Savvy Talk

I’m joined today by Gregg Pearce, Head of du’s Small Offices, Home Offices and Small Enterprises segment — known as SoHo and SE. He is accountable for the end-to-end performance of the SOHO & SE segment, improving market penetration, and evolving the customer experience and value propositions for their clients.

Gregg is an customer-focused and target-driven transformational leader, with a proven ability to build a high performance culture. He is skilled in defining and implementing complex business strategies and achieving high sales growth and operational excellence. 

We talk about the importance of building team culture, and the lessons he has learnt from being a professional footballer in the UK. 

This is part of our special series in partnership with du Business called Inspiring Growth, to celebrate entrepreneurship and highlight business success. We feature eight successful entrepreneurs and innovators who shared their personal stories to help others learn valuable lessons. Throughout the show, we will focus on growth, exploring the path of how they turned their dreams into reality.

We hope this proves to be both inspirational and valuable for those who are facing their own personal and business challenges, as always du Business is your partner to enable business and personal growth.

You can connect with Gregg on LinkedIn, and find out more at the du Business website.

Timestamps:

0:00 Intro

1:03 Ramadan experience

2:18 What is your job at du Business in one sentence?

2:36 The common trait you found on successful entrepreneur  

3:39 When resilience made you overcome obstacles  

4:50 What did your professional soccer career teach you for your business career?  

6:16 The whole of communication

8:06 Lessons from managing people and serving clients    

10:39 Culture is the most important thing - Doing the right thing is never the wrong thing

11:59 Dos & Don'ts 

13:03 From Dreamer to a business owner 

14:18 Advice for young entrepreneurs and business owners - Be Brave!

15:14 Ontro

Joining me today is Mark Azzam, Founder and Owner of Back to Games and Gameinox, Partner and Director at Boardgame Space Games Distribution. From a young age, Mark found himself traveling to imaginary realms inspired by elements of science fiction and fantasy. This also included gaming with his mother, where they played everything from snakes and ladders to chess.

After traveling the globe for more than 18 years as a pilot, Mark launched Back to Games in 2015. Serving thousands of gamers and non-gamers alike, while pioneering the tabletop shopping experience. Then in 2017, he went on to partner with Boardgame Space to make board and card games more accessible to the region, by translating the most renowned games to Arabic, and supplying its products to both hobby stores and mass market chains across the Middle East.

And finally, earlier this year he founded Gameinox to help spread gaming beyond people’s homes, through team building and employee empowerment activations, to schools, to universities, and to create the first tabletop gaming convention in the Middle East. 

This is part of our special series in partnership with du Business called Inspiring Growth, to celebrate entrepreneurship and highlight business success. We feature eight successful entrepreneurs and innovators who shared their personal stories to help others learn valuable lessons. Throughout the show, we will focus on growth, exploring the path of how they turned their dreams into reality.

We hope this proves to be both inspirational and valuable for those who are facing their own personal and business challenges, as always du Business is your partner to enable business and personal growth.

You can follow Mark Azzam on LinkedIn, and find out more about his companies here:

Timestamps:

0:00 Intro

1:46 From a pilot to becoming an entrepreneur

2:17 The passion for Board Games

2:56 How did you build 3 businesses? Back to Games; Boardgame Space and Gameinox

4:10 Importance & challenges of introducing people on board games 

5:15 How to introduce people to the modern way of gaming

5:52 Competing for attention with screens

6:40 Translating Board Games to Arabic

7:44 Entrepreneurship path

8:39 Board Games in the Corporate world - Team and Culture building in a post-pandemic world 

9:54 Dos & Don'ts

10:40 From Dreamer to a business owner 

11:55 Feeling successful

12:24 Advice to young entrepreneurs

13:02 Favorite Board Games

14:57 3 board games people should try during Ramadan?

16:10 Outro

Joining me today is Omar Almheiri, founder and Chief Technical Officer at Letswork. Omar graduated in 2017 from Northeastern University in Boston with a degree in electrical engineering. Right after graduation, he was selected for the E25 entrepreneurship program at EMAAR, where he launched Letswork, an app that helps people gain access to the best workspaces in the UAE.

In this episode, we’ll learn more about the evolution of co-working in Dubai, how Omar and his team handled the difficulties during COVID lockdowns, and how they bounced back.  

This is part of our special series in partnership with du Business called Inspiring Growth, to celebrate entrepreneurship and highlight business success. We feature eight successful entrepreneurs and innovators who shared their personal stories to help others learn valuable lessons. Throughout the show, we will focus on growth, exploring the path of how they turned their dreams into reality.

We hope this proves to be both inspirational and valuable for those who are facing their own personal and business challenges, as always du Business is your partner to enable business and personal growth.

You can connect with Omar on LinkedIn, and find out more about Letswork on their website. 

Timestamps:

0:00 Intro

0:48 Ramadan

1:04 How Letswork started 

2:27 In one sentence what problem does Letswork fix?

2:57 How to turn an idea into a business?

4:34 B2B - Convincing other business 

5:38 Using Google maps to spot trends of spaces 

6:40 How Covid changed your Business?    

8:23 Workspaces impact on our productivity and performance/happiness at work 

8:45 Yes, to work life balance

9:32 Dos & Don'ts

10:34 Feeling successful

11:48 Future of work

13:38 Outro

Joining me today is Asma Lootah Founder & Owner of The Hundred Wellness Centre. Everything started in 2002, when she discovered and fell in love with Pilates. Asma has won numerous awards for her work at the Hundred, in 2010 she was awarded the Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Award for Young Business Leaders for the best business in healthcare by the Crown Prince of Dubai. She is dedicated to improving the health and quality of life of people in the UAE through her centre. Her work at The Hundred has been consistently rewarded through the years and her mission is to continue enhancing the services and the offerings of the centre and changing people’s lives for the better. 

This is part of our special series in partnership with du Business called Inspiring Growth, to celebrate entrepreneurship and highlight business success. We feature eight successful entrepreneurs and innovators who shared their personal stories to help others learn valuable lessons. Throughout the show, we will focus on growth, exploring the path of how they turned their dreams into reality.

We hope this proves to be both inspirational and valuable for those who are facing their own personal and business challenges, as always du Business is your partner to enable business and personal growth.

You can find out about The Hundred Wellness Centre on their website, and follow them on Instagram, Facebook and LinkedIn.

Timestamps:

0:00 Intro

1:18 Ramadan

1:44 How The Hundred Wellness Centre started 

2:19 Pilates change my life

2:53 Trying to find who I am

4:04 I want to be my own boss

5:10 Challenges of being a female entrepreneur

6:08 Overcome the roadblocks of entrepreneurship    

8:18 The UAE vision - We are the transected, we are the change makers  

9:15 Feeling successful

9:37 Building the business culture

11:39 What the business means to you?

12:08 What is next?

12:53 No regrets

13:22 Outro 

Joining me today is Mona Mirza, Founder CEO of Biolite Aesthetic Clinic. Having worked in the beauty industry since the age of 18 in London UK, Mona’s experience spans over 30 years. She began her career as a cosmetologist & at the start of the beauty laser revolution in the 90’s was one of the very first licensed laser & IPL supervisors / practitioners in the UK, fondly known as the IPL queen by her clients. Her love for treating skin began as a personal journey which culminated into a passion to heal & treat problematic skin using a vast array of technology and a deep respect for one’s skin.

This is part of our special series in partnership with du Business called Inspiring Growth, to celebrate entrepreneurship and highlight business success. We feature eight successful entrepreneurs and innovators who shared their personal stories to help others learn valuable lessons. Throughout the show, we will focus on growth, exploring the path of how they turned their dreams into reality.

We hope this proves to be both inspirational and valuable for those who are facing their own personal and business challenges, as always du Business is your partner to enable business and personal growth.

You can follow Mona on Instagram, and find out about BioLite on Instagram and their website

Timestamps:

0:00 Intro

1:04 Ramadan routine

1:33 Background story

2:40 When did you know you wanted to become an entrepreneur?

3:55 Recalibrating life to find my purpose

5:07 Building Biolite Aesthetic Clinic

7:48 Having a clear vision

8:48 Feeling successful

10:30 Know your strengths, know your weaknesses

10:53 How to keep building your reputation?

11:51 Leadership is about communication and how people are feeling

13:50 Advice for young entrepreneurs - Work ethic

15:04 Outro

Joining me today is Yousef Al Gurg Founder & Owner of Gravity DXB, A one of a kind gym in UAE to encourage training through calisthenics, a workout technique that solely uses one's body-weight. Yousef is a former football team member of Al Wasl club and a mountaineer. Despite a back injury, he has successfully scaled Aconcagua, South America's highest peak.

This is part of our special series in partnership with du Business called Inspiring Growth, to celebrate entrepreneurship and highlight business success. We feature eight successful entrepreneurs and innovators who shared their personal stories to help others learn valuable lessons. Throughout the show, we will focus on growth, exploring the path of how they turned their dreams into reality. 

We hope this proves to be both inspirational and valuable for those who are facing their own personal and business challenges, as always du Business is your partner to enable business and personal growth

You can find Yousef on Instagram, and find Gravity on Instagram and via their website.

Timestamps:

0:00 Intro

1:08 Ramadan routine

2:08 How he started with fitness

2:51 Discovering calisthenics, mountaineering and Founding Gravity DXB

4:06 The entrepreneurial path 

5:25 How did you built Gravity DXB

6:56 Word of mouth is powerful 

8:00 Feeling successful

9:15 Challenge your ideas to be able to solidify them and persevere 

10:49 Outro

Today we are joined by multimillionaire entrepreneur Gary Vaynerchuk all the way from the UAE.

Known for his motivational talks and digital content creation, GaryVee has had a profound impact on people's lives all over the world and never stops motivating others with his willingness to share his own experiences.

Starting off as a young business mind, first with his father’s business and then expanding into his own empire, GaryVee shares what interests him about Dubai, what brands in the region should start doing in 2023, and more. 

About Gary Vaynerchuk

Gary is considered one of the leading global minds on what’s next in culture, relevance, he is described as one of the most forward thinkers in business - he acutely recognizes trends and patterns early to help others understand how these shifts impact consumer behavior. Whether it's emerging artists, esports, Web3, or digital communications, Gary understands how to bring brand relevance to the forefront. He is a prolific angel investor with early investments in companies such as Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr, Venmo, Snapchat, Coinbase and Uber.

In addition to running multiple businesses, Gary documents his life daily as a CEO through his social media channels which has more than 44 million followers and garners more than 300 million monthly impressions/views across all platforms. His podcast The GaryVee Audio Experience ranks among the top podcasts globally.

Timestamps

0:00 Intro

1:00 Gary’s interest in Dubai and The Middle East

1:40 Gary’s plan to set up an office in Dubai

2:16 What brands in the Middle East should start doing in 2023

4:09 Why don't people create content?

5:05 Influencer marketing

6:44 Music and sports

8:22 Dos and Don'ts

9:21 outro

You can find Gary Vee on his website, and follow him on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook.

Joining me today is Ibrahim Al-Mallouhi, founder of The Espresso Lab. His early relationship with the rich world of coffee led him to a journey of diligence that combined specialized academic studies and practical experience, as he traveled to visit the most important coffee farms and international coffee shops globally.

This is part of our special series in partnership with du Business called Inspiring Growth, to celebrate entrepreneurship and highlight business success. We’re featuring eight successful entrepreneurs and innovators who share their personal stories to help others learn valuable lessons. Throughout the show, we will focus on growth, exploring the path of how they turned their dreams into reality. 

We hope this proves to be both inspirational and valuable for those who are facing their own personal and business challenges, as always du Business is your partner to enable business and personal growth.

You can follow Ibrahim on Instagram and check out The Espresso Lab.

Timestamps:

0:00 Intro

1:46 Coffee and Ramadan

2:11 Opening The Espresso Lab 

3:37 Ibrahim’s background

4:56 The entrepreneurial path 

6:24 Challenges create opportunities

8:57 Dealing with doubt

9:18 Behind every great man is a great woman

9:15 Feeling successful 

10:29 Outro 

This Ramadan we teamed up with du Business for a special series called Inspiring Growth, to celebrate entrepreneurship and highlight business success. We feature eight successful entrepreneurs and innovators who shared their personal stories to help others learn valuable lessons. Throughout the show, we will focus on growth, exploring the path of how they turned their dreams into reality. 

We hope this proves to be both inspirational and valuable for those who are facing their own personal and business challenges, as always du Business is your partner to enable business and personal growth.

Joining me in the first episode is Fatma Al Mulla, the founder and creative director of FMM, a collection of pop culture inspired shirts, dresses, abayas and accessories that can be found in Dubai’s coolest boutiques.

After graduating from the American University of Sharjah, where she studied visual communication and photography, Fatma established her own Khaleeji pop-culture brand, FMM, which takes its name from her three initials. The collection pokes fun at social and cultural stereotypes and misconceptions with its detailed illustrations and tongue in cheek Arabic captions.

You can follow Fatma on Instagram and visit her website for more.

Timestamps:

0:00 Intro

1:17 Fatmas’s Ramadan Routine

2:22 How did you come up with the concept 

5:41 The learning curve

6:33 How did you build your audience?

10:19 How did you establish your work culture?

13:12 Fatma’s advice to start your own business

14:36 Outro 

Today, we are joined by the world leader in speed-reading, memory improvement, and optimal brain performance! With over 7 million podcast downloads and the the author of the NY Times and #1 WSJ bestseller, Limitless - Upgrade Your Brain, Learn Anything Faster, Unlock Your Exceptional Life.

About Jim Kwik

Jim Kwik is a business coach, entrepreneur, and literal genius. He is the Founder and CEO of Kwik Learning, an online brain training and learning company that teaches people how to make the most of their minds. Jim suffered a brain injury when he was five years old, which caused him to have slow brain performance and struggle in school. He embarked on a journey to learn about his brain, why it was "broken," and what he could do to fix it. 

During that journey, he discovered new learning habits, such as accelerated learning systems and tactics. He spent years conditioning his brain for faster reading and better memory. Companies such as SpaceX and Virgin are owned by billionaire geniuses such as Richard Branson.

Timestamps:

0:00 Intro

1:04 Jim’s trip to Egypt

3:03 Jim’s interest in the human’s brain 

11:00 the L.I.E

14:30 Learning doesn't come from one area 

16:18 Jim’s relationship with his grandmother 

17:19 10 things you can do for a better brain 

25:44 quality of sleep 

28:00 Jim’s favorite exercise for the brain

30:24 chronic stress

32:36 Jim’s master class

34:00 outro 

Links: