The CTO Show with Mehmet Gonullu #365 Driving Innovation and Growth in MENA Startups: Insights from Shehab Beram
In this episode of The CTO Show with Mehmet, we are joined by Shehab Beram, the founder of VisionX, the first personal branding studio for product leaders. Shehab shares his extensive journey from Malaysia to Istanbul, discussing his roles and experiences across various companies like Qawafel, Taker, and Mrsool. He provides insights into his work managing products and emphasizing the importance of personal branding for product leaders.
Shehab delves into the core responsibilities and challenges of product management in the MENA region, highlighting the evolving landscape and the need for a shift from a sales-driven to a value-driven mindset. He explains his approach to problem discovery, solution ideation, and the art of launching products effectively. Shehab also touches on the significance of product marketing management and its critical role in successful product launches.
The conversation shifts to the cultural aspects of product management in the MENA region, where Shehab underscores the need for better understanding and adoption of the product manager’s role beyond just shipping features. He stresses the importance of being user-centric and leveraging data to make informed decisions. The discussion also covers the balance between product-led and sales-led growth, with Shehab providing practical examples from his experience.
Mehmet and Shehab explore the broader startup ecosystem in the MENA region, contemplating its potential to compete with global hubs like Silicon Valley. Shehab believes that the region has immense potential but needs to adopt a global mindset to scale successfully. He encourages founders to think beyond local markets and strive for global impact.
Shehab also shares his thoughts on the role of AI in product management, advising against integrating AI for the sake of it and emphasizing the need to solve real customer problems. He concludes by encouraging product managers to be proactive in competitive analysis, not just to replicate competitors but to innovate and add true value to their customers.
More about Shehab:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/shehab-beram
01:06 Shehab Beram's Professional Journey
06:31 Product Management in the MENA Region
09:07 Challenges and Strategies in Product Management
22:05 Product-Led vs. Sales-Led Growth
30:52 The Role of Competitive Analysis
35:23 Adopting AI in Product Management
42:50 Global Thinking for MENA Startups
49:05 Conclusion and Final Thoughts