Mahmoud Bartawi is an Exited Emirati Entrepreneur and Host of BxB Podcast. From learning business lessons at his father’s side to exiting his own brand Under 500, he shares the raw truth behind building from zero, surviving failure, and knowing when to scale. Key Learnings: When to scale your business The struggle entrepreneurs face Where to find your target customer The importance of starting with the exit in mind Follow Mahmoud: Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mahmoud-bartawi/ ...

Suraya Turk is an award winning lawyer, entrepreneur & Managing Partner of Legal Circle. She brings 20+ years of experience, advising 650+ startups to support their growth and development in the region. Key Learnings: How to pick the right lawyer for your needs? The importance of scaling organically Why entrepreneurs need to have a basic understanding of law The reason communication is the currency of the future Follow Suraya: Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/surayaturk/ Websi...

Dr. Labib Riachi is a double board certified, internationally recognized leader in robotic gynecologic surgery, female pelvic medicine, and surgical education. With over two decades of clinical, academic, and entrepreneurial success across the U.S., Middle East, and Europe he bridges medicine, technology, and global collaboration to tackle the leading disease affecting women's health today. Key Learnings: The importance of educating society on women's health How robotics & AI are t...

Modhar Khan is the Regional Director of Artificial Intelligence - Middle East & North Africa - SLB. He is a Business leader and Data expert with global expertise across North America and the MENA region. Currently leading AI strategy for SLB in MENA, driving digital transformation, automation, and AI adoption to enhance efficiency, optimize operations, and create long-term value across the industry. Key Learnings: Why we need to make AI inclusive The risks of not adopting AI The importan...

Anna Hazlett is Founder & CEO of AzurX and AzurX Space Ventures companies focused on space and strategic technologies based on the foundation that space plays a unique role in addressing the world’s most pressing problems. She is a globally recognized voice and contributor to the global space industry since 2017 & serves as a Member of the Fund Advisory & Decision Committee of the Mohammed Bin Rashid Innovation Fund (MBRIF) a AED 2 billion fund helping to oversee & support the...

Iyad Alsabouni is the Program Coordinator, Bachelor of Science in Game Design and Development at AUD. He brings over 20 years of professional experience as an artist and animator working with game studios in Japan and indie developers worldwide, accumulating extensive experience and knowledge in the field of entertainment design. Key Learnings: Why gaming has become a national strategic objective The future of game development The advancement of technology & innovation in gaming What car...

Ashraf Younis is a media veteran with over 30 years of experience & the Director of Channels MBC 3 & MBC Action at MBC Group. From launching TV channels, to his role as an international judge for media and an acting adjunct professor at AUD he shares insights on innovation, human connection, and what it takes to thrive in a rapidly evolving industry. Key Learnings How has the media landscape changed? How will we consume content in the future? How to prepare for a career i...

Samia Hasan is the Founder of Unwind the Grind, a Millennial/Gen Z leadership development platform empowering them to achieve what they are capable of & enabling them to excel in their careers. She is a corporate veteran turned career coach, who spent over 10 years climbing the ladder at a Fortune 50 company before pursuing a passion for authentic living and is now on a mission to help you find your purpose, craft your personal brand and land your dream job. Key Learnings: How to find yo...

Muhammed Mekki is the Founding Partner of AstroLabs, previous co-founder of Namshi & holds a PhD in Innovation & Entrepreneurship. He has been actively building the Middle Eastern entrepreneurial ecosystem since 2011, secured one of the largest venture-backed exits in the MENA region in 2017 with Namshi, and has built AstroLabs to become the leading business expansion platform in the Gulf establishing over 1,500 innovative businesses across Saudi Arabia and the UAE. Key Learnings: Th...

Aamir Allibhoy is the Regional CMO - Tim Hortons MENA, a trusted team leader with extensive experience in marcoms, branding, strategy and new business development. He spent 21 years with Impact BBDO, most recently as the General Manager, spearheading the business and client relationships across key clients, such as PepsiCo. His success is largely attributed to being “fearless" in doing the right thing and is best known for his optimism, composure, insights and ability to inspire passio...

We are honored to have Dr.Caroline Faraj on the show today. Dr.Caroline is the CNN Vice President & Arabic Editor-in-Chief, an award-winning journalist with over 30 years’ experience. She joined CNN in 2001 and has overseen the content and management of CNN Arabic, which she launched in 2002. She was named winner of the Arab Woman of the year Awards 2022 as a leader in media, and in 2021 she won the Arab Woman Awards/ media category in the UAE. Key Learnings: Why journalism is a passion,...

We are honored to have Fares Akkad on the show today. Fares is the Regional Director for Meta across MEA. He is a global media and tech thought leader with a rich experience in new media growth across emerging markets. His career spans over 25 years leading growth for media and social media giants and has been recognized by Forbes Magazine as one of the top 50 leaders in MENA. In addition, he has always been passionate about entrepreneurship and startups, supporting entrepreneurs and early-st...

We are honored to have Dr. Kyle Long on the show today. Dr. Kyle joins us as the new President of AUD. He is an internationally recognized authority on American higher education outside the United States. With a career spanning various leadership roles, he brings with him a wealth of experience and an innovative approach to higher education rooted in the American liberal arts tradition. His mission is to solidify AUD's status as the top choice for higher education in the Middle East. Key Lea...

We are honored to have Sally Moussa Hajjar as our guest on the show today. Sally is a media veteran with over 20 years of experience working for the region's largest broadcast networks. She is currently the Managing Director of Humanagement and along with her Husband Hady have built the region's Leading Agency in Innovative Marketing and Media Solutions representing some of the region’s highest ranking celebrities & Digital Content Creators. Key Learnings The truth about the entert...

We are honored to have Siwar Zein as our guest on the show today. Siwar is Human Resources Expert and brings with her over 15 years of experience working at some of the worlds largest brands such as Nestle and is currently the EMEA Talent Management Director at Microsoft. She is someone who is extremely passionate about supporting people and enabling them to achieve their desired success within an organization. Key Learnings The impact HR can have on your business How to build a talent manag...

We are honored to have Saleem Karsaz as our guest on the show today. Saleem is the Group CEO of AEON & Trisl Real Estate and is one of the most distinguished realtors in the UAE. He has played a pivotal role in shaping the landscape of Dubai Real Estate and was awarded the highest honor of being the #1 Broker by the Dubai Land Department. Key Learnings The importance of building your support system Settling the debate between renting or buying The future of real estate industry How...

We are honored to have Dr Edward Srour as our guest on the show today. Dr Eddie has been a professor and researcher at Indiana University for more than 30 years. The main focus of his research has been primarily on stem cells and their efficacy, in addition to exploring other areas such as veterinary medical sciences and hematology.

We are honored to have Omar Al Busaidy as our guest on the show today. Omar is an AUD alumnus,entrepreneur, author and speaker with over 13 years of experience in the UAEs corporate environment. He is currently the President of Future Pipe Industries and Founder of Global Possibilities which provides commercial advisory services to companies that want to scale and operate in the UAE Key Learnings: The power of belief How to become better communicators Finding your path as an entrepreneur What...

We are honored to have Natasha Hatherall as our guest on the show today. Natasha is a Publicist, PR and Marketing Expert with 20+ years of experience.She is the Founder & CEO of TishTash one of the most sought after and respected independent self funded agencies in the Middle East. In addition Tash is a passionate advocate for women in business and women's health, being one of the first companies to launch Menstrual, Menopause and Infertility leave in the Middle East. Key Learning...

We are honored to have Cosmin Manea as our guest on the show today. Cosmin is an AUD alumni, serial entrepreneur and angel investor focusing on investing in sustainable businesses. He was previously one of the founding partners of Instashop, renowned as one of the region's great success stories, before selling the company to delivery hero for $360 million back in 2020. Key Learnings The untold Instashop story The harsh realities of entrepreneurship When is the right time to exit? The importa...