Strategy& Middle East unscripted

Leyla Azizova on healthcare innovation, entrepreneurship, and determination

Thu, 20 Nov 2025 15:12:37 +0000

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!

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

Thu, 18 Sep 2025 08:10:07 +0000

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.

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

Thu, 31 Jul 2025 15:44:41 +0000

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.

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

Mon, 19 May 2025 09:50:37 +0000

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!

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

Wed, 09 Apr 2025 11:48:37 +0000

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.

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

Tue, 07 Jan 2025 12:23:23 +0000

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.

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

Wed, 06 Nov 2024 07:47:10 +0000

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.

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

Fri, 30 Aug 2024 14:18:32 +0000

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.

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

Fri, 09 Aug 2024 10:25:46 +0000

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.

Ahmed Galal Ismail on transparency, vulnerability, and self-care

Tue, 27 Feb 2024 11:36:44 +0000

CEO of Majid Al Futtaim Holding and Strategy alum Ahmed Galal Ismail reveals his personal and professional highs and lows in the first of our new ‘unscripted’ series, brought to you by the Strategy Middle East alumni team. Listen to this exclusive interview and uncover the importance of transparency, vulnerability, self-care, and personal growth in building one's career.

Mounira Jamjoom on entrepreneurship, career paths and motherhood

Tue, 27 Feb 2024 11:35:49 +0000

Mounira Jamjoom, co-founder and CEO at Aanaab and Emkan Education, shares her story in an exclusive interview with Karim Sarkis, partner at Strategy. Listen to this episode, part of our ongoing series with Middle East alumni, to learn about a leader's path through academia to consulting to entrepreneurship and beyond

Fadi Arbid on risk-taking, passion, and curiosity

Tue, 27 Feb 2024 11:23:51 +0000

Fadi Arbid is an entrepreneur, investor, asset manager, sports enthusiast, and Strategy alum. In this ‘unscripted’ conversation with Karim Sarkis, he takes listeners across his diverse career path – from consulting to hedge funds, chicken shawarma and plastic surgery. In this episode, part of our ongoing series with Middle East alumni, Fadi talks about winning and losing and the importance of curiosity, risk taking, and relationships.