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On the lighter side of things , we ask the industry experts what makes them tick . . . .

Jad Khalife currently works for Dataiku , a leading analytics platform vendor that allows organisations of all sizes and industries to build and operationalise data products at scale . At Dataiku , he leads a team of talented sales engineers , based across the Middle East , who speak to Dataiku prospects and clients to help them understand and validate the value that Dataiku can bring them in their enterprise AI journey .

What are your strengths and abilities that you bring to the above role ?

As a sales engineering leader , Jad ’ s job is to bridge the gap between the technical and sales team to bring value to Dataiku clients . Jad leverages his product knowledge skills to ensure the Dataiku platform offers value to clients and addresses their pain points ; he also leverages his customer engagement skills to build strong relationships with Dataiku clients and understands their needs .

Please describe the expectations of the end customers that you address . What are their pain points today ?

Being a collaborative platform , clients expect Dataiku to have an easy-to-use interface that can be used by both data scientists and business analysts . They would also expect it to connect to their data sources and scale to accommodate an increasing number of workloads . As the number of data products deployed increases , Dataiku clients would also expect the platform to manage their lifecycle and govern their development and deployment .

Which technologies and innovations can make a difference to your end customer ’ s business and how ?

Technologies like AI , cloud computing , IOT and RPA can allow them to address their current challenges but also position themselves for future growth and success .

Which non-competitive business in the region do you admire for innovative usage of technology ?

One notable non-competitive business in Dubai that stands out for its innovative use of technology is Dubai International Airport . As one of the busiest airports in the world , it has embraced a range of advanced technologies in Biometric , AI and IOT to enhance passenger experience , improve operational efficiency , and ensure safety and security .

Which aspects of your job role do you find rewarding and which challenging ?

The most rewarding aspect of the job revolves around making a tangible impact on the business and seeing the success and growth of both internal Dataiku teams and external customers . The opportunity to work at the intersection of technology and sales , driving innovation and strategic decisions , can be incredibly fulfilling .

At the same time , keeping up with rapid technological changes , especially in the AI space , and managing the complexities of customer relationships and sales cycles require resilience and adaptability .

How do you best like to de-stress and re-charge off work ?

Jad is lucky enough to be living in a city like Dubai where there is always something to do . He likes watching independent movies and playing padel after work .

As a sales engineering leader , Jad ’ s job is to bridge the gap between the technical and sales team to bring value to Dataiku clients .

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