Spark! with Shereen

In our latest episode, we sit down with Rasha Rady who's the co-founder and COO of Chefaa, a pharmacy platform that helps patients order, schedule, and have medicine delivered to consumers' doorsteps. Rasha is a pediatrician, by background, who got out of her comfort zone and into the entrepreneurship world to serve more patients and have a larger impact on the community.

Together we discuss:

1. Benefits of building online apps to serve your customers better
2. How to retain customers through subscription models
3. Understanding and applying consumer preferences to e-commerce platforms 
4. Dynamics of the Egyptian ecosystem to consider when building a local startup

I'm working with a fab team from The London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE) to help refine Spark!'s value proposition and marketing strategy. We've set up a short survey that takes less than 10 minutes to fill out, check it out here.

Want to read the episode instead? Access the show notes here.

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Got something you'd like to discuss with us? Email us at [email protected]

Podcasts hosted by @shereenabdulla.

Produced by Spark! Studios. We are a creative brand studio that helps companies tell their story and grow their audience through content. We specialize in business, finance, and tech written and visual storytelling for digital multi-platform campaigns. Our production suite offers end-to-end services, including strategy, production, hosting, and distribution. We also offer storytelling training and coaching. 

In our latest episode, we sit down with Lamya Al Shammary who's the founder and CEO of MWJ, the first marketplace to buy new and pre-loved certified luxury watches in the MENA region. Lamya is a watch and jewelry connoisseur and industry expert with over 10 years of experience. Combined with expertise in e-commerce and an understanding of the market, she delivers the best experience to shop for watches and jewelry. 

Together we discuss:

1. The dynamics of the second-hand watch market
2. Building trust with customers and the role that content plays to achieve this
3. E-commerce in KSA and consumer preferences

Want to read the episode instead? Access the show notes here.

Feel like socializing? Connect with us on Instagram and Linkedin.

Subscribe to our newsletter on our website.

Got something you'd like to discuss with us? Email us at [email protected]

Podcasts hosted by @shereenabdulla.

Produced by Spark! Studios. We are a creative brand studio that helps companies tell their story and grow their audience through content. We specialize in business, finance, and tech written and visual storytelling for digital multi-platform campaigns. Our production suite offers end-to-end services, including strategy, production, hosting, and distribution. We also offer storytelling training and coaching. 

 In our latest episode, we sit down with Myriam Awad who's the founder and CEO of PotPay (formerly Bakala), a startup on a mission to digitize offline retail data. As an organization that digitizes offline retail data, PotPay's business model is B2B2C. They work with retailers and brands with their main audience being Fast-Moving Consumer Goods (FMCGs). Myriam has led the creation of long-term strategies, crafted marketing and sales agendas, grew products, and built winning teams — all resulting in best-in-class management and a proven track record of delivering value. 
 
Together we discuss:

1. How to appeal to your target audience
2. The process of collecting demographic data
3. The sales process to find B2B customers in the retail industry
4. Expanding into technologically developed markets

Want to read the episode instead? Access the show notes here.

Feel like socializing? Connect with us on Instagram and Linkedin.

Subscribe to our newsletter on our website.

Got something you'd like to discuss with us? Email us at [email protected]

Podcasts hosted by @shereenabdulla.

Produced by Spark! Studios. We are a creative brand studio that helps companies tell their story and grow their audience through content. We specialize in business, finance, and tech written and visual storytelling for digital multi-platform campaigns. Our production suite offers end-to-end services, including strategy, production, hosting, and distribution. We also offer storytelling training and coaching. 

In our latest episode, we sit down with Toghrul Samad who's the founder and CEO of Buglance, a crowdsourced testing platform that utilizes the power of the people to revolutionize the software testing industry. Toghrul is a serial entrepreneur, problem solver, and Chief Executive with 15 years of experience in promoting e-commerce websites, mobile apps, and games.

Together we discuss:

1. The reasons why software bugs go unnoticed
2. How to leverage the power of the masses for software bug testing
3. How to ensure employees are equipped to communicate with employees
4. Founder leadership styles

Want to read the episode instead? Access the show notes here.

Feel like socializing? Connect with us on Instagram and Linkedin.

Subscribe to our newsletter on our website.

Got something you'd like to discuss with us? Email us at [email protected]

Podcasts hosted by @shereenabdulla.

Produced by Spark! Studios. We are a creative brand studio that helps companies tell their story and grow their audience through content. We specialize in business, finance, and tech written and visual storytelling for digital multi-platform campaigns. Our production suite offers end-to-end services, including strategy, production, hosting, and distribution. We also offer storytelling training and coaching. 

In our latest episode, we sit down with Philip Bahoshy whose the founder and CEO of MAGNiTT, the first venture data platform serving founders and investors across emerging markets. Philip worked at Oliver Wyman in the Financial Services practice for three years, followed by nearly three years at Barclays Wealth working as Chief of Staff to the CEO, advising on strategic initiatives.

 Together we discuss:

1. How to use newsletters to build your business (audience and revenue growth)
2. The importance of knowing your customer to your product development process
3. The rising popularity of the MENA opportunity amongst the global startup ecosystem
4. MAGNiTT's approach to building a data-driven tech company

Want to read the episode instead? Access the show notes here.

Feel like socializing? Connect with us on Instagram and Linkedin.

Subscribe to our newsletter on our website.

Got something you'd like to discuss with us? Email us at [email protected]

Podcasts hosted by @shereenabdulla.

Produced by Spark! Studios. We are a creative brand studio that helps companies tell their story and grow their audience through content. We specialize in business, finance, and tech written and visual storytelling for digital multi-platform campaigns. Our production suite offers end-to-end services, including strategy, production, hosting, and distribution. We also offer storytelling training and coaching. 

In our latest episode, we sit down with Bedy Yang, Managing Partner at 500 Startups. Bedy oversees 500’s ecosystem development programs including investor education courses (in partnership with top institutions such as Stanford, Berkeley, and INSEAD), has helped launch strategic partnerships and accelerator programs across the globe, and leads 500’s corporate-startup innovation and consultancy.

Together we discuss:

1. Unlocking market access in the startup ecosystem
2. Different types of mentors 
3. Working with governments to build startup programs
4. Current startup trends in the MENA region

Want to read the episode instead? Access the show notes here.

Feel like socializing? Connect with us on Instagram and Linkedin.

Subscribe to our newsletter on our website.

Got something you'd like to discuss with us? Email us at [email protected]

Podcasts hosted by @shereenabdulla.

Produced by Spark! Studios. We are a creative brand studio that helps companies tell their story and grow their audience through content. We specialize in business, finance, and tech written and visual storytelling for digital multi-platform campaigns. Our production suite offers end-to-end services, including strategy, production, hosting, and distribution. We also offer storytelling training and coaching. 

In our latest episode, we sit down with Leen Nabulsi who is a Venture Lead at Rainmaking Innovation. Leen focuses on corporate venture building, where she works on scoping, validating, building, and launching new ventures with large corporations. Leen was also the Managing Director of Dubai Smart City Accelerator (a Startupbootcamp program) and is an active member of the startup community in the UAE. 

Together we discuss:

1. The process of venture building with corporate partners
2. Strategies to build ventures that cater to corporate objectives
3. The importance of relationship building and partnerships (in the business world)

Want to read the episode instead? Access the show notes here.

Feel like socializing? Connect with us on Instagram and Linkedin.

Subscribe to our newsletter on our website.

Got something you'd like to discuss with us? Email us at [email protected]

Podcasts hosted by @shereenabdulla.

Produced by Spark! Studios. We are a creative brand studio that helps companies tell their story and grow their audience through content. We specialize in business, finance, and tech written and visual storytelling for digital multi-platform campaigns. Our production suite offers end-to-end services, including strategy, production, hosting, and distribution. We also offer storytelling training and coaching. 

In our latest episode, we sit down with Julie Nguyen who is the founder of Crunchmoms. Crunchmoms is a community and networking platform for working moms to connect with like minded-women and boost their career ambitions. Crunchmom is now available as a web-based community. There are weekly online sessions where moms discuss all sorts of different topics, such as, job searching, self-confidence, and creating CVs.
 
Together we discuss:

1. The benefit of support systems for working moms
2. Balancing work and home life
3. Improving female business participation in the MENA region

Want to read the episode instead? Access the show notes here.

Feel like socializing? Connect with us on Instagram and Linkedin.

Subscribe to our newsletter on our website.

Got something you'd like to discuss with us? Email us at [email protected]

Podcasts hosted by @shereenabdulla.

Produced by Spark! Studios. We are a creative brand studio that helps companies tell their story and grow their audience through content. We specialize in business, finance, and tech written and visual storytelling for digital multi-platform campaigns. Our production suite offers end-to-end services, including strategy, production, hosting, and distribution. We also offer storytelling training and coaching. 

In our latest episode, we sit down with Ben Safra and Mila Nehme who are co-founders of Sensate. Ben & Mila are seasoned retail and customer experience professionals with a demonstrated history of working within the international luxury goods and jewelry industry. Ben has worked with powerhouses in the industry such as LV, Burberry, D&G, Tiffany & Co, Carolina Herrera, and Selfridges, whilst Mila has worked with Burberry and Cartier.

 Together we discuss:

1. Reasons to engage with your employees
2. Initiatives to improve employee wellbeing
3. The role that interiors have on employee creativity

Want to read the episode instead? Access the show notes here.

Feel like socializing? Connect with us on Instagram and Linkedin.

Subscribe to our newsletter on our website.

Got something you'd like to discuss with us? Email us at [email protected]

Podcasts hosted by @shereenabdulla.

Produced by Spark! Studios. We are a creative brand studio that helps companies tell their story and grow their audience through content. We specialize in business, finance, and tech written and visual storytelling for digital multi-platform campaigns. Our production suite offers end-to-end services, including strategy, production, hosting, and distribution. We also offer storytelling training and coaching. 

In our latest episode, we sit down with Basil Moftah to discuss the global mindset amongst entrepreneurs. Basil is an experienced venture builder and partner at Global Ventures, a growth-focused VC that invests in disruptive startups with an enterprise technology focus in the Middle East and North Africa region.

Together we discuss:

1. The importance for businesses to have a global mindset
2. Keeping guard of competitors from abroad
3. The difference between marketing a B2B vs. B2C business
4. Examples of two up-and-coming tech startups with a global mindset

Want to read the episode instead? Access the show notes here.

Feel like socializing? Connect with us on Instagram and Linkedin.

Subscribe to our newsletter on our website.

Got something you'd like to discuss with us? Email us at [email protected]

Podcasts hosted by @shereenabdulla.

Produced by Spark! Studios. We are a creative brand studio that helps companies tell their story and grow their audience through content. We specialize in business, finance, and tech written and visual storytelling for digital multi-platform campaigns. Our production suite offers end-to-end services, including strategy, production, hosting, and distribution. We also offer storytelling training and coaching.