Empowered to Grow

🎉 The latest episode of the Empowered to Grow in Business podcast is now live — and this one is unlike anything I’ve recorded before. For the 200th episode , I’m not the host… I’m the guest. To mark this milestone, two of my closest friends and soul sisters — Dr. Rana Sabra and Asmaa Alkuwari — took over the mic and guided a conversation I never knew I needed. 🎙 In this deeply personal and unfilt...

In the latest episode of Empowered to Grow in Business podcast, we dove into “Venture Forward: Growth Strategies for Business & Economic Impact” with Henry Dauphin, Co-Founder & CEO of The Geftas Institute. Henry brings over two decades of experience across global startup ecosystems, venture building, and innovation labs. In this powerful conversation, we explore how founders and investors...

In this episode of Empowered to Grow in Business podcast, we’re diving into “The Founder’s Peacemaker: Navigating Tough Talks with Grace” with our special guest, David Foster . David is a professional confidant and advisor for founders and senior leaders. Known as a Peacemaker and a founder’s consigliere, David helps clients navigate complex situations and difficult conversations — the ones that,...

Is the future of business built on impact? And why should it be? In this episode of Empowered to Grow in Business titled “ The Rise of Social Economy: Unlocking Profit with Purpose ,” I sat down with Luisa Baltazar , a thought leader in social impact, innovation, and ESG-driven business models . Together, we explored how companies can align profitability with purpose —and why they must. We discuss...

What if the key to success wasn’t about making huge leaps —but about moving just 1cm forward at a time ? In this episode of the Empowered to Grow in Business podcast titled “ Future-Ready Brands: Strategies for Tomorrow’s Leaders ,” I sit down with Sallee Poinsette-Nash , one of the UK’s leading people-brand strategists and founder of Brandable & Co. , to uncover the real power of positioning,...

What if you could hit reset on your business and life—right now? The latest episode of Empowered to Grow in Business is here, and we’re diving into "The Reset Blueprint: Embracing Change for Leadership Growth" with my good friend Stefan Lindberg-Jones . Stefan, a Transformative Life Coach and Business Mentor , knows firsthand that change isn’t just possible—it’s necessary. Having led one of Qatar’...

In the latest episode of the Empowered to Grow in Business podcast, I’m joined by Vera Futorjanski for a powerful discussion on "Bridging Ecosystems: Lessons in Innovation and Collaboration." Vera is a serial entrepreneur, angel investor, and global innovation leader who has played pivotal roles at 500Global, Dubai Future Foundation, and the European Union . She’s passionate about scaling startups...

In the latest episode of Empowered to Grow in Business we’re diving into "Innovating Healthcare: Building a Game-Changing HealthTech Startup" with our special guest, Amr Metwally . With over 20 years of experience in healthcare leadership , $7B+ in transformative projects , and a track record of driving medical innovation and digital transformation , Amr is at the forefront of shaping the future o...

In this exciting episode titled "Democratizing Human Skills in the Workplace: From Theory to Practical Action," I’m joined by Michaela Reaney, a leader in learning and development with over 16 years of experience working with global organizations like Rio Tinto, AWS, and UK Athletics. Michaela shares her insights into why human skills—such as empathy, communication, and navigating tough conversati...

In the latest episode of the Empowered to Grow in Business podcast, I had the pleasure of speaking with Faisal El Bably , a senior telecom leader with over 21 years of experience and a co-founder of an e-commerce startup. Faisal shared his transformative concept, "Embrace" —a mindset that has brought him peace of mind and clarity in both life and business. We discussed: ✅ How embracing what’s out...

In this first episode of 2025, "Expand with Purpose, Grow with Strategy," I dive into the essential principles that guide sustainable business growth. Using a relatable analogy of driving without a destination, I unpack the importance of combining purpose (your destination) with strategy (your roadmap) to ensure every action in your business serves a clear objective. We’ll also explore two critica...

In this solo episode of Empowered to Grow in Business , I dive into a powerful realization: it only takes one yes to open the door to transformative growth. But how do you prepare yourself and your venture to secure that yes? I’ll explore: ✅ The role of market validation and laying a solid foundation. ✅ Why being customer-centric increases your chances of success. ✅ The importance of leaving eg...

This time, we’re diving into "From Invisible to Visible: Mastering the Spotlight for Business Leaders" with our special guest, Reim El Houni . In this episode, Reim shares her wealth of experience, from working with global giants like Amazon and National Geographic to producing award-winning content with Ti22 Films. She unpacks actionable strategies for business leaders to leverage media and video...

This week, we're exploring "Revolutionizing Food: How Startups Are Shaping the Future of Foodtech" with our incredible guest, José Fernández , Managing Director at E-motion / Freshko DMCC. With over two decades of experience in the Agri-Food, Beverages, and Tech sectors, José shares his insights on how innovation and startups are reshaping the global food industry. From leading expansion across co...

In this inspiring episode, we explore the art of thriving through challenges with two exceptional guests Khadija Usman & Shamim Chowdhury where we covered: Real-life stories of resilience and overcoming adversity Actionable strategies to build a thriving entrepreneurial mindset The roles of coaching and data in fostering sustainable growth Tune in now to gain insights, inspiration, and practic...

In this captivating episode titled "The Network State: Redefining Society Through Technology & Entrepreneurship," we explore a groundbreaking concept that could redefine the future of governance and social organization—The Network State. Join us as we delve into this innovative idea with Dr. Khalid Saqr, a distinguished engineering professor and entrepreneur known for his pioneering work in co...

In "Language, Culture, and Innovation: Leveraging Social Impact for Business Success," we’re thrilled to feature the remarkable Dr. Amal Al-Malki. Dr. Al-Malki, Founding Dean of the College of Humanities and Social Sciences at Hamad bin Khalifa University, brings profound insights into how language and cultural understanding are essential drivers of social impact and business growth. Known for her...

In today’s competitive market, choosing between functional and experiential offerings can significantly impact your business strategy. This episode dives into the essence of functional services, which prioritize efficiency and practicality, versus experiential services that focus on creating memorable customer experiences. We use vivid examples from various industries to illustrate these concepts,...

In this episode, we’re diving into "Disrupting the Enterprise: AI Twins as Future Employees" with our guest, Firas Sleiman . Firas, a deep-tech AI innovator and serial entrepreneur, shares insights from over 28 years in the fields of AI, digital transformation, and deep-tech innovation. As a founder of ventures like KAIC and TENN.ai and a senior leader at companies like IBM , PwC , and Boston Cons...

The latest episode of the Empowered to Grow in Business podcast is now available! This time, we’re diving into "The Founder’s Playbook: Navigating Storytelling, Dollars, and Risk" with special guest Curtis Bergh. Curtis leads the Startup Grind - Singapore chapter, is a Startup Mentor, and an Angel Investor who has helped numerous founders fine-tune their strategies for growth and success. In this...

🎙️This week on Empowered to Grow in Business, I’m diving into the essential topic of strategic alignment for business growth. 🌱 In this solo episode, I explore how startups and SMEs can reset their strategies to maximize impact and foster sustainable growth. Whether you're at a crossroads, feeling stuck, or simply need a fresh perspective, this episode will walk you through actionable insights on...

In this episode, Lara Khouri and Rajeev Daswani share insights on how The CEO Maker™ is transforming leadership in SMEs and startups by nurturing self-awareness and practical business skills. We discuss the essential traits needed to drive tangible results, and how leaders can embark on a journey of personal and professional growth through empathy-based leadership development. Lara Khouri is the f...

The latest episode of the Empowered to Grow in Business podcast is now available! This time, we're bringing you a sneak peek into "Partnerships That Work: Lessons in Collaboration and Co-Founding" with our special guests, Dr. Rana Sabra and Asmaa Alkuwari. In this episode, we delve into the essential aspects of selecting the right co-founders, the intricacies of business partnerships, and the valu...

In this insightful episode of Empowered to Grow in Business, we delve into the transformative power of AI across various industries. Joined by tech experts Sherif Elmasry and Fady Azzouny, we explore how AI is not only reshaping traditional business models but also driving unprecedented growth and innovation. From practical applications to future trends, this conversation is packed with actionable...

In this episode, Sameer Sortur shares invaluable strategies for tech startups aiming to conquer new markets and drive innovation. He takes us through his journey from founding SquareCircle Global in 2014 to accelerating growth-stage tech companies and ensuring spot-on product-market fit. As a Certified Corporate Innovation Specialist and Digital Transformation Expert, Sameer’s insights span multip...