Ala Dawod is a tech-savvy marketer, CEO, and avid gamer whose work spans FinTech, product management, online and mobile gaming, and product and content marketing.
Ala’a brings with him a distinct viewpoint and a 15-year career working for organizations like Maktoob.com and Yahoo! He held positions in product, editorial, gaming, marketing, and community and content management. Ala has had a fascination with technology ever since he was 6 years old and discovered “Basic” on an MSX computer!
Ala worked on the marketing team of CASHU and eventually attained the position of Head of Marketing.
Below are highlights of the interview:
Tell us about your journey and what did you do before starting your professional career?
I’ve always been drawn to science and technology. I opened my eyes to a personal computer, an old MSX computer. And before I even learned how to read, I was fascinated by it. I played video games on it.
I’ve always been an avid video game fan. Little did I know that it would play a role in my career.
My passion for technology and gaming remained after I graduated from college, and the stars aligned when I was offered a position as a Community Manager for the gaming section at Maktoob.com. The rest, as they say, is history.
I worked at Yahoo!, gaming start-ups, Tamatem Games, and finally CASHU, where I was promoted to Interim CEO.
Tell us more about CASHU.
CASHU was the region’s first FinTech, existing long before the term “FinTech” was coined. It was founded in 2002 on a simple premise: to enable the MENA population to pay and transact online without the use of credit cards.
In 2016, we fully adopted the e-Wallet model, which includes a wide range of financial services that are not provided by banks.
What are the company’s primary areas of serving, and what services are you aiming to incorporate?
We operate across the MENA region, with the unbanked as our target. These users either have no credit cards, or are underbanked, which means their banking services do not meet their needs.
Our e-Wallet offers a wide range of financial services, including transacting at over 7,000 online merchants, the issuance of prepaid Mastercards, both virtual and physical, crypto trading in certain markets, and much more.
The MENA region has a high proportion of unbanked people, estimated to be 60-70 percent. As a result, rather than vitamins, we provide a painkiller!
What is the company’s core value as it relates to your customers?
To be at the helm of the transformation towards a cashless lifestyle.
Why did you choose to be a tech marketing expert?
Marketing is an exciting thing! It’s about human connections and storytelling, both of which I enjoy. At its core, it is a combination of art, creativity, and technology. As Robert Herjavec said: “You can reinvent the wheel, but without marketing, nobody will know about it.”
As the CEO, what are your major roles and responsibilities at the organization?
I don’t have a single role; instead, I wear many hats and assist my team in different departments. While we are an established 20-year-old company, we still have the DNA of a start-up.
I see myself as a facilitator and motivator. I like the quote that says: “If you want to be a CEO, be prepared to be the Chief of Everything.”
Describe who you are as a person, inside and outside the workplace.
I’d say I’m a coffee addict. I enjoy reading science fiction, history, and fiction. I am also an avid gamer.
What has been the best recognition that you received as a professional?
The recognition of CASHU as one of the Top FinTech Apps in the Middle East by Frobes Middle East.
What advice would you give to emerging leaders and enthusiasts considering a career in the tech/IT sector?
Simply be nimble and adapt to change. The technology/IT sector is one of the most rapidly evolving and changing industries. Don’t be discouraged because you don’t have a degree in computer science. Your passion, not your degree, defines you. Many successful leaders in the technology industry either dropped out or have degrees that have nothing to do with computer science.
As a leader, your job is to empower your team and assist them in doing their jobs more effectively. Steve Jobs said something that has stuck with me ever since: “Sometimes life’s going to hit you in the head with a brick.” Don’t lose faith. I’m convinced that the only thing that kept me going was that I loved what I did.“
Where do you see yourself and the company in upcoming years?
We’re taking it one step at a time to become the region’s Super App. I’d be honored to play even a minor role in it. I’m just a CASHU team member.
Website: www.cashu.com
