Breaking Down Barriers
Welcome to "Breaking Down Barriers," a podcast dedicated to uncovering the untold stories and invaluable insights from the visionary minds shaping the Middle East's vibrant technology landscape where we sit down with the region's most innovative Chief Technology Officers and Chief Product Officers, and executives from thriving startups, game-changing unicorns, high-growth scale-ups, and groundbreaking IPO companies.
Each episode will take you on an immersive journey through the personal experiences and hard-won wisdom of these extraordinary leaders. Discover the secrets behind their success in building and scaling companies that not only disrupt industries but also redefine the boundaries of what's possible.
Join us as we break down barriers and delve into the minds of the Middle East's most influential tech, product and executives on "Breaking Down Barriers."
We've made Breaking Down Barriers with our Supporting Partner AWS, and our Investment Partner Shorooq.
Breaking Down Barriers
From Chaos to IPO: Lessons from Talabat’s CTO Sven Herzing
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From Chaos to IPO: Lessons from Talabat’s CTO Sven Herzing
What does it take to scale engineering teams from startup chaos to IPO in the Middle East? In this episode of the Sven Podcast, we sit down with Sven Herzing, CTO of Talabat and one of the key engineering minds behind the region’s fastest-growing tech companies.
Sven has spent a decade in Dubai’s tech scene:
- Scaling Dubizzle during a time of rapid change
- Driving hypergrowth at Careem leading to its $3.1B acquisition by Uber
- Steering Talabat’s engineering org through massive growth and IPO readiness
In this conversation, you’ll learn:
- How to scale engineering orgs in MENA’s fast-moving tech market
- Leadership lessons from chaos, culture, and code
- Hiring and retaining top engineering talent in Dubai, Cairo, and Riyadh
- Balancing tech debt, product velocity, and IPO scrutiny
- Why local IP, talent development, and regional influence are shaping the future of tech in MENA
Whether you’re a founder, CTO, investor, or future tech leader, this episode is packed with hard-won lessons from someone who’s built at scale in one of the world’s fastest-growing ecosystems.
Subscribe for more conversations with top founders, investors, and tech leaders building the future in MENA and beyond.