The Market Makers in MEA with Abrar Hussain

Episode 12: The Market Makers in Middle East & Africa’ Video Podcast with Abrar Hussain is now live. 

In this episode, I had a discussion with Ruban Shanmugarajah, Chief Executive Officer of Babyshop at Landmark Group. 

Ruban shares his view on:

👉🏼 Factors that have contributed to the growth of Babyshop in UAE, MEA and South Asia. 

👉🏼 We explored how Babyshop harnessed the power of the Omnichannel retail model to seize opportunities and cater to our customers' evolving needs. 

👉🏼 Retailing is an experience & its people’s business - How Babyshop keep it simple and drive excellence. 

👉🏼 Innovation is at the core of Babyshop’s strategy, and the various approaches Babyshop has taken to enhance customer experiences and foster lasting loyalty. 

👉🏼 We explored how Babyshop is continuously adapting to the changing landscape and emerging trends to cater to the evolving needs of parents and their little ones.

Watch the full episode on 

• https://www.youtube.com/@themarketmakersinmea
• https://marketmakersmea.com/
• https://open.spotify.com/show/6KJRsnDwKsRgvCXl5M1nCU
• https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-market-makers-in-mea-with-abrar-hussain/

Enjoy and share your thoughts in the comment section after you listen to our conversation!

#Babyshop #TheMarketMakersMEA #KidsAndBabyRetail #socialimpact #FutureofRetail

In this episode, I had a discussion with Ruban Shanmugarajah, Chief Executive Officer of Babyshop at Landmark Group. 

Ruban shares his view on:

👉🏼 Factors that have contributed to the growth of Babyshop in UAE, MEA and South Asia. 

👉🏼 We explored how Babyshop harnessed the power of the Omnichannel retail model to seize opportunities and cater to our customers' evolving needs. 

👉🏼 Retailing is an experience & its people’s business - How Babyshop keep it simple and drive excellence. 

👉🏼 Innovation is at the core of Babyshop’s strategy, and the various approaches Babyshop has taken to enhance customer experiences and foster lasting loyalty. 

👉🏼 We explored how Babyshop is continuously adapting to the changing landscape and emerging trends to cater to the evolving needs of parents and their little ones.

Episode 11: The Market Makers in Middle East & Africa’s Video Podcast with Abrar Hussain is now live. 

In this episode, I had a discussion with Katarina Hasbani, Partner at AESG

Katarina shares her view on:

👉🏼 Defining Sustainability – Environment, Social impact and governance. 

👉🏼 How sustainability can help companies run better. 

👉🏼 How organizations can build sustainability across their supply chains. 

👉🏼 What governments and business can do to educate various stakeholders and people on sustainability practices. 

👉🏼 Advice to companies, management and C level on how to implement sustainability initiatives. 

Watch the full episode on 

• https://www.youtube.com/@themarketmakersinmea
• https://marketmakersmea.com/
• https://open.spotify.com/show/6KJRsnDwKsRgvCXl5M1nCU
• https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-market-makers-in-mea-with-abrar-hussain/

Enjoy and share your thoughts in the comment section after you listen to our conversation!

In this episode, I had a discussion with Katarina Hasbani, Partner at AESG

Katarina shares his view on:

👉🏼 Defining Sustainability – Environment, Social impact and governance. 

👉🏼 How sustainability can help companies run better. 

👉🏼 How organizations can build sustainability across their supply chains. 

👉🏼 What governments and business can do to educate various stakeholders and people on sustainability practices. 

👉🏼 Advice to companies, management and C level on how to implement sustainability initiatives. 

Watch the full episode on 

• https://www.youtube.com/@themarketmakersinmea
• https://marketmakersmea.com/
• https://open.spotify.com/show/6KJRsnDwKsRgvCXl5M1nCU
• https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-market-makers-in-mea-with-abrar-hussain/

Enjoy and share your thoughts in the comment section after you listen to our conversation!

#TheMarketMakersinMEA #AESG #Supplychains #Sustainability #socialimpact #Thoughtleadership

Episode 10: Driving Innovation and Sustainability in the Financial Sector with Andrea Prazakova, Senior Vice President, Mastercard Foundry & ESG, EEMEA at Mastercard.

Andrea shares her inspiring story and provides valuable insights into her role at Mastercard, where she spearheads innovation, CX, UX, UI, research, and ESG efforts across the EEMEA region.

During our conversation, Andrea sheds light on:

• Successful partnerships and collaborations that @Mastercard has undertaken to drive innovation and enhance customer experience in the EEMEA region. 
• Mastercard's ambitious commitment to achieving net-zero emissions by 2040 and the measures the company is taking to accelerate its sustainability journey.
• The Priceless Planet Coalition: Mastercard's initiative that brings together issuers, merchants, and people to address environmental challenges and support sustainable initiatives, including a commitment of $100 million towards preserving and restoring 100 million trees.
• How Mastercard's regional offices contribute to the company's sustainability drive and explore the concept of sustainable cards, their definition, and the enthusiastic response from issuers in the region. 
• How Mastercard incorporates ESG considerations into its products and services, showcasing the company's dedication to creating a positive impact

Join us as Andrea eloquently explains how Mastercard brings its purpose of ‘doing well by doing good’ to life and shares her own experiences as a Senior Vice President, highlighting the best parts of her role. Watch the full episode 10 of The Market Makers in Middle East & Africa - Podcast with Abrar Hussain on

🎥 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@themarketmakersinmea 
💻 Website: https://marketmakersmea.com/ 
🎧 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6KJRsnDwKsRgvCXl5M1nCU
🍎 Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-market-makers-in-mea-with-abrar-hussain/id1674391999    

#Mastercard #Innovation #Sustainability #ESG #FinancialIndustry #DiversityAndInclusion #WomenEmpowerment #DoingWellByDoingGood

Andrea shares her inspiring story and provides valuable insights into her role at @Mastercard, where she spearheads innovation, CX, UX, UI, research, and ESG efforts across the EMEA region.

During our conversation, Andrea sheds light on:

• Successful partnerships and collaborations that @Mastercard has undertaken to drive innovation and enhance the customer experience in the EEMEA region. 
• Mastercard's ambitious commitment to achieving net-zero emissions by 2040 and the measures the company is taking to accelerate its sustainability journey.
• The Priceless Planet Coalition: Mastercard's initiative that brings together issuers, merchants, and people to address environmental challenges and support sustainable initiatives, including a commitment of $100 million towards preserving and restoring 100 million trees.
• How Mastercard's regional offices contribute to the company's sustainability drive and explore the concept of sustainable cards, their definition, and the enthusiastic response from issuers in the region. 
• How Mastercard incorporates ESG considerations into its products and services, showcasing the company's dedication to creating a positive impact

Join us as @Andrea eloquently explains how Mastercard brings its purpose of ‘doing well by doing good’ to life and shares her own experiences as a Senior Vice President, highlighting the best parts of her role. Watch the full episode 10 of The Market Makers in the Middle East & Africa - Podcast with Abrar Hussain on

🎥 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@themarketmakersinmea 
💻 Website: https://marketmakersmea.com/ 
🎧 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6KJRsnDwKsRgvCXl5M1nCU
🍎 Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-market-makers-in-mea-with-abrar-hussain/id1674391999    

#Mastercard #Innovation #Sustainability #ESG #FinancialIndustry #DiversityAndInclusion #WomenEmpowerment #DoingWellByDoingGood

In this episode, I had a discussion with Krishnan Gopi, Group Chief Disruption Officer at GEMS Education, one of the oldest and largest Kindergarten to Grade 12 / Year 13 private education providers in the world.

Krish shares his view on:

👉🏼 His career Journey from two successful entrepreneurial exits and now a C level executive 

👉🏼 The evolving role of a Chief Disruption Officer
👉🏼 Technology Disruption Journey at GEMS Education 

👉🏼 The Future of Education and how Technology is shaping it. 

👉🏼 How companies can drive disruption and be future ready

Watch the full episode on 

• https://www.youtube.com/@themarketmakersinmea
• https://marketmakersmea.com/
• https://open.spotify.com/show/6KJRsnDwKsRgvCXl5M1nCU
• https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-market-makers-in-mea-with-abrar-hussain/

Episode 09: In this informative episode, I had a discussion with Krishnan Gopi, Group Chief Disruption Officer at GEMS Education, one of the oldest and largest Kindergarten to Grade 12 / Year 13 private education providers in the world.

Krish shares his view on:

👉🏼 His career Journey from two successful entrepreneurial exits and now a C level executive

👉🏼 The evolving role of a Chief Disruption Officer

👉🏼 Technology Disruption Journey at GEMS Education

👉🏼 The Future of Education and how Technology is shaping it.

👉🏼 How companies can drive disruption and be future-ready

Episode 08: In this captivating episode, I had a discussion with Miguel Rio-Tinto, Group Chief Digital and Information Officer at Emirates NBD, One of the largest banking groups in MEA.

Miguel shares his view on:

👉🏼 Emirates NBD’s Dhs1bn ($270 mil) Digital transformation program

👉🏼 Organizing 2000+ IT engineers into different squads to foster collaboration between IT and business units

👉🏼 Navigating Emirates NBD to be future-ready and at the forefront of industry developments

👉🏼 Banking Landscape in MEA and emergence of Fintech’s

👉🏼 Digital Transformation at Scale

In this captivating episode, I had a discussion with Miguel Rio-Tinto, Group Chief Digital and Information Officer at Emirates NBD, One of the largest banking groups in MEA. 

Miguel shares his view on:

👉🏼 Emirates NBD’s Dhs1bn ($270 mil) Digital transformation program 
👉🏼 Organizing 2000+ IT engineers into different squads to foster collaboration between IT and business units 
👉🏼 Navigating Emirates NBD to be future-ready and at the forefront of industry developments
👉🏼 Banking Landscape in MEA and emergence of Fintech’s
👉🏼 Digital Transformation at Scale 

Don't miss out on this insightful conversation! Watch the full episode 08 of @The Market Makers in Middle East & Africa’ Video Podcast with @ Abrar Hussain on 

🎥 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@themarketmakersinmea
💻 Website: https://marketmakersmea.com/
🎧 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6KJRsnDwKsRgvCXl5M1nCU
🍎 Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-market-makers-in-mea-with-abrar-hussain/

After listening, we would love to hear your thoughts in the comment section!
#EmiratesNBD #DigitalTransformation #Innovation #BankingIndustry #Podcast #Collaboration