North Africa Dreamin' 2025

Hicham is a grounded force in a noisy world - a builder, a thinker, and a technologist whose brilliance is matched only by his humility. From modest origins to helming one of the most masterfully architected suites of Lightning components on the Salesforce AppExchange, Hicham’s journey is rooted in devotion to his craft and guided by a deep sense of purpose and integrity.

With over two decades of experience - from engineering solutions for global enterprise software companies, to blazing a trail as a Salesforce Technical Architect, to ultimately co-founding GridMate - Hicham has earned a reputation as one of the most respected minds in the ecosystem. But it’s not just his technical genius that sets him apart. It’s the way he shows up: with an unwavering commitment to doing right by people - employees, customers, partners, and anyone fortunate enough to cross his path.

As CTO, Hicham is less interested in the spotlight and more invested in nurturing the foundation that holds everything together. He solves problems before they surface. He builds with intention and delivers with care. And somehow, even with a plate perpetually full, he remains remarkably accessible - always making time to listen, to guide, to lend a helping hand, or simply be present.

Those who work with him will tell you: Hicham doesn’t just write great software. He builds great people. His leadership style is anchored in openness, fairness, and the firm belief that the best kind of tech culture is a human one - where everyone has what they need to thrive, and no one is too busy to care. And every now and then, his refreshingly dry humor slips through, reminding us all that greatness and warmth don’t have to be mutually exclusive.

Beyond the day-to-day of steering GridMate’s product roadmap to ever-greater heights or juggling the demands of a lean, fast-moving team, Hicham finds joy in slow, soulful things - experimenting in the kitchen, perfecting a hearty meal, playing a relaxed round of golf with his kids, or spending unrushed, meaningful time with his family.

Our mate from down under, Eshan leads the charge across the APAC region with all the finesse of a seasoned closer and the charm of someone who could probably sell sand in a desert. With a natural gift for people and a mind wired for momentum, Eshan doesn’t just lead - he lifts.

Hands-on, lighting-fast, and smoother than his dance moves (which, by the way, are legendary), Eshan is the kind of leader who’ll jet across continents to close a deal at a moment’s notice, own the room in seconds, and still show up five minutes early to the next meeting. He’s ahead of the game by default - and just as quick to step in, offer backup, or clear a path when a teammate needs it most.

When he’s not orchestrating deals and racking up wins, Eshan’s either globe-trotting, dropping his latest dance moves, or being the life of the party - always in his bright yellow Vegemite cap, and always a few minutes early.

Souhail is the kind of engineer who can toggle between building the machine and keeping it humming - without breaking a sweat. As a key player in GridMate’s DevOps team, he works hand-in-hand with our CTO to research, architect, and fine-tune our product and its many moving parts. And when questions pop up or issues arise, Souhail is just as swift on the support front, using his deep product insight to troubleshoot, resolve, and make it all look effortless.

He brings a refreshing kind of confidence - calm, grounded, and occasionally laced with a perfectly timed deadpan quip that leaves both teammates and customers laughing mid-ticket.

Beyond the codebase, Souhail is a spontaneous adventurer and experimental home chef - whipping up global recipes on a whim, catching flights without plans, and keeping things deliciously unpredictable.

When new features are ready for takeoff here at GridMate, Otmane is the one clearing the runway. He’s our end-to-end testing and documentation maestro - meticulously catching bugs, ironing out kinks, and translating the technical into crystal-clear help centre guides that users swear by.

Armed with a Bachelor’s in Computer Programming, a Master’s in Software and Applications, and over seven years in the field, he brings an exceptional balance of precision, patience, and polish. His testing mindset is forensic, and his documentation is nothing short of user manual magic.

Off-screen, Otmane recharges in motion - hiking trails, chasing fresh air, and diving into documentaries on everything from food anthropology to cutting-edge tech. If curiosity were a superpower (and we think it is), he’d be in cape and boots.

Much like the Gantt chart views he engineers with refined mastery, Wissem is all about clarity, calm, and carefully structured brilliance. A man of few words but immense depth, he’s the quiet force behind some of GridMate’s most complex and cutting-edge architecture.

He’s the type of teammate who sees what others miss, listens more than he speaks, and somehow always manages to stay three steps ahead of the chaos. Whether he’s building modular masterpieces or fielding curveball requests with Zen-like composure, he’s the kind of developer you want in your corner when the stakes are high and the roadmap’s wild.

Outside the dev zone, Wissem stays active - whether he’s out hiking, squeezing in a workout, or chasing the ball on the soccer field (and occasionally from the couch). He watches films by the dozen, remembers almost none, and travels wherever curiosity (and airfare) take him.

Houda is all about structure - in code, in process, and in life. A detail-devoted engineer with a soft spot for low-code tools and a sixth sense for documentation, she brings two key superpowers to the Salesforce world: clarity and efficiency.

With over two years in the Salesforce trenches and a degree in software engineering, Houda gets to the heart of messy systems and makes them hum. Armed with a methodical mindset, she breaks down complexity into neat, actionable parts and follows processes end-to-end - not just to understand them, but to make them smarter, faster, and cleaner. In fact, if something can be streamlined, she’s probably already halfway through doing it.

Outside the digital realm, you’ll find her immersed in fiction thrillers, skincare routines, or rewatching Friends for the hundredth time, all in the name of impeccable taste and peak self-care.

Ali is a man of few words and great impact. With an engineering degree in Computer Science and over two years of experience as a Salesforce developer, he brings steady focus and consistent follow-through to everything from building new features to diving into support without skipping a beat.

Sharp in execution and reliable without needing recognition, Ali handles whatever’s handed to him with finesse - no noise, no fuss, just results. Whether he's tackling a new project or smoothing out a tricky bug, he does it all with effortless composure and zero fanfare.

Off the clock, you’ll find him on the padel court, at the gym, or catching up with friends - recharging with the same balance and intentionality he brings to his work.