About Mike Arnold 

The first 40 years of Mike Arnold's career were spent as a professional and diligent architect. Thanks to what now seems like serendipitous timing, Arnold progressed through a successful career without ever having to become architecturally computer literate and rely on programmes to create building sketches and renderings. As such, his drawing skills were fine-tuned throughout his life, preparing him for his second career as a full-time artist - something he feels he began as a child when he would spend every weekend studying art at The Philadelphia Museum of Art, in the city where he was born and raised.

Now, Arnold fuses his knowledge of built structures and his ability to almost see through the exterior to the inner forms with the artistic perspective he was born with. He enjoys exploring different materials and his practice now extends across oil-on-canvas, oil-on-glass, monoprints, oil sticks, and oil-on-paper.

About this episode

In this episode, Mike Arnold talks about his artistic journey and at the same time shares some motivational advice for aspiring artists. 

Tune in for an inspiring conversation!

Quotes

"If you have the heart, the energy, the dedication, the drive, and truly the passion that you can make it, I think any career can be a success."

"Anything is a challenge when you start, but if you have the passion and truly dedicate all of your energies, and you keep that positive outlook, I think that in any profession that you may pursue you can be successful."

"It’s very important to develop the proper relationship with people."

"Make sure you provide an opportunity for that youngster to pick up a paintbrush and put one stroke of paint, pick up a pencil and put one mark on a piece of paper every day."

"Allow children to explore and work outside of the line or outside of the box."

Useful Links

Website:      https://www.mikearnold.art 

Instagram:   https://www.instragram.com/mikearnoldart

The Matrix Green Pill Podcast: https://thematrixgreenpill.com/

The Matrix Green Pill Podcast: https://thematrixgreenpill.com/
Please review us: https://g.page/r/CS8IW35GvlraEAI/review

About Avinash Babur

Avinash was born and raised in Dubai, and he decided to follow his father’s footsteps into the insurance industry. He is the founder of InsuranceMarket.ae, he started the company in his 20s which now has over 600 staff members and over 150,000 policy holders.

About this episode

In this episode Avinash talks about his passion for entrepreneurship and business, as well as how he formed insurancemarket.ae

Tune in for an interesting conversation!

Quotes

"Once you get into business and you take the plunge, you keep discovering opportunities."

"Being short of resources is actually a very very powerful thing because it forces you to be prudent and deploy your little bit of capital very carefully."

"The biggest challenge was trying to make a mark, build a brand but not having any capital to do so."

"As long as you have the right values and you have a good foundation, you can actually start somewhere and go from there."

"Pay attention to all of the people around you, and make sure you add value and you are showing something meaningful to all of them."

Useful Links

Website: https://insurancemarket.ae/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/insurancemarket.ae/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/InsuranceMarke9

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/InsuranceMarketAE

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCpSjtuKHTp7o4py2TB-j45A

The Matrix Green Pill Podcast: https://thematrixgreenpill.com/

The Matrix Green Pill Podcast: https://thematrixgreenpill.com/
Please review us: https://g.page/r/CS8IW35GvlraEAI/review

About Kira Jean

Kira Jean is the founder and CEO of The Dreamwork Collective, an independent print and digital publishing company that shares the Middle East's most unique voices and powerful stories. Her company is striving toward becoming one of the most influential, life-changing media organizations in the Middle East, offering a platform for inspiring stories and wisdom from the region to be shared throughout the world.

Kira is a passionate writer, speaker and entrepreneur who writes and speaks on topics such as leadership, creativity, and entrepreneurship. She is a qualified yoga teacher and success coach and coaches some of the world's top creatives, entrepreneurs, and visionaries on how to achieve their goals with more ease and grace.

About this episode

In this episode, Kira shares the history behind Dreamwork Collective and its mission to help people. She also talks about her love of writing and yoga.

Tune in for an inspiring conversation!

Quotes

"It unblocks a lot of the stress and the worries that we have and it can actually unlock a lot about creativity and help us to feel more relaxed."

"Writing is a really powerful way to destress."

"It’s really just about getting your thoughts out of your mind and onto a page and then you close the book, push it away and move on with things."

"Go through the journey with less worry"

"I would try to move along that path with less anxiety and less worry."

Useful Links

Website: www.thedreamworkcollective.com

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

Twitter: https://twitter.com/TDCPublishing

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thedreamworkcollective/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-dreamwork-collective/about/

The Matrix Green Pill Podcast: https://thematrixgreenpill.com/

The Matrix Green Pill Podcast: https://thematrixgreenpill.com/
Please review us: https://g.page/r/CS8IW35GvlraEAI/review

About Prantik

Prantik is an entrepreneur & venture investor and acts as a Digital Transformation Catalyst in organizations to drive sustainable change and impact. 

He is a regular columnist for Marketing Magazine, Campaign Asia, Economic Times, and Business Times on all things digital transformation and marketing and has trained over 500 enterprises in the region on this subject. 

Apart from his corporate role, he is an active angel & venture investor, mentor, advisor and speaker.

About This Episode

In this episode Prantik shares about his journey as an entrepreneur, as well as the challenges encountered when creating a start-up.

Tune in for a very exciting conversation!

Quotes

"The biggest obstacle to digital transformation is mindset and political will."

"Any sort of change that needs planning with the prioritized roadmap that includes identifying budget and people."

"If you wanna change direction, it takes time to change, it takes time and effort to change direction. It needs that push, it needs that heavy investment and certain investment that will be recurring over time."

"The success or failure is not in your control, but you want to ensure the journey would be an interesting and a memorable one."

"The goal is to sell for equitable access and opportunity."

Useful Links
Website: https://pranmaz.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pranmaz/
The Matrix Green Pill Podcast: https://thematrixgreenpill.com/

The Matrix Green Pill Podcast: https://thematrixgreenpill.com/
Please review us: https://g.page/r/CS8IW35GvlraEAI/review

About Brett Girven 

Brett is the Principal of The Arbor School, an ecological school with a focus on sustainability. He is a dad of 3 and his wife also works as a principal. In March he the Ironman 70.3 in Dubai.

About this episode

In this episode, Brett shares his experiences being a principal of the Arbor School and how he balances his work with his personal life. He also shares more details about the school’s GCSE Programme.

Quotes

"I saw the connection between humans' influence on the environment and how difficult It was to separate the two."

"We build sustainability into where we teach, into how we teach, into what we teach, and being mindful all the time that we’re not teaching about disaster."

"Once they connect with nature, they care for nature, once they care and they connect, how can they be curious and ask the right questions."

"Enjoy it. It’s too hard a job to not enjoy it. If you find yourself really not enjoying it, then you got to think about why you’re doing it."

 "Great teachers are precious."

Useful Links

Website: https://www.thearborschool.ae/

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

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ArborDubai/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/TheArborSchoolDubai/featured

The Matrix Green Pill Podcast: https://thematrixgreenpill.com/

The Matrix Green Pill Podcast: https://thematrixgreenpill.com/
Please review us: https://g.page/r/CS8IW35GvlraEAI/review

About Aimee
Aimee is an HR and Business Support professional, wife, mother to three children under 5yrs, and keeper of two fur babies. Life for her has been busy!  

She received her Bachelor’s Degree in HR Management in the UK and has worked for over 12 yrs. here in Dubai and in the UK in different HR, Operations, and business support roles across Banking, healthcare, and Services sectors.

The Sandpit Greetings Co. was launched in 2021  by Aimee and her co-founder Chloe. Having both been ex-pats for a long time, and now as mothers, they knew only too well the memories and milestones that are missed when friends and families live hundreds, even thousands of miles away.  Layer the pandemic on top and it just made sense. This is what was needed in the UAE, equivalent platforms exist around the world, but they were the first. They started by focusing on supporting a very talented group of artists who all handcrafted cards locally, with personal messages written by their team acting as surrogates. It has grown significantly over the past year with some key changes to the business model and expanding the range of its offering.

About this episode
In this episode, Aimee shares her journey as a mother who co-founded an online business at the height of the pandemic.

Sit back, relax, and enjoy the podcast episode!

Quotes
"Having a greeting card platform was what the UAE needed."
"For us, it’s about uniqueness, not having that replication amongst artists."
"The interpretation by the artist is very different and I love that diversity and I think that really captures the UAE."
"It’s bringing everybody together and having those moments and being able to celebrate those moments."
"Time and attention - new business, it needs so much more to help it grow and you need to nurture it every step."

Useful Links
Website:   https://www.thesandpitgreetingsco.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thesandpitgreetingsco
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thesandpitgreetingsco
The Matrix Green Pill Podcast: https://thematrixgreenpill.com/

The Matrix Green Pill Podcast: https://thematrixgreenpill.com/
Please review us: https://g.page/r/CS8IW35GvlraEAI/review

About Zahra Khumri 

Zahra Khumri is an individual with Achondroplasia, the most common form of Dwarfism. She is a Computer Engineer and currently she assists as the Administrative Executive to Abdulla Lutfi and Asma Baker. She, alongside Gulshan, have recently started an event company called “Ray of Hope” that empowers People of Determination artists and connects the corporate world to the world of special needs.

About this episode

In this episode Zahra talks about the trials and tribulations of an individual born with Achondroplasia and how she was able to overcome that. She also shares how she started “Ray of Hope”--an event company that empowers People or Determination artists.

Tune in for a very inspiring conversation!

Quotes

"We come in small packages but we have a lot going on in us."

"Don’t give height so much importance."

"Don’t pity yourself, don’t let your child feel pity at any moment that they are different. Make them very strong individuals, make them realize that those tests should not affect their life, make them realize that you have to be strong in terms of your education."

"You have to stop comparing, you have to stop hiding your child in a very sheltered environment, let your child face the challenges, let them move on."

"Every journey has its own surprises and learnings to offer."   


Useful Links

Email: [email protected]

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

Website: https://thematrixgreenpill.com/

The Matrix Green Pill Podcast: https://thematrixgreenpill.com/
Please review us: https://g.page/r/CS8IW35GvlraEAI/review

About Mohamed Elmak 

Mohamed Elmak “Madriz" is the PMO and R&D Director at FortyGuard; a startup on a mission to cool cities. We believe what gets measured gets improved, and the best solutions come from understanding data. FortyGuard provides data gathering in light sensing methods to put a dollar figure to the problem of outdoor temperatures for corporations. We engage with the community to enrich our platform in predictive analytics & modeling services that can help clients make informed cooling or optimization scenarios for the outdoor.

Mohamed is an engineering professional with a bachelor in Mechanical Engineering and a master in Business Administration from Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU). Madriz has over 10 years of experience in the energy and industrial sectors with a passion for improving the world we live in through innovation and collaboration.

About this episode

In this episode Mohamed discusses his company, FortyGuard, and the purpose behind it. He also shares insightful advice for fellow entrepreneurs who aspire to have a start-up company as well.

Tune in for an interesting conversation about building a start-up company!

Quotes

"Be able to operate in 40 plus cities around the world, with no cost.  We can accomplish that by staying focused, staying disciplined, being dedicated, perseverance and by watching with the ecosystem."

"It’s a global problem to solve it and that’s what our goal is, Think big!"

"Learn something new and that doesn’t have to be an earth breaking discovery, something simple."

"Never stop pursuing to learn something."

"Never regret anything, always look back which you’ve accomplished and which you’ve learned and the high and the lows and the key thing is that, take that into consideration to make sure either repeat a mistake and make sure you have that better experience going forward to take on the next challenges in life."

Useful Links

Website:     https://www.fortyguard.com/ 

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

Twitter:       https://www.twitter.com/FortyGuard

                   https://www.twitter.com/muhamed_ae

The Matrix Green Pill Podcast: https://thematrixgreenpill.com/

The Matrix Green Pill Podcast: https://thematrixgreenpill.com/
Please review us: https://g.page/r/CS8IW35GvlraEAI/review

About Asma Baker

Asma is a 33-year-old artist and a motivational speaker. She also writes short stories, poems and is currently working on her novel. One of her short stories has been published in the book ‘Traveller’s Tales’ which received much acclaim. Asma has not only been a representative on the organizing and steering committee for the Abu Dhabi Special Olympics World Summer Games that was held in March 2019 but also has given speeches, to promote tolerance and inclusion for People of Determination at schools and corporations, such as Dubai International Airport, and the Canadian International School. She has also collaborated with renowned brands for her artwork and been featured in their videos. Asma’s artworks have been exhibited and sold at Mawaheb Art studio, Dubai International Airport, and put on merchandise with NOOR Bank. She has had her artworks sold at a Pop Art exhibition in Cuadro Fine Gallery, Dubai.

About This Episode

In this episode Asma discusses her platform as a motivational speaker for People of Determination and the achievements she has received along the way.

Tune in for an awe-inspiring conversation!

Quotes

"I stopped looking at things that what happened if I would go out. So, I emptied my mind, I closed my eyes and I started listening to the rhythm of my heart."

"There were a lot of challenges to get to where I am today."

"All my dreams are slowly coming true because of the support I have."

"Treat the people of determination just like you treat everyone else because they’re no different than you are."

"To get out of my room, those 6 years were very hard but I still have gone out and seen the world, how it changes, how lovely it became."

Useful Links

Website: https://tashkeel.org/artists/asma-baker

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

The Matrix Green Pill Podcast: https://thematrixgreenpill.com/

The Matrix Green Pill Podcast: https://thematrixgreenpill.com/
Please review us: https://g.page/r/CS8IW35GvlraEAI/review

About Ahmad Haffar 

Started as an eight-year-old with his guitar and a newfound love for music in hand. Fast forward to twenty years; he’s the man whose voice & jingles you can recognize from miles away – Ahmad Haffar, the voice of Dubai.

But that’s not all. Apart from being an award-winning musician, he’s also the managing partner and co-owner at Mindloop Studios & Establishing the first of its kind ‘’OnThefield’’ academy, which offers 1-on-1 custom made programs specializing in the fields of Audio, Voice Over, Video & Photography.

About this episode

In this episode Ahmad shares his story on how he became an award-winning musician and also the journey behind being the co-owner of Mindloop Studio.

Tune in for an exciting interview!

Quotes

"I started teaching them emotions, I started teaching them how to feel an instrument rather than actually follow the same routes that everybody does."

"Just find the right way to get to the right people as fast as possible and not take no for an answer."

"Wherever you don’t feel right, just please move on because if you don’t feel comfortable, you will not do something about it and it’s just that simple."

"It’s not about motivating someone the right way, it’s about motivating you in the right way through speaking the message that matters to you, that’s the basis of who I am as a human being."

"We all go through a lot of ups and downs, you can’t let bad decisions get in the way, so try not to make any. Don’t let anger take over, don’t let frustration take over, don’t let being broke take over."

Useful Links

Website: https://mindloopstudios.com/

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

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ahmad.haffar.35

The Matrix Green Pill Podcast: https://thematrixgreenpill.com/
Please review us: https://g.page/r/CS8IW35GvlraEAI/review