Action Labs CEO Shaikha AlSeddiqi: Helping Businesses Thrive

Gulf Insider

3 days ago

At Action Labs, Co-Founder and CEO, Shaikha AlSeddiqi, and her team are all about setting the trend rather than following it. The Bahrain-based Growth Consultancy is leading the charge with AI, insight, and agility to transform business across key industries. Shaikha tells us more.
Now in its third edition, Business Leaders in the Middle East brings together sharp insights from across the region. These aren't mere interviews; they're windows into how leadership is evolving in a world shaped by rapid digital transformation. Technology touches nearly every industry now, and these leaders show us how to navigate change with purpose.
Before 2021, we were running a creative agency. But when the COVID-19 pandemic hit, we noticed a clear shift. More CEOs and board members started approaching us not for running campaigns, but for strategic and technical guidance. We had prior experience running a tech company so, we were able to blend that technical know-how with our creative capabilities. It became clear that there was a real need for a partner who could speak both languages, creative and technical, with a genuine interest in helping businesses grow. That's when the transition to a consultancy started to make sense.
Over the past two years, we've reached several significant milestones. We've won multiple global awards, but what matters more is the impact we've had on our clients. We've helped transform several FinTech brands into market leaders, achieving million-dollar growth in less than a year; that, to us, is our biggest accomplishment.T oday, we work with some of the largest financial institutions in Bahrain and across the region. We've also launched our own FinTech podcast, Swalef Tech, which is now gearing up for its second season with a major global sponsor on board. On the tech front, we're making serious investments in AI. Our teamis incredibly passionate about it. Infact, our co-founder recently launched a regional think tank dedicated to exploring how AI can address social and economic challenges in the Gulf. It's something we're very proud of, and it reflects our long-term vision to stay ahead and create meaningful, lasting impact.
One of the toughest challenges we faced was scaling. While it all looked exciting from the outside, success came with a lot of pressure behind the scenes. We found ourselves working non-stop, often competing with global firms. There were times it felt like we were living at the office. What helped us get through it was our core team. We've been together for years and have built a strong foundation of trust and support. That kind of camaraderie makes a huge difference when you're facing tough times. It helped us maintain our culture and keep going. The biggest takeaway for us was simple but powerful: if you're not evolving and innovating from within, someone else will. That mindset fuels everything we do. We constantly ask ourselves: how do we improve? How do we create more impact? How do we stay relevant and efficient? Staying agile has always helped us stay ahead.
Resistance to change is human nature. People naturally cling to what they're familiar with. That said, most of our clients today are surprisingly open to innovation especially given how quickly technology is evolving. We work closely with them every step of the way, helping them adopt to new tools, platforms, and shifting mindsets. We see ourselves as one team with our clients, growing together. Our approach to data and growth and it creates a faster, more responsive feedback loop, and that's rare.
AI and digital transformation are nolonger buzzwords. They're redefining how value is created, delivered, and measured. We always say that software is just software; it's all about how you use it. Many companies today are underestimating just how fast AI is moving. Some global organisations already complete 50 percent of their operations using AI, replacing human roles in the process. We're very hands-on with the latest public and beta-stage technology – both software and hardware. For us, AI isn't just a trend; it's a tool we're actively integrating into our work. We're making sure both our business model and our team are future-ready. It's a top priority for us and for our clients.
We were early adopters of platforms like TikTok and have worked directly with their team for years. What surprised us was how slow some regional brands were to adapt. Many waited too long; even when the data was right there. There's still a gap in understanding how consumer behaviour has evolved. Take second-screen behaviour; it's often seen as a challenge, especially for long-form content. But it actually reveals what today's consumers are looking for: speed, ease, and personalisation. Attention spans have collapsed. If you thought you had ten seconds, now you've got two. That impacts everything: your messaging, creative execution, and platform strategy. Hyper-personalisation is no longer optional. It's expected. So we've made it a priority for all our clients, helping them turn that shift into a powerful growth opportunity.
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