How to become a CFO? ft. Youssef Salem (CFO @ ADNOC Drilling)

In this episode from CareersTalks with Tamer, I sit down with Youssef Salem, the current CFO of ADNOC Drilling. Youssef’s career path is an incredible journey of resilience and calculated risks. From spending over a decade as an investment banker to becoming the CFO of ADNOC drilling, one of the fastest-growing MENA unicorns, Youssef shares his experiences, insights, and lessons learned. ⏱Timestamps⏱: 00:00 Introduction01:49 Overview of Youssef’s career journey and pivotal moments05:56 What was your motivation to stay in investment banking?11:03 The reason behind moving to SWVL?14:22 Transition from a more focused role to one with broader responsibilities18:27 More about SWVL—what it does and your journey with it20:52 The most challenging aspect of your career at SWVL22:07 As the youngest CFO, how did you handle pressure from investors?25:15 The biggest career challenges and lessons learned27:04 The role as a CFO at ADNOC30:26 How have your experiences as a CFO across different companies differed?33:17 Would you be as successful as a CFO without your experience at SWVL?35:34 What makes a good CFO?38:26 What personal sacrifices did you make, and how did you balance your time?41:48 Did you ever wish you had enjoyed your 20s more instead of prioritizing success?45:33 What do you consider your biggest career failure, and how did you overcome it?47:22 What advice would you give to young professionals aspiring to become CFOs?49:22 For someone in finance, is transitioning to a startup a good path to a CFO role?50:48 What skills should someone in investment banking develop to become a CFO?54:44 How do you see technologies changing the finance industry and the role of the CFO?59:32 What impact do you hope to leave with your career?01:01:39 What advice would you give your 18-year-old self? #finance #investmentbanking #CFO #startup #careeradvice #financecareers CONNECT WITH ME: 🎬 YouTube: @careerstalkswithtamer 📷 Instagram: / careerstalks 🎙️ Spotify: https://spotify.link/155zVY0b3yb 💼 LinkedIn: / careerstalks *Disclaimer*: All thoughts and opinions expressed in this video reflects the guest's and the host's personal views and are not an official statement from their employers.