CEO
Vardot
مجموع سنوات الخبرة :23 years, 3 أشهر
Chief Executive Officer
A multifaceted role
SYNTAX (http://www.syntaxdigital.com)
Chief Information Architect, Chief Knowledge Officer
(1 Jan 2003- Feb 2012)
• Managed the entire operation of localizing Royal Jordanian Airlines' In-flight magazine (Royal Wings) from English to Arabic. Royal Wings is a bi-monthly magazine. I also did the same for Qatar Airways In-flight magazine (ORYX)
• Supervised the production of the "Arab Human Development Reports" for 2003, 2004, and 2005 in 3 languages (English, Arabic and French) " by the UNDP.
• The Information Architect for many web sites developed by Syntax. Of the big clients
are Fastlink (currently Zain), Jordan telecom (currently Orange), and Mobily in Saudi.
• The main Content Provider, Project Manager and Contact Person for the above 3. This
is more akin to a Project Director role with too many tasks at hand. In my capacity I
orchestrated the whole operation, including communication with the client's distributed
teams, SYNTAX design team, other 3rd party providers.
• The above 3 major projects required huge strategic and research input from me
personally and my team.
• Created the booklet used by the "Women Summit".
• A permanent consultant in content related projects handled by SYNTAX.
Note: The role of Information architect required huge efforts to gather requirements, architecture the solutions for the different stakeholders with intensive interaction among the business, IT, and design teams. I was responsible for developing the overall experiences and the detailed mockups for the different pages/apps of the required services.
Arabia Online (One of the huge old portals in the region)
New Product Developer
(1 Jan 2002- Aug 2002)
• Carried comprehensive research for new products under development.
• Communicated with the "Top Management" for consultation and briefing.
• Created Requirements Definition Documents for new products.
• Became the reference for documenting any changes to the requirements for new
products throughout their development and implementation phases.
• Sat right standards for the new products, including Functionality, Look & Feel, and
Maintenance.
• Provided systematic and timely feedback to the "Project Manager".
• Approved new proposals, as applicable, before being sent to the Operation Committee.
• Tracked industry trends, relevant legislation, and competitor activities.
• Provided input for customized research done by consulting firms as applicable.
• Approved Requirements Definition Documents (RDDs) done by Senior Product Owners.
• Created Functional Design Documents (FDDs) for the projects.
Production Manager
(1/1/2001-31/12/2001)
• Supervised the daily production of content and services. These services Include: E-Mail, Arab World Guide, Careers, SMS, Wanees, Search, Directory, and Weather
• Coordinated with content suppliers to guarantee service flow.
• Setting right standards for content & services, that fit target group and customer
requirements.
• Ensured subordinate team abides to high service standards.
• Recommended, developing sellable content ideas; which may include special events
coverage, creation of new services.
• Hold full responsibility of creating and maintaining customer-customized content.
• Made final decisions after combining the team's efforts to come up with the best
possible Look & Feel and Design of products and services.
• Maintained, developing and training subordinate team.
• Evaluated subordinate team.
• Coordinating with corresponding Project Leader, in order to obtain optimized results.
Product Development and Research Manager
(1/6/2000-31/1/2000)
• Researching and creating a global and local industry trends document
o Researching through the Internet and research reports and then creating a
document using accepted practices
• Researching and creating a competitive analysis/case studies document
o Identifying popular Internet sites and then creating a competitive analysis
chart
o (Identifying and testing content and functionalities, identifying ownership,
traffic and commenting on sites)
• Defining site channel/service and navigation scheme based on the preceding two
documents and the user's requirements.
• Creating the functional design document (FDD)
o Creating each visual template with all content and functionalities accounted for o Documenting the specific link of each element of the visual and overall flow
o Creating preliminary text for the FDD
o Creating an integration scheme for the new channel
o Identifying and documenting how the new channel will be integrated into the site
o Creating an Arabization strategy
o Identifying and documenting part of the channel that should be Arabized
o Evaluating appropriate software for the project
o Researching various software packages for the functionalities they provide
• Corresponding with software providers where necessary
• Review project/channel after design and before launch
• Communicate to R&D overview of all products I am working on and their stage of development.
Syntax Design + Interactive media (www.syntaxdigital.com)
Project Manager
(July 1999-1 June 2000)
• Managed the entire operation of localizing Royal Jordanian Airlines' In-flight magazine
(Royal Wings)
• Localizing, Coordinating the next release of Arabia On Line Web Site (AROL 5)
R&D Manager at Large, Regional Manager
(December 1998-March 1999)
• Managed entire operation of Amman regional office, overseeing an educational
multimedia development staff of 20 people (programmers, scriptwriters, and designers)
• Performed tasks of overall quality control of multimedia CDs.
• Managed and oversaw work of external collaborators and part timers (scriptwriters, and web developers)
• Managed and oversaw work of external contractors in setting up office infrastructure and product manufacturing
• Prepared project plans and estimates for the company's multimedia products.
Zeine Technological Applications (http://www.zeine.com)
Localization Manager
(June 1998 - December 1998)
• Prepared and executed detailed plans and estimates for localization projects, with an emphasis on Apple software products (Mac OS 8.1, Mac OS 8.5, Mac OS for iMac) and
product manuals (Monitors, Mac OS 8.5)
• Tested linguistic, technical and user interface aspects of localized system software,
including its compatibility with third party applications.
• Used specialized Apple software localization tools for localizing and debugging of system software.
• Drew up proposals and specifications for Arabizing the iMac keyboard
• Managed and oversaw the work of outside contractors (translators, graphic designers)
• Trained and guided new staff members in localization issues.
• Handled all communication and co-ordination issues with different parties at Apple
Computer including Cupertino-based International System Support Engineers (ISS),
Apple Europe Marketing Manager, and Apple Ireland manufacturing facility.
• Performed business development tasks during trade shows and events
Arabian Communications and Publishing Company
Chief Executive Editor, BYTE Middle East,
(November 1995-June 1998)
• Planned and executed editorial content of the magazine including the creation of new
sections.
• Planned, assigned, wrote and edited major local cover stories.
• Oversaw and edited the entire monthly content of the magazine.
• Carried out the correspondence and handled relations with major IT companies (MS,
Apple, Sun, Novell, etc.)
• Coordinated with McGraw-Hill (then US Publisher of BYTE) on the editorial content of the Middle East edition.
• Oversaw and coordinated the design and advertising aspects of the magazine.
• Tested and reviewed software applications for MS, IBM, Apple and many other
companies.
• Translated the technically sensitive US cover stories of BYTE.
• Interviewed leading IT personalities in the region.
• Interviewed and hired junior and senior editors for the magazine's staff
Editor-In-Chief, Popular Science Middle East Magazine
(Jan. 1997- March 1998)
• Participated in establishing and launching this magazine in coordination with Los
Angeles Times Syndication International.
• Similar tasks to those at BYTE Middle East.
Chief Executive Editor, Al Taqniya Wal A'amal Magazine (Business and
Technology) (October 1995-March 1996)
• Participated in Establishing and launching the magazine in co-ordination with Financial
Times Newspaper.
• Similar tasks to those at BYTE Middle East.
Managing Editor, BYTE Middle East Magazine
(July 1994-October 1995)
• Participated in establishing and launching BYTE Middle East Magazine.
• Created editorial systems and guidelines for the magazine.
• Wrote and translated the major articles of the magazine.
• Created and supervised the Apple section in the magazine.
Editor (February 1992 - March 1994)
Note: This University adopts the "Teaching at a Distance" approach.
• Participated in many workshops supervised by International entities like the OP (Open
University), Australian, and Canadian teaching institutes.
• Participated in the formulation of the Instructional design guide adopted by the university.
• Participated in the instructional design of many learning materials.
• Edited many curriculum produced by the university in terms of the content integrity, the language, and writing style.
AFAQ ILMIYA (Scientific Horizons Magazine), (1985-1987)
Assistant Managing Editor
B.Sc. in Science (Physics), University of Jordan, Amman, Jordan, 1980.