The Partner X Factor: What IBM’s SVP Kareem Yusuf Knows About Ecosystems That Most Leaders Miss

2026-04-08

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Send us Fan MailToday we're joined by Kareem Yusuf, SVP at IBM, where he leads Ecosystem and Strategic Partnerships. His career journey spans IoT, sustainability, and product growth — and it's more diverse than you might expect. In this episode, we dig into the critical thinking behind building successful partnerships, navigating complex tech ecosystems, and what it really takes to prioritize when everything feels urgent.00:00 Introduction01:15 Meet Kareem Yusuf03:44 Best Job Ever08:03 C...

Send us Fan Mail

Today we're joined by Kareem Yusuf, SVP at IBM, where he leads Ecosystem and Strategic Partnerships. His career journey spans IoT, sustainability, and product growth — and it's more diverse than you might expect. In this episode, we dig into the critical thinking behind building successful partnerships, navigating complex tech ecosystems, and what it really takes to prioritize when everything feels urgent.

00:00 Introduction
01:15 Meet Kareem Yusuf
03:44 Best Job Ever
08:03 Career Path
13:31 The Ecosystem
18:20 The Partner "X" Factor
21:05 Prioritization
23:18 The Ecosystem Dilemma
26:17 IBM Differentiation
30:13 Modernizing the Mainframe
34:50 Exciting Products
37:18 Prioritization Revisited
38:46 Leadership
39:23 Lightning Round

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kareemyusuf

Website: https://www.ibm.com/partnerplus

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