My First Business

Naeem Parvez. Entrepreneur, Investor, Podcaster.

Each episode is like a conversation with a mentor you never had! Naeem Parvez is a business owner and investor based in Dubai. Join him on his journey of hardships and triumphs, as he brings on more experienced and successful business owners to guide him towards the right decisions. read less
BusinessBusiness

Episodes

EO Series #20 - How to Live a Zero Regret Life - Saahil Mehta
26-06-2024
EO Series #20 - How to Live a Zero Regret Life - Saahil Mehta
Feeling stuck and need a push? Saahil Mehta, recognized as one of the Top 10 Rising Global Indian Influencers, shares powerful insights that could transform your personal and professional life. Don't miss this episode! 🌟 Saahil Mehta is a best-selling author, keynote speaker, and peak performance coach. He is passionate about helping individuals and businesses reach their full potential and achieve success. 💪 Through his book "BREAK FREE" and motivational speeches, Saahil inspires leaders to achieve diamond-grade clarity and scale new summits of success every day. 🏔️ He has worked with global brands like P&G, Dell, HP, Silicon Valley Bank, Thomas Cook, TATA group to name a few; as well as entrepreneur-focused organizations like EO, YPO, TiE, and Corporate Connection. He also leads SCL training programs for Marshall Goldsmith in India and the Middle East and has been recognized as one of the Top 10 Rising Global Indian Influencers by India Today. 🌍 During my conversation with him, he recounts personal experiences and provides actionable advice for anyone seeking to improve their relationships or navigate the complexities of family businesses. 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 In this conversation, Saahil and I delve into: 📝 Understanding ourselves and reflecting through journaling 💖 The importance of prioritizing oneself before others 😌 Overcoming the fear of judgment and seeking validation 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Building generational businesses and co-creating with family 🗣️ The value of coaching and mentoring 🧠 Navigating unsolicited advice and listening to intuition 🧩 Current challenges and mental models Saahil is facing and much more! I'm warning you - this episode might really pump you up and make you do the things you've always wanted to do. 🚀 Tune in to this episode for valuable lessons on navigating family businesses, improving personal relationships, and living a life of clarity and purpose. Saahil Mehta's story is guaranteed to inspire and challenge you to rethink your own journey. 🎧✨ --- This episode is brought to you by Entrepreneur’s Organization – Dubai. The organization also offers a mentorship program that pairs members with experienced business leaders who can provide guidance and support as they grow their businesses. So if you are a business owner, tired of taking on your challenges all alone and are looking for unique networking opportunities along with structured support through accountability groups and mentors, this community is for you. To learn more on how to become a member, visit https://eodubai.com/ or reach out to EO Dubai Administrator adminsupport@eodubai.com. Details about the EO membership: https://eodubai.com/member-benefits-new/apply-for-membership-new/ --- Where to find the podcast: ▶️ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCjrbr87_ZSPICaDoTcCebyw 🎙 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6B5JdkAWrGSd927rZquJz7?si=4802c936a51f418c⁠ 🎙 Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/my-first-business-with-naeem-parvez/id1615535576 🎙 Google Podcast: https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9mZWVkcy5idXp6c3Byb3V0LmNvbS8xOTE1MjA1LnJzcw?sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjk_8SnuPD5AhUBGRoKHZ-DAxMQ9sEGegQIARAC Where to find Saahil: 💼 ⁠LinkedIn⁠: https://www.linkedin.com/in/saahilmehta 📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/saahilmehtaofficial/ 📸 ⁠Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/saahilmehtaofficial/ ▶️ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/SaahilMehtaOfficial/ 🌐 ⁠Business Website(s): https://www.saahilmehta.com, https://www.saahildmcc.com, https://www.resnetworld.com Where to find me: 📸 IG: http://www.instagram.com/the.naeem.parvez⁠ 📸 IG: http://www.instagram.com/myfirstbusinesspodcast 💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nparvez⁠ 🖥 Website: https://www.nparvez.com
EO Series #19 - Air Force Mechanic to Fashion CEO - Maureen Hall
13-06-2024
EO Series #19 - Air Force Mechanic to Fashion CEO - Maureen Hall
Who knew that a Canadian Air Force helicopter mechanic with a well-worn copy of Reader's Digest Complete Guide to Sewing could transform the swimwear fashion industry in Dubai? ✨ Say hello to Maureen Hall - the Founder, CEO, and Head of Design for COÉGA Sunwear. Realizing a need for protective sunwear in Dubai (especially for her kids), she leveraged her sewing and design expertise to create the Pool Shoe, which marked the beginning of COÉGA's success. 🏊‍♀️👙 After more than 19 years, COÉGA has become a highly commendable company in the fashion sector, collaborating with major international brands like Disney, Marvel, Warner Bros, and Masha & the Bear. 🌟 In this episode, Maureen shares her insights as a business owner, emphasizing the importance of organization and time management. She discusses the role of templates and checklists in streamlining operations and offers tips on balancing rigidity and flexibility in business processes. Maureen also highlights the significance of meditation and mindfulness in maintaining a calm and focused mindset. 🧘‍♀️📋 Here are some of the key points Maureen and I talked about: 00:00 Introduction 21:12 Tips for planning an effective work week (how to prioritize tasks and set deadlines) 📅 24:58 Why streamlining processes is crucial and what happens if they're not followed 📈 52:40 Experiences from hiring friends and having to let them go 🤝 1:31:17 Celebrating 20 years of success 🎉 1:37:37 Using creativity to make the business future-proof 🌍 - And much more... It was a pleasure meeting and nerding out about processes with Maureen. Her contagious laugh, energy, and genuine passion for what she does shine through in this episode. 😊 --- This episode is brought to you by Entrepreneur’s Organization – Dubai. The organization also offers a mentorship program that pairs members with experienced business leaders who can provide guidance and support as they grow their businesses. So if you are a business owner, tired of taking on your challenges all alone and are looking for unique networking opportunities along with structured support through accountability groups and mentors, this community is for you. To learn more on how to become a member, visit https://eodubai.com/ or reach out to EO Dubai Administrator adminsupport@eodubai.com. Details about the EO membership: https://eodubai.com/member-benefits-new/apply-for-membership-new/ -- Where to find the podcast: ▶️ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCjrbr87_ZSPICaDoTcCebyw 🎙 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6B5JdkAWrGSd927rZquJz7?si=4802c936a51f418c⁠ 🎙 Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/my-first-business-with-naeem-parvez/id1615535576 🎙 Google Podcast: https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9mZWVkcy5idXp6c3Byb3V0LmNvbS8xOTE1MjA1LnJzcw?sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjk_8SnuPD5AhUBGRoKHZ-DAxMQ9sEGegQIARAC Where to find Maureen: 💼 ⁠LinkedIn⁠: https://www.linkedin.com/in/maureen-coega/ 📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/maureen_coega_/ 📸 ⁠Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/maureen.hall.5205 🌐 ⁠Business Website: https://www.coegawear.com/ Where to find me: 📸 IG: http://www.instagram.com/the.naeem.parvez⁠ 📸 IG: http://www.instagram.com/myfirstbusinesspodcast 💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nparvez⁠ 🖥 Website: https://www.nparvez.com My First Business is a podcast based in Dubai, hosted by Naeem Parvez. In each episode, Naeem (co-founder of Digitalina) interviews successful, but under-the-radar entrepreneurs in the city. The guests share valuable lessons they've learned on their entrepreneurial journeys, making each episode feel like a conversation with a mentor you never had. Love From My First Business, a Dubai Podcast.
EO Series #18 - When Art Meets Business: Building a Furniture Empire in Dubai - Tini Meyer
28-05-2024
EO Series #18 - When Art Meets Business: Building a Furniture Empire in Dubai - Tini Meyer
Ever wondered how to seamlessly blend art and business? Tini Meyer's journey from artist to top contract furniture supplier in Dubai is a masterclass in creativity and entrepreneurship. 🎨 My guest for this conversation is Tini Meyer, who has found a way to mix art and business so aesthetically. What I learned from her during this conversation is how to set a good foundation first before trying to grow the business. She emphasized the need to "nail it before you scale it" and shared her approach to making strategic pivots and taking calculated risks. In 2009, Tini moved to Abu Dhabi to establish an artist studio residency center. In 2012, she co-founded interior360 as a boutique home furnishing store, which then pivoted to contract furniture. She started her business by importing designer furniture and home objects. But with the one-off nature of the products and the customization requests from clients, she realized that her business model might not be sustainable. Instead of giving up and packing her bags, she pivoted the business to focus on supplying furniture to hotels and restaurants in 2015. 🏨 Now, interior360 has become one of the largest contract furniture suppliers in Dubai, having delivered over 900 restaurant and hotel projects throughout the GCC. Over the years, Tini has expanded her business to include in-house manufacturing and has recently gone vertical, now supplying cleaning materials made by a company that's been around for 100 years. 🛋️✨ In this episode, Tini and I discussed: 00:00 Introduction ▶️ 05:25 How she juggles business responsibilities while raising a family 👩‍👧‍👦 31:49 The early mistakes she made and the lessons learned 📘 27:09 Strategies for building a strong workplace culture 🏢 34:29 Recognizing and seizing opportunities in diverse industries 🌐 1:07:52 Why there's no room for complacency in her team 🚫 1:21:29 The art of blending creativity with business acumen, and much more! 🎨💼 I've been so lucky to have found such humble superstars that should be heard about more, and Tini is definitely on that list! As always, there was no pretense, no academic business jargon, just pure passion for the way she molds her business and keeps it going and growing. I hope you enjoy this episode as much as I did. Without much further ado, here’s Tini Meyer, on the EO Series of the My First Business Podcast. 🎙️ -- This episode is brought to you by ⁠Entrepreneur’s Organization – Dubai.⁠ The organization also offers a mentorship program that pairs members with experienced business leaders who can provide guidance and support as they grow their businesses. So if you are a business owner, tired of taking on your challenges all alone and are looking for unique networking opportunities along with structured support through accountability groups and mentors, this community is for you. To learn more on how to become a member, visit ⁠https://eodubai.com/⁠ or reach out to EO Dubai Administrator ⁠adminsupport@eodubai.com⁠. Details about the EO membership: ⁠https://eodubai.com/member-benefits-new/apply-for-membership-new/⁠ Where to find the podcast: ▶️ YouTube: ⁠https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCjrbr87_ZSPICaDoTcCebyw⁠ 🎙 Spotify: ⁠https://open.spotify.com/show/6B5JdkAWrGSd927rZquJz7?si=4802c936a51f418c⁠⁠ 🎙 Apple Podcasts: ⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/my-first-business-with-naeem-parvez/id1615535576⁠ 🎙 Google Podcast: ⁠https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9mZWVkcy5idXp6c3Byb3V0LmNvbS8xOTE1MjA1LnJzcw?sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjk_8SnuPD5AhUBGRoKHZ-DAxMQ9sEGegQIARAC⁠ Where to find Tini: 💼 ⁠LinkedIn⁠: https://linkedin.com/in/tini-meyer-093470a1/ 📸 Instagram: https://instagram.com/interior360/ 📸 ⁠Facebook: https://facebook.com/interior360Dubai/ 🌐 ⁠Business Website: https://interior-360.com Where to find me: 📸 IG: ⁠http://www.instagram.com/the.naeem.parvez⁠⁠ 📸 IG: ⁠http://www.instagram.com/myfirstbusinesspodcast⁠ 💼 LinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/nparvez⁠⁠
EO Series #17 - What Fashion Empire Builders Know - Rajesh Sajnani
17-04-2024
EO Series #17 - What Fashion Empire Builders Know - Rajesh Sajnani
Join me in this inspiring episode as Rajesh Sajnani, the Founder and CEO of the RVS Group, shares his remarkable journey from a young entrepreneur to a visionary leader in the fashion and technology industries. ⚙️ Discover how Rajesh founded the RVS Group at the age of 19 in 1989 and grew it into a thriving enterprise with four subsidiaries, including Rajesh Trading Co. LLC, Si Fashion Galerie, The Studio, and the innovative ecommerce platform, Olyoly.com. Rajesh's ventures extends beyond fashion, as he delves into the technology space with Cloudhost Technology, recognized as the Best Innovative Cloud service provider in the SME segment. 💼 In this captivating conversation, Rajesh reflects on his entrepreneurial experiences and offers valuable insights into various topics, including: 00:00 ▶️ Introduction 06:51 🤗 Taking risks and embracing change (like jumping off a ship without knowing how to swim) 12:52 👗 The evolution of the Dubai fashion landscape 14:28 🌐 Building a strong ecosystem in the global fashion industry 32:47 💭 Insights into his latest venture, #8, a brand incubator business 41:47 📈 Identifying market gaps and competing on value 01:16:51 🤔 Balancing business innovation with personal reflection 01:32:34 ✍️ Rapid 30-day brand launches and business conceptualization in hospital rooms and more! Tune in to gain valuable perspectives from Rajesh as he shares his entrepreneurial wisdom and passion for creating innovative solutions. Learn how he navigates challenges, embraces opportunities, and remains committed to driving positive change in the fashion and technology sectors. 💻 And for someone who’s a serial entrepreneur, I haven’t met a humbler human being who doesn’t pretend to be perfect - in fact, sometimes he doesn’t even think of himself as an entrepreneur. 🙂 I hope you enjoy this one as much as I did! 🎙️ -- This episode is brought to you by Entrepreneur’s Organization – Dubai. The organization also offers a mentorship program that pairs members with experienced business leaders who can provide guidance and support as they grow their businesses. So if you are a business owner, tired of taking on your challenges all alone and are looking for unique networking opportunities along with structured support through accountability groups and mentors, this community is for you. To learn more on how to become a member, visit https://eodubai.com/ or reach out to EO Dubai Administrator adminsupport@eodubai.com. Details about the EO membership: https://eodubai.com/member-benefits-new/apply-for-membership-new/ Where to find the podcast: ▶️ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCjrbr87_ZSPICaDoTcCebyw 🎙 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6B5JdkAWrGSd927rZquJz7?si=4802c936a51f418c⁠ 🎙 Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/my-first-business-with-naeem-parvez/id1615535576 🎙 Google Podcast: https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9mZWVkcy5idXp6c3Byb3V0LmNvbS8xOTE1MjA1LnJzcw?sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjk_8SnuPD5AhUBGRoKHZ-DAxMQ9sEGegQIARAC Where to find Rajesh: 💼 ⁠LinkedIn⁠: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rajesh-sajnani/ 📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rvsrajesh/ 📸 ⁠Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rajesh.sajnani.9 🌐 ⁠Business Website(s): https://rvsgroup.ae/, https://cloudhost.ae/, https://si-fashion.com/ Where to find me: 📸 IG: http://www.instagram.com/the.naeem.parvez⁠ 📸 IG: http://www.instagram.com/myfirstbusinesspodcast 💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nparvez⁠ 🖥 Website: https://www.nparvez.com My First Business is a podcast based in Dubai, hosted by Naeem Parvez. In each episode, Naeem (co-founder of Digitalina) interviews successful, but under-the-radar entrepreneurs in the city. The guests share valuable lessons they've learned on their entrepreneurial journeys, making each episode feel like a conversation with a mentor you never had. Love From My First Business, a Dubai Podcast.
EO Series #16 - Brushing Up: The Story of a Pearly White Business - Shilpa Kane
03-04-2024
EO Series #16 - Brushing Up: The Story of a Pearly White Business - Shilpa Kane
Say hello to Shilpa, the heart and soul behind Apex Clinics Group, co-founded with her life partner, Ajoy. For the past seven years, they've been nurturing a space where dental care goes hand in hand with community warmth. 🤝 At Apex, it's all about offering comprehensive dental care—or as Shilpa likes to call it, "Community Friendly Dental Care." This isn't just a slogan; it's a family affair, with their young son playing a significant role in the clinic's day-to-day life. They're not just talking about community values; they're living them. Shilpa's journey to this point is both diverse and rich. Armed with an MBA and a degree in Microbiology, she has a solid background in marketing, with more than a decade of experience across various fields like Telecom and Airlines. This eclectic mix of knowledge and experience has shaped her into a leader who sees beyond the balance sheet. 📝 But here's what truly makes Shilpa stand out: she's more than just a successful entrepreneur. She's someone who believes in the power of kindness and community. In a world where business can often be about the 'survival of the fittest,' Shilpa chooses a path less traveled. She's proof that success can be achieved by putting people and values first, making her business a platform for fostering community connections rather than just chasing profits. 💰 In this episode, Shilpa and I discussed: 00:00 ▶️ Introduction 08:28 🌟 The challenges of finding your IKIGAI 12:17 🤔 Knowing the right time to start your business 16:12 👨‍👩‍👦 Working with your spouse and kids in business 27:49 🗣 How communication can make or break you 43:52 🤝 Having long standing employees and keeping them 52:19 👭 Why community is a part of her USP 1:02:12 🫣 Taking on the right level of risk 1:12:06 🤗 The best way to use an accountability group 1:40:44 💼 The consequences of wanting to grow the business and much much more! Dive into the heart of entrepreneurship and partnership in this episode. Explore the concept of Ikigai—your reason for being—and how it shapes your business journey, especially when working with your spouse. Expect insights on growth, purpose, and the unique dynamics of sharing your professional and personal life with your partner. 💑 Loved putting this together and hope it inspires you. Share with those chasing dreams and making things happen! ✨ -- This episode is brought to you by ⁠Entrepreneur’s Organization – Dubai.⁠ The organization also offers a mentorship program that pairs members with experienced business leaders who can provide guidance and support as they grow their businesses. So if you are a business owner, tired of taking on your challenges all alone and are looking for unique networking opportunities along with structured support through accountability groups and mentors, this community is for you. To learn more on how to become a member, visit ⁠https://eodubai.com/⁠ or reach out to EO Dubai Administrator ⁠adminsupport@eodubai.com⁠. Details about the EO membership: ⁠https://eodubai.com/member-benefits-new/apply-for-membership-new/ Where to find the podcast: ▶️ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCjrbr87_ZSPICaDoTcCebyw 🎙 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6B5JdkAWrGSd927rZquJz7?si=4802c936a51f418c⁠ 🎙 Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/my-first-business-with-naeem-parvez/id1615535576 🎙 Google Podcast: https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9mZWVkcy5idXp6c3Byb3V0LmNvbS8xOTE1MjA1LnJzcw?sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjk_8SnuPD5AhUBGRoKHZ-DAxMQ9sEGegQIARAC Where to find Shilpa: 💼 ⁠LinkedIn⁠: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shilpa-kane-a4608830/ 📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sh_kane 📸 ⁠Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ShilpaKane 📸 ⁠Business Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/apexclinics/ 🌐 ⁠Business Website: https://www.apexmedicalclinics.com/
How to Beat Business Burnout - Rishi Kohli
28-03-2024
How to Beat Business Burnout - Rishi Kohli
“You will at some point fall out of love with your business.” 😵 Welcome back to the My First Business Podcast - this is a mini-episode, where I take some the best parts of my interviews with phenomenal entrepreneurs and chop it up for you like a snack. 😋 In this bite sized version, you’ll be hearing from Rishi Kohli, Serial Entrepreneur, and CEO and Co-Founder of FIKA Mobility.🏍️ Hear from Rishi as he unveils firsthand experience being part of EO and the transformative power of being in the EO forum. He also highlights the invaluable peer-to-peer conversations, access to unique insights, and the sense of community that EO fosters. Discover the benefits of having a dedicated space for entrepreneurs to share, learn, and grow together!✨ This mini episode concludes with a powerful reflection on the essence of happiness over mere comfort in the entrepreneurial journey. If you like this snack-sized version, be sure to check out the full episode with Rishi Kohli on YouTube or Spotify or Apple, and oh, why haven’t you subscribed yet? 👀 Chapters: 00:00 Introduction 01:20 Impact of EO in life and business 08:58 Falling out of love with the business Link to Rishi's Full Episode Interview: https://youtu.be/HTWwUzuDZ6g — Where to find the podcast: ▶️ YouTube⁠⁠⁠: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCjrbr87_ZSPICaDoTcCebyw 🎙 Spotify⁠⁠: https://open.spotify.com/show/6B5JdkAWrGSd927rZquJz7?si=4802c936a51f418c 🎙 ⁠⁠⁠Apple Podcasts⁠⁠⁠: https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/my-first-business-with-naeem-parvez/id1615535576 🎙 ⁠⁠Google Podcast⁠⁠⁠: https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9mZWVkcy5idXp6c3Byb3V0LmNvbS8xOTE1MjA1LnJzcw?sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjk_8SnuPD5AhUBGRoKHZ-DAxMQ9sEGegQIARAC Where to find Rishi: 💼 LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rishi-kohli-56abb423/ 📸 ⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠: https://www.instagram.com/rishikohli1 🌐 Business Website - https://fikamobility.com/, https://lemelighting.com/, https://www.waterwise.ae/ Where to find me: 📸 IG: http://www.instagram.com/the.naeem.parvez 📸 IG: http://www.instagram.com/myfirstbusinesspodcast 💼 ⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nparvez 🖥 Website: https://www.nparvez.com/ My First Business is a podcast based in Dubai, hosted by Naeem Parvez. In each episode, Naeem (co-founder of Digitalina) interviews successful, but under-the-radar entrepreneurs in the city. The guests share valuable lessons they've learned on their entrepreneurial journeys, making each episode feel like a conversation with a mentor you never had. Love From My First Business, a Dubai Podcast.
EO Series #15 - Taxation, Thought Capitalism and Consciousness - Divakar Vijayasarathy
20-03-2024
EO Series #15 - Taxation, Thought Capitalism and Consciousness - Divakar Vijayasarathy
“Your own self-belief is your investment.” What I loved about Divakar the most is that I can safely say, he is on another level. His feet are firmly planted on the ground, yet his brain processes things from the view of a satellite orbiting the earth. In 2007, Divakar was an esteemed banker and had one of the best jobs in India - but he felt his curiosity draining every single day. He felt like the walls of knowledge were closing on him. He couldn’t stand having his thoughts constrained by artificial barriers. The banker turned ex-banker, and founded DVS Advisory group, which designs tax structures for entrepreneurs, SMEs & funded startups to enter India, expand globally from India or exit India, with zero penalties & 100% clarity. Divakar uses his business as his laboratory: he uses it to ideate, experiment, and build new products, services and models. You’ve probably seen him around - he’s a Forbes Advisor, has over 500 media publications and quotes and is also author of 15+ books on Direct & International Taxation. In this captivating conversation, Divakar and I dive deep into the concept of thought capitalism – a revolutionary approach to understanding and navigating the complexities of the modern economic landscape. We also explored other topics like: 00:00 ▶️ Introduction 06:14 🤔 Two kinds of capitalism: thought capitalism and currency based capitalism 12:43 ✨ Difference between perceived and actual reality 16:20 🧾 How to predict a country’s tax laws by just observing their traffic jams 32:29 🇮🇳 Why everyone should pay attention in India 1:00:02 👛 Enlarging your psychological wallet 1:03:22⚡ How energy is currency 1:05:25 ✍️ The compounding effect of intention 1:08:50 💭 Why poverty is possibly just a state of mind 1:21:24👫🏽 Working with your spouse 1:33:13 1️⃣ Keeping the main thing, the main thing and much, much more! I can safely say, this was a life altering podcast for me. I had goosebumps throughout the conversation, and a few awakening moments as I listened to it again, and I think it will happen to you as well. From discussing India's rise as a global economic powerhouse to exploring the opportunities and challenges facing entrepreneurs in the country, this episode is packed with invaluable wisdom and perspective. 🚀🌍 -- This episode is brought to you by ⁠Entrepreneur’s Organization – Dubai.⁠ The organization also offers a mentorship program that pairs members with experienced business leaders who can provide guidance and support as they grow their businesses. So if you are a business owner, tired of taking on your challenges all alone and are looking for unique networking opportunities along with structured support through accountability groups and mentors, this community is for you. To learn more on how to become a member, visit ⁠https://eodubai.com/⁠ or reach out to EO Dubai Administrator ⁠adminsupport@eodubai.com⁠. Details about the EO membership: ⁠https://eodubai.com/member-benefits-new/apply-for-membership-new/ -- Where to find the podcast: ▶️ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@UCjrbr87_ZSPICaDoTcCebyw 🎙 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6B5JdkAWrGSd927rZquJz7?si=4802c936a51f418c⁠ 🎙 Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/my-first-business-with-naeem-parvez/id1615535576 🎙 Google Podcast: https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9mZWVkcy5idXp6c3Byb3V0LmNvbS8xOTE1MjA1LnJzcw?sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjk_8SnuPD5AhUBGRoKHZ-DAxMQ9sEGegQIARAC Where to find Divakar: 💼 Personal LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/divakarvijayasarathy/ 💼 Business LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/dvs-advisors/ 🌐 Business Website: https://onedvs.com/ Where to find me: 📸 IG: http://www.instagram.com/the.naeem.parvez⁠ 📸 IG: http://www.instagram.com/myfirstbusinesspodcast 💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nparvez⁠ 🖥 Website: https://www.nparvez.com
How to Build Products Customers Actually Love - Rishi Kohli
14-03-2024
How to Build Products Customers Actually Love - Rishi Kohli
“Will you always have a perfect product? No, probably not. Because you're always iterating, you're always wanting to improve. Why? Because your customer wants something better. You always have to listen to your customer.” 😌 Welcome back to the My First Business Podcast - this is a mini-episode, where I take some the best parts of my interviews with phenomenal entrepreneurs and chop it up for you like a snack. 😋 In this bite sized version, you’ll be hearing from Rishi Kohli, Serial Entrepreneur, and CEO and Co-Founder of FIKA Mobility. Rishi discusses the significance of customer feedback, and the pitfalls of shortcuts when building products. He also emphasizes the art of perfecting products, cautioning against the perils of copying competitors. Learn how FIKA embraced the mantra of staying true to core strengths. 💪 This mini-episode is a distilled dose of entrepreneurial wisdom, reminding us all of the timeless principles that drive business excellence. If you like this snack-sized version, be sure to check out the full episode with Rishi Kohli on YouTube or Spotify or Apple, and oh, why haven’t you subscribed yet? 👀 Chapters: 00:00 Introduction 00:37 Move fast, break things philosophy 01:15 Customer’s safety first 02:47 Advantage of taking your time 04:25 Short-term thinking 05:42 Keeping an eye on competitors Link to Rishi's Full Episode Interview: https://youtu.be/HTWwUzuDZ6g — Where to find the podcast: ▶️ YouTube⁠⁠⁠: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCjrbr87_ZSPICaDoTcCebyw 🎙 Spotify⁠⁠: https://open.spotify.com/show/6B5JdkAWrGSd927rZquJz7?si=4802c936a51f418c 🎙 ⁠⁠⁠Apple Podcasts⁠⁠⁠: https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/my-first-business-with-naeem-parvez/id1615535576 🎙 ⁠⁠Google Podcast⁠⁠⁠: https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9mZWVkcy5idXp6c3Byb3V0LmNvbS8xOTE1MjA1LnJzcw?sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjk_8SnuPD5AhUBGRoKHZ-DAxMQ9sEGegQIARAC Where to find Rishi: 💼 LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rishi-kohli-56abb423/ 📸 ⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠: https://www.instagram.com/rishikohli1 🌐 Business Website - https://fikamobility.com/, https://lemelighting.com/, https://www.waterwise.ae/ Where to find me: 📸 IG: http://www.instagram.com/the.naeem.parvez 📸 IG: http://www.instagram.com/myfirstbusinesspodcast 💼 ⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nparvez 🖥 Website: https://www.nparvez.com/ My First Business is a podcast based in Dubai, hosted by Naeem Parvez. In each episode, Naeem (co-founder of Digitalina) interviews successful, but under-the-radar entrepreneurs in the city. The guests share valuable lessons they've learned on their entrepreneurial journeys, making each episode feel like a conversation with a mentor you never had. Love From My First Business, a Dubai Podcast.
EO Series #14 - How to Master Pricing Psychology, and Cultivate Lifelong Learning - Nishan Suvarna
07-03-2024
EO Series #14 - How to Master Pricing Psychology, and Cultivate Lifelong Learning - Nishan Suvarna
What drives you to continue building and growing the business? What’s your calling? 🤗 Meet Nishan, CEO and Revenue Head of Bluestream, a design + manufacturing company based in Dubai, where he’s dedicated to creating and enhancing products and services that promote sustainable urban development. 🍃 He says it’s his calling to do so. 🫡 Nishan's narrative is one of personal conviction—a journey woven with threads of legacy, resilience, and unyielding determination. As a steward of his father's vision, he has not only steered Bluestream's trajectory but has sculpted it into a beacon of progress and ingenuity. If you live in Dubai, you must have sat on one of their many park benches for sure, and hung out in the many public spaces they’ve built that we take for granted. 🪑 A biomedical engineer by education, Nishan has over 17 years of experience in Bluestream following in his father's footsteps - who founded the company. As a focused re-founder, he has been able to grow the company from 3 member trading organization to a full-fledged design and production facility now in Jebel Ali. 🏢 Nishan is also a member of the Entrepreneur's Organization and was a Founding Member of Vistage Worldwide Inc’s Dubai Chapter. In this episode, here’s what Nishan and I talked about: ✍️ 10:41 Learnings from biographies of successful people 🏇 15:58 Takeaways from the movie “Seabiscuit” 🌟 22:49 Finding your North Star and your calling 😓 31:50 Failures while scaling a business 🤝 37:03 Advice on hiring senior executives 👨 48:11 How Jeff Bezos uses the ‘Regret Minimization Framework’ 🎩 1:02:57 Manage time while wearing ALL the possible hats 💵 1:41:26 The mind-blowing take on the psychology behind pricing 🤔 1:50:21 What pathological obsession means to him and much, much more! What I loved about Nishan the most is that not only is he a book nerd like me, but he’s got this uncanny ability to reference what he’s read and apply it to all the conversations we were having. Nishan is one of the smartest dudes that’s come on the show, he’s a life long learner and has a pathological obsession with the truth & an obsession with optimism - and that’s exactly who is this podcast is for. 🎧 This conversation is fast paced, I think it’s just the nature of how quick Nishan thinks while maintaining serious depth in the topics that we explored - this will be an absolute treat for your ears. I hope you enjoy this episode as much as I did. 🌟 -- This episode is brought to you by ⁠Entrepreneur’s Organization – Dubai.⁠ The organization also offers a mentorship program that pairs members with experienced business leaders who can provide guidance and support as they grow their businesses. So if you are a business owner, tired of taking on your challenges all alone and are looking for unique networking opportunities along with structured support through accountability groups and mentors, this community is for you. To learn more on how to become a member, visit ⁠https://eodubai.com/⁠ or reach out to EO Dubai Administrator ⁠adminsupport@eodubai.com⁠. Details about the EO membership: ⁠https://eodubai.com/member-benefits-new/apply-for-membership-new/ -- Where to find the podcast:▶️ ⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠🎙 ⁠⁠Spotify⁠⁠🎙 ⁠⁠Apple Podcasts⁠⁠🎙 ⁠⁠Google Podcast⁠⁠ Where to find Nishan:💼 Personal LinkedIn 🐤 Personal Twitter🌐 Business Website📷 Business Instagram💼 Business Facebook▶️ Business YouTube🐤 Business Twitter Where to find me:📸 Podcast IG: ⁠⁠@myfirstbusinesspodcast⁠⁠📸 Personal IG: @the.naeem.parvez💼 ⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠
Silent Revolution in Africa: The Boda Bodas - Rishi Kohli
02-03-2024
Silent Revolution in Africa: The Boda Bodas - Rishi Kohli
"We are trying to build a more sustainable, affordable electric motorbike, but a transport system for “boda bodas”. Welcome back to the My First Business Podcast - this is a mini-episode, where I take some the best parts of my interviews with phenomenal entrepreneurs and chop it up for you like a snack.😋 In this bite sized version, you’ll be hearing from Rishi Kohli, Serial Entrepreneur, and CEO and Co-Founder of FIKA Mobility. 🏍️ Discover the genesis of FIKA as our guest shares the inspiration behind the venture, sparked during a cruise ship conversation with his brother. With a background in entrepreneurship and a fervor for electric vehicles, he set out to revolutionize the transportation system for the vital "boda bodas" in Kenya. The episode also sheds light on FIKA's innovative battery swapping technology, poised to reshape the electric motorbike scene across Africa. Don't miss out on this electrifying journey that combines passion, innovation, and a commitment to sustainability. 🍃 If you like this snack-sized version, be sure to check out the full episode with Rishi Kohli on YouTube or Spotify or Apple, and oh, why haven’t you subscribed yet? 🤔 Chapters: 00:00 Introduction 00:46 How FIKA started 04:40 The idea of creating electric bikes 09:00 Promoting the product Link to Rishi's Full Episode Interview: https://youtu.be/HTWwUzuDZ6g — Where to find the podcast: ▶️ YouTube⁠⁠⁠: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCjrbr87_ZSPICaDoTcCebyw 🎙 Spotify⁠⁠: https://open.spotify.com/show/6B5JdkAWrGSd927rZquJz7?si=4802c936a51f418c 🎙 ⁠⁠⁠Apple Podcasts⁠⁠⁠: https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/my-first-business-with-naeem-parvez/id1615535576 🎙 ⁠⁠Google Podcast⁠⁠⁠: https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9mZWVkcy5idXp6c3Byb3V0LmNvbS8xOTE1MjA1LnJzcw?sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjk_8SnuPD5AhUBGRoKHZ-DAxMQ9sEGegQIARAC Where to find Rishi: 💼 LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rishi-kohli-56abb423/ 📸 ⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠: https://www.instagram.com/rishikohli1 🌐 Business Website - https://fikamobility.com/, https://lemelighting.com/, https://www.waterwise.ae/ Where to find me: 📸 IG: http://www.instagram.com/the.naeem.parvez 📸 IG: http://www.instagram.com/myfirstbusinesspodcast 💼 ⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nparvez 🖥 Website: https://www.nparvez.com/ My First Business is a podcast based in Dubai, hosted by Naeem Parvez. In each episode, Naeem (co-founder of Digitalina) interviews successful, but under-the-radar entrepreneurs in the city. The guests share valuable lessons they've learned on their entrepreneurial journeys, making each episode feel like a conversation with a mentor you never had. Love From My First Business, a Dubai Podcast.
EO Series #13 - The Unconventional Path: How Peter Carved His Niche in the World - Peter Davos
22-02-2024
EO Series #13 - The Unconventional Path: How Peter Carved His Niche in the World - Peter Davos
“You think education is expensive? Try ignorance. Education is the only thing they can never take away from you.” Peter, a man of multifaceted experiences, shares a glimpse into his life's journey. From dealing with family expectations to chasing his own dreams, Peter spills the beans on how he navigated the twists and turns of generational legacies and the pursuit of individual identity. ✨ After working in the family business for six years, he realized he wanted to get out of his father’s shadow. So, he moved out to another continent and created his own path despite the disapproval from his father.🧔‍♂️ From there, he founded Hale Education Group in 2012, a Dubai-based company who assists students in their university preparation, application and admissions journeys, with a particular focus on the USA. 🧑🏼‍🏫 Peter wins the 🏆 ‘Most Enthusiastic & Energetic Guest Ever’ Award from me - he had me in fits with hilarious stories about his father, before switching to some real-life practical philosophies on how to become your best self. You’ll be left on the floor laughing one moment, and completely inspired the next. What a roller-coaster this conversation was! Aside from that, we talked about: ▶️ 00:00 Introduction 🧔‍♂️ 06:45 His father’s humble beginnings and moving to US ↩️ 13:28 Choosing a different path and leaving his father’s shadow 🤔 20:55 One person’s belief in him that changed the trajectory 💪 32:16 Playing to his strengths and delegating his weaknesses 🧅 40:45 Having multiple layers as part of his identity 7️⃣ 49:20 His seven metrics for success 💰 55:16 What “Money speaks, Wealth whispers” means 🫡 01:00:24 Not selling your soul for anything 🧑‍🎓 01:46:34 Why education should not be taken for granted Learn how Peter took charge of his career and relationships by saying no to the expected norms. His story of bouncing back from tough financial times serves as a touching reminder of the power of belief, support, and unexpected twists that shape our lives. --- This episode is brought to you by Entrepreneur’s Organization – U.A.E. The organization also offers a mentorship program that pairs members with experienced business leaders who can provide guidance and support as they grow their businesses. So if you are a business owner, tired of taking on your challenges all alone and are looking for unique networking opportunities along with structured support through accountability groups and mentors, this community is for you. To learn more on how to become a member, visit https://eodubai.com/ or reach out to EO UAE Administrator admin@eodubai.com. Details about the EO membership: https://eodubai.com/member-benefits-new/apply-for-membership-new/ -- Where to find the podcast: ▶️ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@UCjrbr87_ZSPICaDoTcCebyw 🎙 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6B5JdkAWrGSd927rZquJz7?si=4802c936a51f418c⁠ 🎙 Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/my-first-business-with-naeem-parvez/id1615535576 🎙 Google Podcast: https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9mZWVkcy5idXp6c3Byb3V0LmNvbS8xOTE1MjA1LnJzcw?sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjk_8SnuPD5AhUBGRoKHZ-DAxMQ9sEGegQIARAC Where to find Peter: 💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/peter-y-davos-mst-oxon-mds-harvard-a0b90158/ 📷 Business Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/haleeducationgroup/ ▶️ Business YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@UCBw7fa_jQrk4OCRODONHyWw 💼 Business Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/haleeducation/ 🌐 Business Website: https://www.haleeducation.com/ Where to find me: 📸 IG: http://www.instagram.com/the.naeem.parvez⁠ 📸 IG: http://www.instagram.com/myfirstbusinesspodcast 💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nparvez⁠ 🖥 Website: https://www.nparvez.com
How Funding Saved MC’s Business - MC Luijckx
01-02-2024
How Funding Saved MC’s Business - MC Luijckx
Curious to know how a business was transformed through funding? 🤔 MC and her co-founders bootstrapped the business for four whole years. Then, between 2019 and 2020, they decided to get funding. 💵 Why? Because they wanted to make their business much bigger and better! They needed more money to move to a bigger place and advertise more to companies. But guess what? 2020 came, and everything changed! They had to switch gears and start delivering to people's homes instead. It was tough, but guess what helped them through? Yep, that funding! 💰 This business got its funding from lots of investors. And all the people who gave them money are like their cheerleaders now! They don't just have money; they have lots of support too. If you want to know more, you can check out the whole story on YouTube, Spotify, or Apple Podcasts. Find out how this business bounced back, what big plans they've got, and how important it is to have people cheering you on when you're trying to make something awesome! __ Where to find the podcast: ▶️ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCjrbr87_ZSPICaDoTcCebyw 🎙 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6B5JdkAWrGSd927rZquJz7?si=4802c936a51f418c⁠ 🎙 Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/my-first-business-with-naeem-parvez/id1615535576 🎙 Google Podcast: https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9mZWVkcy5idXp6c3Byb3V0LmNvbS8xOTE1MjA1LnJzcw?sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjk_8SnuPD5AhUBGRoKHZ-DAxMQ9sEGegQIARAC⁠ Where to find MC: 💼 Personal LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marie-christine-luijckx-cfa-2a973838/ 💼 Business LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/fruitful-day/ 🌐 Business Website: https://fruitfulday.com/ 📸 Business Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fruitfuldayuae/ Where to find me: 📸 IG: http://www.instagram.com/the.naeem.parvez⁠ 📸 IG: http://www.instagram.com/myfirstbusinesspodcast⁠ 💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nparvez⁠ 🖥 Website: https://www.nparvez.com __ My First Business is a podcast based in Dubai, hosted by Naeem Parvez. In each episode, Naeem (co-founder of Digitalina) interviews successful, but under-the-radar entrepreneurs in the city. The guests share valuable lessons they've learned on their entrepreneurial journeys, making each episode feel like a conversation with a mentor you never had. Love From My First Business, a Dubai Podcast.
How To Build a Winning Sales Team - MC Luijckx
25-01-2024
How To Build a Winning Sales Team - MC Luijckx
What would you do on your first day at a new job? 🤔 Welcome back to the My First Business Podcast - this is a mini-episode, where I take some the best parts of my interviews with phenomenal entrepreneurs and chop it up for you like a snack. 😋 In this quick chat, MC talks about starting a business development team, which sounds pretty tough. Scaling a team from 1 to 2 people can be tricky. But it's about setting up the right procedures and policies first.❗️ She mentioned seeking advice from a mentor, which totally changed their game plan. With the mentor's help, they revamped their sales strategy, making meetings and metrics way better. MC didn't have much experience managing sales teams before but learned a lot from good and bad hires. She stressed the importance of hiring for culture fit, especially in sales. She talked about how salespeople, even if they ace interviews, might not always fit with a company's vibe. She even shared a neat interview trick, asking interviewees how they'd spend their first half-day on the job. This helped them spot the ones who get the big picture. And hey, even if you're not a sales whiz, as a business owner, you've gotta be the best at selling your own business! Being passionate about what you offer can make a huge difference. So, listen in for more insights on hiring salespeople, managing teams, and finding the right mentors for your business journey! Watch or listen to this mini episode of MC Luijckx on My First Business Podcast YouTube Channel, Spotify or Apple Podcasts! __ Where to find the podcast: ▶️ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCjrbr87_ZSPICaDoTcCebyw 🎙 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6B5JdkAWrGSd927rZquJz7?si=4802c936a51f418c⁠ 🎙 Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/my-first-business-with-naeem-parvez/id1615535576 🎙 Google Podcast: https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9mZWVkcy5idXp6c3Byb3V0LmNvbS8xOTE1MjA1LnJzcw?sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjk_8SnuPD5AhUBGRoKHZ-DAxMQ9sEGegQIARAC⁠ Where to find MC: 💼 Personal LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marie-christine-luijckx-cfa-2a973838/ 💼 Business LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/fruitful-day/ 🌐 Business Website: https://fruitfulday.com/ 📸 Business Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fruitfuldayuae/ Where to find me: 📸 IG: http://www.instagram.com/the.naeem.parvez⁠ 📸 IG: http://www.instagram.com/myfirstbusinesspodcast⁠ 💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nparvez⁠ 🖥 Website: https://www.nparvez.com __ My First Business is a podcast based in Dubai, hosted by Naeem Parvez. In each episode, Naeem (co-founder of Digitalina) interviews successful, but under-the-radar entrepreneurs in the city. The guests share valuable lessons they've learned on their entrepreneurial journeys, making each episode feel like a conversation with a mentor you never had. Love From My First Business, a Dubai Podcast.
Turning Lemons into Lemonade: Fruitful Day’s Story - MC Luijckx
18-01-2024
Turning Lemons into Lemonade: Fruitful Day’s Story - MC Luijckx
Ever wondered how a fruit delivery business did great during a tough time like the pandemic?🍓 Welcome back to the My First Business Podcast - this is a mini-episode, where I take some the best parts of my interviews with phenomenal entrepreneurs and chop it up for you like a snack.😋 In this quick episode, we're talking about MC Luijckx, who started Fruitful Day in Dubai.🐪 She shares how things got really tough when they lost almost all their big customers because of the pandemic. But guess what? They didn't give up. Instead, they changed things up and began delivering fruits directly to people's homes. That made a big difference! People loved it, and their home delivery became popular.🤩 What's cool is that they didn't spend forever planning this change. They just listened to what their customers needed and followed their instincts. MC learned that when tough times hit, it's super important to listen to what people want.👂 This podcast episode tells us how Fruitful Day didn't just survive but did really well during a hard time. You can listen to the full story on YouTube, Spotify, or Apple Podcasts. 🎧 Join us to learn how MC turned challenges into successes, proving that when you're open to changes, great things can happen! ✨ __ Where to find the podcast: ▶️ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCjrbr87_ZSPICaDoTcCebyw 🎙 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6B5JdkAWrGSd927rZquJz7?si=4802c936a51f418c⁠ 🎙 Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/my-first-business-with-naeem-parvez/id1615535576 🎙 Google Podcast: https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9mZWVkcy5idXp6c3Byb3V0LmNvbS8xOTE1MjA1LnJzcw?sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjk_8SnuPD5AhUBGRoKHZ-DAxMQ9sEGegQIARAC⁠ Where to find MC: 💼 Personal LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marie-christine-luijckx-cfa-2a973838/ 💼 Business LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/fruitful-day/ 🌐 Business Website: https://fruitfulday.com/ 📸 Business Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fruitfuldayuae/ Where to find me: 📸 IG: http://www.instagram.com/the.naeem.parvez⁠ 📸 IG: http://www.instagram.com/myfirstbusinesspodcast⁠ 💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nparvez⁠ 🖥 Website: https://www.nparvez.com __ My First Business is a podcast based in Dubai, hosted by Naeem Parvez. In each episode, Naeem (co-founder of Digitalina) interviews successful, but under-the-radar entrepreneurs in the city. The guests share valuable lessons they've learned on their entrepreneurial journeys, making each episode feel like a conversation with a mentor you never had. Love From My First Business, a Dubai Podcast.
EO Series #12 - Navigating Fear and Burnout: Embracing Self-Compassion on the Entrepreneurial Journey - Diana Geldenhuys
28-12-2023
EO Series #12 - Navigating Fear and Burnout: Embracing Self-Compassion on the Entrepreneurial Journey - Diana Geldenhuys
How many business owners do you know that start a business because they wanted to be closer to their mother? 👩‍🦳 That’s exactly what Diana did with her 3rd business, Land’s Edge, an eco-tourism and sustainability business focused on self-catering cottages and apartments which lie on the very edge of Africa in a little slow-town. 🏘 But to get here, and to be able to do this, Diana first had to start, grow and acquire other businesses that are the furthest thing from eco-tourism. Diana pioneered HR technology in the Gulf by founding OPS in 2008, steering the business as the region’s specialist in the payroll outsourcing market. She then acquired the Gulf Solutions Group in 2011, with its flagship product gulfHR, where they interface technology and HR solutions, and is known as the preferred HR solution provider in the Middle East. She is undoubtedly the Queen of HR in the region. I had a lot of teasing the wisdom out of Diana, and as I do with all my guests, we travelled to many territories in our conversation. We talked about: 00:00 ▶️ Introduction 15:22 🔨 Early days of building a business and avoiding speeding fines on the way to client meetings 17:05 👩‍💻Glorification of young entrepreneurs, and what that means for older entrepreneurs 33:30 🤝 Diana’s succession plan, and how she is going about it 45:30 🤗Turnabout that made her re-think her thoughts on wealth and happiness 57:56 😩 Burning out and living a whole period of her journey in fear 01:15:30 💼 How we weren’t raised around entrepreneurs, as middle class kids, and how that’s affected our journeys, and our feelings of being imposters 1:46:53 ✨ Beautiful way to think about your legacy and much much more… Diana is an absolute sweetheart, sitting in the room and having a conversation with her felt like cool ocean breeze, and upon re-listening to this episode, I had a ton of goosebump moments as I thought deeper about some of the points she was making - I hope it does that same for you - so, without much further ado, here’s Diana Geldenhuys (KHULL-DAH_NICE) on the EO Series of the My First Business Podcast. Enjoy! --- This episode is brought to you by Entrepreneur’s Organization – U.A.E. The organization also offers a mentorship program that pairs members with experienced business leaders who can provide guidance and support as they grow their businesses. So if you are a business owner, tired of taking on your challenges all alone and are looking for unique networking opportunities along with structured support through accountability groups and mentors, this community is for you. To learn more on how to become a member, visit https://eodubai.com/ or reach out to EO UAE Administrator admin@eodubai.com. Details about the EO membership: https://eodubai.com/member-benefits-new/apply-for-membership-new/ -- Where to find the podcast: ▶️ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCjrbr87_ZSPICaDoTcCebyw 🎙 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6B5JdkAWrGSd927rZquJz7?si=4802c936a51f418c⁠ 🎙 Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/my-first-business-with-naeem-parvez/id1615535576 🎙 Google Podcast: https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9mZWVkcy5idXp6c3Byb3V0LmNvbS8xOTE1MjA1LnJzcw?sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjk_8SnuPD5AhUBGRoKHZ-DAxMQ9sEGegQIARAC Where to find Diana: 💼 ⁠LinkedIn⁠: https://www.linkedin.com/in/diana-geldenhuys/ 💼 ⁠Business LinkedIn - gulfHR: https://www.linkedin.com/company/gulfhr-gcc 💼 ⁠Business LinkedIn - OPS: https://www.linkedin.com/company/ops-uae/ 📸 ⁠Business Facebook - LandsEdge: https://www.facebook.com/landsedgestruisbaai 🌐 ⁠Business Website - gulfHR: https://gulfhr.ae/ 🌐 ⁠Business Website - OPS: https://ops.ae/ 🌐 ⁠Business Website - LandsEdge: https://www.landsedge.co.za/ Where to find me: 📸 IG: http://www.instagram.com/the.naeem.parvez⁠ 📸 IG: http://www.instagram.com/myfirstbusinesspodcast 💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nparvez⁠ 🖥 Website: https://www.nparvez.com
EO Series #10 - Failure Is Not An Option - Dr Sassan Dieter Khatib-Shahidi
17-12-2023
EO Series #10 - Failure Is Not An Option - Dr Sassan Dieter Khatib-Shahidi
“If you sell one, you can sell 10. If you can sell 10, you can sell 100. If you can sell 100, and it goes on. That's that has been my entrepreneurial philosophy. So to anyone listening to anyone who's interested about entrepreneurship, sell one. Don't be concerned about selling a million.” - Dr Sassan Dieter Khatib-Shahidi Dr Sassan’s story in incredible. From fleeing a revolution, to searching for truth through politics, to becoming an Attorney at Law, and finally becoming an entrepreneur - the twists will leave you in awe. He has managed to grow German Imaging Technologies (GIT) for 24 years, despite these stats being stacked against him: The average age of a business: 14 yearsThe % of businesses that reach $1M in annual revenue: 5%The % of business that exceed $5M: 0.6% GIT has become a printing solutions powerhouse in the Middle East and in Africa, while facing challenges like a paperless economy, a pandemic that shut down offices and numerous low-priced competitors. It’s not easy being in the top 0.6%. As I do with my guests, Dr Sassan and I travelled across a wide variety of topics, but the most beneficial part of this interview is when he delivered a short masterclass on how to set OKRs, you wouldn’t want to miss that. Apart from that, we talked about:00:15:26 🤔 Identifying A players and C players 00:20:01 💖 Loving to solve the challenges of business 00:36:28 ❌ Failure is not an option (unless it’s a controlled experiment) 00:45:59 🤝 Importance of being transparent to your employees 01:01:11 💰 Focus on selling one first 01:09:10 😊 Leading people with a smile 01:16:15 💡 Setting the right vision and purpose 01:23:11 🌟 Understanding and defining the North Star 01:34:33 🪖 Revolution in 1978 that changed Dr. Sassan family’s life What I love about Dr Sassan is that he's sharp in business, but yet works hard to remain spiritually grounded - I wish I'd recorded our coffee conversation after the interview for you guys to hear. He's got the German efficiency mixed in with Buddhist concept of accepting suffering - it's a real fun mix, he's really quite a treat to share a room with. I don't think there was a single dull moment in the whole interview, and I can't wait for you to listen to it! This episode is brought to you by ⁠Entrepreneur's Organization - U.A.E.⁠ To learn more on how to become a member, visit ⁠https://eodubai.com/⁠ or reach out to EO UAE Administrator ⁠admin@eodubai.com⁠. Details about the EO membership:⁠ https://eodubai.com/member-benefits-new/apply-for-membership-new/⁠ Where to find the podcast: ▶️ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ 🎙 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Spotify⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ 🎙 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Apple Podcasts⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ 🎙 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Google Podcast⁠⁠⁠⁠ Where to find Dr. Sassan: Where to find Dr. Sassan: 💼 LinkedIn 📸 Instagram 💼 Business LinkedIn 📱 Business Facebook 📸 Business Instagram 🐣 Business Twitter ▶️ Business YouTube 🌐 Business Website Where to find me: 📸 ⁠Personal IG⁠ ⁠ 📸 ⁠Podcast IG⁠ 💼 ⁠LinkedIn⁠ 🖥 ⁠Website My First Business is a podcast based in Dubai, hosted by Naeem Parvez. In each episode, Naeem (co-founder of Digitalina) interviews successful, but under-the-radar entrepreneurs in the city. The guests share valuable lessons they've learned on their entrepreneurial journeys, making each episode feel like a conversation with a mentor you never had. Love From My First Business, a Dubai Podcast.
Master Traders Avoid Losing Their Money… - Dhiren Harchandani
17-12-2023
Master Traders Avoid Losing Their Money… - Dhiren Harchandani
Would you believe that the best traders in the world were those who trade other people’s money? 💵 Welcome back to the My First Business Podcast - this is a mini-episode, where I take some the best parts of my interviews with phenomenal entrepreneurs and chop it up for you like a snack. In this bite sized version, you’ll be hearing from Dhiren Harchandani, Serial Entrepreneur, Transformation Architect, and Founder of Inner Game Consulting, Embee Group and NYCREC (exited in September 2022). 🙌 Dhiren discusses the valuable lessons he learned from his experiences, including the importance of innovation and the challenges faced by big companies. He also shares how he discovered that the best traders were those who traded other people's money, rather than their own. 👀 If you like this snack-sized version, be sure to check out the full episode with Dhiren Harchandani on YouTube or Spotify or Apple, and oh, why haven’t you subscribed yet? Learn Dhiren’s journey growing up in an entrepreneurial family, and how this planted the seeds for his future career in business. Chapters: 0:00 Intro 0:30 Growing up in an entrepreneurial family 2:02 Career in the corporate world 5:22 Lesson from the best traders 6:28 Being a serial entrepreneur 7:36 Time Management handling different businesses 8:18 Fighting Fires Link to Dhiren's Full Episode Interview: ⁠https://youtu.be/zh1A-p1qpdY⁠ — Where to find the podcast: ▶️ ⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠ 🎙 ⁠⁠⁠⁠Spotify⁠⁠⁠⁠ 🎙 ⁠⁠⁠⁠Apple Podcasts⁠⁠⁠⁠ 🎙 ⁠⁠⁠⁠Google Podcast⁠⁠⁠⁠ Where to find Dhiren: 💼 ⁠⁠⁠⁠Personal LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠ 🌐 ⁠⁠⁠⁠Business Website - dhirenharchandani.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠ 🌐 ⁠⁠⁠⁠Business Website - nycrec.io/⁠⁠⁠⁠ 🌐 ⁠⁠⁠⁠Business Website - embeegroup.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠ 📸 ⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠ ▶️ ⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠ 🐣 ⁠⁠⁠⁠Twitter⁠⁠⁠⁠ Where to find me: 📸 IG: ⁠⁠⁠⁠@the.naeem.parvez⁠⁠⁠⁠ 📸 IG: ⁠⁠⁠⁠@myfirstbusinesspodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠ 💼 ⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠ 🖥 ⁠⁠⁠⁠Website
EO Series #11 - Transforming HR: Jaya Maru's Journey from Buyer to Provider
30-11-2023
EO Series #11 - Transforming HR: Jaya Maru's Journey from Buyer to Provider
Ever wondered just how tough it can be to take the entrepreneurial plunge? 🫣 From the challenging task of finding the right talents who jive with the company's values and culture to the inevitable hiccups in landing those big projects, she's seen her fair share of ups and downs. Meet Jaya Maru, co-Founder and CEO of Rewardz Middle East, has been into HR digital transformation, incentives management and investment banking for 17+ years now. But she's not just your typical businessperson. She's an optimist, a hustler, a learner, and a self-proclaimed nerd. 🤓 Despite these challenges she experienced, she always goes back to the purpose of why she’s doing it: to build moments of joy in a world where people always feel valued. 🥰 During my chat with Jaya, we delved into discussions about: 00:00 🎬 Introduction 09:23 👀 Managing C Players in business 10:43 🤝 Hiring based on value alignment than skillset 21:21 💼 How demotion is necessary for personal growth 33:07 👎 Losing a major deal and learning from it 35:09 💭 Sales process and mindset of enterprise clients 48:15 🗣 Importance of user interaction and feedback for ideas 58:55 💰 Setting realistic expectations and negotiating on pricing 01:13:41 ✨ Aligning personal with business purpose 01:51:57 🫂 How EO helped her during the toughest phase of her life 01:52:40 👩‍🦳 Lessons learned from her late mother We share stories, insights, and a few good laughs along the way, making this a podcast episode you won't want to miss. I hope you'll enjoy listening to our conversation as much as we enjoyed having it. ✨ This episode is brought to you by Entrepreneur's Organization - U.A.E. EO U.A.E. is a community that provides an effective platform for networking, education, and support to business owners and entrepreneurs in the country. Established in 1997, the organization currently has 119 members from a wide range of industries, including technology, healthcare, oil & gas, real estate, hospitality, jewelry, communications, logistics, travel, and more. With an economy that changes on a dime, it can be hard to know what your next move should be. That's where EO comes in with their support. Being a member of EO UAE provides access to: -workshops-social events-learning opportunities-networking-learning from experts in different types of field The organization also offers a mentorship program that pairs members with experienced business leaders who can provide guidance and support as they grow their businesses. So if you are a business owner, tired of taking on your challenges all alone, and are looking for unique networking opportunities along with structured support through accountability groups and mentors, this community is for you. To learn more on how to become a member, visit https://eodubai.com/ or reach out to EO UAE Administrator admin@eodubai.com. Details about the EO membership:https://eodubai.com/member-benefits-new/apply-for-membership-new/ Where to find the podcast: ▶️ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ 🎙 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Spotify⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ 🎙 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Apple Podcasts⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ 🎙 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Google Podcast⁠⁠⁠⁠ Where to find Jaya: 💼 LinkedIn 📸 Instagram 💼 Business LinkedIn – Rewardz 📸 Business Instagram – Rewardz 🌐 Business Website – Rewardz Where to find me: 📸 Personal IG⁠ 📸 Podcast IG 💼 LinkedIn 🖥 Website My First Business is a podcast based in Dubai, hosted by Naeem Parvez. In each episode, Naeem (co-founder of Digitalina) interviews successful, but under-the-radar entrepreneurs in the city. The guests share valuable lessons they've learned on their entrepreneurial journeys, making each episode feel like a conversation with a mentor you never had.
Why You Can’t Get Anything Done… - Dhiren Harchandani
23-11-2023
Why You Can’t Get Anything Done… - Dhiren Harchandani
"The biggest problem that we're all facing right now is distraction. Everything is designed to hijack your attention." 👀 Welcome back to the My First Business Podcast - this is a mini-episode, where I take some the best parts of my interviews with phenomenal entrepreneurs and chop it up for you like a snack. In this bite sized version, you’ll be hearing from Dhiren Harchandani, Serial Entrepreneur, Transformation Architect, and Founder of Inner Game Consulting, Embee Group and NYCREC (exited in September 2022). 🙌 On this mini episode, Dhiren concludes by addressing the issue of distraction in today's world and how clarity on values and priorities can help overcome it. He also talks about the importance of being a good mentee and shares his insights on maximizing the benefits of mentorship. He emphasizes the need for consistent follow-up and clear goal-setting to extract the most value from the mentor-mentee relationship. 🤝 If you like this snack-sized version, be sure to check out the full episode with Dhiren Harchandani on YouTube or Spotify or Apple, and oh, why haven’t you subscribed yet? Chapters: 0:00 Intro 0:29 How to be a good mentee 1:04 Be clear on your goals 2:21 Set up a mastermind 4:49 Aligning of values Link to Dhiren's Full Episode Interview: https://youtu.be/zh1A-p1qpdY — Where to find the podcast: ▶️ ⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠ 🎙 ⁠⁠⁠Spotify⁠⁠⁠ 🎙 ⁠⁠⁠Apple Podcasts⁠⁠⁠ 🎙 ⁠⁠⁠Google Podcast⁠⁠⁠ Where to find Dhiren: 💼 ⁠⁠⁠Personal LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠ 🌐 ⁠⁠⁠Business Website - dhirenharchandani.com/⁠⁠⁠ 🌐 ⁠⁠⁠Business Website - nycrec.io/⁠⁠⁠ 🌐 ⁠⁠⁠Business Website - embeegroup.com/⁠⁠⁠ 📸 ⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠ ▶️ ⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠ 🐣 ⁠⁠⁠Twitter⁠⁠⁠ Where to find me: 📸 IG: ⁠⁠⁠@the.naeem.parvez⁠⁠⁠ 📸 IG: ⁠⁠⁠@myfirstbusinesspodcast⁠⁠⁠ 💼 ⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠ 🖥 ⁠⁠⁠Website
Don’t Raise Funding Until You Do This… - Dhiren Harchandani
21-11-2023
Don’t Raise Funding Until You Do This… - Dhiren Harchandani
New entrepreneurs should focus on proving their business concept first before seeking funding. But why? 🤔 Welcome back to the My First Business Podcast - this is a mini-episode, where I take some the best parts of my interviews with phenomenal entrepreneurs and chop it up for you like a snack. In this bite sized version, you’ll be hearing from Dhiren Harchandani, Serial Entrepreneur, Transformation Architect, and Founder of Inner Game Consulting, Embee Group and NYCREC (exited in September 2022). 🙌 Dhiren believes that too many entrepreneurs are spending too much time trying to raise capital instead of developing conviction around their ideas. He emphasizes the importance of bootstrapping and proving the business model before considering external funding. He also discusses the role of risk-taking in entrepreneurship and shares his framework for evaluating risks. He suggests considering the worst-case scenario and being intimate with the fears and anxieties associated with it. 🤗 If you like this snack-sized version, be sure to check out the full episode with Dhiren Harchandani on YouTube or Spotify or Apple, and oh, why haven’t you subscribed yet? Chapters: 0:00 Intro 0:52 Ignore Fundraising Advice 4:54 Taking Risks in Business 5:58 What’s the worst case scenario? Link to Dhiren's Full Episode Interview: https://youtu.be/zh1A-p1qpdY — Where to find the podcast: ▶️ ⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠ 🎙 ⁠⁠⁠Spotify⁠⁠⁠ 🎙 ⁠⁠⁠Apple Podcasts⁠⁠⁠ 🎙 ⁠⁠⁠Google Podcast⁠⁠⁠ Where to find Dhiren: 💼 ⁠⁠⁠Personal LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠ 🌐 ⁠⁠⁠Business Website - dhirenharchandani.com/⁠⁠⁠ 🌐 ⁠⁠⁠Business Website - nycrec.io/⁠⁠⁠ 🌐 ⁠⁠⁠Business Website - embeegroup.com/⁠⁠⁠ 📸 ⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠ ▶️ ⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠ 🐣 ⁠⁠⁠Twitter⁠⁠⁠ Where to find me: 📸 IG: ⁠⁠⁠@the.naeem.parvez⁠⁠⁠ 📸 IG: ⁠⁠⁠@myfirstbusinesspodcast⁠⁠⁠ 💼 ⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠ 🖥 ⁠⁠⁠Website