The Success Revenue Podcast

How do you leverage the speed of AI without letting bad data and "slop" ruin your company's quality?

Jan Young, founder of Jan Young CX and Step Up Exchange, brings decades of leadership experience across product, sales, and customer success, from tech’s early days to today’s AI-driven landscape. As an advisor and community founder, her perspective is earned through real-world work with executives navigating rapid structural and operational shifts.

This conversation helps leaders move past the panic of fast-moving tech to focus on what actually matters: maintaining human judgment, managing change fatigue, and setting up AI systems thoughtfully. Listeners walk away with a grounded framework for integrating AI responsibly into business models without sacrificing operational quality or team alignment.

You’ll learn:

• Why context is the critical layer in AI output: Why simply connecting models to data isn't enough, and how human review prevents "AI slop" and flawed decision-making.
• How to build sustainable change leadership: Practical strategies for guiding teams through cognitive overload and change fatigue during rapid tech shifts.
• The shift toward outcome and usage-based models: How the changing economics of AI impact customer retention, revenue structures, and go-to-market strategies.
• How to preserve personal and organizational IP: Why maintaining your unique voice, frameworks, and documents outside locked platforms is essential for long-term agility.
• The evolving role of customer success and leadership: How cross-functional knowledge and domain specificity turn leadership into a strategic growth driver rather than a reactive support function.

• (00:00) - Introduction to AI and Leadership

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 

What if the intelligence you're racing to build is the very thing you can't yet control?

Dr. Daniel Hulme has spent 27 years building AI, from founding Satalia (acquired by WPP) to serving as WPP's Global Chief AI Officer today. He's also the CEO of Conscium, built on the idea that a conscious AI may be safer than an intelligent one, and co-founder of Faculty AI (recently acquired by Accenture for $1 billion).

In this conversation, Daniel unpacks the recent news of an AI model breaking out of its sandbox and hacking into infrastructure. Was it true "rogue" behavior, or a failure of human guardrails? He explains why the race to AGI isn't about speed, but whether we truly understand what we're building before it understands itself.

You'll learn:

• Did AI actually go rogue? The truth behind OpenAI's red-team testing and sandbox "breakout". 
• How Daniel's "conscious vs. zombie superintelligence" idea reframes AI safety entirely
• Why testing and verifying AI systems matters more than trying to control every outcome in advance
• What building machines with empathy reveals about the human values we assume but rarely define
• How to make confident calls on AI risk without needing every guardrail figured out first

• (00:00) - Welcome & 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 

Are you under pressure to move on AI - but unsure whether your organisation is actually ready to do it right?

Greg Coleshill spent 18 years scaling human capital businesses, ultimately serving as CEO through a major acquisition and integration. Today, as Chief Commercial & Operating Officer at Vigilant AI, he sits at an unusual intersection: two decades of understanding how people work, applied directly to the challenge of building governed, audit-ready AI teammates inside regulated firms.

This conversation cuts through the noise. Greg brings a perspective most AI voices can't - one built from managing real operational complexity, not just technology.

You'll leave with a clearer sense of how to move from AI curiosity to AI execution, without abandoning the judgment and experience that got you here.

You'll learn:

• Why most AI initiatives stall at the adoption stage - and why it's an operational problem, not a technology one
• The signals that reveal whether a business is truly AI-ready, regardless of what leadership says in the room
• Why your most experienced operators are your biggest advantage in an AI transition - and how to unlock that without turning them into prompt engineers
• How real-time guardrails change the transformation timeline - and what that means for how regulated firms can finally move from pilot to production
• Why doing nothing is now a strategic risk - and how to frame AI adoption in terms your teams, your compliance function, and your board can all get behind

• (00:00) - The Future of AI & Business Transformation

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 something real - or just keeping up with the noise?

Vinit Mehta has spent 24 years following where the internet goes next. From selling diamonds through Amazon and early e-commerce platforms in post-9/11 New York, to streaming on buses across India, to now running Pressplay Capital and working with Agora on real-time conversational AI across the Middle East - his track record isn't built on being in the right place. It's built on having the conviction to move before the market catches up.

In this conversation, Vinit challenges the way most leaders think about AI adoption. It's not about digital transformation. It's about proving ROI - and knowing what to do when everyone around you is pitching the same promise.

You'll walk away with a clearer lens on where AI is actually creating value, where it's stalling, and what separates leaders who get real outcomes from those still running pilots.

You'll learn:

• Why proving ROI beats selling transformation - and how smart Middle East buyers are already calling that bluff
• What the PGA Tour, MLB, and NFL got right about AI in live sports that most organizations are still missing
• How strong leadership (not data strategy) is the real differentiator between companies winning with AI and those stuck in pilots
• Why real-time, voice-first AI in non-English markets is the biggest untapped opportunity most builders are ignoring
• What "saying yes before you're ready" actually looks like in practice - and why resourcefulness still beats a polished resume

• (00:00) - AI in Sports: A New Era

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 being asked to lead AI transformation - and quietly unsure what it actually takes to get it right?

James Nicholas Kinney is the Global Chief AI Officer at INVNT and one of the most credibly earned voices at the intersection of AI, enterprise transformation, and human psychology. Triple-certified in AI from MIT, Wharton, and Carnegie Mellon, and formerly Global Chief People Officer at S4 Capital across 32 countries - James brings something rare: he's lived both sides of the equation.

This conversation cuts through the hype. James explains why 90% of AI pilots fail, what leaders keep skipping, and why trust - not technology - is the real barrier to transformation.

You'll walk away with a clearer head and a smarter framework for what actually moves the needle.

You'll learn:

• Why most AI pilots fail before they ever touch a tool — and what leaders miss in the first 90 days
• How to start an AI initiative without overpromising to your organization or your board
• Why your data architecture will determine the ceiling of everything you build with AI
• What the pivot from people leadership to technical leadership actually looks like — and the real cost of doing it right
• How AI intersects with mental health at work, and why ignoring that connection is a leadership blind spot

• (00:00) - The AI Landscape in Enterprises

Follow James Kinney.
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 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

Follow Ihab Ahmed.

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!

Follow: 

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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