Zero to N

He gave the wrong answer. And it cost him everything he thought success meant. A student walked into Hamid Ben Lafdil 's office. An orphan. Expelled from his social protection facility at 18 because the law said his time was up. No home. No plan. Nowhere to go. Hamid's response that day was wrong. He knew it immediately. And he never saw that student again. What happened next changed the e...

Mahmoud Bartawi went from managing 2.5 billion dirhams as a banker in Dubai, to saving his family's 100-million-dirham debt crisis at 22 years old, to building a healthy food brand across 6 countries and selling it to Kitopi, all before launching his own podcast. In this episode of Zero to N, Rachid sits down with Mahmoud for an honest, emotional, and deeply tactical conversation about what it...

What does it take for a CEO to rise from a small village to global success? In this episode, we sit down with Rachid, CEO of Slimstock , to unpack a powerful journey that moves from humble beginnings to building and leading at a global level. This is not just a story of success, it’s a deep dive into the mindset, decisions, and sacrifices required to transform vision into reality. Rachid shares th...

Ever wondered what it's truly like inside the rooms where national-level digital transformation decisions are made? This week, we sit down with Ghita Mezzour, a former Minister of Digital Transition, who shares the emotional journey of accepting a role that would transform her country, and herself. The Summary Join us for an incredibly candid conversation with Ghita Mezzour, a brilliant scientist...

Imagine a global giant like IKEA entering your market, alongside a looming financial crisis that freezes bank loans. Most businesses would crumble, but Othman BENKIRANE and his company, Keishar, didn't just survive – they emerged  victorious , achieving unprecedented growth and setting their sights on global domination. How did they do it? **In this electrifying episode of "Zero to N: The Real Cod...

Karim Amor's entrepreneurial journey was brutally interrupted at 23 by a life-threatening brain tumor, forcing him to confront mortality and abandon a high-flying, money-driven career abroad. This harrowing experience became the unexpected catalyst for a radical personal and professional transformation, fundamentally reshaping his definition of success and his path to building impactful compan...

Moustafa Hamwi built a multi-million-dollar events empire in Dubai, living a life envied by many. Yet, at the peak of his external success, he faced a profound internal emptiness and a severe medical crisis that forced him to abandon everything in search of true meaning. This is the story of how Moustafa Hamwi dismantled his identity, confronted mortality, and completely rebuilt his understanding...

What does it mean to lead with the future in mind? In this episode of Zero to N, H.E. Hussain Al Mahmoudi shares a journey shaped by long-term vision over short-term gain. From key moments in his career to his decision to return and contribute to Sharjah, this is a story of building with purpose. We explore forward-thinking leadership in the UAE, the creation of private-sector innovation, and the...

The biggest challenge of entrepreneurship isn’t the market. It’s managing yourself. The pressure. The uncertainty. The responsibility for people who depend on you. Walking away from a prestigious leadership role to start something new wasn’t the easy path it was the riskier one. Because when you become a founder, the stakes change. Competence is necessary. Conviction is necessary. Perseverance is...

Decisions define leaders. But legacy? That’s built in the quiet aftermath of your leadership. In a recent conversation between Hussein Wehbi and Rachid Labrik, one idea stood above the rest: Performance isn’t measured by dashboards alone. It’s measured by the calibre of the people who rise because you led them. Numbers fade. Titles change. Market cycles move on. But the strength you build in other...

Many leaders are defined by their titles. But for Mustafa , leadership was defined by the moments that broke him and the choices that rebuilt him. After 23 years in FMCG and multinational leadership across 20+ countries, Mustafa reached a turning point that changed everything. He risked it all. Lost it all. And learned that failure isn’t the end it’s the beginning of a deeper kind of wisdom. In th...

What makes someone walk away from success to start over? In this episode of Zero to N , Nisrine shares her journey from corporate stability to the uncertainty of building her own company all while stepping into motherhood. From the factory floors of France to the boardrooms of Dubai, her story is one of faith, resilience, and the courage to trust what’s unseen. Guided by her father’s belief that i...

We begin our journey with Ahmed Khaled who’s seen both sides of growth, the wins and the wake-up calls. In this conversation, we unpack the real moments that shape leaders: • Making trade-offs under pressure • Leading through uncertainty • Balancing ambition with self-awareness No scripts. No highlight reels. Just honest stories from the people building across the Middle East and Africa. Zero to N...

Before the conversations begin,there’s context. Months in the making, built deliberately, refined with intention. Not just a series of conversations,but a cinematic exploration of pressure, growth,and the moments that quietly change everything. The stories that define us. The climb from zero… to now.0 to N The Real Code of Transformation. The trailer is live.