Curated Conversations

Cryptocurrency adoption rates are surging, with Chainanalysis reporting a 2300% increase in adoption rates since Q3 of 2019. To better understand the nuances of this multi-trillion dollar market, Rohma Theunissen caught up with Tobias Young, Chief Investment Officer at Neoflow Asset Management and former member of the Global Blockchain Council, to talk about cryptocurrency, how it works, the recent market crash and the potential it holds in the future.

Hosted by: Rohma Theunissen

About Tobias Young

Tobias is an accomplished and experienced professional with over 20 years’ experience in financial markets and trading. His financial markets experience spans asset classes including; Equities, Metals, Energy and FX, dealing with all categories of market participants including Banks, Hedge Funds, Trading Houses, Producers, Hedgers and Arbitragers. He has worked under the regulatory auspices of the FCA, NFA, CFTC, DFSA, FRSA and SCA amongst others.

Initially, he started his career in London and since 2009 has been based in Dubai, UAE. Prior to Joining NeoFlow Asset Management, he was the Head of Product Development and Strategy for the Dubai Gold & Commodities Exchange (DGCX) whom he joined in 2015, taking overall responsibility for the development of derivative contracts in Equities, Metals, Energy and FX. Prior to this Tobias built up a wealth of experience in the Energy markets whilst working at Daman Quattro Ltd and BNP Paribas in London. Earlier in his career he was notable by his ability to be flexible, gaining experience in Equities and Metals working at financial luminaries such as; Société Générale, Bank of America and Natixis. Of note from his time at Société Générale, is that he held the distinction of being the ‘Youngest Market Maker’ in London.  

Through Tobias’ work with the DGCX, he became a member of the Global Blockchain Council, an initiative of the Prime Minister of Dubai’s Office, and sat on numerous working groups. Previously, the DGCX lead on Blockchain investigation and integration as well as Digital Assets, this has allowed him to seamlessly move from traditional finance into digital finance, where he now sits as the Chief Investment Officer of NeoFlow Asset Management.

Through his work within the different financial market sectors Tobias has built up an innate understanding of how particular markets work and interact. During his career he has maintained a firm grasp of economics and economic scenarios enabling him to move diligently and effectively when needed within trading and regulatory environments. 

Having helped craft the brand experience that enabled Apple to grow from $2 billion company to a $3 trillion one,  Tim Kobe is a visionary designer who continues to transform the realm of brand experiences through a focus on human outcome.  Rohma Theunissen sat down with the designer himself, to find out the cornerstones of his methodology, and how designers and brands can apply them to maximize their Return on Experience (ROX).

Hosted by: Rohma Theunissen

About Tim Kobe

Tim Kobe is a globally recognized designer, thought leader, keynote speaker, and author. Tim is the founder and CEO of Eight Inc. and Chairman of X8 Ventures. Sometimes called “Apple’s best-kept secret,” Tim wrote the white paper for Apple retail and worked directly with Steve Jobs during his second period as CEO at Apple. 

Today Eight Inc. is one of the most progressive strategic design firms working employing leading designers and strategists working across 11 offices including Beijing, Shanghai, Hong Kong, London, New York, San Francisco, Honolulu, Tokyo, Istanbul, Dubai, Hong Kong, and Singapore. 

8 is helping to transform organizations to be relevant in the world's most highly competitive environments by looking at the design factors that drive successful human interactions. 8 has received international design awards and has been published in Asia, Europe, and the United States.

Return on Experience (ROX), is the new ROI, but what exactly is ROX and how do we effectively implement it? To better understand the concept Rohma Theunissen caught up with Tim Kobe, Founder & CEO of Eight Inc, Chairman of X8 Ventures, and the man behind Apple’s iconic store experience to talk about his game-changing book, Return on Experience. In an exclusive interview, Tim breaks down the importance of human experience design, its key components, the significance of ROX, how its measured, and just why human outcome needs to be at the heart of every brand’s strategy.

Hosted by: Rohma Theunissen

About Tim Kobe

Tim Kobe is a globally recognized designer, thought leader, keynote speaker, and author. Tim is the founder and CEO of Eight Inc. and Chairman of X8 Ventures. Sometimes called “Apple’s best-kept secret,” Tim wrote the white paper for Apple retail and worked directly with Steve Jobs during his second period as CEO at Apple. 

Today Eight Inc. is one of the most progressive strategic design firms working employing leading designers and strategists working across 11 offices including Beijing, Shanghai, Hong Kong, London, New York, San Francisco, Honolulu, Tokyo, Istanbul, Dubai, Hong Kong, and Singapore. 

8 is helping to transform organizations to be relevant in the world's most highly competitive environments by looking at the design factors that drive successful human interactions. 8 has received international design awards and has been published in Asia, Europe, and the United States.

 With NFTs being the biggest buzzword of 2022 thus far, Rohma Theunissen caught up with Rami Kadi, the visionary Lebanese-American couturier on the verge of launching his first NFT collection, to find out the key things that brands and individuals need to consider before diving into the realm of NFTs.

NOTE: This episode was recorded virtually as Rohma was in Dubai and Rami was in Beirut – so there are a few glitches in sound but we think that makes the conversation even more authentic!

Hosted by: Rohma Theunissen

About Rami Kadi

A Lebanese-American fashion designer and creative mind, Rami Kadi is rapidly gaining international recognition. At the early age of 25, in May 2011, Rami started paving his professional designer career, with the launch of his own showroom and opening of his first atelier in the heart of Beirut. A place for him to present his Couture creations and to craft unique pieces attracting a wide range of international clientele including royalty.

With a solid commitment and incredible aspiration, it was only natural that, in 2014, he started showcasing his collections in the capital of luxury and glamour, Paris, during the city’s official fashion weeks. While maintaining extraordinary craftsmanship, he held his debut Fashion Show during Paris fashion week in January 2019. Along the same vein, Rami Kadi pioneered the environmentally-conscious fashion cyber-show in 2020, which was the first in the Middle East and that served as an expression of keeping abreast with technological advances and the idea of universal connectivity that these advances enable. This show reflected Kadi's mission to reduce the overall carbon footprint that fashion contributes to.

Recognized for his strong commitment to environmental causes within the field of sustainable fashion, Rami Kadi was designated the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) Regional Goodwill Ambassador for Sustainable Fashion in West Asia as of September 2020.

Rami Kadi owns and manages his couture house from Beirut, Lebanon, designing evening and bridal couture dresses and operating his label worldwide. Today, his glamorous impact appeals to celebrities on the red carpet and international press, evidently portrayed by taking over the 72nd & 74th editions of the Cannes Film Festival, in addition to the 76th, 77th, & 78th editions of the Venice Film Festival, and becoming the name to wear for internationally recognized stars on the red carpets as claimed by prestigious world-known press organizations. 

Rami Kadi is a contemporary Couturier passionate about modern tailoring. He stands out with his distinctive creations and nouvelle couture, as he includes technology and innovation in his work.  He leaves a unique mark in his masterpieces, offering a kaleidoscopic explosion of colors and sparkles, high finish, and definite impact. Being hip and young, he embraces embroidery as the essence of his creations. Through his collections, he pays tribute to “hand-made” work, the art he is particularly fond of. His masterpieces were worthy of global press recognition as Kadi was mentioned in the top leading international fashion and style magazines.

With the global market for NFTs surpassing $41 billion in 2021, digital collectibles are becoming the most sought-after “it” items in the fashion industry. Rohma Theunissen caught up with Rami Kadi, the pioneering Beirut-based couturier who is set to become the first Middle Eastern designer to create and sell an NFT collection. In this exclusive interview, Rami reveals the algorithmic design process behind his SS22 couture collection, how and why he created his first-ever NFT collection, the potential of blockchain technology, and why dressing people the metaverse is the next frontier of fashion.

NOTE: This episode was recorded virtually as Rohma was in Dubai and Rami was in Beirut – so there are a few glitches in sound but we think that makes the conversation even more authentic!

Hosted by: Rohma Theunissen

About Rami Kadi

A Lebanese-American fashion designer and creative mind, Rami Kadi is rapidly gaining international recognition. At the early age of 25, in May 2011, Rami started paving his professional designer career, with the launch of his own showroom and opening of his first atelier in the heart of Beirut. A place for him to present his Couture creations and to craft unique pieces attracting a wide range of international clientele including royalty.

With a solid commitment and incredible aspiration, it was only natural that, in 2014, he started showcasing his collections in the capital of luxury and glamour, Paris, during the city’s official fashion weeks. While maintaining extraordinary craftsmanship, he held his debut Fashion Show during Paris fashion week in January 2019. Along the same vein, Rami Kadi pioneered the environmentally-conscious fashion cyber-show in 2020, which was the first in the Middle East and that served as an expression of keeping abreast with technological advances and the idea of universal connectivity that these advances enable. This show reflected Kadi's mission to reduce the overall carbon footprint that fashion contributes to.

Recognized for his strong commitment to environmental causes within the field of sustainable fashion, Rami Kadi was designated the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) Regional Goodwill Ambassador for Sustainable Fashion in West Asia as of September 2020.

Rami Kadi owns and manages his couture house from Beirut, Lebanon, designing evening and bridal couture dresses and operating his label worldwide. Today, his glamorous impact appeals to celebrities on the red carpet and international press, evidently portrayed by taking over the 72nd & 74th editions of the Cannes Film Festival, in addition to the 76th, 77th, & 78th editions of the Venice Film Festival, and becoming the name to wear for internationally recognized stars on the red carpets as claimed by prestigious world-known press organizations. 

Rami Kadi is a contemporary Couturier passionate about modern tailoring. He stands out with his distinctive creations and nouvelle couture, as he includes technology and innovation in his work.  He leaves a unique mark in his masterpieces, offering a kaleidoscopic explosion of colors and sparkles, high finish, and definite impact. Being hip and young, he embraces embroidery as the essence of his creations. Through his collections, he pays tribute to “hand-made” work, the art he is particularly fond of. His masterpieces were worthy of global press recognition as Kadi was mentioned in the top leading international fashion and style magazines.

With the fifth-highest number of millionaire households in the world, Kuwait is a haven for luxury connoisseurs. To better understand the unique needs of its luxury consumers, Rohma Theunissen caught up with Zainab Alabdulrazzaq, Editor-in-Chief of Kuwait’s leading digital luxury platform 3oud.com, to find out the 5 key things that brands need to know about the Kuwaiti luxury market. 

Hosted by: Rohma Theunissen

About Zainab Alabdularazzaq 

Zainab is a highly respected Kuwaiti media personality and entrepreneur. With over a decade of experience, she is considered one of the most powerful women in fashion across the Gulf. Fluent in English and Arabic, Zainab started her career in 2011, as the editor of Marie Claire Arabia making her the first Kuwaiti to hold this position, anchoring the city on the global map. 

 Zainab was born into the Alabdulrazzaq family, one of the most respected names in Kuwait. Her father, Abdulaziz Alabdulrazzaq, chief Amiri Protocol and Chamberlain spent over 30 years in the diplomatic and protocol administration of Kuwait at Amiri Dewan, the royal palace of the Emir of Kuwait. She has since joined the Office of the Kuwaiti Royal Palace and is a Member of the Amiri Protocol and Chamberlain of His Highness The Amir Of Kuwait (Amiri Diwan) and Member in administration of the Kuwait Cultural Center of Amiri Diwan. 

 As a fashion pioneer, Zainab has worked closely to launch a multitude of international brands in Kuwait, including Boucheron, Charlotte Tilbury, Chloe, Dolce and Gabbana, Ralph Lauren, Fendi and helped launch Net-a-Porter in Kuwait through a first-of-its-kind event at the prestigious museum of natural history, Sheikh Abdullah al Salem Cultural Center. In 2013, she was honored as Dolce and Gabbana’s ambassador for the entire Middle East. 

 Zainab’s Kuwaiti heritage is a huge part of her vision for the fashion industry as she continuously supports local designers, entrepreneur, retailers, artists and more. Driven by her passion for fashion, this led her to launch 3oud.com in July 2015 (pronounced – Oud.com), a leading Arabic digital fashion hub headquartered in Kuwait. 

 Recently, Alabdulrazzaq achieved a big milestone in her career by facilitating one of the biggest deals across the GCC where the Tamdeen Group acquired 3oud.com. A leading Kuwaiti company in the fields of real estate development, investment and entertainment, the Tamdeen Group aims to promote and support digital media in Kuwait and the region. 

 Zainab maintains her position as the Founding Editor-in-Chief at 3oud.com where she will continue to play an active and positive role in promoting Kuwaiti culture and young Kuwaiti talent. 

 Zainab graduated from Bahrain University with a Bachelor’s in Mass Communication and Publication. She married Kuwaiti businessman Abdulkareem Tawfeeq Alnassar in 2018 and was blessed with baby boy Abdulaziz, her father’s namesake, in 2019.

With a legacy of luxury that can be traced back to the 70’s, Kuwait is one the most sophisticated markets within the GCC. Rohma Theunissen caught up with Zainab Alabdulrazzaq, influential entrepreneur and Editor-in-Chief of 3oud.com, to understand the Kuwaiti luxury market, the country’s position within the global and regional arena, the affluent local consumer, and how she managed to broker one of the biggest deals in the region that led to Tamdeen Group’s acquisition of 3oud.com.

Hosted by: Rohma Theunissen

About Zainab Alabdularazzaq
 
Zainab is a highly respected Kuwaiti media personality and entrepreneur. With over a decade of experience, she is considered one of the most powerful women in fashion across the Gulf. Fluent in English and Arabic, Zainab started her career in 2011, as the editor of Marie Claire Arabia making her the first Kuwaiti to hold this position, anchoring the city on the global map.

Zainab was born into the Alabdulrazzaq family, one of the most respected names in Kuwait. Her father, Abdulaziz Alabdulrazzaq, chief Amiri Protocol and Chamberlain spent over 30 years in the diplomatic and protocol administration of Kuwait at Amiri Dewan, the royal palace of the Emir of Kuwait. She has since joined the Office of the Kuwaiti Royal Palace and is a Member of the Amiri Protocol and Chamberlain of His Highness The Amir Of Kuwait (Amiri Diwan) and Member in administration of the Kuwait Cultural Center of Amiri Diwan.

As a fashion pioneer, Zainab has worked closely to launch a multitude of international brands in Kuwait, including Boucheron, Charlotte Tilbury, Chloe, Dolce and Gabbana, Ralph Lauren, Fendi and helped launch Net-a-Porter in Kuwait through a first-of-its-kind event at the prestigious museum of natural history, Sheikh Abdullah al Salem Cultural Center. In 2013, she was honored as Dolce and Gabbana’s ambassador for the entire Middle East.

Zainab’s Kuwaiti heritage is a huge part of her vision for the fashion industry as she continuously supports local designers, entrepreneur, retailers, artists and more. Driven by her passion for fashion, this led her to launch 3oud.com in July 2015 (pronounced – Oud.com), a leading Arabic digital fashion hub headquartered in Kuwait.

Recently, Alabdulrazzaq achieved a big milestone in her career by facilitating one of the biggest deals across the GCC where the Tamdeen Group acquired 3oud.com. A leading Kuwaiti company in the fields of real estate development, investment and entertainment, the Tamdeen Group aims to promote and support digital media in Kuwait and the region.

Zainab maintains her position as the Founding Editor-in-Chief at 3oud.com where she will continue to play an active and positive role in promoting Kuwaiti culture and young Kuwaiti talent.

Zainab graduated from Bahrain University with a Bachelor’s in Mass Communication and Publication. She married Kuwaiti businessman Abdulkareem Tawfeeq Alnassar in 2018 and was blessed with baby boy Abdulaziz, her father’s namesake, in 2019

Being able to keep up with the ever-evolving world of social media is a mammoth undertaking. To better understand the key components of building a killer social media strategy, Rohma Theunissen sat down with Mike Khouri, Founder & Managing Director of social-first creative agency Tactical, to find out the tips and tricks that brands – and individuals – can use to maximize their ROI.

Hosted by: Rohma Theunissen

About Mike Khouri

Bio’s are serious and boring, Dubai-based Founder and Managing Director of Tactical, Mike Khouri, believes in being neither. He’s a champion of people who create kick-ass work for bold, global brands. 

Mike founded Tactical in 2013, a global social-first creative agency that works with the world's most prominent social media platforms. They are the first agency in the Middle East to partner with Snapchat and TikTok, platforms that are shaping the future of social and media. Other notable clients include Spotify, Amazon, Jumeirah Group, Etihad, PRG and IMG, to name a few. 

Tactical innovates at the speed of social, and have achieved this through launching Vertical, the region’s first studio exclusively dedicated to producing made-for-mobile content. In addition to this, Tactical launched ‘Prism’, proprietary technology that solves the problem of quality creative produced at scale for digital advertisers. Tactical also developed the first dedicated social AR team in the region, focused on delivering innovative mixed reality solutions to brands. 

Khouri’s philosophy is to deliver a best-in-class social experience by evolving with the audience, moving organically into the future with developing trends and tech innovations. Tactical’s approach is holistic, covering all bases with an in-house team of strategists, mixed reality experts, animators and social specialists. The team delivers award-winning social and media experiences that sit on the cusp of what's next in social and culture. 

A truly people-first organisation, Tactical celebrates diversity (the team consists of 17 nationalities and is 61% women) and a progressive work environment noticeable in their “Work That's Flex’ (WTF) and unlimited leave policies. 

Mike is a thought leader in the industry, regularly speaking on webinars about the future of social and mobile. He also works with the next generation of creatives and innovators, speaking at schools, universities and TEDxYouth. 

With the advent of Meta, the social media and digital universe is poised for yet another major transformation. Rohma Theunissen caught up with Mike Khouri, Founder and Managing Director of Tactical, to talk about the evolution of social media, the position of influencers, the significance of the metaverse, the potential of NFT’s and what it takes to develop and maintain robust social and digital strategies amidst all these changes.

Hosted by: Rohma Theunissen

About Mike Khouri

Bio’s are serious and boring, Dubai-based Founder and Managing Director of Tactical, Mike Khouri, believes in being neither. He’s a champion of people who create kick-ass work for bold, global brands. 

Mike founded Tactical in 2013, a global social-first creative agency that works with the world's most prominent social media platforms. They are the first agency in the Middle East to partner with Snapchat and TikTok, platforms that are shaping the future of social and media. Other notable clients include Spotify, Amazon, Jumeirah Group, Etihad, PRG and IMG, to name a few. 

Tactical innovates at the speed of social, and have achieved this through launching Vertical, the region’s first studio exclusively dedicated to producing made-for-mobile content. In addition to this, Tactical launched ‘Prism’, proprietary technology that solves the problem of quality creative produced at scale for digital advertisers. Tactical also developed the first dedicated social AR team in the region, focused on delivering innovative mixed reality solutions to brands. 

Khouri’s philosophy is to deliver a best-in-class social experience by evolving with the audience, moving organically into the future with developing trends and tech innovations. Tactical’s approach is holistic, covering all bases with an in-house team of strategists, mixed reality experts, animators and social specialists. The team delivers award-winning social and media experiences that sit on the cusp of what's next in social and culture. 

A truly people-first organisation, Tactical celebrates diversity (the team consists of 17 nationalities and is 61% women) and a progressive work environment noticeable in their “Work That's Flex’ (WTF) and unlimited leave policies. 

Mike is a thought leader in the industry, regularly speaking on webinars about the future of social and mobile. He also works with the next generation of creatives and innovators, speaking at schools, universities and TEDxYouth.
 

With podcasts being pegged as one of the fasting growing digital mediums in the MENA markets, Judy Daghestani  catches up with Curated Conversations Host & Producer, Rohma Theunissen, to find out the key tactics for launching a podcast series that stands out.

Hosted by: Judy Daghestani

About Rohma Theunissen

A graduate of McGill University and Parsons School of Design, Rohma has amassed over a decade of experience in the international luxury fashion industry working for brands such as Carolina Herrera, Giorgio Armani, Marchesa, Harvey Nichols Dubai, Harper’s BAZAAR Arabia and NET-A-PORTER. With an avid passion for writing coupled with her love for fashion, beauty and wellness; Rohma is adept pinpointing the underlying societal and cultural themes that impact the industry on a regional and global scale.

As host and producer of Curated Conversations, Rohma has launched the Middle East’s premier industry-focused podcast series which features prominent regional innovators on a bi-monthly basis. The series, which is an extension of digital regional insights platform Curated Today, explores pressing themes and industry topics that specifically address the evolving retail landscape within the MENA region.

By profession, Rohma Theunissen is a strategic brand copywriting consultant, specializing in tactical, research-backed copy and content that fosters engagement and drives conversion. She is also a Founding Member of the acclaimed global copywriting community Write Minds, and contributing editor at Harper’s BAZAAR Arabia and Forbes Middle East.

Follow Rohma: @rohmatheunissen