clarity in life, this conversation offers a powerful reminder:

“You don’t have to be Bedouin to live simply — you just have to give time to yourself.”

🎥 Filmed at Rum Planet Camp, this is one of our most unique and grounded episodes yet.

🔑 In this episode:

- Building a family business in Wadi Rum from scratch

- Why life lessons don’t need to come from men in suits

- The power of silence, reflection, and learning from others

- What it really means to know yourself in today’s noisy world

⏱Timestamps⏱:

0:00 Introduction

2:49 Motivation Behind the Camp

4:10 What Makes the Camp Special (Bedouin Identity)

7:04 From Tour Guide at 14 to Camp Co-Founder

11:34 Bedouin Life and Career Wisdom

15:19 What Makes You Content?

16:58 Outro

After a successful career in finance, procurement, and global buying — with roles at Mars, F&B giants, and Gorillas — Seif El Sobky made an unexpected move: he left the corporate world to become CEO of a London-based restaurant chain, Koshari Street.

In this episode of CareersTalks with Tamer, Seif opens up about why he chose to take such a bold leap, how he handled self-doubt, the mindset shifts required for growth, and the everyday challenges of being an entrepreneur.

Whether you're considering a career change, entrepreneurship, or simply wondering if it’s worth taking a risk — this conversation is packed with real-world insights.

Timestamps:

0:00 Introduction

2:52 Life in Corporate Before Koshari Street

7:42 Leaving Corporate to Lead Koshari Street

21:01 Handling Self-Doubt

26:48 Shifting Mindsets for Growth

32:57 Current Challenges as an Entrepreneur

36:38 Advice for Those Seeking Change

40:39 Tips for Taking Risks

44:32 Closing Thoughts

#Entrepreneurship #careeradvice #CareerGrowth #ProfessionalDevelopment #KoshariStreet #careerstalkswithTamer

Join us for an insightful conversation with Dwayne Browne, an AI and Data Transformation strategist at AWS, who brings over 20 years of experience from companies like Amazon, Accenture, Adobe, BBC, Carrefour, and EE.

In this episode of CareersTalks with Tamer, Dwayne shares his career journey from technical roles to strategy and entrepreneurship, his unique approach to making impactful career decisions, and reflections on finding fulfilment in various professional paths.Whether you're interested in technology, career growth, or contemplating a bold career move, Dwayne's insights will inspire and guide you.⏱️ Timestamps:0:00 Introduction

02:16 Career Overview

09:21 Transformative Career Pivots

12:36 Technical Roles vs Strategy Roles

18:55 Career Decisions Framework

24:12 Venturing into Entrepreneurship

28:53 Fulfilment in Corporate vs Entrepreneurship

36:58 What's Next for Dwayne

40:28 Key Lesson for Your Younger Self

42:28 AI's Impact on the Tech Industry

45:33 What Makes Dwayne Fulfilled

46:22 Ending

CONNECT WITH ME:

🎬 YouTube: @careerstalkswithtamer

📷 Instagram:   / careerstalks  

🎙️ Spotify: https://spotify.link/155zVY0b3yb

💼 LinkedIn:   / careerstalks  

*Disclaimer*: All thoughts and opinions expressed in this video reflects the guest's and the host's personal views and are not an official statement from their employers.#tech #CareerAdvice #AI #AWS #careergrowth #digitaltransformation #barbados #london

Join us in this episode of CareersTalks with Tamer as we dive into the inspiring journey of James Lo, from prestigious corporate roles at McKinsey and SoftBank to successfully raising £3 million for his innovative AI startup, Ethos.

James shares openly about his early career struggles, key insights from his experiences at top-tier organizations, and the pivotal decision to leave a secure corporate job to pursue entrepreneurship. He discusses the challenges he faced while building Ethos, valuable lessons about life and business, and practical advice for aspiring entrepreneurs and young professionals.

Whether you're contemplating a career change, launching your own venture, or seeking motivation from someone who took bold steps, James's story will offer clarity, encouragement, and actionable insights.

⏱️ Timestamps ⏱️:

00:00 Introduction

02:03 Early Life and Background

06:42 How Inner Struggles Evolve Over Time

11:13 Experiences at McKinsey & SoftBank

18:09 Why James Left the Corporate World

21:23 Challenges of Launching a Startup

27:06 Life Lessons and Personal Insights

30:31 The Mission Behind Ethos

34:29 Overcoming Major Obstacles

42:55 Advice to Young Professionals

CONNECT WITH ME:

🎬 YouTube: @careerstalkswithtamer

📷 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/careerstalks/

🎙️ Spotify: https://spotify.link/155zVY0b3yb

💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/careerstalks

💬 Let us know in the comments—what’s the biggest risk you've taken in your career?

#Entrepreneurship #AIStartup #McKinsey #SoftBank #CareerAdvice #PersonalGrowth #StartupJourney #CareerChange #CareersTalkswithTamer

In this episode of CareersTalks with Tamer, we sit down with Harun Cehovic, an operations manager who is also pursuing his passion for acting. Harun opens up about how he got started in acting, his journey balancing two very different worlds, and what it really takes to follow your creative passion while working a 9-5 job.

We dive deep into the realities of pursuing acting, the emotional highs and lows, financial uncertainty, and practical tips for anyone considering a similar path. Whether you're an aspiring actor, a creative professional, or someone trying to juggle multiple passions—this episode is for you.

00:00 Intro

02:19 How did it all start with the acting

06:58 Why acting specifically

12:45 Harun's first acting role

16:38 Landing a corporate job as an actor

21:17 Acting career highlights

25:16 Balancing corporate job and acting

27:31 Navigating financial and emotional uncertainty

34:57 How to stand out as an actor

37:31 How can someone start acting

40:54 Best age to start an acting career

41:58 What's the feeling you miss when you don't act

45:26 How do you feel in quiet periods?

48:16 What if acting doesn’t work?

50:28 Advice to your younger self

52:34 Outro

CONNECT WITH ME:

🎬 YouTube: @careerstalkswithtamer

📷 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/careerstalks/

🎙️ Spotify: https://spotify.link/155zVY0b3yb

💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/careerstalks

#actor#actingcareer #DualCareer #CareerJourney #creativejourney #CorporateLife #PursueYourPassion #ActorInterview #CareerAdvice #Podcast

Join us in this episode as we sit down with Karim Said, a classical pianist whose career spans international performances, moving countries, and pioneering music projects in Jordan. From committing to the piano at a young age to leading projects like AIPA and ACO, Karim shares how he balances passion, risk, and constant reinvention in the world of classical music. Whether you’re a budding musician or simply curious about life behind the piano keys, this conversation offers lessons on commitment, creativity, and finding fulfillment in your craft.⏱ Timestamps:

00:00 Introduction

02:55 Why Piano and Classical Music?

06:58 Committing to Piano as a Child

15:01 Piano vs. Conducting

21:50 Moving to London at 11

25:45 Returning to Jordan after 21 Years

27:40 Lessons Learned Throughout the Journey

30:22 Work & Projects in Jordan (AIPA, ACO)

39:07 Classical Music in the Region

45:00 Performing Internationally Again

48:10 Advice to Musicians in Developing Countries

51:40 A Day in the Life of a Musician

53:53 Risks, Challenges & Rewards in Music

01:01:07 Advice for Music Enthusiasts

01:06:03 Who Is Karim Outside of Music?

01:07:28 Do You Feel Fulfilled?

01:11:20 Outro

CONNECT WITH ME:

📷 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/careerstalks/

🎙️ Spotify: https://spotify.link/155zVY0b3yb

💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/careerstalks

#Pianist #MusicCareer #Podcast #musician #classicalmusic

In this episode from CareersTalks with Tamer, I sit down with Youssef Salem, the current CFO of ADNOC Drilling. Youssef’s career path is an incredible journey of resilience and calculated risks. From spending over a decade as an investment banker to becoming the CFO of ADNOC drilling, one of the fastest-growing MENA unicorns, Youssef shares his experiences, insights, and lessons learned.

⏱Timestamps⏱:

00:00 Introduction
01:49 Overview of Youssef’s career journey and pivotal moments
05:56 What was your motivation to stay in investment banking?
11:03 The reason behind moving to SWVL?
14:22 Transition from a more focused role to one with broader responsibilities
18:27 More about SWVL—what it does and your journey with it
20:52 The most challenging aspect of your career at SWVL
22:07 As the youngest CFO, how did you handle pressure from investors?
25:15 The biggest career challenges and lessons learned
27:04 The role as a CFO at ADNOC
30:26 How have your experiences as a CFO across different companies differed?
33:17 Would you be as successful as a CFO without your experience at SWVL?
35:34 What makes a good CFO?
38:26 What personal sacrifices did you make, and how did you balance your time?
41:48 Did you ever wish you had enjoyed your 20s more instead of prioritizing success?
45:33 What do you consider your biggest career failure, and how did you overcome it?
47:22 What advice would you give to young professionals aspiring to become CFOs?
49:22 For someone in finance, is transitioning to a startup a good path to a CFO role?
50:48 What skills should someone in investment banking develop to become a CFO?
54:44 How do you see technologies changing the finance industry and the role of the CFO?
59:32 What impact do you hope to leave with your career?
01:01:39 What advice would you give your 18-year-old self?

#finance #investmentbanking #CFO #startup #careeradvice #financecareers

CONNECT WITH ME:

🎬 YouTube: @careerstalkswithtamer

📷 Instagram: / careerstalks

🎙️ Spotify: https://spotify.link/155zVY0b3yb

💼 LinkedIn: / careerstalks

*Disclaimer*: All thoughts and opinions expressed in this video reflects the guest's and the host's personal views and are not an official statement from their employers.

🚀 From Credit Suisse in NYC to M&G Investments in London, Gautam Samarth has built an extraordinary career in finance. As a Hedge Fund Manager overseeing an AI-driven fund managing over $1 billion, Gautam shares his journey, insights, and advice in this in-depth episode of CareersTalks with Tamer.

⏱️ Timestamps:

00:00 Intro

01:14 Pivotal Career Moments

04:49 Most challenging moments in your career

08:53 Role of a Fund Manager

11:56 Credit Suisse in NYC to M&G in London

14:32 What made you realize finance is the right career choice

16:44 Efficiency and pace: NYC vs. London

18:55 Compensation: NYC vs. London

20:35 Teams you interact with internally

25:00 Managing short-term vs. long-term changes and client pressure

29:57 Adapting your strategy to market volatility

32:44 One thing you would change about your investment strategy

35:33 How is tech changing your financial strategies?

41:03 How do you keep your team motivated?

45:35 How can young professionals set themselves apart?

48:14 What makes a good fund manager?

52:48 Learning resources and methodologies

56:05 How do you think the future of your industry is changing?

1:00:48 Expectations out of college vs. where you are now

1:03:39 Practical piece of advice

In this episode, we sit down with Ross Kolodyazhnyi, CTO of Calyptus, based in London. Starting his career in Ukraine, Ross played a pivotal role in the digital transformation of several banks, showcasing a strong drive to innovate and lead. His ambition and passion for technology propelled him to become a product and tech leader, building robust ecosystems and leading product development across multiple organizations.

#finance #technology #ceo #leadership #management #fintech #startup #podcast #careeradvice #london

⏱Timestamps⏱:

0:00 Introduction

01:19 Career Journey

13:13 Key experiences that shaped you into the leader you are today

28:21 Decision to take the leap into the strategic roles of CEO and CTO

43:48 Should young professionals seeking rapid career growth work for small or large companies?

52:18 Transition from a technical role to a strategic leadership position

01:00:02 Corporate VS Startup decision-making and responsibilities

01:08:32 Tell us more about Calyptus and your role within the company

01:20:29 The CTO/CPO role

01:27:11 Advice for a young professional who wants to reach strategic management levels

01:33:45 One technology you think people should learn about

01:34:40 Future goals and aspirations

CONNECT WITH ME:

🎬 YouTube: @careerstalkswithtamer

📷 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/careerstalks/

🎙️ Spotify: https://spotify.link/155zVY0b3yb

💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/careerstalks

*Disclaimer*: All thoughts and opinions expressed in this video reflects the guest's and the host's personal views and are not an official statement from their employers.