Challenger Brands

What does it take to stay relevant for over a century—without selling out or falling behind? In this episode of Challenger Brands, we go deep into the story of the Jashanmal Group—one of the Middle East’s most iconic retail and distribution brands—with Group CEO Shuja Jashanmal. Founded in 1919 with a £75 loan and a single bookstore in Basra, Jashanmal has grown into a regional powerhouse with ove...

What’s really costing you growth? Spoiler: It’s not your logo. In this bold and eye-opening episode of Challenger Brands, host Lalaine Chu-Benitez (Founder & MD, Illustrado) sits down with Arshie Ahmed, executive coach and founder of Flying Hedgehogs, to unpack a powerful truth most businesses ignore: burnt-out leadership bleeds into your brand. 🔥 You’ll discover: Why performance is NOT the s...

Why do so many real estate brands in the UAE blur into one another—with the same “luxury” promises, generic visuals, and forgettable campaigns? In this hard-hitting episode of Challenger Brands, we speak with powerhouse marketer Nathalie Nasr, whose work across Aurora Prime and Amwaj has helped position one of Dubai’s fastest-growing developers in 2025. We dive into: ✅ The real reasons behind the...

Real estate in the UAE is often a story of Dubai and Abu Dhabi. But today, we’re talking about the emirate rewriting that story - Ras Al Khaimah, and the company shaping its rise: RAK Properties. And with us is the leader at the helm of this transformation - Sameh Muhtadi, CEO of RAK Properties. Sameh Muhtadi is a seasoned executive with over 30 years of global experience in real estate, infrastru...

Welcome to Challenger Brands, the podcast where we explore how exceptional brands redefine customer engagement and innovation to lead in a competitive market. In this episode, we’re diving deep into customer centricity—the art of putting customers at the heart of your business strategy—with insights from Mark Hamill, CEO and Co-Founder of ARCET Global. As a trailblazer in consumer-centric innovati...

What if we told you that sales, as we know it, isn’t about closing deals? Our guest today believes that 80% of sales is actually the brand, and success is built on trust rather than just technique. Learn all about the future of sales in 2025 with Illustrado.co's Challenger Brands series. Get ahead of the game and stay informed on the latest trends in the sales industry! Joining us today is Ma...

In this episode, we dive into the high-stakes world of startup funding with Anna Arzua MacMillan, Chief Strategy & Innovation Officer at Venture FactorE. With over 15 years of global expertise and a history of guiding ventures to new heights, Anna shares the essential roadmap for entrepreneurs looking to secure funding and scale sustainably. From understanding market timing to building investo...

Welcome to the world of Dubai's viral chocolate! In this episode, we unravel the magic behind the famous Kunafa Chocolate, a dessert that has captured hearts and taste buds alike. Join Chef Nouel Catis as he guides you through the step-by-step process of making this delightful treat, highlighting the unique ingredients that elevate it to a multi-million dollar sensation. Our guest today is Ch...

Welcome back to another episode of Challenger Brands, the podcast where we delve into the stories of remarkable entrepreneurs, and even community builders who make huge impact in the market. Community-building is a must for many brands these days. So we have 2 amazing Community Champions in the house today to give us some insights on how to bring people together and drive them towards a common cau...

Dr. Ivan Misner is the Founder and Chief Visionary Officer of BNI (Business Network International), the world’s largest business networking organization. With over 11,100 chapters in 76 countries, BNI generated $23.4 billion worth of business for its members just last year alone. Known as the 'Father of Modern Networking' by Forbes and CNN, Dr. Misner is not only a visionary entrepreneur...

Ryan Ramos, the Founder and Managing Director of Cultivate UAE and The Dream Lab UAE. From humble beginnings, Ryan worked his way up from business development to general management at a leading landscaping company in the UAE. He then ventured out on his own to build his very own landscaping business, Cultivate UAE, which has quickly become one of the leading brands in the market, serving some of t...

Today, we have an amazing and inspiring guest!  Joining us is Samantha Araujo, a formidable titan in the region’s competitive hospitality industry. With a passion for fine living and an extraordinary ability to craft memorable experiences, Samantha has established Stellar USP as a premier player in the luxury hospitality supply industry. Her company is renowned for its exceptional service, persona...

Navneet Kampani is a former banker who has been in the industry for over 30 years, now he is an entrepreneur, author, and life coach who helps individuals and top executives achieve work-life harmony and find meaning in life. Fresh from the launch of his book “Unmasking the Real You - A Journey from Self-Awareness to Action” we’re hoping to get life-changing tips from Navneet today. This is Challe...

Dhiren Harchandani is a Transformation Architect who specializes in empowering entrepreneurs to achieve 8-figure business success without compromising personal fulfillment or lifestyle. An avid learner in transformation, leadership, and mindset, he coaches entrepreneurs representing over $2.5 billion in combined revenue. With over two decades of experience in scaling businesses across five industr...

According to Clayton Christensen, a professor at Harvard Business School, 30,000 new products are introduced each year, and 95% of them fail.  In an increasingly cluttered market and noisy world, how do you keep your brand and business relevant? Our special guest today will help us answer that question.   Today, on Challenger Brands, we're joined by a true titan in the world of retail and bra...

Fahed Bizzari is an international thought leader on the professional application of ChatGPT.  He has 18 years of experience in software development, over 3,000 hours in mastering ChatGPT, and extensive 2-decades of experience in entrepreneurship, consulting, and training. Renowned for his profound understanding and practical application of ChatGPT, he excels in simplifying complex concepts, making...

In this episode, we will be unlocking the secrets of Business Development, delve into fundamentals, and strategies. Join us as we explore insights that can help your business flourish in the competitive marketplace. Joining us is Phil Bedford, an entrepreneur who has called the Middle East home since 1998. Armed with a Masters Degree and over a decade of expertise in sales training, business devel...

Welcome back to Challenger Brands. Today, we delve into building on the legacy of your family business with our guest, Shabana Razzak - CEO of Maison DE Ary Jewellery.  Shabana is not just a successful entrepreneur; she's a trailblazing jeweller and a visionary businesswoman who has made an impact in the strictly patriarchal society she grew up, in the process building on the legacy of her fa...

How do you scale your business?  Where do you even start?  Is scaling a business possible for all entrepreneurs? What does it take? If you’re a business owner, chances are you’ve asked these questions several times - because who doesn’t want their business to grow?  Today, we will be shedding light on how you can effectively, not just grow your business, but scale it exponentially. Our guest for t...

Networking - love it or hate it?  Too hard sell?  Or is it a necessary lead generation strategy?  Whatever your feelings are, networking is considered an effective client acquisition strategy for millions of entrepreneurs and businesses across the globe.  Should you be getting into networking?  Is it worth it?  How do you even get started? In this episode, we chat with entrepreneur and master netw...

Welcome to another exciting episode of the Challenger Brands. Today, we  have a special guest with us, Georgina Hills. Georgina is a Luxury Fashion & Brand Strategy Change Ambassador and Coach, bringing over 20 years of  specialist experience to the table. She has worked with renowned high- street and luxury brands, including Zara, H&M, Armani, Saint Laurent,  Dolce and Gabbana, Max Mara,...

Sales is more than just convincing people to buy a product or service. It involves understanding the needs and desires of potential customers, building relationships with them, and offering solutions that genuinely address their concerns, while keeping an eye on market trends and the competition.   In this episode, we talk to Sharad Bhushan, Vice President for Sales and Marketing at Standard Carpe...

With Google Reviews, Trustpilot, as well as Facebook, and many other platforms that hosts reviews, positive customer feedback has become so essential to the wellbeing of a business.  Bad customer reviews, stemming from poor customer service can easily damage business – now more than ever.  So today, we’ll talk about the fundamentals of good customer service and why having a policy in place is crit...

Welcome to another exciting episode of Challenger Brands. Today, we have an extraordinary guest who embodies the spirit of Zig Ziglar's timeless quote, "You will get all you want in life if you help enough other people get what they want."  It's a pleasure to introduce Bijay Shah. Bijay is the Master Franchisee of Business Network International (BNI) in the United Arab Emirates...

Community has become such an important part of marketing in recent years, it’s now touted as the new economic moat that can help not only grow, but protect brands and businesses.  But building a community is not an easy task.  It’s one of those elements in marketing strategy that is highly nuanced and requires a deft personal touch, and can’t be driven just by good creative or ad spend.  Community...