Welcome back to Off Track, the space where I speak unscripted, unfiltered and straight from the heart. No guests, no notes, just honest reflections shaped by real conversations and real life.
This week, I’m diving into my Season 5 episode with Dr. Reem Lebhar, founder and CEO of MenaTech AI. What started as a conversation about artificial intelligence quickly evolved into something far more human, touching on inclusion, fear, identity and the value of time.
Here are the three insights behind this episode.
1️⃣ The Real AI Revolution Is About Inclusion, Not Speed
Dr. Reem shared how her mother’s struggle with apps and smartphones became the inspiration for building AI products designed for elders, not just youth. That really stayed with me. We talk about innovation as speed, efficiency and scale, but progress that leaves parents and grandparents behind isn’t progress at all. A truly functional society designs for both ends of the age spectrum, taking care of the young while honouring and including the old.
2️⃣ Fear of AI Is an Old Fear Wearing New Clothes
We spoke about how fear is rarely logical. It’s rooted in the unknown. From tribalism to racism to technological change, humans have always feared what they don’t understand. AI is simply the latest version of that fear. But this shift is different. For the first time, we’re facing a world where machines can outperform human intellect. That means the work ahead isn’t just technical, it’s emotional. We’re moving from an era driven by IQ into one that demands empathy, self-awareness and emotional intelligence.
3️⃣ Cancer Teaches What Leadership Never Can: Time Is the Only Currency
Dr. Reem’s experience surviving cancer three times profoundly changed how she sees life, leadership and communication. She spoke about removing bureaucracy, sugarcoating and unnecessary diplomacy in favour of clarity, value and honesty. She also shared something deeply important: cancer patients don’t always need constant support. Sometimes they need space. Time, distance and respect can be more powerful than words. It’s a reminder not to waste energy on what doesn’t matter, and to treat time as the most valuable currency we have.
Honest, reflective and straight from the heart.
This is me, off my chest and off the cuff.
Welcome to Off Track. 🎙️✨