Alchemy Uncensored, a podcast presented by Alchemy Search a team of professional financial and tax recruiters. Our podcast is dedicated to providing valuable insights into the financial and tax sector of the UAE by discussing the challenges and opportunities faced by employers and job seekers.
Alchemy Uncensored is the perfect podcast for those looking to gain a competitive edge in the finance, accounting, and tax industry of the UAE.
Ten years in the CFO seat. Multiple international markets. One industry.
How does a decade as a CFO change the way you lead?
This week on Alchemy Uncensored, Conor McHugh is joined by Suhail Hoosain, Group CFO of Al Ansari Financial Services, a Dubai Financial Market-listed group with operations across the UAE, Bahrain, Kuwait and India.
With nearly two decades in financial services and more than 10 years as a CFO, Suhail’s career has taken him across South Africa, the US, Guernsey and the UAE.
In this conversation, Suhail reflects on the journey that took him to CFO, the value of international experience and why he chose to build his entire career within financial services.
They also explore what being CFO of a listed company actually involves, how Suhail’s approach to leadership has evolved over the last decade and the lessons that only come with experience.
This is not just a conversation about reaching the CFO seat.
It is about how you continue to learn, adapt and lead once you get there.
What you will hear in this episode:
📌 Suhail’s career journey to Group CFO
📌 The influences that helped shape his career
📌 How working across South Africa, the US, Guernsey and the UAE shaped his perspective
📌 Why he has spent his entire career within financial services
📌 What being CFO of a listed company actually involves
📌 How Suhail has changed after more than a decade as a CFO
📌 The biggest lessons he has taken from his career
📌 His advice for aspiring finance leaders
This episode is proudly supported by Alaan الآن, the Middle East’s leading corporate card and expense management platform.
Alaan helps companies eliminate petty cash, reimbursements, and manual reconciliations by automating expense tracking, approvals, and accounting, giving finance teams greater control and visibility without the manual work.
A big thank you to Alaan for supporting this season and helping us bring these conversations to life.
Whether you’re working towards your first leadership role, aspiring to become a CFO or already sitting in the CFO seat, this episode offers a look at how experience continues to shape you long after you reach the top.
🎧 Listen to Alchemy Uncensored. New episodes every Wednesday.
#AlchemyUncensored #AlchemySearch #Alaan #CFO #FinanceLeadership #FinanceCareers #FinancialServices #CareerGrowth #Leadership #UAEFinance
30 Sept 2026
Season 4 Episode 23: Why Soft Skills Matter More Than You Think
Technical skills can build your career. But they won’t take you all the way.
So what really takes you from management accountant to CFO?
This week on Alchemy Uncensored, Conor McHugh is joined by Rehan Laiq, a C-level finance and business executive with more than 37 years of leadership experience across international markets.
Rehan’s career has taken him through senior global and group-level roles across water and wastewater, power and renewables, oil and gas, and large-scale infrastructure. His experience includes serving as Global CFO of the Seismic business at SLB, Group CFO of Fauji Foundation and CFO of Metito Utilities.
In this conversation, Rehan looks beyond technical Finance and shares why soft skills become increasingly important the further you progress in your career.
From communication and influence to motivation and understanding people, they explore the skills that can help finance professionals earn a seat at the table and become more effective leaders.
Rehan also shares the lessons behind his own journey from management accountant to CFO and what more than three decades of leadership have taught him about career progression and success.
This is not just a conversation about becoming technically better at Finance.
It is about developing the skills that allow you to lead, influence and bring people with you.
What you will hear in this episode:
📌 Why soft skills matter in Finance
📌 Why technical expertise alone can only take you so far
📌 The skills that become more important as you move into leadership
📌 The importance of communication and influence
📌 The role of motivation in our careers and organisations
📌 Rehan’s journey from management accountant to CFO
📌 Lessons from more than 37 years of leadership
📌 What it really takes to progress to CFO level
This episode is proudly supported by Alaan الآن, the Middle East’s leading corporate card and expense management platform.
Alaan helps companies eliminate petty cash, reimbursements, and manual reconciliations by automating expense tracking, approvals, and accounting, giving finance teams greater control and visibility without the manual work.
A big thank you to Alaan for supporting this season and helping us bring these conversations to life.
Whether you’re building your career in Finance, stepping into leadership or working towards a future CFO role, this episode is a reminder that some of the most important skills in your career won’t come from a textbook.
🎧 Listen to Alchemy Uncensored. New episodes every Wednesday.
#AlchemyUncensored #AlchemySearch #Alaan #SoftSkills #CFO #FinanceLeadership #FinanceCareers #CareerGrowth #Leadership #Finance
23 Sept 2026
Season 4 Episode 22: Relocate2UAE | The Platform Making UAE Relocation Easier
New country. New job. New home. New life.
What do you really need to know before relocating to the UAE? 🇦🇪
This week on Alchemy Uncensored, Conor McHugh is joined by Paul Philips, CEO & Founder of Relocate2UAE, an independent platform helping professionals and families navigate their move to the UAE.
Originally from Ireland, Paul relocated to the UAE with his family and experienced the challenges of the process firsthand. That experience ultimately led him to create Relocate2UAE and help others approach the move with greater clarity and confidence.
In this conversation, Paul shares the reality behind relocating to the UAE, including some of the biggest mistakes people make, what often catches newcomers by surprise and what he wishes more people understood before making the move.
They also discuss how recent conflict in the region has changed the conversations Paul is having with professionals and families considering relocation, and what he sees happening next for Relocate2UAE.
This is not just a conversation about moving countries.
It is about making one of life’s biggest decisions with the right information and expectations.
What you will hear in this episode:
📌 Paul’s own relocation journey and why he founded Relocate2UAE
📌 The reality of moving to the UAE
📌 The biggest mistakes people make when relocating
📌 What people should know before making the move
📌 Expectations versus the reality of living in the UAE
📌 How regional events are influencing relocation conversations
📌 What Paul has learned from helping professionals and families relocate
📌 What’s next for Relocate2UAE
This episode is proudly supported by Alaan الآن, the Middle East’s leading corporate card and expense management platform.
Alaan helps companies eliminate petty cash, reimbursements, and manual reconciliations by automating expense tracking, approvals, and accounting, giving finance teams greater control and visibility without the manual work.
A big thank you to Alaan for supporting this season and helping us bring these conversations to life.
Whether you’re actively planning a move, considering the UAE for your next chapter, or simply curious about what relocating here really involves, this episode offers a practical look at the realities behind making the move.
🎧 Listen to Alchemy Uncensored. New episodes every Wednesday.
#AlchemyUncensored #AlchemySearch #Alaan #UAE #Dubai #RelocateToUAE #MovingToUAE #UAEJobs #UAEExpat #Relocation #DubaiLife
Who has been a guest on Alchemy Uncensored
Names identified in recent episode analyses. Showing up to five guests.
Tarek Sayed
Josh Burton
Lucie Lachaux
Reach and audience
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Spotify
5.0 / 5
6 ratings
Podcast Authority Score: 48 / 100
A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.
Quality
72
Social presence
0
YouTube
0
Engagement
60
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Questions about Alchemy Uncensored
Who hosts Alchemy Uncensored?
Lewis Elsey host the show. Published by Alchemy Search.
How often do new episodes come out?
The show publishes weekly, based on its RSS feed.
Does Alchemy Uncensored take guests?
Yes. Guests have been identified in episode analyses.
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