Aflevering 127: From Silicon Valley to Palestine: Scaling Software Globally

In this episode of The Dutch Kubernetes Podcast, Ronald and Jan talk with Yahya Al-Salqan, CEO and co-founder of Jaffa.Net Software, about building and scaling global software companies far beyond the traditional tech hubs.

Yahya shares his personal journey from academia and Silicon Valley, where he worked at Sun Microsystems, back to Palestine to found Jaffa.Net. What started as a mission-driven decision to contribute to his community has grown into a company with over 26 years of experience, serving international clients such as Intel, BMW, Fujitsu, Lufthansa, Oxford University, and several Dutch organizations.

The conversation explores how modern software engineering practices and cloud-native technologies make it possible to deliver enterprise-grade solutions globally. Kubernetes and container technologies play a key enabling role by providing consistent environments, repeatable deployments, version control, and zero-downtime upgrades for customers running ERP and custom software solutions.

Beyond technology, the episode highlights the Palestinian IT ecosystem, the importance of education, and how software development allows talent to transcend physical and political borders. Yahya explains why the IT sector is one of the fastest-growing contributors to the local economy and why investing in people and skills is the most sustainable path forward.

The discussion also touches on future trends such as AI, blockchain, and programmable digital money, and how companies must continuously evolve to stay relevant. Throughout the episode, one theme remains central: global software scale is no longer defined by geography, but by mindset, tooling, and execution.

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