I Wanna GROW Podcast

Join us in celebrating the British Council's 90th anniversary! Educator Hanim shares her incredible 20-year journey, highlighting how the British Council has been a "growth companion" in her professional and personal life. Discover how their projects have transformed students and shaped her career as a passionate teacher trainer. 𝗛𝗼𝘀𝘁:⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠Steve Mackie⁠⁠⁠⁠ from ⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠Business StartU...

How Poppy Clinton is Mentoring Qatar's Next Filmmakers Join us for a special episode celebrating the 90th anniversary of the British Council! We sit down with Poppy Clinton, general manager of The Edge Picture Company, to discuss her journey in film production in Qatar. Poppy shares how The Edge has helped bring Qatar's story to the world, from the lead-up to the World Cup to creating films for ma...

Zaid Ahmed's Inspiring Journey: From Oxford to a Leader in Qatar Join us as we celebrate 90 years of the British Council with special guest Zaid Ahmed. A British Council Alumni Awards finalist, he shares his incredible journey from being accepted into Oxford University to his professional contributions in Qatar. We dive into his experiences, the importance of persistence, and how the British C...

From Student to winning British Alumni Social Action AwardJoin us on "I Wanna Grow" for a special episode celebrating 90 years of the British Council with special guest, Dr. Zarqa Parvez. A political sociologist and passionate academic, Dr. Zarqa shares her incredible journey from being a student in British schools in Qatar to winning the prestigious British Alumni Social Action Award. 𝗛...

What happens after a startup fails? On this episode of "I Wanna Grow," we sit down with operator and VC Bilel to discuss his incredible journey from a startup failure to operating the first CyberTech in GCC to becoming a successful venture capitalist. Bilel shares his candid perspective on:✅ The pressure of raising and managing millions in funding✅ Why his first startup failed and the...

What Makes Education in Qatar Different? A Headmistress's Perspective Join us for a special episode of the "I Wanna Grow" podcast as we celebrate 90 years of the British Council with special guest Satarupa, Headmistress of The Next Generation (TNG) School's, Al Wukair Primary Campus. She shares TNG's incredible 15-year journey and their unique approach to education. 𝗛𝗼𝘀𝘁:⁠ ⁠⁠Steve Mackie⁠⁠ from ⁠...

In this special episode, we celebrate 90 years of the British Council with FameLab Qatar winner and pharmacist Aya Aboulazm. She shares her personal journey, revealing how FameLab helped her tackle postpartum depression and raise awareness for a topic rarely discussed: paternal postpartum depression. Aya also discusses her passion for making science fun and relatable, from gamifying allergy treatm...

In "Forging the Future of Law," hear Professor Barry's journey from Cambridge to Qatar, where he helped build a top-200-ranked law school. He shares his award-winning work at the forefront of AI and healthcare law and emphasizes the importance of a legacy mindset. This episode is about risk, adaptability, and pioneering a new path in law. 𝗛𝗼𝘀𝘁:⁠ ⁠Steve Mackie⁠ from ⁠ ⁠Business StartU...

In this special episode, we celebrate the British Council's 90th anniversary with guest Wadad El Husseiny, a consultant at Qatar University. She shares her inspiring journey, from overcoming challenges in Qatar to her work with the British Council's Springboard program. Join us to learn how the British Council empowers individuals to build a better future and why Wadad describes them as an...

Join us for an inspiring episode with Dr. Bilal ElSalem , a lecturer of accounting at Qatar University. In this episode celebrating the British Council's 90-year legacy , Bilal shares his remarkable journey of personal growth and explains how he uses gamification and storytelling to make accounting fun and engaging. His story is a powerful example of seizing opportunities and focusing on your...

Join us as we celebrate the British Council's 90th anniversary with Ameera Al Aji , a community art lead at the Qatar Foundation. She shares her personal journey, from studying in the UK to a life-changing artist exchange program, all made possible by the British Council. This episode explores how the organization has fostered cultural connections and helped build a vibrant, creative community...

Join us in celebrating 90 years of the British Council’s global influence with former Qatari Ambassador to the UK, HE Fahad Bin Mohammed Al Attiyah . We explore how the British Council has been generating "waves" of change worldwide through impactful cultural and educational initiatives. Ambassador Al Attiyah shares his remarkable journey—from international diplomacy to pioneering sustainable agri...

Join us for a captivating discussion with Kurt Meister and Dr. Nasser Sahim of the Qatar Philharmonic Orchestra (QPO) as we celebrate 90 years of the British Council's global impact . Discover how QPO rose from scratch to a world-renowned ensemble, fusing Western and Arabic music , and putting Qatar on the international music map . They reveal the vision, challenges, and vital role of the Brit...

Empowering Artists: Nafiza Hafiz, British Council, & Sustainable Sudanese Fashion Uncover the inspiring story of Nafiza Hafiz , a Sudanese designer whose innovative sustainable fashion blends heritage with modern activism. Hear how the British Council's pivotal support helped her overcome challenges, pioneer eco-conscious design, and represent Sudanese creativity on the global stage. This...

Planning Middle East Expansion? Corina Goetz's Essential Cultural & Business Insights. Join us with Corina Goetz , Founder & CEO of @star_cat_ltd, a leading expert on Middle Eastern culture and business etiquette . Planning Middle East expansion or global growth? Corina shares essential insights to help you thrive! Learn to navigate cultural nuances, bridge the "knowledge gap," and build c...

Beyond Exams: How British Council & Qatar University Transform Lives Join us to celebrate 90 incredible years of the British Council's global impact! In this insightful episode of 'The I Wanna GROW Podcast,' we sit down with Dr Walid Massoud, a leading psychometrician, researcher, and manager of the Testing Center at Qatar University. Discover the vital role Qatar University's...

Dive Beyond Cinema in this inspiring episode as we explore how the Doha Film Institute (DFI) and the British Council are powerfully inspiring youth in Qatar through the magic of film. Join us as Filmmaker Rawda Al-Thani , Junior Film Programmer at the Doha Film Institute , shares invaluable insights into DFI's impactful youth empowerment initiatives via cinema . Discover the profound global cu...

How to Thrive in Middle East Business: Ari Matityahu's Entrepreneurial Secrets Curious what it really takes to build a thriving business and a life you value in the Middle East? 🤔 In this exclusive "I Wanna GROW" episode, we feature Ari Matityahu, Founder of Danforth Holdings , joining us from New York! Ari, with nearly a decade in the region, shares his incredible journey from aspi...

How Music Education is Transforming Lives in Qatar: The QMA & British Council Story Discover the incredible impact of music education in Qatar! In this inspiring episode, we celebrate 90 years of the British Council's remarkable legacy with Dr. Ozgur Mert Esen and Mr. Zlatan Fazlic from the Qatar Music Academy (QMA) . Hear QMA's journey from just 35 to over 500 students, uniquely blending Arab...

How a UK Degree Can Transform Careers: Khalifa Al Yafei's Inspiring Story Uncover the remarkable path of Khalifa Al Yafei , CEO of Qatar Finance and Business Academy, as he discusses the pivotal role of British education and the British Council's 90-year legacy in his life. Learn how Qatar is emerging as a dynamic hub for international students, offering world-class infrastructure and a we...

British Council at 90: Cultural Exchange & Qatar's Evolving Identity Join us as Dr. Hafiz Ali Abdulla discusses the British Council's 90th anniversary and its profound impact on his career and Qatar's cultural landscape. Discover how art and film foster global understanding and document societal change. 𝗛𝗼𝘀𝘁:⁠ SteveMackie  from ⁠ Business Start Up Qatar 𝗚𝘂𝗲𝘀𝘁: Dr. Hafiz Ali Abdulla, Head of Co...

Startup Success: Reshaping Qatar's Logistics & Mobility with PASS Delivery Go "Beyond the Moon" with Bashar Jaber, CEO & Co-Founder of PASS Delivery , on "I Wanna Grow." Discover the strategic vision and resilience behind building Qatar's leading logistics powerhouse. This episode delves into how PASS is revolutionizing mobility, tackling crucial challenges like...

🎙️ Join us as we celebrate 90 years of the British Council with special guest Maryam Al Saad, CEO of Katara Public Diplomacy Center. Hear how Katara’s cultural collaborations—like the “Unity” mural—highlight the powerful ties between Qatar and the UK. From festivals to diplomacy, Maryam shares inspiring stories of cultural exchange and impact. Tune in for a deep dive into public diplomacy, educati...

The Founder's Unique Strategy: Can It Unlock Yours? Dive into an extraordinary conversation with Jeff where Founder Story Strategies meet the transformative power of Curiosity Unlocks Potential. This episode delves into how embracing curiosity and thinking differently can lead to groundbreaking achievements and a truly awesome life. Jeff shares his unique philosophy on exploring the world with...

How Will the Lusail Museum Redefine Art and Diplomacy in Doha? In this inspiring episode of I Want to Grow, we celebrate 90 years of the British Council’s global influence in education, culture, and diplomacy. Host Steve Mackie is joined by Julia Gonnella, Director of the upcoming Lusail Museum under Qatar Museums, to explore the powerful role of art in cultural diplomacy. Discover how the museum'...