One man, two continents, and a financial career map that says you can do it all... 🤩

Welcome to the NINETEENTH episode of The Smart Money Show! This week, we're joined by Nomaan Riaz, a career warrior whose path through the financial world has spanned investment banking, private credit, venture capital, and now fintech in Dubai’s growing financial hub.

This episode we talk about how to break into the toughest corners of finance, what it’s like to switch lanes between vastly different roles, and how a career in Dubai really shapes up. Along the way, Nomaan shares the lessons learned from rejections, the skills that transfer across sectors, and the mindset that has kept him moving forward.

So if you're curious about high-stakes banking, the art of spotting a winning founder, or building a global career with agility then this episode is packed with perspective you need.

Guest Contacts:

Nomaan Riaz - https://www.linkedin.com/in/nomaan1/

Chapters:

0:00 - Intro 🎙️

3:17 - The Hustler's Origin: From Lollipops to Lip Kits 🍭

8:32 - Overcoming the "Small Town Mindset" & Moving to London 🚀

17:07 - Breaking In: First Internships & Realisations 🏦

24:24 - The Brutal Rejection Story: Lazard & The Lawnmower Question 💥

35:07 - The Power of Your Circle: Lessons from Friendships 🤝

40:44 - Career Snapshot Part 1: Private Credit at Pemberton 💼

47:28 - Career Snapshot Part 2: Inside a "Dragon's Den" VC Firm 🐲

58:16 - How to Assess a Founder: The VC Investor's Mindset 🤔

1:05:04 - The Big Leap: Why He Left VC for a Startup in Dubai ✈️

1:14:40 - The Key to Progress: "Ease is a Greater Threat than Hardship" 🧠

1:15:49 - Final Reflections & Career Advice ✨

1:21:30 - Outro 👋

As always, stay tuned to us weekly as we bring you unheard insights, professional guests and a few laughs! 💚

Check out our work and connect with us here: https://www.thesmartmoneyshow.co.uk/

Please be advised, none of our episodes constitute as financial advice and we will never attempt to do so.