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

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: Website: Want to be featured as a guest on Making Data Simple? Reach out to us at almartintalksdata@gmail.com and tell us why you should be next. The Making Data Simple Podcast is hosted by Al Martin, WW VP Technical Sales, IBM, where we explore trending technologies, business innovation, and leadership ... while keeping it simple & fun.

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The Partner X Factor: What IBM's SVP Kareem Yusuf Knows About Ecosystems That Most Leaders Miss is an episode from IBM Analytics Insights Podcasts by Making Data Simple.

This episode is 42:07 long.

This episode was published on Apr 8, 2026.

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