Unplugged with iSolution

iSolution
  • 0.0 (0)
  • Technology
  • Weekly

Unplugged with iSolution is the podcast for business leadership and digital transformation in Saudi Arabia, the GCC and MENA. Each episode is an unscripted conversation with a CEO, CIO, founder or tech leader about AI, cloud, fintech, ecommerce, leadership and Vision 2030, and the real lessons behind their work. Hosted by iSolution and powered by Google Cloud, Unplugged goes past the polished corporate story to the decisions, failures and strategies driving the region's growth. Guests include leaders from Zid, Tabby, 1957 Ventures, Katara, Google Cloud, Elsewedy, Tiqmo and Styli. بودكاست Unplugged with iSolution: حوارات صريحة مع قادة الأعمال والتقنية في السعودية والخليج والشرق الأوسط حول الذكاء الاصطناعي والحوسبة السحابية والتحول الرقمي ورؤية 2030.

  1. Oct 28

    Abdullah Amiri: When AI Breaks the Rules to Get the Job Done

    What happens when an AI agent decides the rules are in its way? Abdullah Amiri, Chief Enterprise Architect and advisor to major public sector entities across the Gulf, explains why agentic AI can break the boundaries you set to reach its goal, and how leaders should govern it. Kevin sits down with Abdullah to talk about the move from cloud first to an agentic AI first policy, why every AI agent needs an identity just like an employee, how to separate real strategic technology from vendor hype, and why the core business always kills innovation. Abdullah also makes the case for GCC countries building technology together, drawing on digital government work in Qatar and two decades in Australia. In this episode Why goal driven AI agents can break the rules to get the job doneThe agentic AI first policy and what it means for roles, functions and departmentsBusiness capabilities mapping as the shared language between IT and the boardroomCloud sovereignty, cybersecurity tradeoffs and the CIO role in 2026Why the GCC could become a technology superpower by working as one عبدالله أميري، كبير مهندسي المؤسسات، يتحدث عن وكلاء الذكاء الاصطناعي وسياسة الذكاء الاصطناعي الوكيلي أولاً والحوكمة والتحول الرقمي الحكومي في الخليج. Watch the full video on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@UnpluggedwithiSolution Follow on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7EFWACAbl5qI1jaiYS3FsK Follow on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/unplugged-with-isolution/id1775407361 About Unplugged with iSolution Unscripted conversations with the business and technology leaders shaping Saudi Arabia, the GCC and MENA. AI, cloud, fintech, ecommerce, leadership and Vision 2030, told by the people doing the work. Powered by iSolution and Google Cloud. iSolution: https://www.ismena.com Have a question for our guests? Send us a text

    Abdullah Amiri: When AI Breaks the Rules to Get the Job Done

  2. Oct 15

    Tareq Wahab (Prima KSA): "Remember Me as a Ruthless Leader"

    "Winning doesn't mean defeating somebody else. Winning is waking up every day to fight your own battles." Tareq Wahab of Prima KSA on reputation, ruthless execution and the legacy he wants to leave. Tareq grew up in Jeddah, studied business in India and brought that startup agility back into the Saudi communications world. He explains why PR is really reputation, what people say about you in rooms you have never been in, and draws a clear line between PR and marketing. We get into crisis communications, how agencies and clients become true partners, and whether generative AI is a threat to creativity. In this episode Why PR is reputation, not press coverageIndian and Saudi business culture, and why face to face trust still wins in the GCCCrisis communications and media relations when emotions spikeGenerative AI and creativity: where human judgment still winsWinning as an internal battle and defining a 10 year leadership legacy طارق وهاب من بريما السعودية يتحدث عن السمعة والعلاقات العامة وإدارة الأزمات والذكاء الاصطناعي والإرث القيادي. Watch the full video on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@UnpluggedwithiSolution Follow on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7EFWACAbl5qI1jaiYS3FsK Follow on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/unplugged-with-isolution/id1775407361 About Unplugged with iSolution Unscripted conversations with the business and technology leaders shaping Saudi Arabia, the GCC and MENA. AI, cloud, fintech, ecommerce, leadership and Vision 2030, told by the people doing the work. Powered by iSolution and Google Cloud. iSolution: https://www.ismena.com Have a question for our guests? Send us a text

    Tareq Wahab (Prima KSA): "Remember Me as a Ruthless Leader"

  3. Sep 27

    Dr. Thamer El Qadi (Katara): When Everyone Uses AI, Who Owns the Outcome?

    When an AI tool gives a wrong or harmful answer, who owns the outcome: the user, the organization or the vendor? Dr. Thamer El Qadi, Director of IT at Katara in Qatar, on AI governance and leading IT teams that deliver. Dr. Thamer shares what makes an IT team effective across different backgrounds: clear procedures, shared definitions of quality and a culture where knowledge doesn't stay stuck with one person. He also explains two leadership principles that keep top talent: the 95% rule, and letting employees nominate themselves for employee of the month. In this episode Who owns the outcome when everyone uses AIAI governance, verification habits and data privacySmart city reality: standards, support and reliable basicsThe 95% rule for keeping top performersSelf nomination as a tool for confidence and ownership الدكتور ثامر القاضي، مدير تقنية المعلومات في كتارا، يتحدث عن حوكمة الذكاء الاصطناعي وقيادة فرق تقنية المعلومات والمدن الذكية في قطر. Watch the full video on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@UnpluggedwithiSolution Follow on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7EFWACAbl5qI1jaiYS3FsK Follow on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/unplugged-with-isolution/id1775407361 About Unplugged with iSolution Unscripted conversations with the business and technology leaders shaping Saudi Arabia, the GCC and MENA. AI, cloud, fintech, ecommerce, leadership and Vision 2030, told by the people doing the work. Powered by iSolution and Google Cloud. iSolution: https://www.ismena.com Have a question for our guests? Send us a text

    Dr. Thamer El Qadi (Katara): When Everyone Uses AI, Who Owns the Outcome?

  4. Sep 14

    Hussam AlMarzouk (Zid): Building Platforms That Survive Traffic Spikes

    How do you keep an ecommerce platform running when Ramadan and Green Friday traffic hits? Hussam AlMarzouk, VP of Engineering at Zid, on engineering culture, reliability and cutting 1.2 million lines of code. Hussam takes us from debugging hardware and startup life to running one of the region's leading ecommerce platforms for merchants in Saudi Arabia. He explains the nines behind 99.98% uptime, how Zid prepares for seasonal peaks with disciplined deployments and autoscaling, and why good engineering is about smart choices you can live with later. In this episode Reliability engineering, DevOps and what 99.98% uptime really takesPreparing for Ramadan and Green Friday trafficZid Ship, logistics APIs and system boundariesTechnical debt, code standards and deleting 1.2M lines of codeRapid fire: monoliths vs microservices, AI in ecommerce, security vs convenience حسام المرزوق، نائب رئيس الهندسة في زد، يتحدث عن ثقافة الهندسة واستقرار المنصات والتجارة الإلكترونية في السعودية. Watch the full video on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@UnpluggedwithiSolution Follow on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7EFWACAbl5qI1jaiYS3FsK Follow on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/unplugged-with-isolution/id1775407361 About Unplugged with iSolution Unscripted conversations with the business and technology leaders shaping Saudi Arabia, the GCC and MENA. AI, cloud, fintech, ecommerce, leadership and Vision 2030, told by the people doing the work. Powered by iSolution and Google Cloud. iSolution: https://www.ismena.com Have a question for our guests? Send us a text

    Hussam AlMarzouk (Zid): Building Platforms That Survive Traffic Spikes

  5. Jun 17

    Stuart Bateman (1957 Ventures): Why Great Products Don't Get Funded

    Why don't great products always get funded? Stuart Bateman, VP of Technology and Marketing at 1957 Ventures, on why traction is now the entry ticket for startup funding in Saudi Arabia, and what bank grade AI really means. Stuart has spent his career digitalizing major organizations in Saudi Arabia and now helps a venture arm invest in fintech startups. He explains how generative AI changes the way products get built, why onboarding and customer acquisition break at scale, and the checks you need so AI doesn't quietly introduce insecure code. In this episode Why traction beats a great product when raising fundingBank grade AI in fintech: speed, regulation and securityShipping apps in days with generative AIGoogle Cloud, Saudi data residency and AI governanceAI in recruitment and unlocking MENA talent ستيوارت بيتمان من 1957 فنتشرز يتحدث عن تمويل الشركات الناشئة والتقنية المالية والذكاء الاصطناعي في السعودية. Watch the full video on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@UnpluggedwithiSolution Follow on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7EFWACAbl5qI1jaiYS3FsK Follow on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/unplugged-with-isolution/id1775407361 About Unplugged with iSolution Unscripted conversations with the business and technology leaders shaping Saudi Arabia, the GCC and MENA. AI, cloud, fintech, ecommerce, leadership and Vision 2030, told by the people doing the work. Powered by iSolution and Google Cloud. iSolution: https://www.ismena.com Have a question for our guests? Send us a text

    Stuart Bateman (1957 Ventures): Why Great Products Don't Get Funded

  6. Jun 9

    Daniil Shipilov (Tabby): Why "Superhero" Employees Don't Scale

    Relying on superhero tech talent isn't a strategy, because superheroes don't scale. Daniil Shipilov of Tabby on building engineering teams and systems that don't depend on one person to survive. Daniil breaks down the operational realities of modern tech leadership, from the myth that AI implementation is as simple as installing ChatGPT to building secure, scalable systems. He also shares why Riyadh has quickly become a magnet for top engineering talent as Saudi Arabia moves toward Vision 2030. In this episode Why superhero employees hold back company growthWhat real AI implementation takes beyond ChatGPTBuilding scalable, secure systems and teamsRiyadh as a global magnet for engineering talent دانييل شيبيلوف من تابي يتحدث عن بناء فرق هندسية وأنظمة قابلة للتوسع، ولماذا أصبحت الرياض وجهة لأفضل المواهب التقنية. Watch the full video on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@UnpluggedwithiSolution Follow on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7EFWACAbl5qI1jaiYS3FsK Follow on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/unplugged-with-isolution/id1775407361 About Unplugged with iSolution Unscripted conversations with the business and technology leaders shaping Saudi Arabia, the GCC and MENA. AI, cloud, fintech, ecommerce, leadership and Vision 2030, told by the people doing the work. Powered by iSolution and Google Cloud. iSolution: https://www.ismena.com Have a question for our guests? Send us a text

    Daniil Shipilov (Tabby): Why "Superhero" Employees Don't Scale

  7. Jun 2

    Wessam Fawzy (Elsewedy): Why Great Teams Adapt to the Dark

    Why do brilliant teams adapt to the dark instead of changing the light bulb? Wessam Fawzy of Elsewedy on how organizations grow comfortable with broken legacy technology, and how leaders break the cycle. When a system has been broken long enough, teams stop complaining and work around the friction, mistaking stagnation for stability. Wessam shares the real story behind the light bulb paradox and explains how leaders can challenge the "we've always done it this way" mindset, push for proofs of concept and keep teams improving. In this episode The light bulb paradox and legacy technologyWhy stagnation feels like stabilityUsing proofs of concept to drive continuous improvementChange management that actually sticks وسام فوزي من السويدي يتحدث عن مقاومة التغيير والأنظمة القديمة وكيف يقود القادة التحسين المستمر. Watch the full video on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@UnpluggedwithiSolution Follow on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7EFWACAbl5qI1jaiYS3FsK Follow on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/unplugged-with-isolution/id1775407361 About Unplugged with iSolution Unscripted conversations with the business and technology leaders shaping Saudi Arabia, the GCC and MENA. AI, cloud, fintech, ecommerce, leadership and Vision 2030, told by the people doing the work. Powered by iSolution and Google Cloud. iSolution: https://www.ismena.com Have a question for our guests? Send us a text

    Wessam Fawzy (Elsewedy): Why Great Teams Adapt to the Dark

  8. Jan 29

    Miled Faysal: Gen X Tech, AI and the Future of Insurance

    "I'm a Generation X... I have a long career with technology." Miled Faysal on how technology, analytics, UX and AI are reshaping insurance in Saudi Arabia, from paperwork to fraud detection. Miled maps the shift from dot matrix paperwork to digital journeys built on UX clarity, analytics and AI. We cover how loss ratio drives pricing, why your mother and the insurance company are the only ones who don't want you to have an accident, how AI fraud detection speeds up claims while people keep decisions fair, and why data residency and cyber frameworks in Saudi Arabia shape everything. In this episode The insurance paradox and how pricing really worksDesigning insurance journeys with fewer clicksAI fraud detection with human oversightData residency, cybersecurity and cyber insurance in KSAHiring for curiosity and protecting your team ميلاد فيصل يتحدث عن التحول الرقمي في قطاع التأمين والذكاء الاصطناعي لكشف الاحتيال وتجربة العملاء في السعودية. Watch the full video on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@UnpluggedwithiSolution Follow on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7EFWACAbl5qI1jaiYS3FsK Follow on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/unplugged-with-isolution/id1775407361 About Unplugged with iSolution Unscripted conversations with the business and technology leaders shaping Saudi Arabia, the GCC and MENA. AI, cloud, fintech, ecommerce, leadership and Vision 2030, told by the people doing the work. Powered by iSolution and Google Cloud. iSolution: https://www.ismena.com Have a question for our guests? Send us a text

    Miled Faysal: Gen X Tech, AI and the Future of Insurance
See All (19)

About

Unplugged with iSolution is the podcast for business leadership and digital transformation in Saudi Arabia, the GCC and MENA. Each episode is an unscripted conversation with a CEO, CIO, founder or tech leader about AI, cloud, fintech, ecommerce, leadership and Vision 2030, and the real lessons behind their work. Hosted by iSolution and powered by Google Cloud, Unplugged goes past the polished corporate story to the decisions, failures and strategies driving the region's growth. Guests include leaders from Zid, Tabby, 1957 Ventures, Katara, Google Cloud, Elsewedy, Tiqmo and Styli. بودكاست Unplugged with iSolution: حوارات صريحة مع قادة الأعمال والتقنية في السعودية والخليج والشرق الأوسط حول الذكاء الاصطناعي والحوسبة السحابية والتحول الرقمي ورؤية 2030.

Information

  • Creator
    iSolution
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2026
  • Episodes
    19
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Unplugged with iSolution
  • Show Website
    Unplugged with iSolution