We recently had the chance to connect with Saad Ayub and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Saad, thank you so much for taking time out of your busy day to share your story, experiences and insights with our readers. Let’s jump right in with an interesting one: What’s more important to you—intelligence, energy, or integrity?
I would choose integrity above intelligence or energy. Without integrity, both intelligence and energy can easily be misdirected. A brilliant mind without honesty can manipulate facts or exploit others. Boundless energy without moral grounding can drive harmful or reckless actions. In contrast, integrity acts as the compass that ensures intelligence is applied to solve meaningful problems and energy is directed toward productive, ethical goals.
Integrity creates trust, the foundation of leadership, teamwork, and long-term success. When people know you are principled and consistent, they are willing to follow your ideas, share openly, and commit fully. Intelligence and energy are powerful multipliers, but integrity determines whether they add value. With integrity first, intelligence sharpens judgment, energy fuels execution, and together they move in the right direction.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
My name is Saad Ayub, and I’m a mobile software engineer and entrepreneur passionate about building technology that makes everyday life easier for people. I founded MasnJar Inc., a startup focused on creating innovative software that re-imagines how consumers engage with shopping and everyday purchasing decisions. My work revolves around bridging the gap between physical and digital shopping experiences by using mobile technology and intelligent analytics to make information more accessible, insightful, and enjoyable.
At MasnJar, I’m currently developing a number of different apps in both iOS and Android that focus on enhancing consumer shopping and analytics. Each project is guided by the same core belief: that small improvements in everyday technology can have a meaningful impact on how people shop, save, and make smarter decisions.
Amazing, so let’s take a moment to go back in time. What part of you has served its purpose and must now be released?
The part of me that constantly seeks external validation has served its purpose and must now be released.
For many of us, that drive to prove ourselves can be useful early on — it pushes us to learn, work hard, and achieve. But after a certain point it becomes a weight; it limits creativity, peace, and authenticity. You are unable to listen to your gut instincts. Letting it go makes room for motivation, clarity, and a calmer confidence in your own direction. I enjoyed my time being an engineer. It is now time to move on and continue my work as an entrepreneur.
Was there ever a time you almost gave up?
There was a time during my computer science degree when I almost gave up. I wasn’t naturally strong in math — I was more of an average student in that area — and the advanced coursework was extremely challenging.
But I kept reminding myself why I was there: because I loved building things with technology and wanted to turn that into a career. I leaned into persistence, spent extra hours studying, asked for help when I needed it, and slowly pushed through. Finishing that degree became one of the hardest but most rewarding accomplishments of my life. It taught me that perseverance can matter more than raw talent — and that lesson has carried into everything I’ve done since, from engineering work to launching MasnJar.
Next, maybe we can discuss some of your foundational philosophies and views? Where are smart people getting it totally wrong today?
I think a lot of smart people today are getting it wrong by confusing complexity with progress. We live in an age where technology, data, and AI can make everything more intricate, but sometimes the smartest move is to simplify. Too many brilliant minds chase hyper-complex solutions without asking whether they actually make people’s lives better.
Another place they get it wrong is in underestimating human experience. Technology alone doesn’t create value — it’s the way it empowers people, reduces friction, or saves time. For me, innovation isn’t about showing off advanced algorithms or cutting-edge systems; it’s about solving simple, everyday frustrations in ways that feel effortless to the user. True progress happens when technology fades into the background and people simply experience life more smoothly.
Okay, so before we go, let’s tackle one more area. When do you feel most at peace?
I feel most at peace when I’m with my three children. No matter what challenges I’m facing at work or in life, being present with them grounds me. Whether it’s something as simple as playing together, listening to their stories, or just sharing a quiet moment, I feel a sense of calm and purpose that nothing else can match.
Fatherhood has a way of putting everything in perspective — deadlines, setbacks, and ambitions fade when I see the world through their eyes. That peace comes from knowing that beyond all the noise, my greatest role is to be there for them, to guide them, and to enjoy the simple joy of their company.
Contact Info:
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/saadmayub/
- Other: engineering.minute@gmail.com
Image Credits
Saad Ayub
