In this conversation, Alex Dirdin shares his journey from launching the e-commerce vertical at GeoPost to his role at AmmanPost. He discusses the challenges of navigating corporate politics, the importance of stakeholder management, and the differences between startup and corporate environments. Alex emphasizes the need for alignment among stakeholders, the significance of a unifying purpose, and the role of passion in rallying support for new ideas. He also reflects on the evolving landscape of e-commerce in the Middle East and the strategic decisions involved in operating within a governmental framework.

Keywords

GeoPost, AmmanPost, e-commerce, corporate startups, stakeholder management, entrepreneurial journey, logistics, innovation, career development, Middle East, business development, product management, corporate ventures, AI in business, postal operations, strategy, entrepreneurship, tech knowledge, market validation, startup insights

Takeaways

• Alex Dirdin launched the e-commerce vertical at GeoPost, transforming it into an industry leader.
• The journey into e-commerce began unexpectedly through a friend's idea.
• Launching a corporate startup involves navigating corporate politics and stakeholder management.
• Overcoming internal resistance is crucial for success in corporate environments.
• Aligning stakeholders with a common purpose enhances project support.
• In startups, fast validation from the market is essential; in corporates, validation is more complex.
• A strong MVP can help gain support and resources in both startups and corporates.
• Understanding different stakeholders' motivations is key to effective persuasion.
• Corporate environments often have slower learning loops compared to startups.
• Passion and storytelling are vital for rallying support for new ideas. Navigating political dynamics can make business more interesting.
• Balancing strategy and operations is crucial for success.
• Alignment fatigue can hinder progress in corporate ventures.
• Bypassing unnecessary validations can accelerate product development.
• Business development focuses on creating new revenue streams.
• Understanding technology is essential for product managers.
• Validating ideas is more important than personal opinions.
• AI can enhance product development but should not replace real-world validation.
• Effective product management requires both art and science.
• Working closely with founders can lead to more successful outcomes.

Sound Bites

"You're never the smartest person in the room."

"In startups, you fail faster and learn faster."

"Passion ignites people to support new ideas."

"Do we need to be an operator or a regulator?"

"I love being both strategist and operator."

"Alignment plays such a crucial role."

"You bypassed necessary validations."

"The founder's vision excited me."

Chapters

00:00 The Journey Begins: Alex's Career at GeoPost

08:00 Navigating Corporate Politics: Stakeholder Management Insights

12:00 From GeoPost to AmmanPost: Embracing New Challenges

19:32 Navigating Political Intrigues in Business

20:32 The Complexity of International Postal Operations

21:55 The Balance of Strategy and Operations

22:41 Challenges in Corporate Ventures

23:49 Learning from Past Experiences

26:14 Defining Business Development

28:35 The Importance of Tech Knowledge

29:41 Principles of Product Management

32:33 The Role of AI in Product Development

34:26 AI's Impact on Business Development

37:26 Embracing New Opportunities at RSA Global

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