Interview with Mr. Pierre Obeid, founder of ForeLogix, a Business and Technology service provider.

Aphrodite Bassil: Tell us about your startup, what was your vision behind launching ForeLogix?

Pierre Obeid: Technological innovation has reshaped the way people lived in the last century. With ever increasing number of technology providers and solutions, managing the myriad of technology components that impact our lives and our ability to do business is getting more complex and challenging. Technology offers capabilities ahead of the market readiness for adoption, and at the same time, companies are not capable of exploiting the offered capabilities because of cultural and organizational factors.
With this background in mind, and coming from an industry where technology adoption is at the forefront and its management highly impacting on company’s success, ForeLogix was launched in order to help Telcos and Banks fulfill their corporate strategy needs using technology as an enabler while maximizing value from their investment.
In 2009, I put the idea forward to the founders’ team with whom I had built long-lasting relationship throughout my career. We brought together a team with the right skills, knowledge and competence with years of experience in ICT, Telco and banking industries to establish ForeLogix and make it successful.

AB: How do you market your business? How do people know about you?

PO: Our targeted clients are Telcos and banks in the MENA region. Having held senior positions in major Telco operators, we know what our clients need for their business transformation.
We market our Business Consulting, Enterprise Architecture and SOA services through showcasing at major events and conferences in the region, and offering our differentiated services directly to high-level decision makers within our contact networks and clients’ organizations. We also work on building alliances with international key players in the industry to target further clients and address new markets.

AB: Do you believe there is some sort of a proven formula to becoming a successful entrepreneur?

PO: If there was a proven formula, all entrepreneurs would become successful. Nevertheless, I believe that seizing the opportunity and making it happen, with good planning, proper skills and high ethics, are the ingredients for a successful entrepreneur. Moreover, being down to earth, always doing a reality check, accepting setbacks and learning from them, are important traits to have along the road of entrepreneurship.

AB: In what way is your presence within Berytech’s ecosystem contributing to ForeLogix’s success?

PO: Berytech has created the right environment for companies in the ICT industry, and in a particular way, its initiative has replaced governmental initiatives in encouraging development of ICT services, based in Lebanon and serving the region. Through its networking opportunities, access to pool of skills, welcoming staff and prime location, Berytech’s ecosystem certainly contributes to ForeLogix’s success.