Why Most Leaders Fail at Execution (Not Strategy) | Adil Paracha, Head of Foods at Almarai

Most people think leadership is about having the right strategy.
Adil Paracha sees it differently.

For him, it’s much simpler and much harder than that. If nothing gets delivered, nothing else matters.

In this episode of Above C-Level, Adil Paracha sits down with host Mohammad Osama to share what leadership means beyond the job title.
This isn’t their first conversation.

Over 20 years ago, Osama started his career as Adil’s intern. Today, that story has come full circle, with Adil’s son now interning at GRG. It’s a dynamic that adds a different layer to the conversation, one built on years of growth, perspective, and shared experience.

From being the youngest in a family of high achievers to navigating global roles across FMCG, aesthetics, and now food, Adil opens up about the pressure to prove yourself and the standards that never switch off.

He talks about:
↳ Growing up in a family where titles meant nothing without real achievement
↳ The sense of urgency that shaped his leadership style early on
↳ The playbook he uses in every role to turn businesses around
↳ Why most leaders focus on the wrong KPIs and pay for it later
↳ Hiring for hunger, not experience, and the risks that come with it
↳ The difference between leaders who look good on paper and those who deliver

There’s a difference between building something that looks successful, and something that actually works.

And most people don’t realise which one they’re part of until it’s too late.

Catch the must-listen episode now!

Chapters

• 00:00:00 Opening: The Sandals Incident - Learning Corporate Rules the Hard Way
• 00:02:59 The Sense of Urgency: Where Drive and Impatience Come From
• 00:09:09 The Success Playbook: Structure, People, Strategy, and Processes
• 00:15:17 Why Most Leaders Fail: The Lead KPI vs Lag KPI Problem
• 00:19:34 Strategy vs People: Which Matters More for Business Success
• 00:20:46 Hiring for Hunger Over Experience: The Energy and Attitude Test
• 00:24:23 Red Flags in Interviews: What Gets You Rejected
• 00:27:17 The Gen Z Reality: Purpose, Flexibility, and Higher Order Needs
• 00:28:55 Work From Home vs Office: Finding the Balance That Works
• 00:31:16 Succession Planning: How to Identify and Develop Future Leaders

Listen on:

Spotify:

Apple: 

Connect with Adil: 

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/adilparacha/ 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/adilparacha/ 

Follow Our Host:

Mohammad Osama: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mohammad-osama-8395b88/