SEF Backstage Pass

What if confidence isn't about becoming someone else—but reconnecting with who you've always been?

In this episode of SEF Backstage Pass, we sit down with Asmaa Al Kuwari—Leadership Coach, author of Back to THAT, and Founder of the "You're Not Alone" community—to explore the confidence paradox and what it truly means to lead with authenticity.

Asmaa shares her journey from being a lifelong people-pleaser to helping women reconnect with their authentic selves. Together, we discuss quiet confidence, self-awareness, people-pleasing, boundaries, perfectionism, impostor syndrome, and why the strongest leaders don't seek validation—they lead from within.

Whether you're navigating a career transition, questioning your purpose, or looking to build confidence that lasts, this conversation offers practical insights into leading yourself before leading others. 

Chapters

* 00:00 From people-pleasing to authenticity

* 00:44 Meet Asmaa Al Kuwari

* 01:20 What is the Confidence Paradox?

* 02:17 Culture, identity, and confidence

* 04:07 The moment everything changed

* 06:05 Breaking free from societal expectations

* 07:12 Why so many women lose themselves

* 08:08 Returning to your authentic self

* 10:00 The power of quiet confidence

* 11:30 Validation, fear, and self-worth

* 13:52 Boundaries and the "good girl" syndrome

* 15:33 Why you need to fill your own cup first

* 16:44 Perfectionism and unconditional self-worth

* 18:38 Impostor syndrome and authentic leadership

* 19:42 Building the "You're Not Alone" community

* 21:26 One message for every woman

* 22:22 Daily practices to reconnect with yourself

* 23:31 Where to connect with Asmaa

Subscribe for more conversations with entrepreneurs, creators, and changemakers from across the region.

This episode was produced in partnership with Poddster.

Follow SEF:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sharjahef

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@sharjahef

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/sharjah-entrepreneurship-festival

Website: https://sharjahef.com

What if doing everything society tells you to do still doesn't lead to financial security?

In this episode of SEF Backstage Pass, we sit down with Malu Marsault, Founder of This Mama Invests, to discuss financial education, investing, and building generational wealth.

Malu shares how an unexpected pregnancy during the COVID-19 pandemic became the turning point that transformed her family's financial future. She explains why traditional education rarely teaches us how money works, why investing isn't only for experts, and how financial literacy can create lasting freedom for families—especially women.

Whether you're just beginning your investing journey or looking to build long-term wealth, this conversation offers practical insights that can change the way you think about money.

Chapters

00:00 The pregnancy that changed everything

00:45 Meet Malu Marsault

01:18 Why financial security became her mission

02:40 Why schools don't teach us about money

03:55 From financial struggle to financial education

05:07 Building an emergency fund and investing basics

06:20 Why women invest differently

09:08 Marketing, money, and financial psychology

10:18 The biggest barrier to financial independence

11:02 Do women outperform men at investing?

12:27 How Malu started investing

14:00 Her first investment and surprising returns

15:44 Building generational wealth

16:36 Stocks vs. crypto investing

18:18 How much should you invest each month?

20:58 Planning for retirement and financial goals

22:03 Why every couple should have "money dates"

24:01 Malu's mission to empower women financially

Subscribe for more conversations with entrepreneurs, creators, investors, and changemakers from across the region.

This episode was produced in partnership with Poddster.

Follow SEF:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sharjahef

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@sharjahef

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/sharjah-entrepreneurship-festival

Website: https://sharjahef.com

Why do so many people feel exhausted, overwhelmed, and creatively blocked—even when they're doing everything "right"?

In this episode of SEF Backstage Pass, we sit down with Dan Stoker, Polarity Performance Coach and Sound & Light Therapist, to explore how our modern environment affects the nervous system.

Dan explains how constant screen time, artificial light, digital overload, and chronic stress quietly disrupt our natural rhythms, impacting sleep, creativity, focus, and overall well-being. He also shares practical ways to regulate your nervous system, improve sleep quality, reduce burnout, and create healthier daily habits.

Whether you're an entrepreneur, creator, leader, or simply feeling constantly switched on, this conversation offers a fresh perspective on performance and recovery.

Chapters

00:00 Why we're constantly feeling switched on

00:43 Meet Dan Stoker

01:06 What does it mean to reset your nervous system?

02:19 How sound and light therapy works

03:01 Understanding brainwaves

04:12 What stress really is

05:13 Relaxation is a choice

06:46 How to unwind during stressful times

08:42 What is digital pollution?

10:10 How light affects your brain and sleep

11:35 Better sleep habits for burnout

12:58 Creativity begins with recovery

13:55 The nervous system is designed to self-regulate

Subscribe for more conversations with entrepreneurs, creators, and changemakers from across the region.

This episode was produced in partnership with Poddster.

Follow SEF:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sharjahef

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@sharjahef

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/sharjah-entrepreneurship-festival

Website: https://sharjahef.com

How do you build a brand people never forget?In this episode of SEF Backstage Pass, we sit down with Amal Al Beiti, Creative Director and Founder of Tiny Toaster Design Studio, to explore the intersection of creativity, branding, and storytelling.Amal shares her journey from working in design agencies to founding her own studio, why every great brand starts with a story rather than a logo, and how meaningful design creates emotional connections that last.She also discusses building brands across the hospitality, F&B, lifestyle and government sectors, the importance of purpose in branding, supporting young creatives, and why the UAE is becoming one of the region's leading creative hubs.Chapters00:00 What is creativity?00:43 Meet Amal Al Beiti01:24 From designer to founder03:30 Why every great brand starts with a story04:50 What actually makes a strong brand?06:35 The story behind Tiny Toaster08:55 Building memorable F&B brands10:18 A branding project that changed everything12:23 Branding founders vs. corporate clients14:18 How do you measure a brand's success?15:39 Advice for young designers18:00 The rise of the UAE's creative industry20:40 Building a studio with purpose21:49 Final thoughtsSubscribe for more conversations with entrepreneurs, creators, and changemakers from across the region.This episode was produced in partnership with Poddster.Follow SEF:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sharjahefTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@sharjahefLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/sharjah-entrepreneurship-festivalWebsite: https://sharjahef.com

هل نرث الصدمات... أم نرث القدرة على الصمود؟

في هذه الحلقة من SEF Backstage Pass، نستضيف د. رنا الدجاني، عالمة وناشطة اجتماعية، وأستاذة في الجامعة الهاشمية، للحديث عن رحلتها في البحث العلمي، والفضول الذي قادها إلى الاكتشاف، وأبحاثها التي تتحدى المفاهيم التقليدية حول الصدمات المتوارثة والمرونة الإنسانية.

كما تتحدث عن أهمية القراءة، ودور الفضول في بناء أجيال قادرة على التعلم، وكيف يمكن لفكرة بسيطة أن تُحدث أثراً يمتد إلى ملايين الأشخاص حول العالم.

في هذه الحلقة:

00:00 هل نرث الصدمات أم الصمود؟

01:23 التعرّف على د. رنا الدجاني

03:00 كيف بدأ شغفها بالعلم والفضول؟

05:04 لماذا درست اللاجئين وعلم التغيرات فوق الجينية؟

08:00 الاكتشاف الذي غيّر نظرتها إلى الصدمات المتوارثة

12:00 لماذا يجب أن نتجاوز عقلية الضحية؟

16:00 الهوية والثقافة ودورهما في بناء الإنسان

19:20 كيف بدأت مبادرة "نحب القراءة"؟

22:00 كيف تصنع القراءة جيلاً من صناع التغيير؟

26:00 فكرة صغيرة... وأثر وصل إلى الملايين

27:15 رسائل أخيرة

اشتركوا في القناة، وفعّلوا جرس التنبيهات، ولا تنسوا مشاركة الحلقة مع من قد يجد فيها الإلهام.

تم إنتاج هذه الحلقة بالشراكة مع Poddster.

What separates companies that scale from those that stay stuck?

In this episode of the SEF Backstage Pass Podcast, Shukri Eid, Vice President and General Manager for IBM across the Gulf, Levant and Pakistan, shares decades of leadership experience helping organizations navigate growth, transformation, and technological change.

From scaling startups and building resilient organizations to AI, leadership, delegation, and institutionalizing a business, Shukri explains what founders must do to grow beyond themselves—and why the best leaders eventually make themselves unnecessary.

Whether you're building a startup or leading an established business, this conversation offers practical insights on scaling with clarity, purpose, and long-term impact.

Chapters

00:00 Why founders must make themselves redundant

01:00 Meet Shukri Eid

03:08 Why scaling a startup is harder than it looks

05:03 The transition from founder to scale-up leader

07:20 What should—and shouldn't—scale

08:40 Mentoring founders through growth

10:42 Managing complexity as your business grows

15:07 Expanding products and serving customers better

18:28 What corporates can learn from startups

23:28 AI, business models, and competitive advantage

26:47 The one piece of advice every founder needs

31:27 Final thoughts

The SEF Backstage Pass Podcast brings you inspiring conversations with entrepreneurs, creators, innovators, and changemakers from the Sharjah Entrepreneurship Festival.

This episode was produced in partnership with Poddster.

Follow SEF:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sharjahef

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@sharjahef

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/sharjah-entrepreneurship-festival

Website: https://sharjahef.com

Can you build a successful career doing what you truly love?

In this episode of the SEF Backstage Pass Podcast, comedian and content creator Maha Jaafar shares how a viral video changed the course of her life—from studying and practicing dentistry to building a career in comedy and content creation.

Maha opens up about choosing an unconventional path, staying authentic online, balancing creativity with commercial work, and why purpose matters more than chasing numbers. She also shares practical advice for aspiring creators looking to build sustainable careers on social media.

Chapters:

00:00 Introduction

01:25 Meet Maha Jaafar

02:01 From dentistry to content creation

04:00 Choosing comedy over a traditional career

05:16 The power of authenticity on social media

06:54 What makes creators succeed long-term

08:24 The biggest mistake creators make when monetizing

08:50 Balancing creativity with commercial work

10:32 Advice for aspiring content creators

11:38 Maha's first impression of SEF

12:28 One final piece of advice for creators

Whether you're a creator, entrepreneur, or simply considering a different path, this conversation offers valuable insights into turning passion into a profession.

This episode was produced in partnership with Poddster.

Subscribe for more conversations with entrepreneurs, innovators, and changemakers on the SEF Backstage Pass Podcast.

Follow SEF:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sharjahef

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@sharjahef

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/sharjah-entrepreneurship-festival

Website: https://sharjahef.com

Shahzad Younas left a successful investment banking career to build Muzz, now the world's leading Muslim marriage app.

In this episode of the SEF Backstage Pass Podcast, Shahzad shares the realities of leaving a six-figure salary, building a startup from his bedroom, creating a product for millions of Muslims worldwide, navigating criticism from different communities, and the legal battle that forced Muzmatch to become Muzz.

⏱️ Chapters

00:00 Intro

01:08 Leaving Investment Banking to Become a Founder

08:21 Building Muzz & Early Growth

11:41 Designing a Product for Modern Muslims

17:57 19 Million Users Across 190 Countries

20:50 How Muzz Makes Money

24:34 Building Trust & Safety on the Platform

30:11 Lessons from Scaling a Global Startup

36:18 When Match Group Tried to Acquire Muzz

37:17 The Trademark Lawsuit That Changed Everything

43:49 Rebranding from Muzmatch to Muzz

46:08 Advice for Entrepreneurs

The SEF Backstage Pass Podcast brings you conversations with world-class entrepreneurs, founders, creators, and innovators recorded at the Sharjah Entrepreneurship Festival.

This episode was produced in partnership with Poddster.

Follow SEF:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sharjahef

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@sharjahef

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/sharjah-entrepreneurship-festival

Website: https://sharjahef.com

هل يمكن لحلم واحد أن يغيّر حياتك بالكامل؟ في هذه الحلقة من بودكاست SEF Backstage Pass، تتحدث منال رستم، أول مصرية تتسلق قمة إيفرست، عن رحلتها من الأحلام إلى الإنجازات، وكيف واجهت الخوف، والرفض، والفشل، والشك بالنفس حتى أصبحت واحدة من أبرز الملهمين في المنطقة. تشارك منال قصصاً من رحلتها في تسلق أعلى قمم العالم، وما تعلمته عن مواجهة الإخفاق، وبناء الثقة بالنفس، والرفق بالذات، إلى جانب دروس ملهمة يمكن لكل رائد أعمال، أو قائد، أو صاحب حلم أن يستفيد منها. المحاور00:00 المقدمة01:02 من هي منال رستم؟02:00 لماذا قررت تسلق جبل إيفرست؟05:15 هل ننتظر حتى نكون مستعدين؟06:10 كيف أقنعت عائلتها بتحقيق حلمها؟09:25 دعم الأهل وتغيير القناعات12:35 لماذا فشلت في تسلق بعض القمم؟15:00 كيف غيّرت طريقة تفكيرها لتنجح؟17:45 ما الوجه الآخر للإنجاز؟20:35 التعايش مع الأنيميا أثناء تسلق الجبال22:40 لماذا يجب أن نكون ألطف مع أنفسنا؟25:00 حب الذات والتعامل مع الآخرين27:15 متى يجب أن تقول "لا"؟29:10 الجيل الجديد ووضع الحدود الصحية30:20 الامتنان والرضا عن الذات31:05 الرسالة الأخيرة اشتركوا في القناة للمزيد من الحوارات الملهمة مع رواد الأعمال، والمبتكرين، وصناع التغيير عبر بودكاست SEF Backstage Pass. تم إنتاج هذه الحلقة بالشراكة مع Poddster. Follow SEF:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sharjahefTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@sharjahefLinkedIn: Sharjah Entrepreneurship Festival | LinkedInWebsite: Sharjah Entrepreneurship Festival

Why are so many women confused about their health?

In this episode of the SEF Backstage Pass Podcast, Layla Al Naif, Holistic Nutritionist, shares her personal journey with PCOS and explains why understanding hormones, nutrition, and women's health requires more than one-size-fits-all advice.

From overcoming her own health challenges to helping women better understand their bodies, Layla discusses common nutrition myths, hormone health, and practical ways to build sustainable habits for long-term wellbeing.

Whether you're navigating hormonal health, PCOS, or simply looking to better understand your body, this conversation offers valuable insights backed by both personal experience and professional expertise.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction

01:03 Meet Layla Al Naif

02:03 Layla's PCOS diagnosis and health journey

05:10 Why women's health is so misunderstood

08:15 The biggest nutrition myths for women

12:30 Understanding hormones and metabolism

16:05 Protein, weight loss, and common misconceptions

20:15 Building sustainable eating habits

24:40 Practical advice for better health

28:30 Final thoughts

Subscribe for more conversations with entrepreneurs, innovators, and changemakers on the SEF Backstage Pass Podcast.

This episode was produced in partnership with Poddster.

Follow SEF:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sharjahef

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@sharjahef

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/sharjah-entrepreneurship-festival

Website: https://sharjahef.com