I Just Had to Ask...with Seema Mangoo

In this episode of I Just Had to Ask, Seema Mangoo sits down with Aliya Rajah, founder of AR Consulting, executive presence expert, and communication coach. Aliya shares her inspiring journey from a corporate biomedical career in London to running a successful coaching practice spanning the UK and UAE.

In this episode, we cover:

• The Universal Struggle: Why imposter syndrome and communication fears affect leaders at every level.
• Overcoming Personal Fear: How Aliya conquered her own hatred of networking and public speaking to build a thrive-and-lead business.
• Future-Proofing Teams: Why corporate demand is shifting toward coaching junior and mid-level managers on social and people skills.
• Actionable Advice: The two key questions to ask yourself if fear is holding back your professional presence.

Whether you’re an established leader, an emerging professional, or an entrepreneur stepping out of your comfort zone, this conversation has practical wisdom to help you speak with authority and build real confidence.

👉 Connect with Aliya Rajah: https://www.linkedin.com/in/aliya-rajah-0b72ba8a/

👉 Connect with Seema Mangoo: https://www.instagram.com/seema.mangoo/ and here - ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/smangoo⁠

Don't forget to hit follow and leave us a review if you enjoyed the episode!

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Artwork by Jhems

- ⁠https://www.instagram.com/jhems_chaudhari⁠

- ⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/jhems⁠

Music by DARIOCOIRO

- ⁠https://pixabay.com/users/dariocoiro-54756271/⁠

In this episode of I Just Had to Ask, host Seema Mangoo sits down with FMCG powerhouse Mike Walden, CEO and Founder of Beboxa. With over 35 years of high-level experience, Mike knows exactly what it takes to scale brands internationally.

But it’s his deep, 15-year expertise in the GCC market that makes him a true regional expert. Mike pulls back the curtain on why cracking the Middle Eastern market takes much more than a simple supermarket listing.

Tune in as we discuss:

• The Reality of Regional Growth: Why patience and boots-on-the-ground presence trump shortcuts every single time.

• The Complexity of the GCC: Navigating multi-layered decision-making, franchise operations, and changing ownership structures.

• The Post-Exhibition Trap: Why securing a single order at a trade show like Gulfood doesn't mean you've "cracked the market" and what to do next.

• Tapping into Innovation: How Saudi Arabia's young, overseas-educated demographic is changing the game for on-trend wellness and innovative products.

Whether you're an FMCG veteran or an entrepreneur eyeing regional expansion, Mike’s masterclass in transparency, relationship-building, and market strategy is an absolute must-listen.

👉 Connect with Mike Walden: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mike-walden-08a1b032/

👉 Connect with Seema Mangoo: https://www.instagram.com/seema.mangoo/ and here - ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/smangoo⁠

Don't forget to hit follow and leave us a review if you enjoyed the episode!

------------

Artwork by Jhems

- ⁠https://www.instagram.com/jhems_chaudhari⁠

- ⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/jhems⁠

Music by DARIOCOIRO

- ⁠https://pixabay.com/users/dariocoiro-54756271/⁠

In this episode of I Just Had to Ask, host Seema Mangoo sits down with Phil Bedford, founder of The Rebel Networker and Strategic Business Connect, to pull back the curtain on how he built an incredible career spanning recruitment, real estate, and international franchising across the UK, UAE, and Australia, without ever making a single cold call.

Inside this episode, we dive into:

• The "Less is More" Philosophy: Why massive networking events fail, why 30 is the absolute perfect number for a networking group, and how to curate a "Deep Dive" room of just 12 people.

• Systems Over Passion: Why loving what you do isn't enough to sustain a business, and how to build efficient, relationship-driven systems that bring clients to you.

• The Cold Call Trap: Why traditional sales managers rely on the 1% conversion numbers game, and what you should be doing instead.

• The Power of Self-Awareness: Phil gets incredibly candid about his childhood experiences with bullying, overcoming internal demons, and how learning to "soften up" changed his leadership style.

Whether you’re a seasoned entrepreneur or a self-proclaimed introvert who absolutely hates traditional networking, this conversation will completely reframe how you build professional relationships.

👉 Connect with Phil Bedford: https://www.linkedin.com/in/philbedford/

👉 Connect with Seema Mangoo: https://www.instagram.com/seema.mangoo/ and here - https://www.linkedin.com/in/smangoo

Don't forget to hit follow and leave us a review if you enjoyed the episode!

------------

Artwork by Jhems

- https://www.instagram.com/jhems_chaudhari

- ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/jhems

Music by DARIOCOIRO

- https://pixabay.com/users/dariocoiro-54756271/

This is I Just Had to Ask…with Seema Mangoo, a podcast for SME business owners and senior leaders who want the unfiltered truth about building and running a business.

Every episode, I sit down with a global business leader who's still in it and ask the questions I genuinely want the answers to. No scripts, no highlight reels. Just an honest conversation about growth, learning, ambition, and the why.

The first episode is coming soon. Hit follow wherever you get your podcasts so you don't miss it.