The AI Social Club

David Gurle, Co-Founder & CEO of Antimatter, joins Margot Bletterie to explore why the future of AI will be shaped by energy, data sovereignty, and infrastructure rather than model performance alone. Drawing on decades of experience building internet infrastructure, Microsoft collaboration technologies, Skype for Business, Symphony, HiveNet and PolyCloud, David explains why AI's biggest constr...

Luis Rodrigues, Regional Head of Technology Middle East at Lab49, joins Margot Bletterie to discuss one of the biggest questions surrounding artificial intelligence: what happens to jobs as AI becomes more capable. The conversation explores how AI is changing knowledge work, consulting, engineering, analysis, customer support, and other professional roles. Rather than focusing on speculation, Luis...

In this episode, Yatin Vij and Adil Gwiazdowski, co-founders of Shortlistd.io , join Margot Bletterie to explore how AI is reshaping the interview stage of hiring. The conversation looks at what happens when candidates are interviewed by AI systems using video, voice, or avatars. Together they discuss the practical realities of AI-driven interviews, the limitations of human interview processes, an...

Alix Petit, founder and creative director of Heimstone and now CEO of The Refreshment Club, joins Margot Bletterie to discuss how AI fits into a fashion brand built on craft, texture, and creative intent. The conversation explores how AI can support creativity, operations, and decision-making without replacing human taste, emotion, or savoir-faire. This episode looks at the real trade-offs fashion...

In this episode, Yatin Vij and Adil Gwiazdowski, cofounders of shortlistd.io, join Margot Bletterie to unpack why hiring feels increasingly broken for both recruiters and job seekers. Drawing on their experience in recruitment and people management, they explain how AI is currently being used in hiring and where it genuinely helps versus where it creates new problems. The conversation focuses on r...

Tony Evans spent over a decade at Meta working across technology, marketing, and leadership. He’s now the author of Generation AI and founder of his own AI company Onv.ai. He focuses on the intersection of artificial intelligence, people, and organizational change. In this conversation, Tony and Margot discuss why AI reveals more about a company’s culture than its tech stack, what’s actually holdi...

What will marketing teams look like in a world where AI agents handle execution and humans focus only on strategy and creativity? In this episode, Margot Bletterie speaks with Mohit Lodha, founder of Takumi, an AI consulting company helping brands implement real, ROI-driven AI solutions. With 20 years of experience in marketing across agencies and global brands, Mohit shares a grounded and practic...

Onur Kece, founder and Chief Creative Officer of The Refreshment Club, joins Margot Bletterie to share how AI is radically changing creative work and why it’s time to stop fearing it. With over 20 years in advertising, Onur breaks down how his agency uses generative AI not as a replacement, but as a creative amplifier. From fast-moving cultural campaigns to ethical dilemmas, this episode is a mast...

How AI is transforming performance marketing in the Middle East – with Edouard Daou & Timothée Desormeaux (Acquisit) How is AI revolutionizing performance marketing in one of the fastest-growing digital regions in the world? In this episode of The AI Social Club, host Margot Bletterie sits down with Edouard Daou and Timothée Desormeaux, co-founders of Acquisit, to explore how brands across the...

How can organizations truly refocus their AI journey—from training and adoption to real business impact? In this episode of The AI Social Club, host Margot Bletterie welcomes Bart Pietruszka, founder and CEO of Refocus AI, to discuss how companies can make AI adoption practical, human, and scalable. After years leading data and AI initiatives at HSBC, Bart decided to launch his own venture to help...

What are AI agents, and why are they reshaping the way businesses think about productivity and the future of work? In this episode of The AI Social Club, host Margot Bletterie sits down with Jean-Paul Sacy, regional leader at Wand, to demystify AI agents, cut through the buzzwords, and uncover what really matters when adopting AI in the enterprise world. You will learn: •What AI agents really are...

How can we use AI to protect and empower children in a rapidly changing digital world? In this episode of The AI Social Club, host Margot Bletterie sits down with Maryam Ehsani, CEO and founder of Child Safe ME, ambassador of the AI Universal Council, and board member of ISPCAN (International Society for the Prevention of Child Abuse and Neglect). With over 15 years of expertise in child protectio...

Is your AI strategy at risk because of outdated data governance? In this bonus episode of The AI Social Club, Joe Aoun breaks down why governance isn’t just a compliance checkbox—but the backbone of trustworthy, scalable AI. Joe Aoun, data strategy leader and governance advocate, joins Margot to explore the often misunderstood but mission-critical role of data governance in the era of generative A...

Is your company truly ready for AI? In this bonus episode of The AI Social Club, Margot Bletterie sits down with Joe Aout to explore what “AI readiness” really means and why so many businesses are jumping on the AI bandwagon without a strategy. They break down a practical framework to assess if your company is genuinely prepared to integrate artificial intelligence, not just technologically, but c...

The Future of Banking Is AI-Driven - Insights from HSBC’s Former CDAO Bart Pietruszka Banking is one of the most advanced sectors in AI, but what’s really happening behind the scenes? In this episode of The AI Social Club , Margot Bletterie speaks with Bart Pietruszka, former Chief Data & Analytics Officer at HSBC, to unpack the real state of AI in financial services. From hyperpersonalized cu...

In this 15-minute special, Margot Bletterie and Joseph Aoun dive into a hot debate: Do you really need clean data to get started with AI? From data audits and governance to generative AI’s tolerance for messy inputs, we unpack the reality behind the “garbage in, garbage out” rule and why waiting for perfect data might hold you back. If you’re a business leader, data strategist, or AI curious mind...

How is GenAI transforming the university experience for students and educators? What should professors do to prepare the next generation of thinkers and leaders in the age of artificial intelligence? In this episode of The AI Social Club, I sit down with Dr Hind Salih, professor and AI expert, to explore the urgent shifts happening in university education due to the rise of generative AI (GenAI)....

Today, I’m joined once again by someone who left a strong mark in our first conversation: Chada. In that first episode, we talk about AI in sustainability and energy innovation. But this time, we go deeper. and we talk about two topics that matter to both of us: 🔹 What it really takes to build a tech startup in the UAE and the region 🔹 And the challenges - and power - of being a woman in tech an...

In this episode, I’m joined by Gilles G. Vidal, a visionary creative director with over 30 years of experience in music, television, and branded content. Together we discussed questions around: Is AI going to replace my creativity? How can AI generated content feels human and authentic? How to cope with copyright issues? Is it challenging for his client to accept AI generated content? He is passio...

Let's dive into AI, sustainability, and energy innovation with a powerhouse guest: Chada El Islam Benmahcene She’s a tech entrepreneur, investor, and advocate for innovation, leading the charge in AI-driven energy solutions. As the founder of a Venture Studio, she’s not just funding startups—she’s building them from scratch, turning advanced research into real businesses. In this discussion, we ta...

Inside Marketplaces: Data, Product & Real Value In this episode, I sit down with Christophe who is the former Chief Product Officer of PropertyFinder. He shared his fascinating journey from the early days of the internet to leading AI-driven product strategies in HR tech and real estate. We discussed: 🔹 The role of the Chief Product Officer, a position that not widely known in the GCC—when do...

How do you build a world-class data function… when there’s no data? No customers No legacy systems No historical data to rely on. That’s exactly the challenge Garry Ure faced when he joined Zand, before the online bank had even launched. Garry has 20 years of experience in data management in the banking sector and for the last five years, he led the data enablement strategy at Zand. He shaped ever...

How is AI rewriting the rules of influencer marketing? Edoardo Ferrari wears multiple hats: he’s the Director of Digital Analytics & AI at a leading beauty company and a fashion entrepreneur. His work is all about balancing creativity, instinct, and technology to drive innovation. In this episode, we explore: How AI is transforming creative industries like beauty & luxury The evolution of...

Data leadership is at a turning point—are we ready for what’s next? Joseph Aoun is the Data & AI Solutions Director at Apgar, a global data management & AI group. He describes himself as a "Data-Powered Digital Business Transformation Leader"—and that says it all. With 15+ years of experience in data and digital, he spent the last 7 years at Chalhoub Group, where he played a key role in bu...

How to build an AI Lab that delivers business impact? This is what this first episode is all about, with Audrey as an inspiring guest ! After starting her career in consulting, Audrey decided to dive into the fast-paced world of startups, eventually becoming VP of Transformation at Checkout.com. There, she played a pivotal role in its growth, helping it scale into one of Europe’s most impressive s...