EPISODE · Jun 25, 2026 · 23 MIN
Why Saudi Arabia Is Winning the Global Fintech Race | George Harrak, CEO of Jeel
from chatGRG
Before George Harrak was helping shape the future of fintech in Saudi Arabia, he was serving customers in his family's corner shop in Australia and watching his parents work from before dawn until late at night. The lessons they passed on weren't about banking or technology, but about hard work, resilience, humility, and treating people well. Today, George leads Jeel, the digital accelerator of Riyadh Bank, helping drive innovation in one of the world's fastest-growing fintech ecosystems. The question is: what does it take to build great teams, stay ahead of change, and lead through a period of extraordinary growth? Joining host Mohammad Osama on #AboveCLevel, George shares the experiences that shaped his approach to leadership, from his upbringing in Melbourne to building digital banks and leading teams across Australia, Singapore, the UAE, and Saudi Arabia. George opens up about: ↳ Why Saudi Arabia is becoming one of the world's most exciting fintech markets ↳ The lessons he learned from watching his parents build a life through hard work ↳ Why great leaders expect their best people to outgrow them ↳ How to build teams that people want to follow from company to company ↳ His perspective on Gen Z, ambition, and career growth From leading digital transformation to navigating the rapid rise of AI and fintech, George shares a grounded perspective on leadership, talent, and what it really takes to build a meaningful career. Because success rarely comes from one defining moment, but instead is built over time through the people who influence us, the lessons we learn, and the choices we make when nobody is watching. Catch the deeply insightful conversation now. Chapters 00:00:00 Opening: Saudi's Bold Fintech Vision - 525 by 2030 00:01:32 The GCC Fintech Leap: From Competitor to Enabler 00:03:42 Jeel's Banking-as-a-Service Platform: The Sandbox Explained 00:06:04 Local Saudi Talent: Youth Pushing Boundaries in Payments and Lifestyle 00:08:07 The Family Business Foundation: Lessons From 4am to 11pm Workdays 00:11:36 Sports, Competitiveness, and Building Teams That Follow You 00:12:54 The Bold Promise: Half of You Will Leave in 12 Months 00:14:07 Hiring Introverted Wizards: Making Candidates Comfortable Before the Interview 00:17:30 Gen Z Reality: Ambitious, Efficient, and Smarter Than We Were 00:21:48 AI in Financial Services: 40-50% Faster Development Despite Regulatory Caution Listen on: Spotify: Apple: Connect with George: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/george-harrak/ Follow Our Host: Mohammad Osama: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mohammad-osama-8395b88/
What this episode covers
Before George Harrak was helping shape the future of fintech in Saudi Arabia, he was serving customers in his family's corner shop in Australia and watching his parents work from before dawn until late at night. The lessons they passed on weren't about banking or technology, but about hard work, resilience, humility, and treating people well. Today, George leads Jeel, the digital accelerator of Riyadh Bank, helping drive innovation in one of the world's fastest-growing fintech ecosystems. The question is: what does it take to build great teams, stay ahead of change, and lead through a period of extraordinary growth? Joining host Mohammad Osama on #AboveCLevel, George shares the experiences that shaped his approach to leadership, from his upbringing in Melbourne to building digital banks and leading teams across Australia, Singapore, the UAE, and Saudi Arabia. George opens up about: ↳ Why Saudi Arabia is becoming one of the world's most exciting fintech markets ↳ The lessons he learned from watching his parents build a life through hard work ↳ Why great leaders expect their best people to outgrow them ↳ How to build teams that people want to follow from company to company ↳ His perspective on Gen Z, ambition, and career growth From leading digital transformation to navigating the rapid rise of AI and fintech, George shares a grounded perspective on leadership, talent, and what it really takes to build a meaningful career. Because success rarely comes from one defining moment, but instead is built over time through the people who influence us, the lessons we learn, and the choices we make when nobody is watching. Catch the deeply insightful conversation now. Chapters 00:00:00 Opening: Saudi's Bold Fintech Vision - 525 by 2030 00:01:32 The GCC Fintech Leap: From Competitor to Enabler 00:03:42 Jeel's Banking-as-a-Service Platform: The Sandbox Explained 00:06:04 Local Saudi Talent: Youth Pushing Boundaries in Payments and Lifestyle 00:08:07 The Family Business Foundation: Lessons From 4am to 11pm Workdays 00:11:36 Sports, Competitiveness, and Building Teams That Follow You 00:12:54 The Bold Promise: Half of You Will Leave in 12 Months 00:14:07 Hiring Introverted Wizards: Making Candidates Comfortable Before the Interview 00:17:30 Gen Z Reality: Ambitious, Efficient, and Smarter Than We Were 00:21:48 AI in Financial Services: 40-50% Faster Development Despite Regulatory Caution Listen on: Spotify: Apple: Connect with George: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/george-harrak/ Follow Our Host: Mohammad Osama: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mohammad-osama-8395b88/
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Why Saudi Arabia Is Winning the Global Fintech Race | George Harrak, CEO of Jeel
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