She Talks Business

Most of us grew up going to Sinbad but have you ever wondered what it actually takes to run a business like that?

In this episode, Sana sits down with Sidra Nadeem, the powerhouse behind Sinbad’s family entertainment centres, to unpack the business behind the fun. From the money math to managing massive teams, this conversation is equal parts nostalgic and business gold.

We explored how family entertainment centres actually make money (and where they lose it), what it really costs to set one up, and how customer loyalty data quietly drives long-term growth. Sidra breaks down why weekends are critical for survival, how she keeps Gen Z staff engaged, and what it means to lead a legacy family business in today’s fast-changing world.

Whether you’re a founder, an operator, or someone obsessed with how things really work — this one’s packed with insight.

00:00 Sidra Nadeem - CEO, Sindbad’s Wonderland02:09 The Journey of Sinbad03:31 Family Entertainment Centres vs theme parks05:59 Cost and profitability insights of family entertainment centre07:47 Planning and expansion strategies15:10 Customer loyalty and data insights19:30 Acquisition vs retention in entertainment business21:49 What’s the market potential for FECs?24:57 Business of selling joy26:23 Challenges and adaptations post COVID27:59 Home entertainment vs. location-based entertainment29:19 The rise of competitive socialising30:08 AR/VR in entertainment31:49 Why Family Entertainment Industry?33:08 Staying relevant in a changing market35:07 Challenges with hiring young talent41:45 Family business dynamics and succession48:10 Adapting to changing family structures49:45 Need for inclusive spaces in entertainment centres52:29 Relationship with money and investment strategies

Connect with:Sidra Nadeem: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sidra-nadeem-b9533540/Sana Khalid: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sanakay/

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Imagine the best leader you’ve ever worked with. What made them exceptional? Was it their ability to inspire? Their vision? Their decision-making? Now think about the best business, product, or project you’ve ever been part of. What made it stand out?

In this episode of She Talks Business, Sana Khalid sat down with Grace Clapham, former Director of Community Partnerships, Product & Programs at Meta, and a powerhouse in business, leadership development, technology, and social change to explore the biggest challenges we are facing today with building communities, and the growing tension between self-worth and external validation in leadership. We also dive into the future of connection are micro-communities and in-person experiences making a comeback, or is digital convenience here to stay?

This episode is packed with insights on rethinking success, self-awareness, and the future of communities in business. Whether you’re a founder, leader, or just someone questioning today’s business norms, this conversation is for you!

00:00 Meet Grace Clapham

02:19 Experience as Tech, Growth and Community Expert

06:24 Is community just a buzzword?

09:13 The biggest challenges in building communities today

12:57 Why businesses need to rethink their value beyond profit?

14:57 Are we measuring business success the wrong way?

21:43 How to build self-worth as a leader?

27:37 Leading with self-worth vs. self-esteem

32:16 Does self-worth shape the products we create?

34:13 Why we feel more isolated than ever and what does this mean for the future of work and community?

40:07 What makes a strong, engaged community?

45:57 Why businesses struggle to justify community in our region?

48:47 Should community be the core product, or should it support a brand?

Connect with:Grace Clapham: https://www.linkedin.com/in/graceclapham/Sana Khalid: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sanakay/

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For more meaningful conversations, visit: http://www.minervites.org/

#selfworth #leadership #futureofwork

Does talking about money make you uncomfortable?Do we have enough conversations about saving, budgeting, and investing? What shapes our relationship with money? And what’s your own money story?In this special episode of She Talks Business, Misbah Naqvi, Sarah Munir, Halima Iqbal, and Sahar Habib get real about their money stories. They are diving deep into our relationship money through personal stories and professional insights. The guests discuss a variety of topics, including financial independence, savings, investments, and how early life experiences shape our financial behaviours. Through their diverse backgrounds and experiences, the conversation touches on the cultural and generational aspects of financial management, the importance of financial literacy, and the role of women in financial decision-making. A must-watch for those interested in financial empowerment, especially for women in Pakistan.00:00 Meet our guests02:43 Halima’s personal journey with money10:38 Sarah’s financial story15:10 Sahar’s perspective on money21:51 Misbah’s relationship with money25:09 Why don’t we talk about money? Is it cultural or generational?29:56 How to rewrite your money story?38:12 Money habits: saving, budgeting, and investment strategies52:17 Safety net & disposable income59:26 Advice for people coming from generational wealth01:05:50 Can financial planning reduce money anxiety?01:08:43 The debt dilemma: is borrowing always a bad thing?01:11:58 Personal finance stories from Oraan01:16:29 Women & money: redefining their role in financial decision-making01:21:24 Women, business, and the financial literacy gap01:23:46 Why women are overlooked as investors (and how to change that)01:28:03 The best financial advice you need01:33:02 When should you start thinking about investing?01:38:52 Key takeawaysConnect with:Misbah Naqvi: https://www.linkedin.com/in/misbahnaqvi/Sahar Habib: https://www.instagram.com/saharthetherapistHalima Iqbal: https://www.linkedin.com/in/halimaiqbal/ Sarah Munir: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarah-munir-0b1b0b38/

Stay tuned as we change the face of leadership. Don't forget to like, share, & follow!#money #moneymindset #investing

Choosing the right partner for your business is one of the most critical decisions for any entrepreneur. In this episode of She Talks Business, we sit down with Vladimira Briestenska, co-founder of Neem, to talk about how she found the perfect business partners and how their dynamic shapes their startup.

We also explored how choosing a co-founder is a lot like picking a life partner, it’s all about finding the right fit. We discuss the idea of a co-founder agreement and why it helps startups stay on track. We also cover how to handle conflicts, work with different personalities, and build strong leadership. Plus, we point out warning signs to watch for when picking a co-founder. In the end, what does success comes down to? Tune in to know!

Connect with:Vladimira Briestenska: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vladimira-briestenska-8ba2986/Khizra Munir: https://www.linkedin.com/in/khizra-munir/

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#Cofounder #startupsuccess #businesspartner

First-time founders often don’t think about legal protections - until it’s too late. Handshake deals and gentleman’s agreements might feel like enough in the early days, but when things go wrong (which they often do), a missing contract or unclear equity structure can become costly mistakes for founders.

In this episode of She Talks Business, Sana Khalid sat down with Daria Bolshakova, a legal expert with over 15 years of experience helping founders, startups, and businesses navigate the legal side of growth. In this episode, we’re diving deep into the biggest legal mistakes founders make—from early-stage agreements to co-founder conflicts, investor negotiations, fundraising, and scaling legally.

00:00 Meet Daria Bolshakova

Connect with:

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For more meaningful conversations, visit: http://www.minervites.org/

Whether we’re cooking it, eating it, or talking about it - food is at the centre of all our lives - food is universal. With all the buzz around organic food, superfoods, and sustainable eating, we were thrilled to meet Tassa Agustriana, founder of Thrive Food Consulting and a food technology expert who’s determined to bridge the gap between quality standards, sustainability, and ethical sourcing in Southeast Asia’s fast-growing food and beverage industry.

04:23 Food and beverage industry

07:44 What does organic mean in the food industry?

11:18 Is organic food worth the price?

15:54 Red flags on the food labels

21:15 What are the loopholes in food testing process?

25:36 South Asian spices in modern packing

31:35 What are functional beverages?

34:25 Things we do in Kitchen that are not healthy

36:55 Deși ingredients in beauty products

41:07 From farm to table: What’s the product journey?

49:39  Sustainability in the food & beverage industry

54:43 Beyond sustainable packaging: What’s changing in food industry?

57:59 Is overconsumption the cause of all food related problems?

1:00:17 What’s the market size of F&B industry?

1:10:19 Biggest challenges in starting a food business

01:12:37 How important localisation is in marketing your product?

01:20:03 Production and sourcing challenges in F&B industry

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Meet Fauzia Kerai Khan, Advisor to Executive Committee & CEOs at Gaditek. She's the go-to person when it comes to turning old-school talent strategies into future-ready solutions. With an approach that blends neuroscience, AI, and leadership development, she’s built high-performing teams and transformed organisational culture in ways that go beyond the typical playbook.

The landscape of human resource and talent management has evolved with AI but are we still biased in performance reviews? Are we still hiring based on likability? What are the red flags in an organisation and how can we intervene them? How can we build a culture that focuses on employee growth and well-being? How to build human first values? Tune in to hear from Khizra Munir and Fauzia Kerai Khan in this episode of She Talks Business.

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#culture #toxicculture #performancemanagement

Billions are being spent on space but how is it relevant to life on Earth? In this episode of She Talks Business, we sit down with Ann Cammaro, a space advocate and expert, to explore why space is gaining so much attention. Whether you’re a space enthusiast or just curious about the future, this episode is for you. Discover the importance of space exploration, the opportunities for emerging markets, and how advancements in space impact life here on Earth.

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In this episode, we are exploring digital transformation beyond technology in large companies, the technologies CIOs should invest in, the impact of AI on the CIO role, and strategies for advocating change and automating key business areas. Whether you’re stepping into a CIO role or looking to understand the future of tech leadership, this episode covers everything from risk assessment to the first 90 days as a CIO.

Read more insights on digital transformation and industry trends here:

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#digitaltransformation #technology #womeninbusiness

Leaders—are you keeping up? Shifting consumer behaviours, cultural changes, and the rise of AI have made one thing clear: the strategies that worked yesterday won’t cut it today. This week’s episode of She Talks Business is especially exciting as Sana Khalid joins the brilliant Nafinia Putra in Bali to explore why the traditional marketing playbook might be obsolete. Nafinia, who has scaled startups, B2B and B2C businesses, led growth at Indonesia’s unicorn fintech Xendit, and currently serves as Fractional CMO at Livit, shares invaluable insights into modern marketing and leadership.

Nafinia Putra: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nafinia/