About Mahmoud: Mahmoud is the Chief Technology Officer for IBM Global Industries responsible for addressing industry needs and innovation opportunities based on IBM technology and platforms across IBM global markets. He has led major IBM businesses as a general manager in strategic partnerships, business consulting and industry solutions. Mahmoud was for many years a vice president in IBM Research.

In this chat we hear about Mahmoud's journey, from growing up in an ancient town in Iran, to schooling in Europe, grad school at Columbia, and then landing at IBM Research in the heyday of wireless communications and the Internet of Things. We then hear about his voyage out of Research, leading to his most recent adventures, addressing industry needs and innovation opportunities using IBM technology.

What Mahmoud has been reading:

Y. N. Harari, Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind

Isabel Wilkerson, Caste: The Origins of our Discontents

R. G. Rajan, Fault Lines

Coleman Barks, Rumi

Yasmin. Kahn, The Saffron Tales