chatGRG

chatGRG

chatGRG explores how careers are built, shaped, and evolved in an AI-driven world. In a region where opportunity moves fast, careers are rarely linear. Being skilled is not enough. How you position yourself, how you show up, and how your experience translates into opportunity matter. chatGRG brings together leaders, founders, hiring managers, and regional influencers to share honest perspectives on building careers in the Gulf. We speak openly about getting hired, navigating multiple career moves, and understanding how decisions are made behind closed doors. Across these conversations, we also explore how personal brand and career visibility influence hiring outcomes, progression, and long-term credibility, especially in a market where reputation travels quickly. Produced through GRG, the region’s largest independently owned recruitment firm, the discussions are shaped by real access to senior hiring environments and market insight. This is not theory or motivation. It is experience-led discussion on careers, visibility, hiring dynamics, and what it takes to build long-term momentum. If you are building yourself or navigating your next move, this is the insight most people only gain after years in the market.

  1. Why Saudi Arabia Is Winning the Global Fintech Race | George Harrak, CEO of Jeel

    1 day ago

    Why Saudi Arabia Is Winning the Global Fintech Race | George Harrak, CEO of Jeel

    Before George Harrak was helping shape the future of fintech in Saudi Arabia, he was serving customers in his family's corner shop in Australia and watching his parents work from before dawn until late at night. The lessons they passed on weren't about banking or technology, but about hard work, resilience, humility, and treating people well. Today, George leads Jeel, the digital accelerator of Riyadh Bank, helping drive innovation in one of the world's fastest-growing fintech ecosystems. The question is: what does it take to build great teams, stay ahead of change, and lead through a period of extraordinary growth? Joining host Mohammad Osama on #AboveCLevel, George shares the experiences that shaped his approach to leadership, from his upbringing in Melbourne to building digital banks and leading teams across Australia, Singapore, the UAE, and Saudi Arabia. George opens up about: ↳ Why Saudi Arabia is becoming one of the world's most exciting fintech markets ↳ The lessons he learned from watching his parents build a life through hard work ↳ Why great leaders expect their best people to outgrow them ↳ How to build teams that people want to follow from company to company ↳ His perspective on Gen Z, ambition, and career growth From leading digital transformation to navigating the rapid rise of AI and fintech, George shares a grounded perspective on leadership, talent, and what it really takes to build a meaningful career. Because success rarely comes from one defining moment, but instead is built over time through the people who influence us, the lessons we learn, and the choices we make when nobody is watching. Catch the deeply insightful conversation now. Chapters 00:00:00 Opening: Saudi's Bold Fintech Vision - 525 by 2030 00:01:32 The GCC Fintech Leap: From Competitor to Enabler 00:03:42 Jeel's Banking-as-a-Service Platform: The Sandbox Explained 00:06:04 Local Saudi Talent: Youth Pushing Boundaries in Payments and Lifestyle 00:08:07 The Family Business Foundation: Lessons From 4am to 11pm Workdays 00:11:36 Sports, Competitiveness, and Building Teams That Follow You 00:12:54 The Bold Promise: Half of You Will Leave in 12 Months 00:14:07 Hiring Introverted Wizards: Making Candidates Comfortable Before the Interview 00:17:30 Gen Z Reality: Ambitious, Efficient, and Smarter Than We Were 00:21:48 AI in Financial Services: 40-50% Faster Development Despite Regulatory Caution Listen on: Spotify: Apple:  Connect with George:  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/george-harrak/ Follow Our Host: Mohammad Osama: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mohammad-osama-8395b88/

    23 min
  2. How to Become Financially Free (Even If You’re Starting From Zero) | Jason Graystone, "Always Free"

    10 Jun

    How to Become Financially Free (Even If You’re Starting From Zero) | Jason Graystone, "Always Free"

    Jason Graystone grew up on a South London estate, hiding behind the sofa while bailiffs knocked at the door for unpaid electricity bills. Years later, he became financially free by 29. But this conversation isn’t just about money, but about the fear that drove him there in the first place.  Joining host Robyn Abou Chedid on #TheBrandofYOU, Jason gets deeply honest about financial freedom, identity, fulfilment, and the emotional reality behind building wealth. From becoming a young dad before he felt financially ready, to obsessively chasing security after growing up without it, Jason shares the mindset shifts that completely changed the trajectory of his life. But what makes this conversation different is what came after the success.  Because once he finally had the freedom he thought he wanted… he realised money alone was never the answer. It was time.  Jason opens up about: ↳ Growing up without security and the childhood experiences that shaped his relationship with money ↳ Becoming financially free at 29 and why it still didn’t fulfil him ↳ The simple “maths” behind financial freedom that most people overcomplicate ↳ Why so many high earners still feel trapped, stressed, and unhappy ↳ The dangerous side of chasing success just to escape your current life ↳ Building leveraged income, buying back time, and redefining what freedom actually means This episode goes far beyond “get rich quick” advice. It’s about understanding what you’re actually chasing… and whether it was ever really yours to begin with. Chapters 00:00:00 Opening: From Necker Island to Zero Goals - The Always Free Philosophy 00:02:13 The Richard Branson Connection: How Energy and Giving Unlocked Opportunities 00:05:22 What Financial Freedom Actually Means: The Maths Behind the Movement 00:06:58 Mental Freedom Over Money: Why Most People Chase the Wrong Thing 00:10:23 The Dubai Vacuum City Reality: Why Investing Beats Saving 00:12:04 Leveraged Income Explained: Time, Space, and the Restaurant Example 00:13:46 It's Just Maths: The Formula That Guarantees Financial Freedom 00:14:25 From YouTube Struggles to Fulfillment: The Four-Hour Video That Started Everything 00:18:17 South London Estate to Swing Trading: The Childhood That Shaped a Money Mindset 00:19:39 The BMX Bike Lesson: Learning Leverage at Seven Years Old 00:20:41 The Baby That Changed Everything: From Engineer to Financially Independent at 29 00:21:39 The Parenting Paradox: When Security Creates Chaos 00:23:35 Why Dubai Won't Be Home: Nature, Deer, and Not Chasing Money Anymore 00:24:16 Zero Goals and Living for Today: The Necker Island Revelation 00:24:55 The Contentment Epidemic: Working Out What Your Dream Life Actually Costs 00:26:44 The Train Metaphor: Why People Miss Their Stop Chasing Someone Else's Dream 00:27:54 Finding What's Important to You: The Photo Roll Exercise 00:31:19 Always Free: The Name, The Newsletter, and The Movement 00:36:39 Congruency and the 24/7 Camera Test: Would You Live Stream Your Life? 00:38:47 Closing: The Millionaire and The Paper Boy - A Story About Real Freedom Listen on: Spotify:  Apple:  Connect with Jason:  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/j_graystone/  YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/jasongraystone  Website: https://jasongraystone.com/  Book - Always Free: https://shorturl.at/y7SWo  Follow Our Host - Robyn Abou Chedid:  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/robynabouchedid/  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/girlnamedrobyn/  YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@girlnamedrobyn

    42 min
  3. Why I’d Leave a Role Empty Instead of Hiring You | Chris Radoszewski, Ex-COO & VP of HungerStation

    3 Jun

    Why I’d Leave a Role Empty Instead of Hiring You | Chris Radoszewski, Ex-COO & VP of HungerStation

    Some of the best leaders don't start their careers looking like future leaders. Chris Radoszewski certainly didn't. A failed business venture. A stint as a bartender. No clear roadmap. Fast forward a few years and he's helping scale Uber, leading hypergrowth businesses, and hiring hundreds of people across multiple markets. The question is: what changed? Joining Mohammad Osama on #AboveCLevel, Chris Radoszewski shares the lessons he's learned from building businesses in some of the world's fastest-growing companies, including Uber, CloudKitchens, and HungerStation. But this isn't a conversation about titles or career milestones, but one about resilience, ownership, and the difficult decisions that determine whether a company grows or stalls. Chris opens up about: ↳ Why he'd rather leave a role vacant than hire the wrong person ↳ The hiring mistake fast-growing companies make over and over again ↳ What scaling Uber taught him about leadership and accountability ↳ Why many leaders focus on authority instead of ownership ↳ How to build a culture that survives rapid expansion ↳ The leadership trait he struggles most to find in senior hires From navigating failure early in his career to helping build businesses at scale, Chris details the experiences that shaped how he leads, hires, and makes decisions today. Because building a successful career isn't usually a straight line. And sometimes the experiences that feel like setbacks at the time end up becoming the reason you're ready when the opportunity finally arrives. Catch the must-watch episode now. Chapters 00:00:00 Opening: The Hiring Struggle - Why Senior People Don't Get Things Done 00:00:45 The GCC On-Demand Market: Is There Room for Everyone? 00:05:42 The Amazon Playbook: Scaling at a Loss Before Profit 00:07:41 Hiring at Hyperspeed: The 20-Hour Interview Week Reality 00:12:08 The False Positive Problem: Why Hiring Under Pressure Backfires 00:15:36 Decision Paralysis: When Companies Hire 6 People Instead of 60 00:19:48 It's Okay to Change Your Mind: The Recruitment Reset Conversation 00:22:08 The Uber Breakthrough: From Bartender to Launch Team Leader 00:25:19 The Creative Exercise: How Uber Hired for Attitude Over Experience 00:29:21 Living in Saudi: The Stigma That Should Have Been Gone Years Ago 00:32:54 Generalists vs Specialists: What You Need at Each Stage of Growth 00:34:00 The Radical Candor Gap: Why Senior People Don't Challenge Leaders Here 00:36:02 Extreme Ownership: Roll Up Your Sleeves and Do It Yourself 00:40:06 Closing: Define What You Need or You'll Never Hire It Listen on: Spotify: Apple:  Connect with Chris:  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chrisrado/  Follow Our Host: Mohammad Osama: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mohammad-osama-8395b88/

    40 min
  4. Why Most Leaders Fail at Execution (Not Strategy) | Adil Paracha, Head of Foods at Almarai

    12 May

    Why Most Leaders Fail at Execution (Not Strategy) | Adil Paracha, Head of Foods at Almarai

    Most people think leadership is about having the right strategy. Adil Paracha sees it differently. For him, it’s much simpler and much harder than that. If nothing gets delivered, nothing else matters. In this episode of Above C-Level, Adil Paracha sits down with host Mohammad Osama to share what leadership means beyond the job title. This isn’t their first conversation. Over 20 years ago, Osama started his career as Adil’s intern. Today, that story has come full circle, with Adil’s son now interning at GRG. It’s a dynamic that adds a different layer to the conversation, one built on years of growth, perspective, and shared experience. From being the youngest in a family of high achievers to navigating global roles across FMCG, aesthetics, and now food, Adil opens up about the pressure to prove yourself and the standards that never switch off. He talks about: ↳ Growing up in a family where titles meant nothing without real achievement ↳ The sense of urgency that shaped his leadership style early on ↳ The playbook he uses in every role to turn businesses around ↳ Why most leaders focus on the wrong KPIs and pay for it later ↳ Hiring for hunger, not experience, and the risks that come with it ↳ The difference between leaders who look good on paper and those who deliver There’s a difference between building something that looks successful, and something that actually works. And most people don’t realise which one they’re part of until it’s too late. Catch the must-listen episode now! Chapters 00:00:00 Opening: The Sandals Incident - Learning Corporate Rules the Hard Way 00:02:59 The Sense of Urgency: Where Drive and Impatience Come From 00:09:09 The Success Playbook: Structure, People, Strategy, and Processes 00:15:17 Why Most Leaders Fail: The Lead KPI vs Lag KPI Problem 00:19:34 Strategy vs People: Which Matters More for Business Success 00:20:46 Hiring for Hunger Over Experience: The Energy and Attitude Test 00:24:23 Red Flags in Interviews: What Gets You Rejected 00:27:17 The Gen Z Reality: Purpose, Flexibility, and Higher Order Needs 00:28:55 Work From Home vs Office: Finding the Balance That Works 00:31:16 Succession Planning: How to Identify and Develop Future Leaders Listen on: Spotify: Apple:  Connect with Adil:  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/adilparacha/  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/adilparacha/  Follow Our Host: Mohammad Osama: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mohammad-osama-8395b88/

    34 min
  5. Taleen Marie on Real Housewives, Signing to Jamie Foxx, and Building Her Career in Dubai

    15 Apr

    Taleen Marie on Real Housewives, Signing to Jamie Foxx, and Building Her Career in Dubai

    Taleen Marie was “big” in LA. Signed to Jamie Foxx’s label, performing, and living the life most people dream about. A professional singer who opened for Christina Aguilera and even performed for Pope John Paul II, her career was already on a global stage. Then she moved to Dubai… and everything changed. No industry, familiarity, or even version of herself that fit anymore. Little did she know, this was only the beginning. Behind the Real Housewives of Dubai spotlight, there’s a very different story. In this episode of The Brand of YOU, Taleen sits down with host and good friend Robyn Abou Chedid for a deeply personal conversation about identity, reinvention, and what it really takes to start again. From leaving behind her life in LA, to building something new in Dubai, all while navigating motherhood and career, Taleen shares what it truly looks like to evolve in real time, both on and off camera. Taleen opens up about: ↳ Moving from LA to Dubai and the identity shift that came with it ↳ The reality of miscarriage, fertility struggles, and silent pressure ↳ Motherhood, postpartum depression, and discovering a new version of herself ↳ Why she chose authenticity over “playing a role” on Real Housewives ↳ The pressure to build something after fame and why she resisted it ↳ Finding purpose again through fitness, wellness, and building her brand This chat is more than about reality TV. It’s about what happens when you step outside of your comfort zone, and who you become because of it. Chapters 00:00:00 Opening: From LA Singer to Dubai Housewife - The Identity Shift 00:02:54 The LA Years: Signed with Jamie Foxx and Living the Entertainment Dream 00:03:52 Moving to Dubai for Love: The Culture Shock and Career Pivot 00:05:12 The Mindset Shift: From Touring Artist to Fitness Entrepreneur 00:08:05 The Fertility Struggle: Three Miscarriages and Finding Strength 00:11:19 Postpartum Depression and Meeting Yourself as a Mother 00:14:10 Becoming a Real Housewife: The Decision That Changed Everything 00:16:44 The Art of Being Real on Camera: Performance vs Authenticity 00:28:09 Building Confidence: From Childhood Anxiety to Fake Bathroom Interviews 00:34:59 Entreprenuership: Building a Wellness Brand with Her Sister 00:36:27 Closing: Who Is Taleen Without the Labels? Listen on: Spotify:  Apple:  Connect with Taleen:  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/taleen_marie_/  Follow Our Host - Robyn Abou Chedid:  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/robynabouchedid/  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/girlnamedrobyn/  YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@girlnamedrobyn

    40 min
  6. Forbes 30 Under 30… My First Game Made $2.47 | Houcem Maiza, CEO of T7D Gaming

    1 Apr

    Forbes 30 Under 30… My First Game Made $2.47 | Houcem Maiza, CEO of T7D Gaming

    His first game made $2.47. Not $2,470. Not $247. Just $2.47. Before Forbes 30 Under 30, before scaling across 40+ telecom operators, and before building a gaming company that actually worked, Houcem Maiza was just a 19-year-old with an idea… sitting alone in his parents’ garage after his co-founders didn’t show up. On paper, none of it made sense. No experience. No roadmap. No idea how to even build a game. Yet, in this episode of Above C-Level, Houcem Maiza, CEO of T7D Gaming, joins Mohammad Osama to share the reality of building in an industry no one teaches you how to succeed in. He speaks openly about failure, luck, timing, and the moments he almost walked away. From launching a game nobody downloaded, to one last trip to Dubai that changed his life. Houcem talks about: ↳ Building his first game with no experience and watching it fail. ↳ Making just $2.47 after months of work… and what that did to him. ↳ The dark reality of entrepreneurship that no one talks about. ↳ How one conversation in Dubai changed the direction of his company. ↳ Why luck and timing play a bigger role than most founders admit. ↳ The shift from building games to building a scalable gaming business. ↳ What the future of the gaming industry really looks like. If you’ve ever thought success was just about hard work, this episode might just change your perspective. Listen now to find out! Listen on: Spotify: Apple:  Connect with Houcem:  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/houcemmaiza/  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/houcem.maiza/  Website: https://t7dgaming.com/  Follow Our Host: Mohammad Osama: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mohammad-osama-8395b88/

    1 hr
  7. The Secret to Success Isn’t Money. It’s Helping People | Spencer Lodge, Founder of Beneple

    26 Mar

    The Secret to Success Isn’t Money. It’s Helping People | Spencer Lodge, Founder of Beneple

    The first time Spencer Lodge went live on social media, there was only one person watching. His mum… asking him why he wasn’t wearing a tie. No audience. No traction. No personal brand. Just consistency and a willingness to show up anyway. Years later, he has the businesses, the podcast, and the visibility most people chase. From the outside, it looks like success. But what stayed with him most wasn’t the numbers. It was the people. In this episode of The Brand of YOU, Spencer Lodge, Founder of Beneple and Host of Made in Dubai, sits down with Robyn Abou Chedid for one of the most honest and unexpected conversations about what success really means, and what actually matters along the way. From showing up week after week with no audience, to investing heavily into content, Spencer reflects on the journey with a very different perspective. One that has less to do with money, and far more to do with impact, connection, and how you show up for others. Spencer opens up about: ↳ Building a personal brand “by accident” and why he still questions the idea of one. ↳ Spending $30K a month on content and what it really gave him beyond ROI. ↳ Why the most powerful people he’s met are those who have overcome the hardest lives. ↳ Creating content that truly connects, through pain, truth, and real human stories. ↳ Why chasing virality, money, or followers will never give you what you think it will. ↳ The daily habit he believes could change everything This conversation isn’t about how to chase success, it’s about redefining this through kindness and the way you make others feel. A real must watch! Chapters 00:00:00 Opening: Building a Personal Brand by Accident - The Spencer Lodge Story 00:02:51 Why Would You Put Yourself Out There? The Fear Behind Content Creation 00:04:49 The 400-Video Training Course That Changed Everything 00:08:27 Living in the Moment: Why Spencer Loves True Stories Over Business Talk 00:12:36 The Podcast Pivot: From True Crime to Made in Dubai 00:19:36 I Feel Like a Failure: The Success Paradox 00:23:18 What Is Your Purpose? Finding Meaning Beyond Money and Status 00:26:58 The Two Laws That Should Exist: Volunteering and Kindness 00:33:15 Success Isn't Money: The Maria Conceição Story and What Really Matters 00:37:16 Closing: Be Kind, Hold Hands, and Make Each Other Laugh Listen on: Spotify:  Apple:  Connect with Spencer:  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/spencerlodge/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/spencer.lodge/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@SpencerLodgeTV Made In Dubai Podcast: https://www.youtube.com/@SpencerLodgeTV  Follow Our Host - Robyn Abou Chedid:  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/robynabouchedid/  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/girlnamedrobyn/  YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@girlnamedrobyn

    39 min
  8. Employees Don’t Hate Change. They Hate How You Lead It | Kat Kearsey - Marriott International

    11 Mar

    Employees Don’t Hate Change. They Hate How You Lead It | Kat Kearsey - Marriott International

    Change doesn’t fail because of strategy decks. It fails because of people. And more specifically, how leaders handle them. In this week’s episode of Out of Office, Kat Kearsey, Senior Director of Change Management at Marriott International, lets us in on what really happens inside large organisations when transformation is announced. The town halls. The strategy rollouts. The polished messaging. And then the resistance that follows. From change fatigue and leadership blind spots to why employees resist the way change is delivered, this is a real conversation about the human side of organisational transformation. Mark and Kat talk about: ↳ Why employees are not the problem in failed change programmes ↳ What leaders misunderstand about resistance ↳ How change fatigue builds and damages culture ↳ Why leadership behaviour determines whether transformation succeeds ↳ What organisations in fast moving markets must rethink right now If you are leading a team, navigating transformation, or wondering why your change initiatives are not landing, this episode will challenge you to look in the mirror.  Catch the must listen episode now. Chapters 00:00:00 Opening: The People Side of Transformation - What Change Management Really Means 00:01:40 The Middle East Change Paradox: Fast-Paced Growth Without Proper People Management 00:03:13 The Internal PR Problem: Why Companies Don't Invest in Change Management 00:07:57 Gen Z vs The Old Guard: Managing Change Across Generations 00:09:12 The Attraction Crisis: Why Dubai Is Hiring Like Crazy But No One's Getting Hired 00:11:09 The Retiree Solution: When Young People Won't Work in Hotels Anymore 00:12:08 AI Will Delete Your Job: The Five-Year Skills Revolution 00:16:10 The Dubai Job Market Reality: Flooded, Competitive, and Brutal 00:17:53 Red Flags and Networking: How to Actually Get Hired in the Middle East 00:19:18 Europe vs Middle East: Why This Region Embraces Change and Europe Resists It 00:22:42 Mass Redundancies and Survivor Guilt: The Right Way to Let People Go 00:24:49 The Eggshell Culture: When Fear of Change Destroys Organizations Listen on: Spotify: Apple:  Connect with Kat:  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/katkearsey/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/katkearsey/  Follow Our Host: Mark Timms: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marktimmsgrg/

    26 min

Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
3 Ratings

About

chatGRG explores how careers are built, shaped, and evolved in an AI-driven world. In a region where opportunity moves fast, careers are rarely linear. Being skilled is not enough. How you position yourself, how you show up, and how your experience translates into opportunity matter. chatGRG brings together leaders, founders, hiring managers, and regional influencers to share honest perspectives on building careers in the Gulf. We speak openly about getting hired, navigating multiple career moves, and understanding how decisions are made behind closed doors. Across these conversations, we also explore how personal brand and career visibility influence hiring outcomes, progression, and long-term credibility, especially in a market where reputation travels quickly. Produced through GRG, the region’s largest independently owned recruitment firm, the discussions are shaped by real access to senior hiring environments and market insight. This is not theory or motivation. It is experience-led discussion on careers, visibility, hiring dynamics, and what it takes to build long-term momentum. If you are building yourself or navigating your next move, this is the insight most people only gain after years in the market.