Crafting Digital Futures: A Conversation with Dr. Ramy Ashour, CEO of Digital Crafts Consulting
In the fast-paced world of technology, few leaders have traversed as many sectors—or had as much impact—as Dr. Ramy Ashour, the visionary CEO of Digital Crafts Consulting (DC). From building aerospace systems for Lockheed Martin to leading cloud innovation at Amazon AWS, and now running a high-impact consultancy working with governments and Fortune 500s, Dr. Ashour has lived the full spectrum of digital transformation.
In this exclusive UAE Times interview, he discusses his career journey, the founding of Digital Crafts Consulting, how he fosters innovation, and what it takes to stay ahead in an ever-evolving digital landscape.
Q: Can you share key milestones and turning points in your journey as an industry leader or entrepreneur?
Dr. Ramy Ashour: Looking back, my career has taken me through some of the most exciting corners of the tech world. One major milestone was my role at Lockheed Martin as Chief Architect, where I worked on critical national defense technologies. That experience taught me responsibility at a systems level.
Another turning point was joining Amazon AWS, where I led global teams in building large-scale, cloud-native platforms. It was fast and demanding—and it gave me deep insight into how to lead global tech transformation.
Later, at Siemens, as Global Head Of Digital Transformation, I focused on AI analytics and digital twin systems in the renewable energy sector. That’s when I fully grasped how tech could create long-term sustainability.
But founding Digital Crafts Consulting was the most personal and pivotal milestone. After 20+ years in corporate roles, I wanted to build something of my own—where strategy meets real, executable technology.
Q: What inspired you to start your own company in this industry?
Dr. Ramy Ashour: After decades in large organizations, I kept seeing the same pattern: great strategy on paper, but poor execution. There was always a gap between vision and delivery.
I started Digital Crafts Consulting to fill that gap—with a firm that combines strategic clarity, technical depth, and startup agility. Our goal isn’t just to deliver software—it’s to help clients unlock transformation that truly matters.
Q: How do you foster innovation within your company? Can you share an example of a successful initiative?
Dr. Ramy Ashour: Innovation at DC is not a department—it’s a mindset. Everyone, from junior developers to senior architects, is encouraged to ask “what if” and “why not.”
A great example was with a logistics client facing delivery delays. Instead of using generic tracking tools, we created an AI-based predictive delivery engine that analyzed traffic, driver behavior, and customer patterns. The result? A 22% boost in on-time deliveries and fewer customer complaints. That’s innovation with impact.
Q: How do you attract and retain top talent across a distributed organization?
Dr. Ramy Ashour: At DC, we don’t hire based on location or degrees—we hire for curiosity, impact, and integrity. Talented professionals are drawn to us because our work is complex and meaningful.
Retention is built on trust. We give our people ownership, room to grow, and a strong culture—even though we’re spread across the US, UK, Germany, India, and the Middle East. We operate as one connected, transparent team—and that’s what makes people stay.
Q: How important has mentorship and networking been in your journey?
Dr. Ramy Ashour: Incredibly important. I’ve learned from great mentors in defense, cloud, and enterprise transformation. They didn’t just teach me skills—they shaped my leadership thinking.
Now, I mentor young founders and rising CTOs. Networking, for me, has always been about real relationships, not just connections. Many key opportunities in my life began over a simple coffee conversation.
Q: How do you assess and mitigate risk in your business?
Dr. Ramy Ashour: Risk is inevitable. At DC, we address it across three layers: technical, operational, and strategic.
Technically, we follow global best practices—ISO 27001, GDPR, cybersecurity frameworks. Operationally, we avoid single points of failure. Strategically, we use scenario planning to prepare for shifts in tech, clients, or markets.
Most importantly, we’ve built a culture where raising red flags early is encouraged—not punished. That keeps us agile and resilient.
Q: How do you adapt your business strategy to capitalize on emerging industry shifts?
Dr. Ramy Ashour: We stay proactive, not reactive. Our strategy is built around modularity and flexibility—we’re industry-agnostic at the core, but highly tailored at the client level.
For example, when AI demand surged, we didn’t wait. We retrained teams, adjusted offerings, and launched pilot projects. Now, AI-driven infrastructure is a key part of our services.
We also leverage our global presence to detect trends early—what emerges in one region often appears in another shortly after. Adaptability is about staying ahead, not just keeping up.
Q: What advice would you give aspiring entrepreneurs in the tech industry?
Dr. Ramy Ashour: First, solve a real problem—don’t just chase hype. Second, remember that execution beats ideas. Show up every day and deliver.
Third, build with people, not just for them. Surround yourself with those smarter than you in their domains and build a culture they believe in. Fourth, embrace failure as a learning opportunity.
And finally, hold on to your values. When pressure hits, your integrity is your compass. Long-term success is built on consistency and purpose.
Q: What are your long-term goals for Digital Crafts Consulting?
Dr. Ramy Ashour: Our vision is to become a global leader in digital transformation—not just advising, but building scalable, AI-powered platforms across industries like transportation, fintech, and sustainability.
We’re moving toward productizing our frameworks—turning them into SaaS tools that others can build on. We’re also expanding our global footprint with deeper partnerships and regional teams.
To stay competitive, we focus on:
- Leading in AI, cloud, and composable architecture
- Continuously growing our internal talent
- Staying relentlessly client-focused
Tech will always evolve—but if we stay agile and human-centered, we’ll not only grow as a business—we’ll make a real difference.
Closing Thoughts
Dr. Ramy Ashour’s journey is a masterclass in blending technical brilliance with human-centered leadership. Through Digital Crafts Consulting, he’s proving that transformation doesn’t start with technology—it starts with vision, trust, and the courage to do things differently.
In a world hungry for agility, clarity, and purpose, Dr. Ashour is setting the standard for what next-generation digital leadership looks like.
Interviewed by UAE Times | For features and executive interviews, contact us at editorial@uaetimes.ae