Alchemy Uncensored

Alchemy Uncensored, a podcast presented by Alchemy Search a team of professional financial and tax recruiters. Our podcast is dedicated to providing valuable insights into the financial and tax sector of the UAE by discussing the challenges and opportunities faced by employers and job seekers.Alchemy Uncensored is the perfect podcast for those looking to gain a competitive edge in the finance, accounting, and tax industry of the UAE.

Alchemy Uncensored is a business podcast hosted by Alchemy Search, with 91 episodes on record and a Required Pod Score of 80.

Alchemy Search hosts Alchemy Uncensored, a business show with 91 episodes published.

Our AI reads these to draft pitches. Use them as grounding for a pitch that cites a real guest and a specific topic.

• 

  Episode #23

  Season 4 Episode 23: Why Soft Skills Matter More Than You Think

  Sep 29, 202632 minS4

  Technical skills can build your career. But they won’t take you all the way. So what really takes you from management accountant to CFO? This week on Alchemy Uncensored, Conor McHugh is joined by Rehan Laiq, a C-level finance and business executive with more than 37 years of leadership experience across international markets. Rehan’s career has taken him through senior global and group-level roles across water and wastewater, power and renewables, oil and gas, and large-scale infrastructure. His experience includes serving as Global CFO of the Seismic business at SLB, Group CFO of Fauji Foundation and CFO of Metito Utilities. In this conversation, Rehan looks beyond technical Finance and shares why soft skills become increasingly important the further you progress in your career. From communication and influence to motivation and understanding people, they explore the skills that can help finance professionals earn a seat at the table and become more effective leaders. Rehan also shares the lessons behind his own journey from management accountant to CFO and what more than three decades of leadership have taught him about career progression and success. This is not just a conversation about becoming technically better at Finance. It is about developing the skills that allow you to lead, influence and bring people with you. What you will hear in this episode: Why soft skills matter in Finance Why technical expertise alone can only take you so far The skills that become more important as you move into leadership The importance of communication and influence The role of motivation in our careers and organisations Rehan’s journey from management accountant to CFO Lessons from more than 37 years of leadership What it really takes to progress to CFO level This episode is proudly supported by Alaan الآن, the Middle East’s leading corporate card and expense management platform. Alaan helps companies eliminate petty cash, reimbursements, and manual reconciliations by automating expense tracking, approvals, and accounting, giving finance teams greater control and visibility without the manual work. A big thank you to Alaan for supporting this season and helping us bring these conversations to life. Whether you’re building your career in Finance, stepping into leadership or working towards a future CFO role, this episode is a reminder that some of the most important skills in your career won’t come from a textbook. Listen to Alchemy Uncensored. New episodes every Wednesday. #AlchemyUncensored #AlchemySearch #Alaan #SoftSkills #CFO #FinanceLeadership #FinanceCareers #CareerGrowth #Leadership #Finance

  ListenShow Notes
• 

  Episode #22

  Season 4 Episode 22: Relocate2UAE | The Platform Making UAE Relocation Easier

  Sep 22, 202626 minS4

  New country. New job. New home. New life. What do you really need to know before relocating to the UAE? This week on Alchemy Uncensored, Conor McHugh is joined by Paul Philips, CEO & Founder of Relocate2UAE, an independent platform helping professionals and families navigate their move to the UAE. Originally from Ireland, Paul relocated to the UAE with his family and experienced the challenges of the process firsthand. That experience ultimately led him to create Relocate2UAE and help others approach the move with greater clarity and confidence. In this conversation, Paul shares the reality behind relocating to the UAE, including some of the biggest mistakes people make, what often catches newcomers by surprise and what he wishes more people understood before making the move. They also discuss how recent conflict in the region has changed the conversations Paul is having with professionals and families considering relocation, and what he sees happening next for Relocate2UAE. This is not just a conversation about moving countries. It is about making one of life’s biggest decisions with the right information and expectations. What you will hear in this episode: Paul’s own relocation journey and why he founded Relocate2UAE The reality of moving to the UAE The biggest mistakes people make when relocating What people should know before making the move Expectations versus the reality of living in the UAE How regional events are influencing relocation conversations What Paul has learned from helping professionals and families relocate What’s next for Relocate2UAE This episode is proudly supported by Alaan الآن, the Middle East’s leading corporate card and expense management platform. Alaan helps companies eliminate petty cash, reimbursements, and manual reconciliations by automating expense tracking, approvals, and accounting, giving finance teams greater control and visibility without the manual work. A big thank you to Alaan for supporting this season and helping us bring these conversations to life. Whether you’re actively planning a move, considering the UAE for your next chapter, or simply curious about what relocating here really involves, this episode offers a practical look at the realities behind making the move. Listen to Alchemy Uncensored. New episodes every Wednesday. #AlchemyUncensored #AlchemySearch #Alaan #UAE #Dubai #RelocateToUAE #MovingToUAE #UAEJobs #UAEExpat #Relocation #DubaiLife

  ListenShow Notes
• 

  Episode #21

  Season 4 Episode 21: What Makes a Successful CFO?

  Sep 15, 202627 minS4

  The CFO role is changing. AI is accelerating. Finance could become more autonomous than ever. So what will it take to be a successful CFO in the years ahead? This week on Alchemy Uncensored, Conor McHugh is joined by Nauman Asif Mian, CFO of Bayt.com, for a conversation about what leadership in Finance really looks like today and where the profession could be heading next. Nauman began his career at PwC before moving into industry and building a career that now spans finance leadership, governance, mentoring and advocacy for the future of the profession. Alongside his role as CFO, he serves on the ACCA Council and Council Board, is a Non-Executive Board Member at Baker Tilly UAE, and an Advisory Board Member of the Business School at the American University in Dubai. In this conversation, Nauman shares what experience has taught him about becoming a successful CFO, from making difficult decisions and adapting as a leader to understanding how the role of Finance continues to evolve. They also explore one of the biggest conversations happening in Finance today: AI. Could Finance ever become fully autonomous? And if technology takes on more of the traditional work, what will the role of finance professionals become? This is not just a conversation about reaching CFO level. It is about what the books don’t teach you about succeeding once you get there. What you will hear in this episode: How the role of the CFO has changed over the years What experience teaches you about making difficult decisions What AI really means for the finance profession Whether Finance could ever become fully autonomous How the skills required of finance leaders are evolving What Nauman has had to unlearn throughout his career Advice for anyone starting a career in Finance today What it takes to reach the top and continue succeeding once you get there This episode is proudly supported by Alaan الآن, the Middle East’s leading corporate card and expense management platform. Alaan helps companies eliminate petty cash, reimbursements, and manual reconciliations by automating expense tracking, approvals, and accounting, giving finance teams greater control and visibility without the manual work. A big thank you to Alaan for supporting this season and helping us bring these conversations to life. Whether you’re already leading a finance function, working towards a future CFO role, or just starting your career in Finance, this episode offers an inside look at what modern finance leadership really requires. Listen to Alchemy Uncensored. New episodes every Wednesday #AlchemyUncensored #AlchemySearch #Alaan #CFO #FinanceLeadership #FinanceCareers #FutureOfFinance #ArtificialIntelligence #AI #CareerGrowth #Leadership

  ListenShow Notes
• 

  Episode #20

  Season 4 Episode 20: Inside the Mind of a High-Growth CFO

  Sep 8, 202629 minS4

  30M+ users. 200+ countries. Two major exits. What does it take to lead Finance at that level? This week on Alchemy Uncensored, Conor McHugh is joined by Rishi Gupta, CFO of Airalo, the world’s first and largest eSIM marketplace. With nearly two decades of experience scaling high-growth consumer tech businesses across MENA and India, Rishi has built finance teams from the ground up and led two successful exits in the region, Souq to Amazon in 2017 and BitOasis to CoinDCX in 2024. In this conversation, Rishi shares the thinking and experiences that have shaped his journey to CFO, including his approach to first-principles thinking, building high-performing teams and making decisions in fast-moving, competitive environments. They also look ahead at one of the biggest questions facing the profession today: how will AI change the finance function over the next five years? This is not just a conversation about becoming a CFO. It is about what it takes to build, scale and lead Finance when the business around you is moving fast. What you will hear in this episode: The career decisions that shaped Rishi’s journey to CFO Lessons from two successful exits in MENA What Finance needs to become as a business scales How to decide where to invest and where to hold the line Using first-principles thinking to solve difficult problems How to build a genuinely high-performing finance team Advice for ambitious finance professionals who want to become CFOs How AI could reshape Finance over the next five years What skills could become more valuable as automation increases This episode is proudly supported by Alaan الآن, the Middle East’s leading corporate card and expense management platform. Alaan helps companies eliminate petty cash, reimbursements, and manual reconciliations by automating expense tracking, approvals, and accounting, giving finance teams greater control and visibility without the manual work. A big thank you to Alaan for supporting this season and helping us bring these conversations to life. Whether you’re already leading a finance function, working in a high-growth business, or building towards a future CFO role, this episode offers a fascinating look at what modern finance leadership really requires. Listen to Alchemy Uncensored. New episodes every Wednesday. #AlchemyUncensored #AlchemySearch #Alaan #CFO #FinanceLeadership #FinanceCareers #Fintech #Tech #ArtificialIntelligence #AI #CareerGrowth #Leadership

  ListenShow Notes
• 

  Episode #18

  Season 4 Episode 18: UAE Hiring Update | What's Changed?

  Jul 7, 202617 minS4

  The UAE hiring market changed almost overnight.In this episode of Alchemy Uncensored, Conor McHugh is joined by two of our interns, Cillian Farrell and Rushil Magdani, for an honest conversation about what has happened across the UAE recruitment market in the weeks following the regional conflict.Instead of interviewing one of our usual guests, Conor answers the questions many employers, job seekers, and young professionals are asking right now.Together, they explore how the market has responded, why hiring dynamics have shifted, and what both businesses and candidates should expect as confidence gradually returns.Because the reality is, periods of uncertainty don't just affect businesses.They influence hiring decisions, candidate confidence, salary expectations, and the way employers compete for talent.This conversation brings those changes into focus, offering practical advice for both employers and job seekers as the market continues to evolve through the rest of 2026.This is not just a market update.It is an honest discussion about how one of the region's biggest events has reshaped hiring across the UAE.What you will hear in this episode:📌 How the regional conflict impacted the UAE hiring market📌 Why candidate and employer behaviour has changed📌 The biggest hiring mistakes businesses should avoid📌 What job seekers should expect in today's market📌 Advice for employers and candidates for the rest of 2026📌 Conor's outlook on where the market is heading nextThis episode is proudly supported by Alaan, the Middle East's leading corporate card and expense management platform.Alaan helps companies eliminate petty cash, reimbursements, and manual reconciliations by automating expense tracking, approvals, and accounting, giving finance teams greater control and visibility without the manual work.A big thank you to Alaan for supporting this season and helping us bring these conversations to life. We will be back soon with more insights and more voices from across the region.Whether you're hiring, looking for your next opportunity, or simply interested in understanding how the UAE recruitment market is evolving, this episode offers practical insights into what has changed and what comes next.Listen to Alchemy Uncensored.New episodes every Wednesday.#AlchemyUncensored #UAEHiring #Recruitment #UAEJobs #TalentAcquisition #EmployerBrand #HiringStrategy #AlchemySearch #Alaan #middleeastcareer #middleeastcrisis #middleast #uaenews #marketupdate

  ListenShow Notes

Recent guests on Alchemy Uncensored. Study who booked and why before you pitch.

Based on semantic analysis of episode topics and host coverage, this show is a strong guest fit for executives in:

Industry fit is computed by PitchCentric using vector embeddings of the show's episode catalog.