The Shift With Bassem Saber

In this conversation, I’m joined by Ahmed Al Afifi, CEO of Data Direct Group, a company that has scaled to over 2,000 employees across the region. Ahmed shares how his journey began, the early decisions that shaped his path, and what it really takes to build and lead at scale. We get into the realities behind success — not just the highlights, but the trade-offs, pressure, and responsibility that...

In this online conversation, I’m joined by Eddie Maalouf, who built a predictable and scalable business that generated $18M in the last 12 months with a 35% net margin. This episode goes beyond the numbers. We break down the real levers behind sustainable scale and why branding, personal branding, and people matter more than most operators are willing to admit. One of the key themes in this conver...

In this conversation, I’m joined by Sali Zein, founder of Siella Beauty, one of the fastest-growing beauty brands in the region.​ Sali shares how her love for beauty started long before Siella existed, and how that passion became the foundation for a brand that now sits on the shelves of major retailers like Faces. We talk about what it really takes to build in a competitive industry where trends...

Doran Davies and his partner Ross Milton founded Bounce Middle East almost a decade ago. Since then, it has grown into the region's leading entertainment venue welcoming over 1 million visitors every year.​ ​ Their story is proof that hard work, risk-taking, and a people-first approach can pay off and help you create the life you're dreaming of.

Tariq Abu Samra founded BloomingBox with just $25,000, and in a few years, he's grown it into a $100,000,000 business.   His story is proof that hunger, an understanding of risk, and innovation are all you need to succeed. Whether it's the way he runs his business or the risks he takes, every entrepreneur at every stage can learn something from him.   Listen to the full episode to see ho...

When it comes to building effective sales teams, most companies find it hard to hire and train the right talent.​ Ali Charafeddine (Ace) is the Founder of Acez Academy and a leading Sales, Leadership and Culture Consultant who is renowned for helping businesses hire and develop exceptional sales teams.​ Join us as Ace delves into his thoughts on where most companies fall short, his key tips for ge...

Most agencies depend solely on referrals and word-of-mouth to grow their business, and the few that try their hands with outbound don't always get it right.​ Corey Quinn is an Agency Growth Consultant who grew his previous agency by over 7x in 6 years and now helps agencies specialize, simplify, and escape founder-led sales.​ Join us as Corey delves into the outbound tactics he's used to...

Out of the traditional 4 P's of marketing, Product is often the most underrated amongst marketers. For Switch Foods, this couldn't be farther from the truth.​ Edward Hamod is the CEO of Switch Foods, a company that produces plant-based meat alternatives and that is building awareness and educating consumers in the region on the dangers of meat overconsumption.​ Join us as Edward delves i...

Growing and scaling a brand is never an easy task, but when you have the right mindset and follow the right strategies, it becomes much more doable.​ Tarik Chebib is the CEO Middle East of Capital.com, one of the world's top investment platforms, and he has led the company to massive success in the MENA region.​ Join us as Tarik delves into marketing, branding, personal and professional growt...

Any social media expert worth working with will tell you that there's no one-size-fits-all formula for brands to go viral. However, finding a virality formula is a possibility for almost any brand out there.​ Fahad Kaleem is a top content creator and the Co-Founder of KNINE Unit, an agency specialized in helping people and businesses go viral on TikTok.​ Join us as Fahad delves into virality,...

A good salesperson can persuade people who need a product or service to buy it from them. A great salesperson knows that sometimes, people don't know what they actually need.​ Charlotte Vermeer is the Managing Partner of Igloo, the award-winning agency in Dubai and Miami, and my good friend. She overlooks our Dubai office, sales team and business development efforts.​ Join us as Charlotte dis...

The GCC contains a wealth of opportunities for investors and businesses alike. We're already seeing massive growth throughout the region, especially when it comes to digital advertising.​​ Mohamad Itani is the Head of Partnerships at Amazon Ads, and through his experience and the insights available to him, he is exceedingly knowledgeable about the state of the GCC market and its potential.​ J...

When it comes to communicating with potential customers, authentic, genuine content is the name of the game.​ Ksenia Zaykova is the Founder of Node Communications, one of the region's premier PR and consulting firms, and the CCO of AngelsDeck Global Ventures, a leading venture capital firm. Throughout her vast experience, she has become a leading expert in communications, public relations, an...

Today, the UAE is one of the world's top hubs for business. However, back when Justin McGuire started MCG Talent, that wasn't the case.​ Justin McGuire is the Founder of MCG Talent, the region's top marcom recruitment firm, and over the years he spent developing MCG Talent into a multi-million-dollar company, he has learned a thing or two about how to succeed in the region.​ Join us...

When it comes to podcasters in the Middle East, few are as seasoned and knowledgeable as Loulou Khazen.​ Loulou is the founder and host of Conversations With Loulou, a startup podcast which has grown to become one of the UAE's largest. Loulou is also an accomplished entrepreneur and currently invests heavily in tech startups with her company, Spade Ventures. Join us as Loulou delves into her...

Managing global marketing efforts for a major brand will always be a challenge, but when you have the right team and partners by your side, it becomes much simpler. Manuri Anthonis is the Director of Marketing at Bounce Middle East, one of the region's premier entertainment venues and a top entertainment brand globally. Join us as Manuri delves into the growth and marketing strategies she emp...

To achieve brand growth in 2024, brands need to go beyond the traditional offline and online marketing channels. Today, there is a myriad of untapped marketing channels which businesses need to start leveraging to succeed. Marisha Lakhiani is the Chief Growth Officer at Mindvalley, one of the world's top startups which is reported to be currently valued at $100M. Join us as Marisha delves int...

With an over-abundance of content across most major social media platforms, it's nowhere near as easy to stand out on social media nowadays than in the 2010s, where simply creating decent content on a regular basis was enough. Chris Do is one of the top branding experts globally. He has amassed 1M followers on Instagram, has led multiple businesses and works with some of the world's top...

Public Speaking is one of the most underrated skills for your career, and life. Strong public speaking unlocks opportunities, catalyzes change, drastically improves confidence and more.​ Flo Akinbiyi is a globally-renowned public speaker and communication coach who has helped countless professionals, executives and companies improve their public speaking skills and prepare for crucial events and m...

Achieving excellence is never easy. Whether you're a surgeon, marketer, lawyer or engineer, standing out requires true passion for what you do, commitment to succeed, and the bravery to venture where no one has previously gone.​ Dr. Bernard Salameh is a celebrity plastic surgeon who has pioneered a variety of awake procedures that have revolutionized his field.​ Join us as Dr. Bernard recount...

Sonic branding is so much more than a jingle, and it can do wonders for your business metrics across the board. Ahmad Haffar is undoubtedly the region's most renowned sonic branding expert, and he's created sonic systems for over 100 of the region's top businesses.​ Join us as Ahmad walks us through how he discovered sonic branding, how he got so good at it, why personal branding is...

Harnessing the potential of Google's algorithms, SEO tactics, AI advancements, and content marketing is pivotal for effective audience engagement. Erika Varangouli, Head of SEO Branding  at SemRush, sheds light on the strategies that can help you connect with your desired audience.​ Join us in this episode as Erika shares her insights and expertise on optimizing these tools to reach and engag...

Managing a marketing agency is challenging in many ways, especially during the early stages. While difficult at first, it is also an extremely rewarding journey, as John von Hofsten and myself know all too well.​

It takes a lot of concerted effort to successfully grow and scale a startup, and that is exactly what Ross Veitch has been able to accomplish with his brainchild and passion project for the past 18 years: Wego.​

Marketers in the automotive industry face a unique set of challenges that others may not even consider. Due to long sales cycles and the large commitment needed from customers, successful automotive marketers operate in a way that is not too dissimilar to B2B marketing while still communicating in a way that fits a B2C audience.​