Leading by Example with Rami Ismail

Rami Ismail
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Welcome to my podcast, where I chat with leaders from every walk of life. Join me for some awesome conversations with people who are shaping the world in their own unique ways. Let's dive into their stories, challenges, and the nuggets of wisdom they've picked up along their journey. Get ready to be inspired!"

  1. Jul 22

    #23 Haitham ElKhatib - Inside The Mind Of A Leader Who Built An $80M Business

    What separates an average manager from a world-class leader? In this episode of Leading By Example, Rami sits down with Haitham El Khatib, Co Founder and Chief Revenue Officer of UnifyApps, to unpack the leadership principles that helped him build high-performing teams, scale businesses across multiple regions, and grow revenue from $1 million to $80 million. From choosing leadership over comfort, hiring A players, building culture, giving difficult feedback, and leading through inspiration, to how AI is changing sales and leadership forever, this conversation is packed with practical lessons for founders, managers, entrepreneurs, and anyone looking to become a better leader. Whether you're leading a startup, a sales team, or your first employee, this episode will challenge the way you think about leadership. Timestamps 00:00 Meet Haitham El Khatib and his journey into sales 02:33 The moment he chose to become a leader 07:40 Leaving corporate to chase leadership 12:20 Building his first team from scratch 15:30 How to hire A players at scale 18:38 Build champions, not employees 21:38 Why most leaders fail at giving feedback 26:13 Finding the right mentor and joining Sprinklr 29:19 Growing a business from $1M to $80M 31:18 The mindset shift from manager to leader 34:41 Why every great team needs captains 41:54 Why the best salesperson shouldn't always become the manager 44:40 Corporate vs startup leadership 46:18 Can leadership be taught? 46:54 The three qualities every great leader needs 50:45 Why sales is one of the world's most misunderstood careers 56:08 How AI will transform leadership and sales 57:49 Final leadership lessons and recommendation Subscribe for more conversations with entrepreneurs, founders, executives, athletes, and leaders from around the world. #Leadership #Entrepreneurship #Business #Pandora #Founder #CEO #Podcast #Success #Mindset #LeadershipDevelopment

    #23 Haitham ElKhatib - Inside The Mind Of A Leader Who Built An $80M Business

  2. Jun 15

    #22 Jesper Nielsen - The Founder Who Built A Global Brand And Lost It All

    In this episode of Leading By Example, I sit down with entrepreneur and former Pandora executive Jesper Nielsen to discuss leadership, entrepreneurship, resilience, and what it really takes to build a globally recognized brand. Jesper shares the story behind helping scale Pandora into one of the world's most successful jewellery companies, his unconventional views on leadership, why he believes people skills matter more than qualifications, and how culture can make or break an organization. We also dive into the darker side of success. From building a global business and owning elite sports teams to losing everything during a years long legal battle with the Danish tax authorities, Jesper opens up about the challenges that tested him, his family, and his mindset. This conversation explores what separates entrepreneurs from corporate executives, how great leaders create loyalty, why resilience matters more than talent, and the lessons learned from operating at the highest levels of business. Timestamps 00:00 Introduction 01:40 Building A Global Brand 04:50 Why Jesper Is Controversial In Denmark 09:10 Born To Be A Leader 14:00 Leadership, Culture, And People 18:20 Hiring Family And Building Trust 22:30 Why Attitude Matters More Than Skill 26:40 Founders vs Corporate Executives 33:15 Scaling Pandora Across Europe 38:45 Creating High Performance Teams 43:50 Leadership Lessons From Sports 47:10 Success Beyond Money 50:45 Losing Everything Overnight 54:00 The Fight Against The Danish Tax Authorities 57:45 The Resilience That Changed Everything 01:00:00 Advice For Entrepreneurs And Leaders 01:02:00 Final Thoughts Subscribe for more conversations with entrepreneurs, founders, executives, athletes, and leaders from around the world. #Leadership #Entrepreneurship #Business #Pandora #Founder #CEO #Podcast #Success #Mindset #LeadershipDevelopment

    #22 Jesper Nielsen - The Founder Who Built A Global Brand And Lost It All

  3. May 4

    #21 Rayan Karaky - The Leadership Skills That Separate Managers From Real Leaders

    Rayan Karaky leads international expansion at Amazon Ads across markets from the Nordics to Southeast Asia. But his leadership story didn't start at Amazon. It started in 2005 when he went all in on digital advertising before anyone believed in it. No management role. No authority. His own leaders told him he was wrong. His portfolio dropped from sixty million dollars to a hundred thousand almost overnight. He led anyway. In this conversation we talk about what it actually takes to lead before you have the title, the feedback he kept receiving for over a decade before it finally landed, how to show up for a diverse team when everything around them feels uncertain, and why the most important person you need to lead first is yourself. One of the most honest conversations on the show so far.

    #21 Rayan Karaky - The Leadership Skills That Separate Managers From Real Leaders

  4. Feb 9

    #20 Dr. Mohanad Alwadiya – From Customer Complaint to Million-Dirham Deal

    In this episode, I sit down with Dr. Mohanad Alwadiya, CEO of Harbor Real Estate and widely known as the “Wolf of Real Estate.” We talk about leadership, caring as the true definition of loyalty, and how one unhappy customer led to a million-dirham opportunity. A powerful conversation about building people, culture, and lasting success. We discuss what it means to lead in high-stakes environments, where decisions are fast, accountability is personal, and preparation can’t always be scripted. A candid conversation about real leadership, earned credibility, and leading with substance over show.

    #20 Dr. Mohanad Alwadiya – From Customer Complaint to Million-Dirham Deal

  5. Feb 2

    #19 Ahmed Ben Chaibah - Aquaman: Being Nice Nearly Destroyed My Business

    In this episode of Leading by Example, I sit down with Ahmed Ben Chaibah, founder of AquaFun. We dive into leadership beyond the spotlight, where responsibility is personal, tough decisions are inevitable, and influence is earned, not given. Ahmed shares his perspective on why leadership is not charity, how credibility is built through action, and why discipline, values, and perseverance sit at the core of true leadership.

  6. Jan 19

    #18 Daniel Van Otterdijk - The Responsibility That Defines Real Leadership

    In this episode of Leading by Example, I sit down with Daniel Van Otterdijk, Group Chief Communications & Government Relations Officer at DP World. We dive into leadership in high-pressure environments, where decisions are fast, details are critical, and responsibility can’t be delegated. Daniel shares his perspective on what defines real leadership, how credibility is built through action, and why discipline, values, and craft sit at the core of excellence.

  7. 12/29/2025

    #17 Dr. Mohammed Naji - Doing the right thing when no one is watching

    In this episode of Leading by Example, I speak with Dr. Mohammed Naji, Executive Director of Liberty Medical Group and founder of MoNaji Group. We explore leadership under pressure, where details matter, decisions are fast, and responsibility is real. Dr. Naji shares powerful insights on building true leadership, personal branding with credibility, and why excellence is created through discipline, values, and craft. This episode is for leaders and entrepreneurs who want to understand what real leadership looks like when it truly matters.

    #17 Dr. Mohammed Naji - Doing the right thing when no one is watching

  8. 12/22/2025

    #16 Ahmed Bin Sulayem | Leadership, Trust & Building DMCC

    In this episode of Leading by Example, I sit down with Ahmed Bin Sulayem, Executive Chairman and CEO of DMCC. We talk about what leadership looks like when you are building institutions over decades, not just companies for short term wins. Ahmed shares reflections from his 25 year journey with DMCC, including leading through global crises, making decisions without a playbook, and carrying responsibility at scale. The conversation explores trust as a leadership principle, the importance of timing, and why attitude often matters more than experience. We also discuss innovation across AI, commodities, finance and sustainability, and how long term thinking shapes real impact. This is a deep conversation about leadership, accountability and building something that lasts.

    #16 Ahmed Bin Sulayem | Leadership, Trust & Building DMCC
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About

Welcome to my podcast, where I chat with leaders from every walk of life. Join me for some awesome conversations with people who are shaping the world in their own unique ways. Let's dive into their stories, challenges, and the nuggets of wisdom they've picked up along their journey. Get ready to be inspired!"

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