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Emir Allen: Setting His CV on Fire, Scaling Startups & Putting Albania on the Map
Would you set your CV on fire in a job interview? Emir Allen did, and it worked.In this episode of Tea with ALSA UK, Emir shares his unbelievable journey from arriving in the UK with no safety net to selling his first tech company to James Caan of Dragon’s Den. We dive into his time on the trading floor at Citi during the 2008 financial crash, the infamous job interview that changed his life, and how he went on to build and scale businesses across banking, recruitment, and Web3.This is a story about risk, reinvention, and redefining success. From balancing spreadsheets in rainbow colours to building a crypto-powered vision for Albania’s future, Emir speaks candidly about lessons learned, overcoming stigma, and the power of showing up as yourself.You’ll learn:• How bold moves create life-changing opportunities• Lessons from surviving one of the worst financial crashes in history• How to stand out in cutthroat industries like banking and recruitment• What it takes to build and sell a startup with no safety net• The power of giving back and building legacy over wealth• Why Albania could become the “Dubai of Europe” in Web3 innovation📌 Chapters: 00:00 Intro – Who is Emir Allen? 02:04 From Immigrant to Investment Banking 04:50 Setting His CV on Fire at Citi 08:20 Surviving the 2008 Crash 12:10 Why He Left Banking After 6 Months 14:30 Building His First Business at Uni 17:20 Falling Into Recruitment and Field Sales 20:40 Why Recruitment Is the Toughest Sales Game 23:10 How to Stand Out in Service-Based Industries 26:30 Why He Never Overpromises (and Never Misses) 29:10 The Sale to James Caan 32:00 How Luck Meets Relentless Action 34:00 Writing His First Book: Just Us 2 36:00 Relationships, Energy, and the 33% Rule 39:00 Giving Back, Legacy, and Living With Purpose 42:00 Building a Web3 Incubator in the UAE 45:00 Why He’s Turning Albania Into the “Dubai of Europe” 48:00 Crypto, Blockchain & the Balkans Crypto 2025 Vision 52:00 Misconceptions About Albania – And the Truth 55:00 Emir’s Top Book Recommendations 57:00 What Every Person Should Do in Their Lifetime🎯 Listen if you want to:• Learn how to stand out, even in the most competitive industries• Understand how to build and sell businesses from scratch• Discover the hidden opportunities in Albania and the Balkans• Hear an unfiltered story of ambition, resilience, and impact👤 Connect with Emir Allen: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/emir-allen/ Balkans Crypto: https://www.linkedin.com/company/balkans-crypto/🔗 Follow ALSA UK: Linktree: https://linktr.ee/alsauk Join the ALSA UK Community: https://www.alsauk.co.uk/membership Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/alsa_uk_/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TeaWithALSA Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/76KXivrg70p7E87L2cF2wD?si=20a217c2d9d847db Email: [email protected]
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By ALSA UKWould you set your CV on fire in a job interview? Emir Allen did, and it worked.In this episode of Tea with ALSA UK, Emir shares his unbelievable journey from arriving in the UK with no safety net to selling his first tech company to James Caan of Dragon’s Den. We dive into his time on the trading floor at Citi during the 2008 financial crash, the infamous job interview that changed his life, and how he went on to build and scale businesses across banking, recruitment, and Web3.This is a story about risk, reinvention, and redefining success. From balancing spreadsheets in rainbow colours to building a crypto-powered vision for Albania’s future, Emir speaks candidly about lessons learned, overcoming stigma, and the power of showing up as yourself.You’ll learn:• How bold moves create life-changing opportunities• Lessons from surviving one of the worst financial crashes in history• How to stand out in cutthroat industries like banking and recruitment• What it takes to build and sell a startup with no safety net• The power of giving back and building legacy over wealth• Why Albania could become the “Dubai of Europe” in Web3 innovation📌 Chapters: 00:00 Intro – Who is Emir Allen? 02:04 From Immigrant to Investment Banking 04:50 Setting His CV on Fire at Citi 08:20 Surviving the 2008 Crash 12:10 Why He Left Banking After 6 Months 14:30 Building His First Business at Uni 17:20 Falling Into Recruitment and Field Sales 20:40 Why Recruitment Is the Toughest Sales Game 23:10 How to Stand Out in Service-Based Industries 26:30 Why He Never Overpromises (and Never Misses) 29:10 The Sale to James Caan 32:00 How Luck Meets Relentless Action 34:00 Writing His First Book: Just Us 2 36:00 Relationships, Energy, and the 33% Rule 39:00 Giving Back, Legacy, and Living With Purpose 42:00 Building a Web3 Incubator in the UAE 45:00 Why He’s Turning Albania Into the “Dubai of Europe” 48:00 Crypto, Blockchain & the Balkans Crypto 2025 Vision 52:00 Misconceptions About Albania – And the Truth 55:00 Emir’s Top Book Recommendations 57:00 What Every Person Should Do in Their Lifetime🎯 Listen if you want to:• Learn how to stand out, even in the most competitive industries• Understand how to build and sell businesses from scratch• Discover the hidden opportunities in Albania and the Balkans• Hear an unfiltered story of ambition, resilience, and impact👤 Connect with Emir Allen: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/emir-allen/ Balkans Crypto: https://www.linkedin.com/company/balkans-crypto/🔗 Follow ALSA UK: Linktree: https://linktr.ee/alsauk Join the ALSA UK Community: https://www.alsauk.co.uk/membership Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/alsa_uk_/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TeaWithALSA Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/76KXivrg70p7E87L2cF2wD?si=20a217c2d9d847db Email: [email protected]