Amazon

Director, Software Development

Senior Software Development Manager

Software Development Manager - SCOT

Sr. Technical Program Manager - GIPA

Amazon Payment Services

As the leader of the global technology function at Amazon Payment Services, I am both passionate about and dedicated to re-imagining digital payments for customers and merchants throughout the Middle East and Africa region. 

My responsibilities encompass tech pre-sales and solutioning, merchant integration, software development (for new and existing products), infrastructure management, technical operations, information security, and data engineering. Additionally, I oversee the technology function responsible for delivering seamless payment products and experiences for Amazon shoppers throughout MEA stores (UAE, KSA, EGY, TR and ZA). 

Together, our aim is to provide simple, affordable, and trusted payment experiences for merchants and customers across the MEA region.

Head of Technology

Direct Energy

Promoted to build and lead 5-member team in designing, developing, and managing decision-support application and tools for front-office trading group, integrating with trading/supply, operations, risk management, pricing/structuring, settlements organizations.

IT Manager - Decision Support Tools, Supply

Extended inward-focused IT capabilities to external customers. Developed capabilities that underpin key business processes within the industry lifecycle including trading, scheduling, asset management and optimization, demand-side response, and settlements. 

* Challenged with building team, processes, and systems to support organic business growth into new market space with demand response management product (multi-million dollar project). 

* Leveraged technology to empower several key, new revenue streams for the business unit.

* Handpicked by senior leadership to course-correct and manage delinquent security appliances workstream of major datacenter migration that had put entire project at significant risk of missing deadlines. 

* Invited to join M&A (and other structured deal) due diligence teams after demonstrating thought leadership in both technology and operations to commercial stakeholders. 

* Updated business continuity program to eliminate operational risk from disruption to business-critical systems.

IT Manager - Digital Marketing, Upstream and Trading

Managed IS development and support function for variety of business-enabling systems across US power markets. Built and directed team of 6 IT professionals.

* Functions Supported include:

   a) ISO Settlements (NEPOOL, NYISO, PJM, CAISO, MISO and ERCOT) / nMarket Allocation  Manager and custom SSRS reports
   b) Scheduling and ISO Trading / nMarket Power
   c) Upstream Power / OSIsoft PI System and various other systems
   d) ERCOT Asset Optimization and 24 Hour Real-Time Trading Desk / nMarket Power
   e) ERCOT Asset Dispatching / OSI Monarch GMS

* Major Initiatives Lead:

- Texas Nodal Market Transition (Go-Live and Post Go-Live Support)
- Generation Management System (GMS) Implementation (Inception to Operations)

* Managed Business Continuity Planning and Disaster Recovery plans for Direct Energy Upstream & Trading

IS Manager - Power Asset Optimization, 24-Hour Real-Time Trading Desk, and Upstream Power

* Developed a 3 year architectural - enterprise message bus centered - vision  for our Upstream and Trading business unit

* Developed a Data Integrity business case for our Upstream and Trading business unit

* Developed an interface for gas pipeline data with Bentek Energy

* Managed a Market Data Service initiative to consolidate Market Data into a single repository

* Managed environments to support our Proprietary Trading applications

* Managed testing environments for the Texas Nodal Initiative and various other initiatives

* Supported Proprietary Trading applications

Senior Analyst - Architecture and Proprietary Trading IS

* Lead the design, implementation and testing of the Trade Capture migration from a Java based API to a FIX based system with the Intercontinental Exchange (ICE)

* Developed various solution components in Java and TIBCO

* Supported DealCapture and E-Confirm applications

* Developed Retail Credit Risk BI solution to support B2B business better evaluate/assess credit exposure

Senior Analyst - Wholesale/Retail Interface IS

* Provided technical leadership over design, implementation and testing of the SAP HR implementation project, to replace existing PeopleSoft implementation

* Actively participated in the business blueprinting of to-be HR processes, and translating the processes into system functional requirements

* Provided technical leadership over design, implementation and testing of the Canadian Benefits outsourcing project as well as coordinating the Payroll Outsourcing Project 

* Initiated SAP ECC 6.0 upgrade recommendation and laying project foundation

* Lead the testing and training for the Scanning Solution of the Procure-to-Pay project

Senior Analyst - Corporate IS

British Gas

* Led a project to develop an absence management system and managed its deliverables

* Collected the requirements, designed and implemented system using an agile customer centric development methodology

* Successfully sold the system to different areas of the business which is now being rolled out across British Gas Residential IS as well as British Gas Business IS

* Supported and administered the system in production for 100 users, with about 1,000 users being targeted for the short term

*Delivered project benefits estimated to save 0.5 FTE in each of the areas that it is rolled out to

Senior Analyst

* Collected the requirements, designed and implemented a deal capture system to automate energy trade entry from ICE and NGX into the company’s risk management system

* Supported the system in production, providing second level support

* Developed a front end application to the system to make it self-administrative

* Delivered project benefits estimated at: saving 2 FTE, reducing the error entry rate to 0.5% and the Value at risk by $2.5 Million

* Researched Natural Gas storage fundamentals in North America and investigated potential of its use within the Wholesale’s group portfolio

Senior Analyst - IS EMG

Integrated Voice Communications

* Managed the installation of new equipment and periodic updates (both software and hardware)

* Marketed and sold new VOIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) routes to various international destinations around the globe

* Programmed Cisco Routers and CPM (Computer Protocol Malaysia) voice gateways

* Maintained a set of Windows NT servers and Cisco gateways

* Managed 24/7 customer support (both technical and sales) by email/phone/fax

* Maintained excellent written and verbal communication skills as well as rigorous documentation

* Coordinated with team members in different countries to ensure quality voice service

Founder and Managing Partner

Tech Director at Amazon Payment Services | Follow for posts about Leadership Development and Career Growth | Leadership & Career Mentor | Author Of Leadership in 60 Seconds

I ​am a global technology executive with over 20 years of experience. I am currently Director of Software Engineering at Amazon, leading the Technology function for Payments across the Middle East and Africa. In this role, my aim is to make the payment experience of our merchants (Amazon Payment Services) and customers (Stores) the most simple, affordable, and trusted.

Over my career, I'm honored to have delivered award-winning transformational initiatives that have created competitive advantage, enabled business growth, and exceeded customer expectations.

Known as a forward-thinking problem-solver ― skilled in both business and technology strategy ― I adapt and plan for evolving market needs, delivering initiatives with speed and agility. I am also deeply passionate about building, developing, managing, and leading high-performance teams. A strong communicator and relationship builder, I partner effectively with cross-functional stakeholders and am a trusted advisor within the company.

Ever since I stepped into my first managerial role, more than a decade ago, I quickly realized the profound impact strong leadership has on individuals, teams, and organizations. From that moment, I made it my mission to empower others in their leadership journeys, guiding them to reach new heights in their careers.

In support of this mission, I have developed a community on LinkedIn of over 70K+ like-minded professionals with whom I actively support, engage, and share daily content on leadership, management, and career. I have been recognized as a LinkedIn Top Voice (Blue Badge) and ranked #1 LinkedIn Arab World Creator in Management and Leadership. 

Outside of work, I am passionate about everything automotive, especially F1 racing (Forza Ferrari!). I enjoy sports in general, both playing and watching. I also have a keen interest in collecting fragrances, working out with a focus on strength training, and all things food—from learning about it and exploring new cuisines to preparing dishes and hosting gatherings. However, my favorite pastime is spending quality time with my family. 

Languages: English 🇺🇸 Arabic 🇱🇧 French 🇫🇷

Omar Halabieh

Yiorgos Tzirtzilakis

Accenture

Working for PPC Group Digital Strategy and Enterprise Architecture

Lead Enterprise Architect

SILVARE

FlexCar

Flexcar is a flexible car leasing company, with operations in Italy, Greece, Cyprus and Mexico.

• Led the design, the team onboarding, and the development of a custom Vehicle Tracking and Management Solution from scratch, to a fully-fledged solution within 9 months.
• Redesigned the data ingestion of the IoT fleet using AWS Timestream, Kafka, and Sockets resulting in a 75% cost reduction and a 10x increase in data processing capacity nearing 1 billion data points daily.
• Designed and implemented a first-in-market mileage tracking algorithm targeting a benefit of 1.5 million euros.
• Changed the vehicle tracking technology strategy by introducing a new IoT vehicle approach and enabling the OEM data streaming capability to respond to changing conditions. 
• Architected and designed a custom fully fledged loyalty application with web and mobile clients, integrated with customer events from the core CRM system.

Director of Engineering

FREENOW

Beat was the fastest-growing ride hailing and fleet manager in Peru, Chile, Argentina, Colombia and Mexico.

• Created technical roadmap that improved the conversion on the driver registration for 50k drivers over 5 LATAM markets.  
• Championed the use of Machine Learning models in the registration flow to automate manual steps by up to 70% and built a proof of concept. 
• Built and developed a cross-functional team that delivered progressively complex assignments with an accelerating pace.

Engineering Manager (BEAT operations in Latam)

Piraeus Bank

• Part of the top 5% talent implementing agile transformation projects targeting Euro 300 mil revenue increase
• Executed digitization programs from design to delivery for 5 integrated applications with an estimated saving of €1,5 mil
• Coordinated and implemented corporate-wide core application changes in security and product features supporting €5 bn bond spin-offs 
• Orchestrated challenging integration projects within a limited time by leveraging team and network expertise

Manager @Innovation Technology & Systems Architecture

• Accelerated product delivery by ~10% by identifying and resolving bottlenecks, while facilitating roadmap planning, suggesting a better balance of product features, and setting development priorities for a major Cash Transfer Process initiative
• Expediated user actions by 34% by contributing product features and enhancing data visualizations
• Delivered architectural and UX contributions that increased user satisfaction and performance SLIs by 27-83% in major applications

Assistant Manager @Innovation Technology & Systems Architecture

EXUS

• Delivered manual process digitization for the GDPR flow, supported with integrations with internal and external banking systems 
• Championed digitization design for 'Restructuring Business Unit' application supporting complex legal operations for 50 corporate lawyers
• Designed and introduced custom DevOps software that streamlined 21% of BPM deployments 
• Resolved technical challenges and coordinated in premise large cross-functional team with the overseas development team for the 'Confiscations and Seizures' in a 2-years program 
• Delivered application redesign 'Yield of Confiscations'  that improved performance by ~400% and enabled new capabilities for business (delivering multiple times per day instead of once every night)
• Oversaw the implementation of agile transformation projects

Tech Leader & Technical Project Manager @Core Banking Systems of Piraeus Bank 

• Incorporated development process improvements affecting 25 developers and expedited software delivery
• Contributed the first Appian playbook with best practices and conducted 3 training workshops 
• Oversaw the onboarding of new fellow engineers
• Delivered architectural contributions that simplified software and enhanced user experience in legal processes
• Increased projects transparency with a new Analysis and Documentation pack for Appian projects

Tech Leader & Senior Software Engineer @Core Banking Systems of Piraeus Bank

"Dia Heiros"​ Fine Art Contemporary Byzantine Paintings and Murals

"Dia Heiros" is an iconic firm with artwork in preserved monuments and prestigious galleries
• Pioneered the creation of a digital library with assets used in the proposal and execution phase that expedited operations by 35%
• Designed a pigment analysis software that resulted in a 43% increase in paint production productivity
• Deployed a new website and an online campaign that resulted in 20 k visitors per month and a 10% increase in revenue
• Negotiated key contracts and created the pricing policy and terms

Project Manager & Lead Software Engineer

DHL Express

• Owner for the billing and collections of DHL Express' operations in Greece (~50mil Euro revenue)
• Managed on a day-to-day basis 23 employees (split between Athens and Thessaloniki) servicing more than 5,000 customers and managing an ~ 1 mil portfolio of risky collectibles 
• Integrated as Technical Program manager 3 billing systems and 2 teams with Global Processing Centre 
• Streamlined processes by championing and leading multiple initiatives and coordinating between local and regional cross-functional teams
• Improved the business cash flow performance by 3% YoY despite the impact of the credit crisis on our customers

Billing & Collections Manager (Customer Accounting Manager)

• Reviewed business operations in 5 departments to drive cost reduction by 15%, and suggested improvements to better align offerings with customer needs 
• Headed the Merging of Financial systems of two business units (Freight, Express)
• Mitigated a crisis acting as HR interim manager for two months

Business Controller (Internal Performance Auditor & Technical Project Manager)

• Reengineered customs processes and oversaw the implementation of a new billing system yielding 150k Euros additional revenue per year
• Oversaw the implementation of the collection application in the Oracle AR module
• Audited processes in IT and Customer service department and suggested improvements using lean process management

Costing Manager (Service Profitability & Cost allocation Models)

• Selected among the European colleagues to support quality testing for the new reporting solution
• Designed and developed an software application that automated 85% of reporting activities saving 1,5 days of work and ensuring on-time reporting for monthly financial figures

Financial analyst (Group Financial Reporting, Forecasting & Budgeting)

Tech Director | Enterprise Architect | Follow for insights on Leadership Development and Career Growth | Leadership & Career Mentor | Top 20 Linkedin Greece (by Favikon)

I help C-level executives and senior leaders navigate high-stakes technology transformations that are blocking growth, burning capital, and threatening critical milestones.

Companies bring me in when they face complex challenges that sit at the intersection of technology, strategy, and people. My focus is on restoring momentum by architecting solutions and uniting cross-functional teams to execute them.

What I tackle:

- Large-Scale Transformations
Managing the immense complexity of enterprise-wide technology shifts, such as infrastructure migrations or post-merger integrations.

- Technology Crises
Stabilizing systems and projects that threaten launches, funding, or corporate reputation.

- Product Stagnation
Overcoming legacy systems and technical debt that prevent innovation and the release of new features.

- AI Strategy & Implementation
Moving from abstract ideas to a concrete AI roadmap that drives business value.

My approach is built on two axis: 
1/ Immediate results. You need to solve the immediate crisis to survive the day.
2/ Sustainable change. The most durable results happen by helping the right people from different functions to work together and drive sustainable change.

Recent Results & Experience:

- Shaped the digital strategy for a billion-size company, to effectively allocate 8-figure investments and launch their first custom-developed product.

- Initiated and shaped the enterprise-wide AI strategy for a multi-national group, synthesizing over 100 distinct opportunities into a unified, actionable roadmap.

- Slashed total ownership cost by over 75% while redesigning a fleet management product for a car leasing startup to handle 10x growth.

- Shipped first-to-market features for a B2B growing startup, targeting millions in new ARR.

I am always open to connecting with leaders facing complex growth and technology challenges.
DM me - I'm here to help.

People are everything.
Whether you develop them or hire them, your team’s intelligence defines your growth.

Here are 11 signs of highly intelligent employees:

They “cheat” on their job with a side hustle.
They’re driven by curiosity, not distraction.

They treat everyone equally.
Respect is their default setting.

They resist micromanagement.
Independent thinkers don’t wait for instructions they create solutions.

They skip meetings that don’t matter.
Focus matters more than attendance.

They help others grow.
Success multiplies when it’s shared.

They avoid gossip and politics.
Impact > Impression.

They save for freedom, not comfort.
Financial independence gives them courage.

They’re fine being the dumbest in the room.
Learning beats ego.

They’re open to new ideas.
Flexibility fuels innovation.

They learn without being told.
Curiosity never waits for permission.

And what matters most:
They’re humble, intentional, and always improving.

Greatness isn’t about playing it safe.
It’s about curiosity, courage, and constant growth.

Which of these do you see in your team?

📌 Save this for your next hiring decision.
♻️ Repost to help more leaders recognize real talent.
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Technology Strategist | Software Strategy for Growing Companies | Leadership for Growth, Change, and Innovation

People are everything.

Most people don’t fail because they can’t.
They fail because they stop showing up.

And here lies the biggest trap of all: 

❗ Showing up is not a matter a physical presence. 

It's not about clocking in and out 
- or sitting in every meeting. 

Showing up, is all about intention: 
- Its discussing with the intention to listen and understand.
- Its attending a meeting with the intention to learn or help. 
- Its solving the most important problem every week.

Most of all, showing up is believing in yourself. 

It's a deeper understanding that you don't have the luxury 
of letting feeling great or crap 
get in the middle of your performance. 

We all have bad days. 

When nothing works.  
When you’re tired.
With meetings you don’t want to join.
With goals that suddenly feel too far away.

That’s where progress hides. And huge confidence in the end of it.

Keep showing up. Even when you don't feel like to. 

Especially when you don't feel like to. 

💚  Shoutout and image credits to: Richard Goold

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The Trust Triangle Every Leader Should Build

Most leaders think trust is built through results.
It’s not.

Because trust doesn’t grow in big moments.
It grows in balance between doing, showing up, and caring.

The follow-ups.
The check-ins.
The promises kept quietly.

I’ve seen leaders chase motivation.
They give speeches, set goals, rally teams.
But the energy fades fast.
Because people don’t follow inspiration.
They follow reliability.

Here’s the truth:
Trust isn’t an emotion.
It’s a system.

Every strong leader builds their Trust Triangle on three simple foundations:

Competence → Can you do what you say?
Consistency → Will you do it again and again?
Care → Do you actually have my back?

Miss one corner, and the whole structure collapses.

You can be skilled but inconsistent → people lose faith.
You can be consistent but cold → people disengage.
You can care deeply but lack follow-through → people stop relying on you.

The strongest leaders balance all three.
They deliver.
They show up.
They care.

That’s the triangle that holds every team together.

Because when trust becomes your foundation,
leadership becomes effortless.

📌 Save this before your next leadership meeting trust isn’t given, it’s earned daily.
♻️ Repost to help more leaders build balance through competence, consistency, and care.

Everyone wants success.

Very few want the discipline.

They want 800K+ followers.
Not 2,250+ days of posting.

They want a successful business.
Not 15,000+ hours of work.

They want freedom.
Not the darings it demands.

But you must pay the price of success. 

It's discipline. It's hard work. It's determination.

Every. Single. Day.

Here's what also includes: 

- Staring at problems that no one wants to solve
- Going out of your comfort zone frequently
- Having to flop today to win big later
- Having the ugly discussions 

Not sexy. Not fun. 
But necessary.

The reward is real. 

But it only goes to those who fall in love 
with the daily process of earning it.


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The biggest career lie we're told is that burnout is a badge of honor.

We trade late nights and busywork for the promise of security and appreciation, confusing effort for impact.

But the market doesn't care how hard you work.

It cares about the problems you solve.

Stop trading hours for dollars. Start building value that commands a premium.

The market rewards:

🔹Rare Skills- Not just seniority.
🔹Unique Value -Your specific knowledge.
🔹Leveraged Impact- What you do in hours that takes others days.

Your goal isn't to be the hardest worker in the room.
It's to be the most difficult to replace.

Your 3-step blueprint:

1.Shift Your Mindset: You are paid for your impact, not your attendance.
2.Build Your Foundation: Hard work is the baseline, not the finish line.
3. Audit Your Value:Ask yourself:
"What critical problem do I uniquely solve?"
"What skill do I have that is both rare and valuable?"
"Where do I create 10x the output for the same input?"

Don't just work hard. Work on the right things.

Make yourself irreplaceable.

♻️ Repost to spread the message
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Never confuse leadership with management.

I was looking at the 1980s video of the young Steve Jobs yesterday. 
He was talking about the future of the personal computer.

It's a masterclass in the distinction.

He wasn't just managing Apple; 
He was evangelizing a future that didn't exist.
He inspired action through vision, not just authority.

Here is the difference:

➡ Leadership is about Inspiration. 
It’s painting a picture of the destination 
so compelling that people are motivated 
to embark on the journey.

➡ Management is about Execution. 

Managers focus on how. 
They set and delegate tasks.
And hold people responsible for following the course. 

One is not better than the other
—they are two halves of a whole. 

But confusing the role is where organizations fail.

It's hard to master even one. 
Few excel at both. 

Tag a true leader you know below ⬇️ 
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Most people focus only on their top performers.

But the real competitive advantage often comes from the underdogs 
the ones who stay quiet, stay consistent, and stay overlooked.

Not because they lack talent.
But because no one ever unlocked it.

Turning hidden performers into high performers isn’t complicated.
It’s intentional.

You start by showing appreciation 
→ recognising the specific qualities they bring instead of rewarding only the loudest voices.

You understand their values and stress patterns 
→ not to pressure them, but to support growth.

You seek to understand first
→ staying curious instead of assuming attitude.

You give meaningful assignments 
→ work that stretches their potential instead of burying them in busywork.

And you speak last
→ so they have the space, confidence, and ownership to share ideas.

When you apply these strategies, you don’t just manage people.
You elevate them.

Before you use any approach, check the essentials:

→ Risk is failure recoverable?
→ Capability do they need support first?
→ Time can you coach them properly?

And then you set the foundation:

→ Clear outcomes
→ Guardrails
→ Decision rights
→ Check-ins
→ Support

Because high performers aren’t born
they’re unlocked by the right leader.

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Most teams don’t lose motivation because they’re weak.

They lose it because the system slowly kills their spark.

People show up wanting to contribute,
but over time they stop trying 
not because they lack talent,
but because they lack trust, freedom, and support.

The old management model relied on:
→ Authority
→ Control
→ Compliance

It treated leaders like policemen,
focused more on enforcing rules than inspiring results.

But the world has changed.

Modern leaders create environments where people want to perform.

They shift from:
→ Controlling to communicating
→ Dictating to empowering
→ Doing tasks to shaping vision

Because the truth is simple:
Motivated teams do better work.

They take ownership.
They solve problems faster.
They stay longer.
They build better products.

Not because they’re forced to 
but because they feel seen, trusted, and valued.

If you want to lead in today’s world, start here:

Inspire instead of dictate.
Listen actively.
Celebrate wins.
Delegate with trust.
Align around a shared vision.
Invest in growth.
Implement their ideas.
Share the credit.
Be kind.

Leadership isn’t about control.
It’s about creating momentum.

And momentum happens when people have the space to do their best work.

The future belongs to leaders who build environments
where greatness happens naturally.

Which leadership shift resonated with you most?

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Motivated teams do better work.

We’re all living under the pressure of where we “should” be.”
→ The next goal 
→ The next promotion 
→ The next big milestone.

Nothing seems to be enough, for the single reason.
Success is a journey, not a destination.

You will never be “there”. Never be “made”. Never be “ready”
What you’re missing is appreciation:
→ Struggling in your career? You’re building resilience.
→ Feeling stuck? You’re gaining clarity on what actually matters.
→ Not where you want to be? You’re developing the skills for your next level.

Growth isn’t always loud.
Sometimes it is boring, tiring and slow.

I’ve chased validation too.
I wanted to prove I was capable.
And I used to hate these “slow seasons.”

But then I realized:

The stories we admire
aren’t built on overnight wins.
They’re built on the backstage nobody sees:

→ The waiting
→ The learning
→ The failing
→ The trying again

What if this moment right now,
is exactly where you’re meant to be?

The launchpad for your next chapter:

→ Acknowledge how far you’ve come
→ Embrace what this season is teaching you
→ Trust that you’re being prepared for something bigger

One day, you’ll look back and realize:
Every step mattered. Even this one.

Which lesson is your current season teaching you?
Share it below if someone needs your perspective.

♻ Repost to remind others they’re not behind
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Most people think the loudest voice wins the room.
But it’s usually the calmest person who holds the real power.

Because in high-pressure environments, perception becomes reality.

If someone loses control while you stay centered,
you don’t just win the moment you win the room.

Composure is a competitive advantage.

Here’s the mindset shift great professionals make:

You stop trying to win the argument.
You start aiming to win the room.

You let others get emotional.
You stay grounded in facts.
You become the adult in the room.

And when things escalate, you don’t match their energy.
You redirect it with clarity, calmness, and facts.

That’s what quiet strength looks like.

The real test of leadership isn’t volume.
It’s control, presence, and the ability to shape the room without forcing it.

Be the calm that changes the dynamic.
Be the person people look to when things get messy.

Which part of this resonated the most with you?

♻️ Repost to help more people lead with calm confidence
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Most people think the loudest voice wins the room.

Many managers get the title.
Very few grow into the leader their team actually needs.

Because the moment people step into authority, they often forget the three things that made them great teammates in the first place:

What it felt like to not be in charge.
That they can be wrong.
And the importance of staying close to the people doing the real work.

Mediocre managers give orders.
Inspirational leaders give context.

Mediocre managers defend their opinions.
Inspirational leaders stay curious and listen.

Mediocre managers distance themselves.
Inspirational leaders stay present, grounded, and connected.

The leaders teams trust the most aren’t the ones above them
they’re the ones beside them.

If you want long-term influence, remember this:

Your authority doesn’t create loyalty.
Your empathy, presence, and humility do.

Which of these leadership reminders hit you the most?

♻️ Repost to help more people lead with intention
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Many managers get the title.

The best leaders don’t rush into conversations.
They prepare for them.

Before every feedback session, they follow one rule 
lead with empathy, not authority.

They:
1. Start with appreciation, not accusation.
2. Ask questions before giving answers.
3. Share their own lessons before judging others.
4. End with belief, not blame.

Because the goal of feedback isn’t to win the conversation 
it’s to strengthen the connection.

Save this 10-step Empathy-First Feedback Formula before your next 1:1.
Your tone builds trust long before your words do.

♻️ Repost to help more leaders turn criticism into coaching.
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Smart employees don’t stand out because they work the hardest.
They stand out because they think differently.

They challenge assumptions.
They protect their focus.
They grow without waiting for permission.
And they bring a level of maturity, humility, and curiosity that quietly elevates every room they walk into.

These are the people who lift teams, shape culture, and create the kind of progress that can’t be forced or faked.

The truth is simple:
Highly intelligent employees don’t need attention they create value.
They don’t play politics they build trust.
They don’t chase titles they chase growth.

And if you’re lucky enough to have even a few of them on your team, your entire organization feels the impact.

Because great teams aren’t built on noise, pressure, or ego.
They’re built on people who are self-driven, respectful, focused, and constantly improving.

Look through the signs in the carousel and ask yourself:
Which of these qualities already exist in your team?
And which ones do you want to attract more of?

📌 Save this for your next hiring decision.
♻️ Repost to help more leaders recognize real talent.
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Smart employees don’t shine through hard work alone.

Many managers rise to the top.
Very few remember what leadership actually looks like.

Because the moment someone gets authority, they forget the three things that made them valuable before the title:

What it felt like to follow.
That their ideas aren’t always right.
And the power of staying close to the work and the people doing it.

Mediocre managers command.
Inspirational leaders communicate with context.

Mediocre managers trust the title.
Inspirational leaders trust the team closest to the problem.

Mediocre managers create distance.
Inspirational leaders show up consistently and visibly.

The leaders people trust aren’t the ones above them
they’re the ones who grow with them.

If you want real influence, remember this:

Authority can make people listen.
Empathy makes them care.

Which leadership reminder spoke to you the most?

♻️ Repost to help more managers lead with intention
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Many managers rise to the top.

Most workplaces don’t suffer from a lack of talent.
They suffer from a lack of inspiration.

76% of people feel uninspired in their role.
The cost is massive missed opportunities, emotional exhaustion, stalled growth.

But it doesn’t take dramatic change to fix this.
It takes intention.

Start with genuine appreciation.
→ A small, honest “I see you” moment can shift someone’s entire day.

Hold meaningful 1-on-1s.
→ Listen without defense.
→ Understand their fears, ambitions, and challenges.

Create real growth opportunities.
→ Align work with what they want for their future.
→ Bring their ideas to life.
Growth is fuel give it generously.

Model respect and kindness.
→ Consistency builds trust.
→ People do their best work where they feel safe.

Show appreciation daily.
→ Warmth, humor, gratitude these tiny signals build deep loyalty.

Ask for feedback and act on it.
→ Speak last.
→ Let them shape the environment they work in.

People don’t need perfect workplaces.
They need leaders who make them feel valued, heard, and supported.

Your team deserves that.

♻️ Repost if this resonates
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In 3 words, AI is the following in many people's minds: 

- Terrifying.
- Uncomfortable.
- Impossible to learn.

If this sounds familiar, you’re not alone.

Marie Curie said once: 
"Nothing in life is to be feared, it is only to be understood". 

Her truth holds today more than ever:
Nothing in AI is to be feared, only to be understood. 

Yes, the fear will linger… 
until you understand.

But here’s the secret most miss:
Fear isn’t a stop sign. It’s an arrow. 

It points you toward what matters most 
— growth, leverage, and relevance.

✅ Why understanding AI (especially LLMs) 
changes everything:

⏱️ Save 3–5 hours/week by automating 
- deliverables drafting
- research on everything online 
- editing communication

🚀 Upgrade output quality 
from “good enough” to “client-ready” 
or even "Woaw" factor 
by curating new insights and information.

🧠 Learn complex concepts 10x faster 
- Use notebookLM to visualize and summarize 
- Use LLMS to ask questions and role-playing

💡 Unlock creativity & insight 
— prompt your way to new angles, frameworks, 
and solutions you’d never have found alone.


This isn’t about replacing you.
It’s about amplifying you.

Image Credits: Justin Welsh

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Success isn't a trophy for high IQ or skill. It's a reward for running the less glamorous game of prioritizing problems.

The belief that success proves you're more worthy
—smarter, more skilled, more virtuous
It's a trap.

It's often about ego, not outcomes.

I've yet to meet people limited by their IQ or work intensity.
Most are limited by their focus on their routine.

As one sharp piece of advice puts it: 
"If you want to win, you have to rearrange your brain 
to lean into those big, hairy problems 
and figure out how to cut off the hair and de-risk."

That's your role as a leader, manager, or entrepreneur. 

The highest leverage comes from solving the problems 
others avoid or can't figure out.

That's it. That's the job.

Your mission is to become the Chief Problem Solver. 

This requires building a relentless weekly loop:
1. Identify your single biggest constraint.
2. Focus all available resources on solving it.
3. Measure the impact.
4. Repeat.

One problem. One solution. 52 weeks a year.

To navigate reality, use this simple matrix to prioritize your battles:

- Small, Low-Risk
   Limited reward. (Prioritize the less complex)

- Small, High-Risk
   Limited reward, high risk. (Avoid)

- Big, Low-Risk 
   The unicorn. (They don't exist)

- Big, High-Risk with Solvable Problems
   The Bingo Quadrant. This is where the real game is won.

The best of us don't just "think differently." 
They build systematic muscles for problem identification and execution.

And a fair warning
This work isn't glamorous. 

It means:
- Living inside friction.
- Facing uncomfortable truths.
- Fixing what everyone else ignores.

But this is precisely where all the leverage is found.

The question isn't if you're smart enough. 
It's if you're brave enough to stare down the one problem 
that matters most this week.

Agree?

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3 Ways to Commit Professional Suicide in the Era of AI:

1️⃣ “That’s how I’ve always done it.”

2️⃣ “I’ll wait for the AI bubble to burst—then go back to the proven way.”

3️⃣ “AI has nothing to do with our job in [X].”

I hear these even from successful, respected people.
Not because they’re stubborn or out of touch.

People resist change not out of laziness, but out of loyalty
- to a proven process
- a hard-earned reputation 
- to a team they don’t want to destabilize

They often become the most unintentionally vulnerable.

→ They push away new ideas
     not to block progress, but to protect what works.

→ They stay closed
     not from arrogance, but from exhaustion.

→ They stay stuck
     not by choice, but by gradual, invisible drift.

And the worst part?
They rarely feel the gap—until it’s too late.

Not just in skills 
but in opportunity, influence, and relevance.

💡 The roles that survive won’t be the ones 
with the deepest domain expertise 
—but those who pair it with adaptive intelligence:

→ The humility to unlearn.
→ The courage to prototype and not perfect.
→ The discipline to ask, “What if this changed tomorrow?” today.

This isn’t about replacing humans.

It’s about upgrading how we bring our humanity to work:
our judgment, empathy, creativity, and ethics
—now augmented, not automated.

The question isn’t “Will AI change my job?”
It’s “Who do I become if I fly along with it?”


Image Credits: Emma King

👇 Curious or Comfortable?
Let’s reflect—no judgment, just awareness.

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Most high performers were misunderstood long before they were celebrated.

They weren’t loud.
They weren’t stressed.
They weren’t trying to prove they were working hard every minute.

They were steady.
Focused.
Quietly excellent.

But because they didn’t “look the part,”
they were overlooked until they found a leader who saw more.

That’s where real leadership shows up:

Not in managing top talent…
but in spotting it
developing it
and protecting it.

The best people rarely scream for attention.
They just need someone to recognize their potential
before another company does.

If you’re a leader, remember:

Your greatest future stars
might already be in the room.

You just haven’t looked closely enough yet.

Which leadership shift from the carousel hit you the most?

♻️ Repost to help more leaders recognize hidden talent
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Greatness is misunderstood before it’s praised.

Unpopular belief: Gen AI isn't best used when you only apply it to shrink the workforce by 20%. 

While it's a fact that Gen AI will make some positions redundant... 

History shows: 
- email didn’t shrink workforces; it reshaped them. 
- So did mobile, cloud, DevOps, code autocompletion …

Human potential isn’t capped by the job descriptions they were hired.
— I've seen it’s unbounded. 

Waiting for the right environment, 
the right challenge,  
the right support 
to ignite.

So when leaders focus only on shrinking headcount 
for a quick 20% efficiency gain… 
You’re optimizing the past.

But when you invest in 
- rotating 
- retraining 
- reimagining roles 

WITH AI and not against it

You're unlocking compounding returns: 
✅ innovation velocity,
✅ retention, 
✅ resilience… 

and yes, better (10x) ROI.

And rotation isn’t disruption
It’s talent optimization.

The question isn’t “Can we afford to retrain?”
It’s “Can we afford not to?”

The best ROI right now? Investing in people before they feel obsolete.

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