How to Thrive in FIRST-LINE Leadership w/ Zahir Abdelouhab

Hunters and Unicorns

In this insightful episode of Hunters & Unicorns, Simon and Ollie sit down with Zahir Abdelouhab, SVP EMEA at Navan, to discuss first-line leadership—the toughest role in software sales. Zahir shares his personal journey, the challenges he faced, and the lessons he learned to thrive as a first-line leader. This is his playbook. 🎓 Key Topics Covered:

• 00:00 Intro
• 01:25 Why First-Line Leadership Is the Hardest Role
• 03:49 Challenges in Transitioning to Leadership
• 06:01 From Super Sales to People-Centric Leadership
• 10:52 Embracing Failure
• 15:32 Developing a Unique Leadership Style
• 20:23 The Key to Building High-Performing Teams
• 25:55 Choosing the Right Company for Career Growth
• 27:45 Navigating Career Milestones and Staying Competitive

🙌 Thanks for listening! This episode was hosted by Simon Kouttis and Ollie Kuehne, founders of Hunters & Unicorns, and edited by our friends at VideoScale.pro. If you enjoyed this episode, please drop a like/share and subscribe to our channel! 🔗 Episode's Links:

• Zahir on LinkedIn: / example
• Navan website: http://navan.com

🦄 Connect with Hunters & Unicorns:

• Website: http://huntersandunicorns.com
• Twitter: / huntersun1corns
• Instagram: / huntersandunicorns
• Blog: http://huntersandunicorns.com/blog

🔔 Notable Quotes:

• "Leadership isn't about results; it's about developing people."
• "Slow down, focus on people, and the results will come naturally."
• "You don’t choose when you're ready—your performance speaks for itself."