How do you push real innovation inside an institution built to resist change?

Giovanni Gavino Everduin is Chief Strategy & Innovation Officer at CBI and co-founder of CBIx, the bank's independent innovation lab and corporate VC arm. A Harvard Business School alum with over two decades bridging finance, fintech, and emerging technology, Gio has spent his career making new ideas work inside legacy systems.

Ihab Ahmed is Head of Impact and a founding member of CBIx, where he leads ecosystem-building, partnerships, and brand strategy. Known for shaping award-winning customer experiences across the region, Ihab ensures innovation doesn't just launch — it lands with people.

Together, they share how they evaluate AI use cases, navigate regulation without stalling, and build a brand that earns trust while moving fast. This conversation offers clarity for any leader trying to balance experimentation with accountability.

You'll learn:

• How to evaluate whether an AI use case solves a real problem or is just a compelling demo
• Why escaping "legacy gravity" in banking requires cultural change, not just new technology
• What it takes to embed AI in a regulated industry without losing momentum
• How to build an innovation brand that feels authentic inside a traditional organization
• Why resilience and strategic patience matter more than speed when driving transformation

• (00:00) - Evaluating AI Use Cases in Banking

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This episode was brought to you by RevSetter & Nebelus AI.

Did this episode shift your thinking? Make sure to like, subscribe, and share your reflections in the comments. Your voice is part of the conversation. See you in the next episode!

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Hosts: 

Haydar - LinkedIn 

Ivy - LinkedIn 

Are you building visibility in B2B but unsure why it is not converting into real clients?

In this episode, Haydar and Ivy sit down with Niall Ratcliffe, CEO of Noticed, one of the UK’s fastest-growing B2B LinkedIn agencies, to unpack the gap between attention and revenue. Neil built Noticed from scratch and now helps brands turn LinkedIn visibility into commercial results.

Together, they explore why impressions alone do not pay the bills, and why clarity and utility matter more than volume. They also examine how AI is reshaping B2B marketing without replacing human judgment or authenticity.

If you feel the pressure to show up online but want your presence to translate into pipeline, this conversation offers a steadier way to think about growth.

You’ll learn:

• Why profile views signal intent and how to convert curiosity into conversations
• The real reason most B2B content fails to drive revenue
• How to use LinkedIn as a commercial engine, not just a branding tool
• Where AI supports storytelling and where human credibility still wins
• Why simplicity in messaging often outperforms complex marketing strategies

This is an episode about leadership in motion - smart, grounded, and brave.

• (00:00) - Introduction

This episode was brought to you by RevSetter & Nebelus AI.

Did this episode shift your thinking? Make sure to like, subscribe, and share your reflections in the comments. Your voice is part of the conversation. See you in the next episode!

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Hosts: 

Haydar - LinkedIn 

Ivy - LinkedIn 

How do you decide where AI truly belongs in your business when the pressure to act keeps rising?

In this episode of The Success Revenue Podcast, Haydar Al-Saad and Ivy Forero sit down with Rajat Kotra, Chief Data & AI Officer at secondbrains.in, to talk about what responsible AI leadership actually looks like in practice.

With decades of experience leading AI and data strategy across global enterprises, scale-ups, and startups, Rajat brings a grounded perspective to agentic AI, Second Brain systems, and AI-driven transformation. The conversation focuses on judgment, context, and execution. When AI creates real leverage and when it adds unnecessary risk. How leaders embed intelligence into legacy systems without breaking what already works.

This episode is for leaders navigating real decisions under pressure and looking for clarity, not hype.

You’ll learn:

• How to assess whether AI is solving a real business problem or just adding complexity
• What agentic AI means in practice and where it genuinely creates leverage
• How to align AI initiatives with commercial strategy, not experimentation for its own sake
• Why context and execution matter more than model sophistication
• How experienced leaders use AI to support judgment rather than replace it

This is an episode about leadership in motion — smart, grounded, and brave.

• (00:00) - The Rise of Agentic AI: From Tools to Teammates

This episode was brought to you by RevSetter & Nebelus AI.

Did this episode shift your thinking? Make sure to like, subscribe, and share your reflections in the comments. Your voice is part of that conversation. See you in the next episode!

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Hosts: 

Haydar - LinkedIn 

Ivy - LinkedIn 

If you’re feeling overwhelmed by the pace of change — in tech, in marketing, in leadership — you’re not alone.
In a world where algorithms move faster than strategy decks, many leaders are quietly asking: What do I need to unlearn to stay relevant?

In this episode, we sit down with Maryna Barysheva, CEO of LKI Consulting and a pioneer in Web3 marketing, to explore the real shifts happening behind the buzzwords. Maryna has helped grow some of the world’s biggest crypto and blockchain players — but her insights go far beyond tech.

She speaks to the heart of what it means to lead: knowing when to adapt, when to delegate, and how to stay human in an increasingly automated world.

Whether you’re a startup founder, a marketer navigating AI disruption, or a leader rethinking your value — this conversation will help you feel less alone, and more equipped.

You’ll learn:

• The difference between adopting AI and integrating it into decision-making
• What Web3 teaches us about trust, ownership, and power
• Why confidence is a learned skill (and how to practice it)
• How women in tech can become the experts others rely on
• What’s really working in marketing today (hint: it’s not automation)

This is an episode about leadership in motion — smart, grounded, and brave.

• (00:00) - Introduction

Follow Maryna Barysheva.

This episode was brought to you by RevSetter & Nebelus AI.

Did this episode shift your thinking? Make sure to like, subscribe, and share your reflections in the comments. Your voice is part of that conversation. See you in the next episode!
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Hosts: 

Haydar - LinkedIn 

Ivy - LinkedIn 

What if the ability to adapt across cultures, industries and technologies was your biggest leadership advantage?

In this episode, Jomilsa Sousa — founder of The Success Studio — takes us through her inspiring journey into customer success, exploring the cultural nuances of working in diverse regions, especially the Middle East. She opens up about how cultural nuance, curiosity, and courageous pivots shaped her career and how she's helping others build theirs.

With a powerful presence and deep operational insight, Jomilsa reflects on the mindset shifts needed to stay relevant in an AI-powered world and how relationship-building and mentorship continue to define long-term success.

This episode is an invitation to lead with self-awareness, stay open to reinvention, and define growth on your own terms.

In this episode:

● How Jomilsa navigated cultural shifts and career transitions across markets
● Why customer success is a mindset, not a department
● What the Ping Matrix framework teaches us about segmentation and strategy
● How to blend AI with human connection in customer relationships
● Why relationship-building remains a competitive edge in the Middle East
● What mentorship really looks like — and why it matters
● Advice for women in business navigating ambition, confidence, and voice
● How to stay adaptable and valuable in a rapidly evolving tech landscape

If you’re building a CS career, navigating global teams, or looking to future-proof your skills in a changing industry — this conversation with Jomilsa Sousa is packed with strategy, heart and momentum.

Follow Jomilsa Sousa.

This episode was brought to you by RevSetter & medlify. 

Did you find this episode valuable? Make sure to like, subscribe, and share your thoughts in the comments! We're building the Middle East's customer success & revenue community together, and your voice matters. See you in the next episode!

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Hosts: 

Haydar - LinkedIn 

Ivy - LinkedIn 

What if customer success is the most honest reflection of how your company actually operates?

In this episode, Alexandra Sagaydak — Fractional CCO and founder of AI CS HUB — brings the kind of raw, refreshing honesty that SaaS leaders need to hear. After leading post-sale functions at scale and now advising early-stage startups, Alexandra opens up about what’s broken in CS, what founders get wrong, and why AI won’t fix any of it if you haven’t nailed the basics.

She’s the kind of leader who isn’t afraid to talk about chaos, complexity, and the mess of building — but she does it with precision, structure, and fierce conviction. This episode is for anyone who has ever been handed a customer success function with no playbook, no metrics, and still made it work.

In this episode:

● Why CS is a philosophy, not a role — and why most companies still don’t get it
● What fractional leadership reveals about gaps in early-stage CS strategy
● How to actually scale CS without losing the human connection
● The AI shift — what’s hype, what’s real, and what makes workflows better
● The underrated power of critical thinking in a data-saturated world
● What women in leadership must hear about ambition and self-trust
● Why chaos is normal — and how leadership presence changes everything
● How to build customer relationships with clarity, not just effort

If you’re a founder, CS leader, or navigating messy growth — this episode with Alexandra Sagaydak is a masterclass in building smarter, braver, and more human-first post-sale systems.

Follow Alexandra Sagaydak.

This episode was brought to you by RevSetter & medlify. 

Did you find this episode valuable? Make sure to like, subscribe, and share your thoughts in the comments! We're building the Middle East's customer success & revenue community together, and your voice matters. See you in the next episode!

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Hosts: 

Haydar - LinkedIn 

Ivy - LinkedIn 

What does it take to bring AI into one of the most human-centered industries — and still keep empathy at the core?

In this episode, Nada Hassan and Amin Elhemaily, co-founders of a Saudi-based digital health startup, share the behind-the-scenes truth of building in the middle of two massive transformations: the AI revolution and Vision 2030.

With a bold mission to improve healthcare outcomes while respecting cultural nuance, Nada and Amin are not just launching technology. They’re building trust — across doctors, patients, regulators, and the systems that hold it all together.

They open up about the real challenges of earning credibility in healthcare, balancing innovation with regulation, and why resilience, mentorship, and long nights are the invisible forces behind every founder story.

In this episode:

● Why AI must support — not replace — human care
● The mindset shift required to build trust with Saudi healthcare leaders
● What Vision 2030 is doing to accelerate digital health innovation
● The unspoken challenges of entrepreneurship in a regulated industry
● Why cultural nuance matters more than product features in MENA markets
● How women in leadership can unlock systemic change
● The importance of purpose and grit when the mission gets hard
● What real impact looks like — beyond the pitch decks and press

If you're building in health tech, betting on the Middle East, or redefining what AI can do with a human touch — this episode with Nada Hassan and Amin Elhemaily is your blueprint.

Follow Nada Hassan and Amin Elhemaily.

This episode was brought to you by RevSetter & medlify. 

Did you find this episode valuable? Make sure to like, subscribe, and share your thoughts in the comments! We're building the Middle East's customer success & revenue community together, and your voice matters. See you in the next episode!

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Hosts: 

Haydar - LinkedIn 

Ivy - LinkedIn 

What does it take to thrive in one of the world’s most competitive, fast-paced recruitment markets?

In this episode, Alex Koumi, Managing Director at Kingston Stanley, and Dan Wardle, Business Manager for Tech Recruitment, pull back the curtain on the recruitment world across the Middle East. With decades of combined experience, they share the inside story of what clients are really looking for, how AI is reshaping hiring, and why human connection still makes or breaks the process.

From tech startups to global corporations, Alex and Dan speak candidly about what it takes to attract top talent, scale hiring for emerging roles, and keep teams inspired in a high-pressure industry. But this episode isn’t just about recruitment strategy, it’s about resilience, transparency, and building careers that actually last.

In this episode:

● What hiring really looks like behind the scenes in the MENA region
● Why local talent is in demand and how to source it effectively
● How client expectations have evolved and what candidates keep getting wrong
● The power of consultative recruiting and what builds long-term trust
● Why AI can enhance efficiency but can’t replace human intuition
● The rise of emerging roles in data, AI and cybersecurity
● How to maintain internal culture and energy in a high-volume hiring environment
● Alex and Dan’s personal career journeys and what still drives them today
● Lessons in leadership, mental health, and staying motivated in recruitment

If you’re hiring in the region, looking to break into tech, or simply navigating the future of work — this episode with Alex Koumi and Dan Wardle is a behind-the-scenes masterclass in people, performance and potential.

Follow Alex Koumi and Dan Wardle. 

This episode was brought to you by RevSetter & medlify. 

Did you find this episode valuable? Make sure to like, subscribe, and share your thoughts in the comments! We're building the Middle East's customer success & revenue community together, and your voice matters. See you in the next episode!

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Hosts: 

Haydar - LinkedIn 

Ivy - LinkedIn 

What does it take to lead transformation in a market where trust, culture and experience matter more than technology?

In this episode, Waleed AlHamdan, award-winning CX expert, leadership coach, and CEO of Compass Way, shares a masterclass on what real customer experience looks like in Saudi Arabia today. With over 25 years of experience across sectors like banking and American Express, Waleed reflects on the mindset shifts required to evolve from business-oriented thinking to true customer centricity.

This isn’t just about surveys or NPS. It’s about legacy. Waleed opens up about the emotional intelligence behind loyalty, the strategic use of AI in experience design, and how leaders can create sustainable impact — one relationship at a time.

If you’ve ever wondered what customer experience really means in the Middle East, or how to lead lasting change in your organization, this episode is your blueprint.

In this episode:

● Waleed’s journey from banking to becoming a CX thought leader in the Gulf
● The hidden power of cultural intelligence in Saudi business success
● Why CX is not a marketing function, it’s a core growth strategy
● How to shift organizational mindset from process to people
● What leaders get wrong when trying to “quantify” experience
● How AI can support transformation without losing the human touch
● The legacy Waleed wants to leave behind in C
● How emotional intelligence builds trust and drives long-term value
● The personal growth habits Waleed swears by as a mentor and leader

If you're building in the region, mentoring future leaders, or reimagining how customer experience drives growth, this episode with Waleed AlHamdan is a masterclass in influence and intention.

Follow Waleed AlHamdan.

This episode was brought to you by RevSetter & medlify.

Did you find this episode valuable? Make sure to like, subscribe, and share your thoughts in the comments! We're building the Middle East's customer success & revenue community together, and your voice matters. See you in the next episode!

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Hosts: 

Haydar - LinkedIn 

Ivy - LinkedIn 

What happens when customer experience becomes a national priority and a personal calling?

In this episode, Zubaida Hariri, Head of Customer Experience at Abdul Latif Jameel Enterprises, shares the leadership journey that brought her from healthcare to one of the most influential CX roles in Saudi Arabia today.

With Vision 2030 reshaping service standards and customer expectations across the Kingdom, Zubaida breaks down what it means to lead transformation, not just in process, but in mindset. She talks about the hard truths behind leadership, the pressure to modernize without losing the human touch, and why empathy remains a CX power move in a world of speed and scale.

Zubaida brings a quiet confidence that commands attention. This episode is for anyone building experience-led growth, especially in markets where expectations are rising fast and representation still matters.

In this episode:

● Zubaida’s personal journey from patient care to CX transformation
● What customer experience really means in a post-Vision 2030 Saudi Arabia
● The leadership advantage of understanding diverse sectors and perspectives
● Why empathy and execution must coexist in modern CX
● How Saudi customers are evolving and what brands must do to keep up
● The overlooked power of government in driving CX innovation
● What it means to lead as a woman in high-stakes environments
● Zubaida’s mentorship philosophy and why it changes everything
● Balancing personal energy while delivering institutional impact

If you're leading transformation, elevating service, or redefining what it means to create value, Zubaida Hariri’s story is your blueprint for doing it with integrity.

Follow Zubaida Hariri. 

This episode was brought to you by RevSetter & medlify.

Did you find this episode valuable? Make sure to like, subscribe, and share your thoughts in the comments! We're building the Middle East's customer success & revenue community together, and your voice matters. See you in the next episode!

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Follow: 

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Hosts: 

Haydar - LinkedIn 

Ivy - LinkedIn