Episode 14: "Not Playing Around" with Zineb El Ouazzani

Guest: Zineb El Ouazzani (Zi) – Moroccan former child tennis prodigy turned pro at 31 after a 12-year hiatus, CEO, and YPO speaker whose reinvention through adversity inspires leaders. Watch her YPO talk at YouTube and read more at Medium.

Setting: Recorded at the YPO Global Leadership Conference in Washington, DC, April 2025, amidst >1,000 CEOs, where Smoke and Zi coached LAB speakers, their bond forged in Istanbul’s transformative talks.

Summary

Smoke and Zi connect at the YPO Global Leadership Conference, reflecting on their journeys since sharing life-changing stories in Istanbul. Zi, a Moroccan tennis prodigy, recounts her rise to Africa’s top ranks by 13, only to face a shattering setback post-9/11 when her U.S. visa was revoked, ending her pro dreams at 18. Exiled to Morocco, she battled depression, broke her rackets, and reinvented herself, later marrying and embracing personal development. At 31, spurred by a coach’s nudge and a stranger’s journal gift, Zi returned to the pro circuit, training six hours daily through tears to heal her “unfinished story.” Her Ho’oponopono practice and ownership mindset transformed her body and soul, proving age and past don’t define you. Now, Zi’s intuitive leadership—reading rooms with heart—guides CEOs, aligning with Smoke’s mission to awaken consciousness. This episode, a beacon of resilience, urges listeners to face demons, trust intuition, and rewrite their story. Explore Zi’s journey at YouTube.

Learnings

• Face Your Demons: Zi’s return to tennis to heal past wounds, like Smoke’s public storytelling, shows confronting unresolved pain is key to growth.  
• Take Ownership: Zi’s shift from victimhood to leading her comeback, using Ho’oponopono, teaches reclaiming power over your narrative.  
• Trust Intuition: Zi’s “intuitive angel” role in boardrooms, reading energy, offers a tool for leaders to feel, not force, decisions.  
• Question Limits: Defying “too old” naysayers, Zi’s pro circuit return at 31 proves only you set your boundaries.  
• Practice Positive Self-Talk: Zi’s Ho’oponopono (“thank you, I love you”) countered negative thoughts, a daily muscle for all seekers.

Universal Truths

• Consciousness Shapes Reality: Zi’s negative self-talk caused physical illness, while positive shifts healed her, echoing Smoke’s mind-body unity.  
• Adversity is Purposeful: Zi’s visa loss, like Smoke’s trauma, was a divine detour to build compassion and resilience.  
• Energy Drives Impact: Zi’s vibrant pro-circuit energy, mistaken for youth, shows high-vibration presence transforms perception and outcomes.  
• The Answer Lies Within: Zi’s intuitive breakthroughs align with Smoke’s inner wisdom, proving external validation pales to self-trust.

Examples

• Screwdriver Mishap: At 13, Zi’s brother hid a screwdriver in her bag for safety, triggering a school security scare, highlighting her cultural shock in the U.S.  
• Visa Rejection: Post-9/11, Zi’s U.S. visa was revoked at 18, barring her until 90, collapsing her tennis dreams and sparking grief.  
• Journal Gift: A California teacher’s journal, urging Zi to “own your story,” reignited her tennis passion at 31, a synchronicity shifting her path.  
• Pro Circuit Return: Zi trained six hours daily, crying through seven months, to compete professionally, embodying grit and healing.  
• Intuitive Leadership: Zi’s boardroom “reading” for a VP, feeling energy over notes, showcased her intuitive gift, later guiding YPO teams.

Smoke Trail Threads

Episode 14 builds on Episode 7’s forgiveness (Luke Wallin) with Zi’s self-forgiveness via Ho’oponopono, and Episode 8’s presence (Liv Fisch) through her intuitive flow. Steve Hershberger’s (Episode 9) stone-dropping mirrors Zi’s release of victimhood, while Dani Brooks’ (Episode 10) heart-mind coherence aligns with her ownership shift. Ivan Rados’ (Episode 11) “allow, accept, let go” echoes Zi’s healing through tennis, and Elizabeth Funk’s (Episode 12) optimism resonates in Zi’s relentless grit.