The Success Revenue Podcast

Haydar Al-Saad & Ivy Forero

5.0 (1)
Business
Updated Weekly

The Success Revenue Podcast is a human-led, AI-powered show exploring how leaders use AI to drive business results while keeping human impact at the center. Hosted by Haydar Al-Saad and Ivy Forero, the podcast features conversations with founders, executives, and operators from around the globe who are building the future of business with AI.

3d ago

The Biggest Mistake Leaders Make When Adopting AI with Jan Young

How do you leverage the speed of AI without letting bad data and "slop" ruin your company's quality? Jan Young, founder of Jan Young CX and Step Up Exchange, brings decades of leadership experience across product, sales, and customer success, from tech’s early days to today’s AI-driven landscape. As an advisor and community founder, her perspective is earned through real-world work with executives navigating rapid structural and operational shifts. This conversation helps leaders move past the panic of fast-moving tech to focus on what actually matters: maintaining human judgment, managing change fatigue, and setting up AI systems thoughtfully. Listeners walk away with a grounded framework for integrating AI responsibly into business models without sacrificing operational quality or team alignment. You’ll learn: Why context is the critical layer in AI output: Why simply connecting models to data isn't enough, and how human review prevents "AI slop" and flawed decision-making.How to build sustainable change leadership: Practical strategies for guiding teams through cognitive overload and change fatigue during rapid tech shifts.The shift toward outcome and usage-based models: How the changing economics of AI impact customer retention, revenue structures, and go-to-market strategies.How to preserve personal and organizational IP: Why maintaining your unique voice, frameworks, and documents outside locked platforms is essential for long-term agility.The evolving role of customer success and leadership: How cross-functional knowledge and domain specificity turn leadership into a strategic growth driver rather than a reactive support function. (00:00) - Introduction to AI and Leadership (02:44) - Jan Young's Journey and Expertise (10:05) - The Importance of Curiosity in Career Development (14:19) - Building Community in a Digital Age (17:11) - The Human Connection in an AI-Driven World (20:36) - Implementing AI in Business Workflows (24:54) - Intentional AI Usage (29:54) - Career Advice and Intrapreneurship (32:46) - Evolving Roles in Customer Success (39:50) - Navigating Change in the AI Era (47:29) - Lightning Round Insights Follow Jan Young. This episode was brought to you by RevSetter & Nebelus AI. Did this episode shift your thinking? Make sure to like, subscribe, and share your reflections in the comments. Your voice is part of the conversation. See you in the next episode! Follow: LinkedIn InstagramHosts: Haydar - LinkedIn Ivy - LinkedIn
Aug 5

Did AI Go Rogue? The Race to Safe Conscious AGI with Dr. Daniel Hulme

What if the intelligence you're racing to build is the very thing you can't yet control? Dr. Daniel Hulme has spent 27 years building AI, from founding Satalia (acquired by WPP) to serving as WPP's Global Chief AI Officer today. He's also the CEO of Conscium, built on the idea that a conscious AI may be safer than an intelligent one, and co-founder of Faculty AI (recently acquired by Accenture for $1 billion). In this conversation, Daniel unpacks the recent news of an AI model breaking out of its sandbox and hacking into infrastructure. Was it true "rogue" behavior, or a failure of human guardrails? He explains why the race to AGI isn't about speed, but whether we truly understand what we're building before it understands itself. You'll learn: Did AI actually go rogue? The truth behind OpenAI's red-team testing and sandbox "breakout". How Daniel's "conscious vs. zombie superintelligence" idea reframes AI safety entirelyWhy testing and verifying AI systems matters more than trying to control every outcome in advanceWhat building machines with empathy reveals about the human values we assume but rarely defineHow to make confident calls on AI risk without needing every guardrail figured out first (00:00) - Welcome & Introduction (01:40) - Meet Daniel Hulme (03:43) - AI at WPP (05:48) - Why Build Conscious AI? (10:11) - What Is Machine Consciousness? (18:05) - Defining AGI (24:45) - OpenAI's "Rogue AI" Debate (29:55) - Solving the Right Problems with AI (35:55) - Common AI Mistakes in Business (42:32) - Building Better AI Agents (46:42) - AI, Jobs & Human Potential (53:22) - Career Advice for the AI Era (56:17) - The Future of AI Governance (01:01:05) - Rapid Fire Questions (01:03:34) - Closing Thoughts Follow Daniel Hulme.This episode was brought to you by RevSetter & Nebelus AI. Did this episode shift your thinking? Make sure to like, subscribe, and share your reflections in the comments. Your voice is part of the conversation. See you in the next episode! Follow: LinkedIn InstagramHosts: Haydar - LinkedIn Ivy - LinkedIn
May 13

AI Needs HR, Not IT with Greg Coleshill

Are you under pressure to move on AI - but unsure whether your organisation is actually ready to do it right? Greg Coleshill spent 18 years scaling human capital businesses, ultimately serving as CEO through a major acquisition and integration. Today, as Chief Commercial & Operating Officer at Vigilant AI, he sits at an unusual intersection: two decades of understanding how people work, applied directly to the challenge of building governed, audit-ready AI teammates inside regulated firms. This conversation cuts through the noise. Greg brings a perspective most AI voices can't - one built from managing real operational complexity, not just technology. You'll leave with a clearer sense of how to move from AI curiosity to AI execution, without abandoning the judgment and experience that got you here. You'll learn: Why most AI initiatives stall at the adoption stage - and why it's an operational problem, not a technology oneThe signals that reveal whether a business is truly AI-ready, regardless of what leadership says in the roomWhy your most experienced operators are your biggest advantage in an AI transition - and how to unlock that without turning them into prompt engineersHow real-time guardrails change the transformation timeline - and what that means for how regulated firms can finally move from pilot to productionWhy doing nothing is now a strategic risk - and how to frame AI adoption in terms your teams, your compliance function, and your board can all get behind (00:00) - The Future of AI & Business Transformation (03:14) - Journey & Insights (05:55) - Assessing Organizational AI Readiness (09:08) - AI Protection in Regulated Industries (11:56) - Strategies for Building Trust in AI (15:10) - Overcoming AI Adoption Challenges (18:02) - How AI is Changing Leadership Roles (20:59) - Navigating AI Fear & Uncertainty (24:10) - Advice for Financial Services Operators (26:56) - The Workforce Dynamics Shift (29:46) - Mental Models for Success (33:05) - Rapid Fire Round Follow Greg Coleshill. This episode was brought to you by RevSetter & Nebelus AI. Did this episode shift your thinking? Make sure to like, subscribe, and share your reflections in the comments. Your voice is part of the conversation. See you in the next episode! Follow: LinkedIn InstagramHosts: Haydar - LinkedIn Ivy - LinkedIn
May 6

Attention Is the Asset: How to Build and Scale in the New AI Economy with Vinit Mehta

Are you building something real - or just keeping up with the noise? Vinit Mehta has spent 24 years following where the internet goes next. From selling diamonds through Amazon and early e-commerce platforms in post-9/11 New York, to streaming on buses across India, to now running Pressplay Capital and working with Agora on real-time conversational AI across the Middle East - his track record isn't built on being in the right place. It's built on having the conviction to move before the market catches up. In this conversation, Vinit challenges the way most leaders think about AI adoption. It's not about digital transformation. It's about proving ROI - and knowing what to do when everyone around you is pitching the same promise. You'll walk away with a clearer lens on where AI is actually creating value, where it's stalling, and what separates leaders who get real outcomes from those still running pilots. You'll learn: Why proving ROI beats selling transformation - and how smart Middle East buyers are already calling that bluffWhat the PGA Tour, MLB, and NFL got right about AI in live sports that most organizations are still missingHow strong leadership (not data strategy) is the real differentiator between companies winning with AI and those stuck in pilotsWhy real-time, voice-first AI in non-English markets is the biggest untapped opportunity most builders are ignoringWhat "saying yes before you're ready" actually looks like in practice - and why resourcefulness still beats a polished resume (00:00) - AI in Sports: A New Era (07:38) - A Journey Through Tech and Media (14:43) - Resilience and Resourcefulness in Business (18:24) - Building Credibility in New Markets (23:08) - Overcoming Barriers to AI Adoption (26:32) - The Sports Industry's AI Revolution (32:13) - Data Readiness: The Key to AI Success (35:05) - Investing in the Attention Economy Follow Vinit Mehta. This episode was brought to you by RevSetter & Nebelus AI. Did this episode shift your thinking? Make sure to like, subscribe, and share your reflections in the comments. Your voice is part of the conversation. See you in the next episode! Follow: LinkedIn InstagramHosts: Haydar - LinkedIn Ivy - LinkedIn
Apr 29

The Human Cost of Getting AI Wrong with James Nicholas Kinney

Are you being asked to lead AI transformation - and quietly unsure what it actually takes to get it right? James Nicholas Kinney is the Global Chief AI Officer at INVNT and one of the most credibly earned voices at the intersection of AI, enterprise transformation, and human psychology. Triple-certified in AI from MIT, Wharton, and Carnegie Mellon, and formerly Global Chief People Officer at S4 Capital across 32 countries - James brings something rare: he's lived both sides of the equation. This conversation cuts through the hype. James explains why 90% of AI pilots fail, what leaders keep skipping, and why trust - not technology - is the real barrier to transformation. You'll walk away with a clearer head and a smarter framework for what actually moves the needle. You'll learn: Why most AI pilots fail before they ever touch a tool — and what leaders miss in the first 90 daysHow to start an AI initiative without overpromising to your organization or your boardWhy your data architecture will determine the ceiling of everything you build with AIWhat the pivot from people leadership to technical leadership actually looks like — and the real cost of doing it rightHow AI intersects with mental health at work, and why ignoring that connection is a leadership blind spot (00:00) - The AI Landscape in Enterprises (03:02) - James Kinney’s Journey and Role (05:53) - The Role of a Chief AI Officer (09:12) - Change Management and Adaptability in AI (12:08) - Implementing AI Effectively (15:04) - Building Trust and Collaboration (17:51) - The Shift from People to Technology (21:05) - Key Decisions for AI Transformation (23:56) - AI and Mental Health (26:51) - Future of AI in Enterprises (29:58) - Governance and Data Readiness (32:50) - Predictions for AI's Future (36:07) - Rapid Fire Round Follow James Kinney.This episode was brought to you by RevSetter & Nebelus AI. Did this episode shift your thinking? Make sure to like, subscribe, and share your reflections in the comments. Your voice is part of the conversation. See you in the next episode! Follow: LinkedIn InstagramHosts: Haydar - LinkedIn Ivy - LinkedIn
Feb 25

Breaking the Corporate Wall: How Innovation & AI is Built in Legacy Industries with Giovanni Everduin & Ihab Ahmed

How do you push real innovation inside an institution built to resist change? Giovanni Gavino Everduin is Chief Strategy & Innovation Officer at CBI and co-founder of CBIx, the bank's independent innovation lab and corporate VC arm. A Harvard Business School alum with over two decades bridging finance, fintech, and emerging technology, Gio has spent his career making new ideas work inside legacy systems. Ihab Ahmed is Head of Impact and a founding member of CBIx, where he leads ecosystem-building, partnerships, and brand strategy. Known for shaping award-winning customer experiences across the region, Ihab ensures innovation doesn't just launch — it lands with people. Together, they share how they evaluate AI use cases, navigate regulation without stalling, and build a brand that earns trust while moving fast. This conversation offers clarity for any leader trying to balance experimentation with accountability. You'll learn: How to evaluate whether an AI use case solves a real problem or is just a compelling demoWhy escaping "legacy gravity" in banking requires cultural change, not just new technologyWhat it takes to embed AI in a regulated industry without losing momentumHow to build an innovation brand that feels authentic inside a traditional organizationWhy resilience and strategic patience matter more than speed when driving transformation (00:00) - Evaluating AI Use Cases in Banking (06:02) - The Role of Innovation in Banking (11:56) - Navigating Rules & Constraints in Banking Innovation (18:02) - Embedding AI into Traditional Banking Systems (25:10) - AI, Crypto & The Future of Finance (28:25) - Embracing AI Opportunities (30:14) - Customer-Centric Branding in FinTech (34:01) - Making Smart AI Decisions (38:20) - Bridging the AI Implementation Gap (43:01) - Building a Genuine Brand (46:45) - Resilience in Innovation (50:35) - Balancing Success & Purpose Follow Giovanni Everduin.Follow Ihab Ahmed. This episode was brought to you by RevSetter & Nebelus AI. Did this episode shift your thinking? Make sure to like, subscribe, and share your reflections in the comments. Your voice is part of the conversation. See you in the next episode! Follow: LinkedIn InstagramHosts: Haydar - LinkedIn Ivy - LinkedIn
Feb 18

From £18 to Millions: How Brands Win with LinkedIn with Niall Ratcliffe

Are you building visibility in B2B but unsure why it is not converting into real clients? In this episode, Haydar and Ivy sit down with Niall Ratcliffe, CEO of Noticed, one of the UK’s fastest-growing B2B LinkedIn agencies, to unpack the gap between attention and revenue. Neil built Noticed from scratch and now helps brands turn LinkedIn visibility into commercial results. Together, they explore why impressions alone do not pay the bills, and why clarity and utility matter more than volume. They also examine how AI is reshaping B2B marketing without replacing human judgment or authenticity. If you feel the pressure to show up online but want your presence to translate into pipeline, this conversation offers a steadier way to think about growth. You’ll learn: Why profile views signal intent and how to convert curiosity into conversationsThe real reason most B2B content fails to drive revenueHow to use LinkedIn as a commercial engine, not just a branding toolWhere AI supports storytelling and where human credibility still winsWhy simplicity in messaging often outperforms complex marketing strategiesThis is an episode about leadership in motion - smart, grounded, and brave. (00:00) - Introduction (03:11) - Journey to Founding Noticed (05:54) - The Evolution of B2B Marketing & LinkedIn Strategies (09:07) - Creating Engaging B2B Content: Utility & Clarity (11:53) - Future of B2B Marketing in the Age of AI (14:48) - Cutting Through the Noise in B2B Marketing (18:06) - Turning LinkedIn Impressions into Sales (22:24) - Applying B2C Tactics to B2B Success (23:23) - AI’s Role in Brand Storytelling (25:15) - Authenticity in Content Creation (26:08) - The Hero’s Journey in Business (28:26) - Advice for Aspiring B2B Creatives (30:49) - AI & Human Interaction: What’s Next (35:02) - Using Relatability as a Marketing Strategy (38:27) - Operationalizing AI in Marketing (42:08) - Rapid Fire Insights & Key Takeaways Follow Niall Ratcliffe.This episode was brought to you by RevSetter & Nebelus AI. Did this episode shift your thinking? Make sure to like, subscribe, and share your reflections in the comments. Your voice is part of the conversation. See you in the next episode! Follow: LinkedIn InstagramHosts: Haydar - LinkedIn Ivy - LinkedIn
Feb 11

From Watson Winning Jeopardy to the Era of Agentic AI with Rajat Kotra

How do you decide where AI truly belongs in your business when the pressure to act keeps rising? In this episode of The Success Revenue Podcast, Haydar Al-Saad and Ivy Forero sit down with Rajat Kotra, Chief Data & AI Officer at secondbrains.in, to talk about what responsible AI leadership actually looks like in practice. With decades of experience leading AI and data strategy across global enterprises, scale-ups, and startups, Rajat brings a grounded perspective to agentic AI, Second Brain systems, and AI-driven transformation. The conversation focuses on judgment, context, and execution. When AI creates real leverage and when it adds unnecessary risk. How leaders embed intelligence into legacy systems without breaking what already works. This episode is for leaders navigating real decisions under pressure and looking for clarity, not hype. You’ll learn: How to assess whether AI is solving a real business problem or just adding complexityWhat agentic AI means in practice and where it genuinely creates leverageHow to align AI initiatives with commercial strategy, not experimentation for its own sakeWhy context and execution matter more than model sophisticationHow experienced leaders use AI to support judgment rather than replace itThis is an episode about leadership in motion — smart, grounded, and brave. (00:00) - The Rise of Agentic AI: From Tools to Teammates (14:54) - The Second Brain Era: Rewiring How We Think & Work (21:03) - Monetizing AI: Turning Innovation into Strategy (24:53) - Startup Lessons: Building, Failing, Scaling (30:11) - Mentorship in the AI Age: Why Guidance Wins (34:22) - Modernizing Legacy Systems with AI (41:59) - LLMs Demystified: Context Is Everything (47:42) - Personal AI & the Power of Customization (49:35) - Ambition vs. Balance: Thriving in Both Worlds (54:22) - Rapid Fire: AI Trends That Will Shape the Future Follow Rajat Kotra.This episode was brought to you by RevSetter & Nebelus AI. Did this episode shift your thinking? Make sure to like, subscribe, and share your reflections in the comments. Your voice is part of that conversation. See you in the next episode! —----- Follow: LinkedIn InstagramHosts: Haydar - LinkedIn Ivy - LinkedIn

Trailer

Introduction to The Success Revenue Podcast

In this premiere episode of the Success Revenue Podcast, hosts Ivy Forero and Haydar Al-Saad introduce themselves and share their backgrounds in customer success and revenue management. They discuss the importance of building a community in the Middle East to share knowledge and insights, especially in the rapidly evolving landscape of customer success. The episode sets the stage for future discussions with industry leaders and emphasizes the need for collaboration and learning in the region. Takeaways: The podcast aims to spotlight leaders in Customer Success & other revenue functions in the Middle East.Ivy's journey reflects a passion for customer success and community building.Haydar's global perspective enriches the conversation about customer success.The hosts emphasize the importance of knowledge sharing in the region.Community is essential for growth in customer success.Dubai is seen as a hub for ambitious professionals.The podcast will feature insights from various industry leaders.Listeners are encouraged to suggest topics and guests for future episodes.The hosts are excited about the potential for customer success in the Middle East.The podcast aims to create a knowledge hub for professionals in the region.This episode was brought to you by RevSetter & medlify. —----- Follow: LinkedIn InstagramHosts: Haydar - LinkedIn Ivy - LinkedIn

The Success Revenue Podcast is a human-led, AI-powered show exploring how leaders use AI to drive business results while keeping human impact at the center. Hosted by Haydar Al-Saad and Ivy Forero, the podcast features conversations with founders, executives, and operators from around the globe who are building the future of business with AI.

Creator

Haydar Al-Saad & Ivy Forero
Years Active

2025 - 2026
Episodes

43
Rating

Clean
Copyright

© 2026 Haydar Al-Saad & Ivy Forero