What I Did Next

We’re continuing my conversation with entrepreneur Mohamed Al Fayed, founder of Grubtech. On this bonus episode, we’ll talk a bit about his early years, and the launch of Ounass, the region’s premiere luxury marketplace.

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Mohamed Al Fayed is the co-founder & CEO of Grubtech, he's a digital advisor as well as a mentor, and he calls himself a tech disruptor. Even if you may not have heard of him directly, you’ll have come across some of his work. Beginning his career with Macy’s, one of the largest retailers in the U.S., Moe led the launch of Mamas & Papas and Gap in the GCC as well as the region’s largest luxury online marketplace, Ounass. He also served as Senior Vice President of Omnichannel at Al Tayer Group, where he worked for 12 years before launching his startup, Grubtech.

Moe has a great professional story, and a very moving personal story that shapes his outlook today. He shares how much he has changed from the guy starting out 30 years ago in the US, and what failing early in life has taught him.

This episode is brought to you by EFG Holding, a trailblazing financial institution with a Universal Bank in Egypt and the leading investment bank franchise in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA).

This episode is brought to you by EFG Hermes One, your one app for investing in more than 35 stock markets. Start investing today!

We’re continuing my conversation with CNN’s Becky Anderson. On this bonus episode, we talk about her role as Managing Editor and how our region fits into the larger CNN programming agenda worldwide.

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Becky Anderson is the Managing Editor at CNN Abu Dhabi, and one of the channel’s most visible international anchors. From being the first team to broadcast from Riyadh after the ban on women driving was lifted to Tunisia during the Arab Spring, she has spearheaded special shows from Tehran, Jerusalem, Istanbul, Beirut and many more region capitals.

I was excited to indulge my love for all things news with Becky. We talk about the industry as a whole, her pivot to broadcasting, and her mission to change the perception of this region through her work.

This episode is brought to you by EFG Hermes One, your one app for investing in more than 35 stock markets. Start investing today!

We’re continuing my conversation from last week with pioneering environmentalist Dr. Mounir Neamatalla. 

On our bonus episode, Dr. Mounir tells me about EQI’s micro-finance program and how the ground-breaking eco-lodge and restoration work in Siwa led to their involvement in a sustainable development project in AlUla, Saudi Arabia.

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Dr. Mounir Neamatalla is the founder of Environment Quality International, EQI, which he founded in 1981. EQI started out as the first environment-focused advisory in Egypt and went on to become a pioneer in the world of micro-finance. Then in 1996, Dr. Mounir’s visit to the remote oasis of Siwa led to the launch of the pathbreaking Siwa Sustainable Development Initiative.

My conversation with Dr. Mounir was special for a number of reasons—he is a family friend, I’ve long-admired his philosophy on life and how he sees the world, and he has all the characteristics of what is fast becoming a bygone era. He is a romantic, a dreamer, a deep thinker, choosing the slower measured approach over today's fast and frenetic pace. He has been on my podcast wish list since the show's inception but he kept resisting my requests to come on and share his story...until now. 

This episode is brought to you by EFG Holding, a trailblazing financial institution with a Universal Bank in Egypt and the leading investment bank franchise in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA).

This episode is brought to you by EFG Hermes One, your one app for investing in more than 35 stock markets. Start investing today!

We’re continuing my conversation from last week with Malak El Baba, Country manager for VISA in Egypt. On this bonus episode, Malak tells me more about the digital payments industry, and Visa’s own evolution since it was established by Dee Hock in 1958.

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I’m joined this week by Malak El Baba, Egypt Country Manager for Visa, and a leader and role model for so many in her industry. We had a wonderful conversation that spanned different countries and phases of her life.

Although she has spent nearly two decades in banking and finance, she actually started out wanting to become a diplomat. But destiny had other plans, shaping not just her career but who she married and where she lives today.

Like a true marketer, Malak is very much a people-person, a team builder, and a team player. She’s also an optimist. She truly embodies the traits I find is most successful people. Malak also leads Visa’s Women Leadership Network for MENA, and is the winner of several market leadership awards including four MENA Effies’ awards and 2 Media Efficiency awards.

This episode is brought to you by EFG Hermes One, your one app for investing in more than 35 stock markets. Start investing today!

We’re continuing my conversation with award-winning design & entrepreneur Hatem Alakeel. On this bonus episode, Hatem tells me how he began supporting the creative community in Saudi Arabia, and his cultural life.

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Hatem Alakeel is an award-winning Saudi designer, fashion entrepreneur and podcast host. He has designed for global icons including Mattel’s Barbie, Evian, Lexus, Fairmont, Raffles, and the Ritz Carlton among others, and he was among the first regional artists to create and celebrate Saudi traditions.

With his first company, Toby Hatem Alakeel, Hatem brought the traditional thobe into the luxury fashion world, with displays at Harvey Nichols, Saks Fifth Avenue, and Boutique 1. Today, he runs Authenticite, a consulting and creative production agency connecting creators and brands who want to understand Saudi culture. He also continues developing content with his editorial pieces showcasing Saudi artists on his website, and through his podcast, Gems of Arabia.

This episode is brought to you by EFG Holding, a trailblazing financial institution with a Universal Bank in Egypt and the leading investment bank franchise in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA).

This episode is brought to you by EFG Hermes One, your one app for investing in more than 35 stock markets. Start investing today!