‘Unscripted’ is the Strategy Middle East alumni video series, now available on all podcast aggregators! Join us as we sit with inspiring alums to talk about their successes, vulnerabilities, and the learnings they’ve got along the way. 'Unscripted' offers a glimpse into the personal and professional lives of leaders who've made a mark. If you prefer to watch, head to our YouTube playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL9AFhrGglhdJKVhAjlCjAazFi5Ic5CYfl (https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL9AFhrGglhdJKVhAjlCjAazFi5Ic5CYfl)
URL: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL9AFhrGglhdJKVhAjlCjAazFi5Ic5CYfl (https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL9AFhrGglhdJKVhAjlCjAazFi5Ic5CYfl)
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Mansour Mansour on persistence, building, and the human side of AI
Join Mansour Mansour, Strategy& Middle East alum and GM, Fuse at Amazon, as he reflects on a career shaped by persistence, curiosity, and a drive to build. Mansour shares the rejections that taught him the difference between a “no” and a “not now,” and the role community has played throughout his life. He also discusses giving back, supporting women in the workplace, and the questions leaders need to confront as AI changes how we develop talent, structure organizations, and lead. For Mansour, the companies that succeed will not necessarily be those with the best AI, but those with the best people and the ability to adapt.
10 Jun 2026
Abdulla Abunayyan on ownership, discipline, and the future of water and power in Saudi Arabia
Join Abdulla Abunayyan, Strategy Middle East alum and Chief Business Development Officer at Abunayyan Holding, as he reflects on his transition from consulting into the family business. Abdulla shares the consulting lessons that continue to shape his leadership style, including ownership and discipline. He discusses the mindset behind giving 120% when the mission feels personal, the realities of leading within a family enterprise, and the opportunities emerging in Saudi Arabia's water and power sectors as AI, data centers, and economic transformation create new demand.
20 Nov 2025
Leyla Azizova on healthcare innovation, entrepreneurship, and determination
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!
18 Sept 2025
Ashish Labroo on navigating markets, fostering innovation, and the power of meditation
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.
31 Jul 2025
Anna Germanos on bold pivots, building resilience, and leading with purpose
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.
19 May 2025
Christos Mastoras on resilience, navigating boom-and-bust cycles, and the VC journey
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!
9 Apr 2025
Tarek Kabrit on pivots, the startup rollercoaster, and following through even when it’s hard
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.
7 Jan 2025
Godfrey Sullivan on exploring the world, giving back, and innovation in payments
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.
6 Nov 2024
Shant Oknayan on cultural intelligence, leading a global business, and taking risks
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.
30 Aug 2024
J.K. Khalil on mentorship, following your instinct, and rediscovering yourself
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.
9 Aug 2024
Fares Akkad on media, startups, and the future of AI
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.
27 Feb 2024
Ahmed Galal Ismail on transparency, vulnerability, and self-care
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.
27 Feb 2024
Mounira Jamjoom on entrepreneurship, career paths and motherhood
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
27 Feb 2024
Fadi Arbid on risk-taking, passion, and curiosity
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.
Reach and audience
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YouTube views
2,244,728
Score snapshot 15 Sept 2025
Podcast Authority Score: 31 / 100
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Quality
24
Social presence
0
YouTube
93
Engagement
0
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