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Thank you to the 1,400 leaders who’ve generously done the 7 questions!
I hope reading
helps you in your leadership.
Cheers,
Jonno White
7 Questions with Yasser Alobaidan
7 Questions with Yasser Alobaidan
Name: Yasser Alobaidan
Current title: CEO
Current organisation: Jawraa
Yasser Alobaidan is a visionary leader who connects industries through digitization and leverages digital disruption to transform how governments and industries function. In his current role as Founder and CEO of Jawraa, Yasser directs the company’s operations, including its subsidiaries and each of its five business units. Under his leadership, Jawraa received Saudi Arabia’s first mobile virtual network operator (MVNO) license, securing its position as an industry pioneer. Yasser is the architect behind the company’s continuing expansion with long-term projects across the public and private sectors.
1. What have you found most challenging as a leader of a small or medium enterprise?
Leaders in SMEs are challenged by making success under a very limited budget and cashflow followed by very limited resources and talents.
2. How did you become a leader of an SME? Can you please briefly tell the story?
As an entrepreneur, I see challenges in the market as market opportunities. For that, I've left corporate life to put it all in what I believe is a good opportunity to support the market
3. How do you structure your work days from waking up to going to sleep?
I start with a cup of coffee and 10 minutes of meditation. I usually take the first 30 minutes in my office reading emails and highlighting the urgent ones to address them then I look at my calendar and try to book time for each area of business to focus on it. I make sure to meet with the team to guide, motivate or help resolve issues.
4. What's the most recent significant leadership lesson you've learned?
I learned that SMEs need to focus on sustainability and sustainability can be addressed by building the right system, process and hire the right people according to KPIs
5. What's one book that has had a profound impact on your leadership so far? Can you please briefly tell the story of how that book impacted your leadership?
I don't read books that much but I do listen to Podcasts. One of the most useful Podcasts in leadership is Sugrat. Interviewing leaders of Saudi 2030 and asking them about their experience and their goals.
6. How do you build leadership capacity in an SME?
I believe it is important to have a shadowing strategy when you have a good talent and want to make sure that this talented capacity is replicated.
7. What is one meaningful story that comes to mind from your time as a leader of an SME so far?
Think out of the picture. The market is filled with competitors and much stronger players. You have to think out of the picture. If you don't have a differentiated product or a strong cash flow, maybe you need to look at changing the business model and way of execution.
