Why Tamara

@2024/08/12 - Hashim Alsharif

Many of you know that I work for Tamara. If you weren’t aware, now you are! I started at Tamara three months ago, and it has been an incredible experience. Having worked at five companies in various stages of growth, I can confidently say Tamara stands out for several reasons:

Growth

I understand that growth might not be your primary focus as an employee, but when a company like Tamara goes from zero to 10 million customers in less than four years, it's essential to understand why and how it grew so rapidly. In many companies, growth eventually hits a bottleneck, preventing further expansion. However, Tamara is different. Today, Tamara has more retail customers than most major banks in Saudi Arabia.

I'm obsessed with hyper-growth companies, and they are rarer than gold. Finding them is a challenge, but Tamara is one of those companies described by Elad Gil in the High Growth Handbook. It's a company that evolves every six to twelve months, requiring fresh talent and new milestones. The mission stays the same, but the goals keep shifting.

I am particularly interested in Tamara because I plan to build my own company after my time here. Being in such an environment is crucial for me. Tamara's growth is unprecedented in the Middle East; I always thought companies like this only existed in Silicon Valley.

Culture

Tamara’s culture is unique due to its rapid growth. This hyper-growth environment makes Tamara a place for builders. People who switched careers here often outperform C-level executives from their previous fields. It’s not just about expertise; it’s about understanding scalability. We look for people who can wear multiple hats and have the skills to build and run things. While many outside Tamara may have more knowledge, we excel in moving quickly, adapting, and delivering results.

Branding

Tamara’s brand is stronger than most banks in Saudi Arabia. Even my family started taking me more seriously after I joined Tamara. The company has built a solid moat around its brand by focusing relentlessly on the customer. Our customers and brand are our greatest defenses against the competition.

I’m thrilled to be part of this company, observing its growth patterns, contributing to the goal of transforming consumer credit, and learning closely from the founders.

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© 2024 Hashim Alsharif