Middle East Business Development Lead

As the Middle East Business Development Lead at Reka, your responsibilities include localizing and executing our go-to-market strategy while owning the P&L for the Gulf region. You will engage with prospective clients to diagnose their business challenges, grow consultative relationships with enterprise and government clients, establish channel partnerships, and work closely with the product teams to ensure that our solutions reflect cutting-edge research. Additionally, you'll have the opportunity to represent Reka at industry events, contributing to our thought leadership and driving new leads.

To qualify for the Middle East Business Development Lead position at Reka, candidates should have 5 to 10 years of B2B enterprise sales experience, preferably in AI or related technologies. Proven success in pipeline building, familiarity with AI/ML concepts, and comfort working in dynamic environments are crucial. Additionally, effective communication skills and native-level fluency in Arabic, along with strong English skills, are essential. A collaborative mindset and adaptability to tailor novel solutions are also important traits we look for.

The Middle East Business Development Lead plays a pivotal role in advancing Reka’s mission by driving the adoption of our agentic AI solutions in a rapidly growing market. By engaging with clients and offering tailored AI-driven solutions that address real-world challenges, you will help transform industries while contributing to Reka’s goal of making a meaningful impact through technology. Your thought leadership and participation in industry events will also elevate Reka's profile as a leader in AI innovation.

At Reka, the Middle East Business Development Lead will find numerous opportunities for personal and professional growth. As you work alongside a team of elite engineers and researchers from renowned organizations, you will gain invaluable insights into advanced AI technologies. Additionally, the role’s diversity allows you to explore various facets of business development, from strategic partnerships to market expansion. Moreover, the company’s mission-driven culture fosters continuous learning, ensuring that you’ll grow while contributing to impactful projects.

Reka promotes an open, inclusive, and collaborative work culture for its Middle East Business Development Lead. The team values diverse perspectives, fostering an environment that encourages creativity and innovation. You'll be part of an elite team, working alongside accomplished professionals passionate about leveraging AI for meaningful applications. With opportunities to contribute positively to the company culture, you’ll find a supportive atmosphere that embraces flexibility and well-being, including generous benefits and work-from-home options.

To localize the go-to-market approach effectively, I would begin with thorough market research to understand local business needs, cultural nuances, and competitor strategies. Building relationships with local stakeholders and industry experts is vital to gain insights on customizing our offerings. Additionally, I would leverage our existing client success stories to demonstrate value to potential clients, ensuring that our messaging resonates in the local context.

When prioritizing potential clients, I focus on those that align closely with our solutions and have the strongest likelihood of conversion. I use criteria such as market size, urgency of need, and existing relationships to assess opportunities. Additionally, I would analyze past sales data and conduct competitor reviews to understand where we can provide maximum value and gain a competitive edge.

Throughout my career, I have specialized in enterprise and government sales, focusing on developing consultative relationships to better understand their unique challenges. I've successfully closed major deals by engaging stakeholders at all levels, presenting tailored solutions that resonate with their objectives. My experience includes navigating complex procurement processes and building trust through continual engagement, which has led to long-term partnerships.

My approach to establishing channel partnerships involves identifying organizations that complement our product offerings and share a similar target audience. I prioritize building strong relationships through open communication and mutual benefit. Once a partnership is formed, I focus on co-developing marketing initiatives to drive product adoption and continuously assess the partnership's success through KPIs, ensuring alignment with broader business goals.

Handling objections effectively involves active listening and empathy. I address concerns by first acknowledging their viewpoint, then clarifying any misconceptions before providing factual information and data-driven insights that support our solutions. It’s important to respond thoughtfully and provide real-life examples that illustrate how our agentic AI products resolve the specific challenges the client faces, ultimately building trust.

Key metrics for measuring success in the Middle East Business Development Lead role include sales revenue, number of new partnerships initiated, client retention rates, and conversion rates from leads to sales. Additionally, tracking feedback from clients and channel partners can provide critical insights for improving strategies. Finally, I would monitor market share growth within the Gulf region to evaluate our competitive positioning.

In my previous role, I navigated a complex sale for a large enterprise client that required multiple stakeholder buy-ins. I conducted detailed stakeholder mapping and tailored my approach to each key decision-maker's priorities. By providing targeted demonstrations and addressing their specific concerns systematically, I was able to build consensus and eventually close the deal, which significantly boosted our revenue.

Feedback is crucial in my sales approach as it helps refine strategies and improve client relationships. I regularly solicit feedback from clients after engagements to understand their experience and uncover areas for improvement. Additionally, I maintain an open line of communication with my team, sharing insights that contribute to our overall strategy and adapt to market shifts quickly to stay competitive.

At industry events, I would focus on showcasing Reka’s innovative solutions and thought leadership by engaging actively in discussions and presentations. My aim would be to connect with attendees to understand their challenges while sharing how our agentic AI technology can address their needs. I’d also prioritize networking with other professionals to build mutually beneficial relationships that could translate into new partnership opportunities.

To stay updated with AI and technology developments, I engage in continuous learning through various channels. This includes following industry publications, attending webinars, and participating in relevant conferences. I also network with professionals and join forums to exchange insights. Additionally, I invest time in hands-on practice by exploring new tools and technologies to understand their applications more effectively.