Achieve your marketing goals JUNE - JULY 2023 | mecs.design The Founders: Alexandre Katrangi Irina Duisimbekova Licorne Gulf Ltd FEATURES / PHIL BEDFORD & FREDDIE PULLEN ON HOW TO NETWORK BETTER AMY CHAMBERS - LEADERSHIP V.I.R.T.U.E.S. | CORINA GOETZ | TAMARA BERRINGTON FEATURES / SAUDI MANUFACTURING SHOW | JUNE & JULY EXHIBITION DATES
BECOME A MEMBER OF THE BRITISH BUSINESS GROUP DUBAI AND NORTHERN EMIRATES! The British Business Group Dubai and Northern Emirates Email: [email protected] is a membership organisation that supports companies Website: bbgdubai.org and individuals from the UK with existing business interests LinkedIn: /Britishbusinessgroup in the region and those new to the UAE. Our membership Instagram and Twitter: @bbgonline consists of British-owned, Dubai-based companies, UK registered organisations, UK passport holders and brands that support British business. Through a considered and strategic calendar of events, the BBG ensures high quality networking opportunities, market knowledge sharing, valuable engagement opportunities and exclusive experiences for our members. The BBG provides an ecosystem that goes beyond Dubai, to the wider GCC and through the British Chambers of Commerce’s Global Business Network reaching and providing international exposure and opportunity for our members and stakeholders. For more information, please contact the BBG business team: [email protected] Founding Sponsors Annual Partners 2
HELLO Welcome to the June-July edition of Yalla! magazine. With temperatures soaring email: across the Gulf, June, July, and August tend to be the quietest months of the year [email protected] for events. But there are still some notable expos taking place, from the Saudi Food Expo, to the Saudi Manufacturing Show - and 20 events in our listings this issue. Website: mecs.design/ Networking expert, Phil Bedford joins Freddie Pullen on the Into The Desert podcast. Phil explains why so many people get frustrated with networking and LinkedIn: quickly give up - when it could make such a difference to their business or career linkedin.com/company/ paths when done correctly. mecsdesign Founders, Alexandre Katrangi and Irina Duisimbekova, share their experiences at Licorne Gulf, an investment firm with activities spanning Qatar, Bahrain, Saudi Facebook: Arabia, the UK, and Switzerland. facebook.com/mecsdubai Tamara Berrington writes about the impact of good quality rest on our well- Instagram: being and productivity. instagram.com/ mecs.design/ International Bestselling Author, Amy Chambers, shares her V.I.R.T.U.E.S framework for exceptional leadership. Twitter: Corina Goetz brings you a roundup of Arabian Gulf news, facts and events. twitter.com/mecsdesign And in the studio, we’ve been exploring some of the latest updates from Adobe, in the form of Photoshop Beta. Released at the end of May, this version introduces cutting-edge AI that can generate imagery from text commands. Enjoy the summer! Our 6th issue will be out in August. Marisa Manns Keith Manns Marcus Manns
CONTENTS Events Features Work 6 10 46 Upcoming SUCCESSFUL IN THE STUDIO TRADE SHOWS NETWORKING PHOTOSHOP BETA IS ABOUT EARNING 8 GOODWILL 48 Profile: 16 OUR WORK SAUDI 1001 NIGHTS MANUFACTURING THE FOUNDERS EDUCATIONAL SHOW 2023 ALEXANDRE KATRANGI PROGRAMS FACTS + STATS & IRINA DUISIMBEKOVA 28 THE POWER OF REST 34 LEADERSHIP MATTERS 42 GULF NEWS ROUND-UP from Corina Goetz RELIEF WORK IN Yalla! newsletter is produced by Middle East Creative Services (www.mecs.design), a trading name of Global Printhub Ltd. Company Number 12766881. Registered in England &Wales. 20-22 Wenlock Road, London, N1 7GU.
TRADE INDIA PROPERTY SHOW 10-11th June/ dwtc.com/en/events/ india-property-show-2023 JEWELS OF EMIRATES SHOW GLOBAL PROJECT 1-4th June/ MANAGEMENT FORUM KSA jewelsofemirates.ae 12-13th June/ gpmf.sa WORLD PHYSIOTHERAPY CONGRESS 2023 SAUDI CONSTRUCTION 2-4th June/ EXCELLENCE SUMMIT wp2023.world.physio 4-5th June/ scesummit.com 06/07/23 IDC SECURITY HEALTHTECH INNOVATION DIGITAL HEALTH ROADSHOW KSA SUMMIT & EXPO CONFERENCE KSA 5th June/ 5-6th June/ 14th June/ idc.com/mea/events htisummit.com digitalhealthmena.com SAUDI FOOD EXPO 2023 5-8th June/ saudifoodexpo.com HIVE FURNITURE SHOW 14-16th June/ hivefurnitureshow.com S6 TART
SHOWJUNE/JULY SCHEDULE HRSE HR SUMMIT AND EXPO KSA MEET ICT BAHRAIN 19-20th June/ 4 -5th July / informaconnect.com/hrse-saudi meetict.com THE SAUDI FOOD SHOW MOMMY & ME EXPO 20-22nd June/ 11 - 14th July / thesaudifoodshow.com mommyme.events SAUDI PRINT & PACK GLOBAL TECH SUMMIT 12-15th June/ 17 - 18 July / saudi-pp.com globaltechsummit.com WORLD VAPE SHOW INTERNATIONAL NURSING 21-23rd June/ RESEARCH CONGRESS worldvapeshow.com 20 - 23rd July / sigmanursing.org INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON LANGUAGE 21 - 23rd July/ expo-centre.ae SAUDI MANUFACTURING SHOW 25 - 26th July / saudimanufacturingshow.com DATES7
PROFILE: SAUDI MANUFACTURING SHOW 2023 SAUDI MANUFACTURING SHOW 25th - 26th July /saudimanufacturingshow.com The manufacturing sector in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has witnessed massive expansion over the years as economic diversification has become priority on the national agenda. The manufacturing sector will play a vital role in realizing the Saudi Vision 2030 and is expected to be its greatest driver of economy. Manufacturing digitization is one of the key pillars of Saudi Arabia’s industrial development plan. Digital Transformation has transformed all aspects of manufacturing, touching not just processes and productivity but also people. 200+ exhibitors 4000+ delegates 8
STATISTICS 800+ investment opportunities 500+ speakers 9
INTO THE DESERT INTERVIEW WITH PHIL BEDFORD Successful Networking is about earning goodwill Into the Desert Podcast recently had the opportunity to interview Phil Bedford, a networking expert on a mission. Phil is a business coach and a certified Professional Behavioral Analyst and NLP Master Practitioner. He runs the UAE franchise of Asentiv, a business consulting and coaching agency based in Switzerland. In conversation with Freddie Pullen, he explains that networking is misunderstood and undervalued by most people. He shares his views on why that is, and how you can succeed with a simple shift in perspective and a more human approach. Phil moved to Dubai 25 years ago, with a job in real estate sales. Being a commission-only role, he was effectively self-employed from the very beginning. And having spent some time studying in Spain, his hobby of salsa dancing in the UK quickly became another entrepreneurial outlet in the UAE. Within the first six months, he had begun teaching salsa four to five nights a week. He later began a kite- surfing business too, on the back of another hobby. 10
Phil was successful in sales but didn’t immediately recognise why. Sales were happening organically. He wasn’t cold-calling, he wasn’t aggressively selling, and he wasn’t advertising. Yet his sales pipeline was full of people. It wasn’t until Phil joined Business Network International (BNI) in 2006 that he recognised why. He was a top salesperson that had never trained in sales and had never cold-called. He was converting people because he was networking. He was developing a steady stream of business from his social networks, built up by his side businesses teaching salsa and kit-surfing. It just hadn’t been labelled ‘networking’ until that point. 11
Learn to network effectively. Another reason that people can misjudge networking is that it takes time. There’s delayed Phil quickly became proactive about the process gratification and no obvious sign of when your from there on, delving into the science of efforts will bear fruit. You may be regularly networking. It was to be deliberate rather than attending events, meeting people, and doing accidental. He branded himself the Rebel Networker follow-up activities. But you don’t necessarily know and was appointed BNI’s Regional Director for the when that will convert into new business. Notice that Middle East in 2007. This involved setting up multiple some of the most connected people in the UAE, for networking groups and training BNI chapter example, are people who have been residents for 10, directors and members. 15, or 20 years. And that’s what is commonly called ‘experience’ in the Middle East. Of course, a small He believes networking business owner typically has just 1 or 2 years. They is widely misunderstood. need to get the ball rolling quickly, so they’ve got to Or at least greatly be strategic and fast-track their networking efforts underestimated. in months, rather than years. One reason for that could be that it’s hard to value There’s also a sort of complacency. If you talk to in monetary terms. To demonstrate, Phil gives a people about networking, they often think they hypothetical example. Imagine you are given 2 recognise its importance and think they already hours with the U.S. President, and you are offered have contacts. Phil sometimes sees this with former $500,000 to invest in your business, or you can have CEOs who start their own businesses. They have a help from his network and ongoing goodwill. The lot of confidence that their existing network will help value of networking may be intangible and hard to them, but in reality, those contacts all belong to one quantify, but Phil is adamant that you should always tight-knit group. They might be former colleagues, choose the network. for example, where everybody was in the same office. So it isn’t a broad, diverse set of contacts. In reality, you should start by asking yourself the right questions. Who in your local market would be in a position to ethically help you? And how do you build those connections? 12
INTO THE DESERT INTERVIEW WITH PHIL BEDFORD Then learn to network effectively. There is a right way to start a partnership with somebody: Give rather than take. Understand the basic human need to reciprocate and approach networking with the goal of enriching the other person. It’s not about “What can I get from this person?” but rather, “How can I be of use and value to them? How can I leave that person more enriched?” That value doesn’t need to be confined to the business arena either. You might connect them with a friend who shares their interests or leisure pursuits. 13
The important thing is to put the energy in and This is a better approach all-round and the numbers invest in networking. The effect is very different prove it. We know from sales statistics that, in general, to turning up to an event, handing out business only 1 to 2% of people are ready to buy at any one cards, trying to sell to each person and moving time anyway. That puts the immediate sales pitch in on. Particularly in Dubai, there’s an attitude that perspective. Then, we also know that for someone to networking is a numbers game. That it’s about convert you generally need to follow up 8 to 12 times, getting around to see everyone at an event. A historically. Firstly, most salespeople only follow up company will give a salesperson a set of business once or twice before giving up; 85% stop after just cards, tell them to go to these events, give out as two calls. But more importantly, it shows why you many cards as you can and then call them all. The need to foster longer-term relationships. fact is, that’s cold-calling face-to-face, which nobody should be doing. Talk to people and get to know them. Don’t try to sell them anything right away. After 5 or 6 Instead, Phil says you should resist the urge to sell conversations, they might express an interest in immediately. If you try to sell to everybody you meet buying from you. When you keep following up, you at an event, people are going to avoid you. But if you keep adding value, and you keep thinking about can change the dynamic of your interactions so that how you can enrich these people, and you show that your focus is on enriching every person you meet, you’re professional, people will buy when they are certainly people are going to warm to you. ready. 14
INTO THE DESERT INTERVIEW WITH PHIL BEDFORD Remember that it’s a human being that you’re two categories: one for people he had a good talking to. Ask questions and learn about them. connection with and another for those with whom Listen intently and think of ways to offer value he didn’t. Most important of all, he follows through wherever possible. Phil is enthusiastic about by reviewing those notes and providing some sort of business cards and uses them to jot down notes support to those new contacts. after conversations. He divides the cards into It may be widely misunderstood, but networking needn’t be complicated. It’s about building trust and maintaining relationships, with the goal of helping each other. Do that successfully and you’ll make true connections that will help your business grow. Phil Bedford Freddie Pullen Founder & CEO Founder The Rebel Networker Into The Desert Podcast Co-Founder - Studio Nu 15
The FOUNDERS ALEXANDRE KATRANGI & IRINA DUISIMBEKOVA INVESTMENT SECTORS Energy Finance & Fintech Tourism Industry Sport Life Science 16
Licorne Gulf is a Capital Raising and Mergers &Acquisitions corporation with an international presence in the USA, Europe, MENA and GCC, providing investment services for start-ups, SME’s, Family Businesses and Fortune 500 companies. We speak to the company’s two founders, Alexandre Katrangi & Irina Duisimbekova, about their startup journey and motivation. What inspired you to start your business? What were the motivating factors behind that decision? I Alexandre My youth and early travels also motivated me to be an explorer. This year, as I celebrate my I was lucky enough to be born into a multicultural 49th birthday I have travelled all over the world and multi-faith family in the 70s. Even before and I am still discovering. And I still want to globalisation became a buzzword, our family discover more, because our world, despite some was already present in several countries. Being of its faults, is fascinating. I find the meeting born in Paris, I grew up between Paris, Saudi of cultures, peoples, and experiences is an Arabia, and the United States, where I could get absolutely magical adventure, and I believe it’s a exposure to international business. necessity. Not that my family was in business. My father was I Irina a surgeon, and my mother a professor, but to talk about ecosystems and travel; that old adage that Being a product of a multicultural and multi- travel trains youth... It turned out to be true! faith family of Russian-Kazakh origin, I studied in several countries - in the UK, Russia, and France, From my adolescence, and from the moment I where I finally set up with my parents. After passed my baccalaureate, I immediately wanted graduating from business school in London, I to continue to contribute to international enjoyed travelling and discovering new things exchange - to build something, to participate in and opportunities all over the world. So my the construction of projects which often change inspiration to start my own business came from the face of a city, a country, or a population. this desire to be free, to manage my personal Because the realisation of industrial, financial, time and achieve financial independence without sporting projects, or infrastructure projects any constraints. can enormously change the philosophy and the sociology of a city. 17
LICORNE GULF LTD What have been some of the biggest challenges Moreover, I like your question very much, you’ve faced since starting Licorne Gulf? because the common denominator in fact always remains human. At the age of 20, I was I Alexandre lucky enough to be present at a meeting in the company of a great international businessman Oh, there have been many...! who introduced me to European and African heads of state. I remember one evening being Obviously, when you start a company, and this at a palace and having a well-known, extremely is what I tell our clients today, even if you have influential head of state say to me - “Little one, a goal, a strategy or a vision, you will eventually you know in life you will meet many people, but realise that this only represents 10% of the never forget one thing: never kick your gardener journey you are going to make. You can’t foresee in the ass... Because you do not know what he the long road, as well as the different roads might become the following day!” and forks that your company will take through synergies, painful experiences, new partnerships, And indeed, I have kept to this adage throughout extraordinary encounters, and other avenues. my life. Myself, I have suffered blows and arrows from all sides, that’s just the human nature of Of course, as new entrepreneurs, the first individuals. But at the same time, the richness challenge is and remains money. When you start of having been able to participate and meet a a company it’s firstly about keeping afloat. I multitude of positive, benevolent people who started with the few means I had, I accumulated wish with all their hearts to advance their vision some professional consulting projects at the or project has been immense. same time, and as time went by I was able to build a portfolio of friends, relationships, and new contracts, which benefited us. The business is now profitable and allows me to reinvest in our project. 18
THE FOUNDERS In particular, I am thinking of Members of the I Irina Royal Families of Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, and Qatar, our partners. We have been present in Well, of course when you launch your business these three countries for 25 years. They have you learn a lot through experience as you go. At greatly contributed to our success through the beginning of your venture, you are a bit young their wise advice and their stature, enabling and naive, thinking that other people are here to us to access and trade in valuable industries at help to make you money! Big illusion! the international level - in a changing region at the heart of major economic and financial Then you understand that the biggest challenge movements today. that your young company will face, is unpaid contracts. Many clients will try to abuse your “The secret of success confidence, play on the terms of your contract is that one cannot do and you can lose hundreds of thousands of things alone”. dollars. The most important thing for our company was to get proper legal advice and prepare strong binding contracts that would compensate for our efforts. 19
LICORNE GULF LTD 20
THE FOUNDERS What setbacks or failures have you encountered Of course, there are also external factors that along the way? can sometimes affect the business world, such as meteorological disasters or the Covid pandemic, I Alexandre which significantly slowed down a lot of business and construction projects during those years. We Again, on this subject, I will put human nature can also see today the chaos that exists in certain to the fore..., Indeed, in the past, we had already regions of the world, where development plans, built excellent relationships and partnerships especially when it comes to infrastructures, are between several companies, with certain files set up for several years only to be stopped at or certain entities generating revenues in the some point due to conflicts or regional wars. millions, but it turned out that during the life cycle of these operations, certain jealousies, There is also the legal question, as we are seeing within the board of directors, or between today, of sanctions: certain countries or quality strategic partners or with clients, led to investors operating with local companies suffer dissension, misunderstanding very often, and in the full force of sanctions, which, by law in their particular a lack of listening... country, impose a total embargo or the cessation of their activities. This contributes to completely I think that’s what affects the whole world the destroying a whole strategic development plan most today, in particular the lack of listening that may have taken three or four years to build. and the reluctance to read things thoroughly. You notice that three-quarters of people, if you I Irina send them an email today, from the 10 lines you write they’ll pick up on perhaps 2 details. Nobody I would support what Alex said just above, human listens to anyone anymore... nature is one of the most vicious factors that you may meet along the way in your business. We have, in the past, tried to bring together Whoever these people are: clients, suppliers, different talents within the same company during relatives, partners or simply “friends” - you may our mergers, acquisitions, and financing; because, face rumours from various people trying to as you know, the only secret of success is that one damage your reputation or label your business, cannot do things alone. It must be a collaboration sometimes simply out of jealousy. of several people, minds, and experiences that contribute to creating something new. But it One of the other \"sticks in the wheels\", as I call it, turned out that very often, as is the case, everyone can be geopolitical conflict. For example, if you had a different agenda and did not have the same had some contracts with Ukraine when the war vision for the short, medium, and long term to started, all such business would be discontinued. achieve a common goal. Geopolitics can be one of the biggest hidden points of failure in your business. 21
LICORNE GULF LTD How did you overcome those obstacles and We are based, and our company is based in six what did you learn from them? countries. We are constantly travelling around the world because very often, especially in Any particular lessons? board meetings or strategic decisions and negotiations, there can be blockages. You may I Alexandre have seen already, when these problems start to be dealt with by email, WhatsApp exchanges, The first lesson is to take a high view of things. or phone, things can go into all the essence and Obviously, when there are dissensions between become even more complicated than it was in the different people working on a project, it is beginning! That’s why we constantly recommend necessary at some point to take a high view, to our interlocutors and partners punctual listen to the arguments, and consider the monthly and weekly meetings, not only in offices examples put forward by the individuals, in order but during a dinner or a friendly reception, to establish a compromise acceptable to all. during lunch - precisely so that the small details that are to be calibrated, can be worked out in And I would also say that there is a business a harmonious way... By the way, a famous writer rhythm, a momentum necessary for each used to say, “The devil is in the detail!” transaction. Some of our clients, when they follow us and the momentum we impose on Time, trust and listening remain cardinal them, manage to have a linear approach to elements of all progress. presenting their project, structuring it, financing it, and realising it. Others—and these are the worst examples—are those who work on a sawtooth basis, as we say in French. ie. They advance for a while and then suddenly everything is blocked for three months. Then they go back to work for six months... Then they take a break for a month, and it is extremely difficult at that point to find them strategic partners and investors, particularly because there is an immediate loss of confidence as well as a constant delay in the return on investment and the realisation of their projects. Presence is also important. We all do our best to be present with our customers, investors, and partners. Certainly, it is obvious that in today’s world of technology, there are many communication tools available, including the popular Zoom meetings which everyone has become an aficionado at. However, this does not replace physical meetings—a fraternal and friendly atmosphere can bring out so much more when people get along and there is that connection between people. 22
THE FOUNDERS Can you share some of your successes so far? I Alexandre In the last 20 years, we have helped to achieve partnerships and multi-billion dollar deals with international oil companies, technology companies, and sports clubs that we have set up in golf, where we have found them strategic partnerships and investors. Banking institutions, to which we have contributed by bringing them clients, dismantling entities, restructuring private debt, and listing shares in well-known companies. We have successfully worked with governments, and our international lobbying actions have enabled us to make strategic investment decisions for some countries. In our 27 years of activity, the list would be too long to include here; however, there is a multitude of company names and achievements that we have been involved with on our website and in the press. I Irina I Irina Yes learned a lot! I learned how to scan each client To me, being successful is when people start quickly, but with due diligence that would lead to seeking out your services through different fewer failures. Sometimes the client has their own channels or via recommendations from previous vision but it doesn’t match the reality, so you have clients. It’s when you notice “word of mouth” to explain how the whole system works and how spreading. Usually, with enough experience and they can be more successful with your guidelines. notoriety, clients are the ones who are chasing With more experience, you can almost instantly you on a daily basis. predict which company has good survival chances over the next three years and which startup will +500 International Clients stay at the dreaming stage. So we have developed 78% Success rate a lens through which we can easily determine the +100 Successful cases feasibility of any project, and only then proceed to the next step by presenting this company to the network of our investors. So the key is to always learn from mistakes, analyse the client and the situation, and then prepare the solution if there is any. 23
LICORNE GULF LTD Have you seen your business evolve and change Along with that, on the human level, the over time? acceleration of the world and the acceleration of communication and business systems mean I Alexandre that there are fewer and fewer people who want to respect the timetable of business. And this Enormously, absolutely. The last 15 years means that today, as soon as a contract or a have seen numerous changes in the business presentation document exceeds 30 pages, or ecosystem, making it a lively period. even a simple e-mail exceeds 15 lines, people have got into the habit, and three-quarters First of all, there are international regulations of people have got into the habit, of reading such as FATCA, SAPIN, OECD, and others that it diagonally, and finally find themselves in a have been put in place and have been great meeting asking questions whose answers were contributions to the structuring and the already written in the document! possibility of filtering companies, financing, and business. However, sometimes these regulations But this is how I see it with some of our have contributed to slowing down a lot of collaborators in Switzerland, England, or the business opportunities due to that infamous Middle East who have been with us for more international compliance. than 15 or 20 years. When we have to write to one of our clients or a service provider, I tell There is also the involvement of large states or them to write a concise and simple email with large state-owned companies with unlimited even a bullet point that doesn’t exceed 10 lines. means that have changed the face of business If you write a long and detailed report which is enormously in regions such as Africa, for extremely enriching for the business, the client example, and the Middle East or the ballast won’t even get halfway through. countries; this came with immeasurable means to compete with a private sector, even if it was already heavily established. With the advancement of new technologies, of course, we’ve seen the emergence of giants of technology or industry, utilising technologies to go faster, further, and in greater detail. And, on a human level again, yes indeed, a whole series of new jobs, as they say, can appear and new professions can emerge, allowing a large part of the world to be reached even in the most remote villages; in this case, the Internet is truly the great revolution of the last three centuries. 24
THE FOUNDERS Qatar Economic Forum in Doha 2023 Has your startup experience with Licorne Gulf changed you? As an entrepreneur, have you evolved with the company? I Alexandre Of course, as I say all the time, we learn from our tell them, only to fail six months or a year later, experiences and learn well; indeed, since the coming back to us saying “I should have listened beginning of our company, we have grown from to you...”This cycle has always fascinated me... so, one country with three clients to now being in six effectively, our years of business, development, countries with an average of 30 clients per year, and success have taught us from the beginning and a total of 800 clients over the last few years. to try to explain and influence potential clients We have gained in maturity, we have gained in or partners towards making good decisions by experience, we have gained in vision, we have always telling them to work on the three angles: gained in partnership, knowledge of certain short-term, medium-term and long-term. And markets that were at the time, totally unknown to by doing better, we can make sure he is receptive us, and knowledge in jurisdictions, and that has and follows the path that we want to engrave taught us today to structure offers that are well within his business. balanced. That can be interesting for some of our clients, but after explanations and clarifications, I Irina they themselves end up finding it absolutely fair, logical, pragmatic, and efficient for their Absolutely, it teaches you life lessons almost every industrial, financial and infrastructure projects. day and builds your maturity and experience. I have learned to analyse problems better and On a personal level, of course, I have evolved and bring about solutions in a more optimised way. I recognize that I go more directly to the point My approach to clients has changed, which is with certain clients, perhaps having less patience helping me to save my time and theirs as well. with age, and as I expressed above in particular, Self-confidence is also an important part of for those interlocutors who are not receptive the key success factors that one builds along to listening...I have always been surprised and their business journey, by learning from social amazed by some of our clients who decide to interactions and meetings with partners and hire our services, pay us regularly, yet are not clients. receptive and do not want to listen to what we 25
LICORNE GULF LTD What advice would you give to other entrepreneurs There is also what I would call personality, as looking to start their own businesses in the Gulf? well as, once again, the darker side of the human psyche. Namely, the envy of those closest to I Alexandre you, whether it is friends or family... Having experienced it myself, whenever you try to start First of all, what I would say to any entrepreneur something in life, you will always have people is to move forward. As Churchill said during the around you who will tell you, it’s not going Second World War, “He who remains static has to work, you’re too far from being able to do already lost...” And in business, it’s exactly that: something like that, you don’t have the abilities, we see a multitude of companies contacting us etc. And I tell people all the time to move forward to help them develop or find strategic financial no matter what. Yes, you will take hits. Yes, you partners. Instead of diving into the pool and will have failures. But move forward on your idea, then swimming with the movements - because move forward on your vision, move forward on in business, there will always be movements. your project. Instead, they wait, think, and question without ever starting anything, and without realising Besides, I have always coped using the Jim Lovel that each question will always lead to a different adage: “There are people who make things answer or a different option... happen, there are people who watch things happen, and there are people who wonder what So, we always say to our entrepreneurs: when you happened. To be successful, you need to be a want to develop in a country or region, of course, person who makes things happen.” there are a multitude of solutions or options; however, you can never do them all at once... We, therefore, recommend that out of the two, three, or four possible options, you choose one and start it. It may not be the best, it may not be the right one, it may even be the least good, but at least start something and the life cycle of your company begins. I always used to say “A company is a living being-a being in movement-- and there will always be changes.” In this respect, the key word is “adaptation.” Throughout your life as an entrepreneur and the life cycle of your company, you will have to make choices morning, noon, and night; and it is your capacity to adapt that will help you make decisions and carry them out - since situations will constantly change. 26
THE FOUNDERS I Irina 4. Embrace innovation because the business landscape is constantly changing, and it’s It’s always challenging to start your own business, important to stay up-to-date with the latest it can be a daunting task. But with the right trends and technologies. mindset and approach, it can be a rewarding and fulfilling experience. My advice for aspiring 5. Lastly, persevere. Starting a business can entrepreneurs in the Gulf would be: be a challenging and sometimes frustrating experience, but perseverance is key. Believe in 1. Conduct thorough market research before yourself and your vision, and stay committed starting a business. It’s important to to your goals even in the face of obstacles and understand the market and competition. Doing setbacks. market research can help you identify gaps and opportunities in the market, as well as potential challenges and risks. 2. Create a solid business plan that will serve as a roadmap for your business, outlining your goals, strategies, and financial projections. It can also help you secure funding and attract investors. 3. Assemble a strong team of talented and dedicated individuals who share your vision and values. \"You can choose to be successful if you really desire it and you move towards your goals.\" Alexandre Katrangi Irina Duisimbekova Chairman & Co-founder CEO & Co-founder [email protected] UNITED KINGDOM - SWITZERLAND - QATAR - SAUDI ARABIA - BAHRAIN 27
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The Power of Rest; Unveiling the Secrets to Improved Wellbeing In today’s fast-paced, digital world, it is easy to get caught up in a whirlwind of busyness. We become embroiled in the grind of work, family responsibilities and often find ourselves juggling multiple tasks, chasing deadlines, and sacrificing our precious downtime in the name of success. However, there is a profound truth we often overlook. We need rest. Rest is not merely a luxury but a vital component of our overall wellbeing and productivity. Let us explore the transformative power of rest, unveil its secrets and understand why it is essential for achieving a balanced and fulfilling life. The Art of Rest Rest can be difficult to define because it can look different for everyone, but it is more than just sleeping or taking breaks from work. Rest is a deliberate act of self-care that rejuvenates our minds, replenishes our bodies, and nourishes our souls. It encompasses various forms, such as quality sleep, leisure activities, mindfulness practices, and relaxation techniques. When we embrace rest as an art, we open ourselves up to a world of possibilities that can profoundly impact our wellbeing and productivity. Rest is any behaviour aimed at increasing physical or mental wellbeing. It can be active, such as going for a walk outside (I often find taking my dog for a little stroll helps me to reset), or going for a swim. And it can be passive, such as taking 10 minutes to sit down and breathe deeply. Regardless of how you choose to rest, these daily behaviours can help you recover and recharge from physical and mental effort. That is why better rest is linked to better physical and mental health. 29
The Marathon Runner Benefits of Rest Imagine a dedicated marathon runner preparing Similarly, in our pursuit of success and productivity, for the race of a lifetime. Their goal is to achieve we often resemble that determined marathon peak performance and cross the finish line runner. We set ambitious goals, work tirelessly, and victoriously. They meticulously design their push ourselves to the limit. We believe that more training program, precisely tracking their mileage, time spent on tasks equates to greater productivity. incorporating strength workouts, and adhering to a However, without incorporating regular periods strict diet plan. Their determination and hard work of rest, our mental and physical faculties begin to are commendable, but there is one crucial element wear down, and our performance starts to suffer. they must never overlook: rest. Have you found yourself busy trying to finish a In the world of long-distance running, rest days are task, but you just cannot focus and keep making just as essential as the training days. They provide mistakes? Try taking yourself away from your desk an opportunity for the runner’s muscles to repair, for just 10 minutes of down time, whether it is to rebuild, and grow stronger. Ignoring rest would have a cup of tea, close your eyes or go for a stroll. mean subjecting the body to continuous strain, When you come back to the task you will feel more increasing the risk of injuries and burnout, and focused and recharged. Just as a marathon runner ultimately hindering progress. may find themselves stuck in a training plateau, facing a mental block or lack of motivation, taking a 30 step back and allowing time for rest and relaxation can provide the much-needed breakthrough, acting as catalyst for inspiration and innovation. Rest rekindles our passion, fuels our imagination, and allows us to approach tasks with a fresh perspective. It is the delicate balance between pushing oneself and allowing time for recovery that leads to optimal performance and achievement.
THE POWER OF REST When it comes to relationships, rest can be viewed as a source of nourishment. It provides an opportunity to connect with loved ones and foster healthy relationships. Quality time spent with family and friends strengthens bonds, increases happiness, and offers emotional support. By prioritising rest, we create space for meaningful connections and can build a stronger support network. Just as a marathon runner’s body requires rest to recover, our minds and bodies also need adequate downtime to rejuvenate. Studies have shown that short breaks and longer vacations enhance creativity, problem-solving skills, and memory retention. From a physical standpoint, adequate downtime contributes to health by boosting the immune system and promoting better cardiovascular health. Engaging in restful activities such as yoga, meditation, or simply spending time in nature can also reduce muscle tension and improve overall physical wellbeing. 31
Prioritising Rest and Self-Care runner and stride towards your aspirations, not forgetting that rest is not a sign of weakness but a So, how can you incorporate rest into your daily pathway to greatness and improved wellbeing. routine? We make time every day to eat, take the children to school, do the chores, run errands and Setting Boundaries. Learning go to work. Why should rest be any different? Start to Say No… Minus the Guilt by finding a relaxation technique that works for you. This could be meditating, practising yoga, Learning to say ‘no’ and setting boundaries are walking, listening to music, reading a book, or any integral aspects of self-care and rest. combination of these things. When planning out your daily routine, find a consistent time to rest. When we say ‘yes’ to every request and fail to set You could make time to meditate every morning or boundaries, we spread ourselves too thin, which if have a relaxing bath before bed for example. Rather left unchecked, can lead to exhaustion and burnout. than eating your lunch ‘al desko’ go for a short walk By learning to say ‘no’ and setting limits on our during your lunch break and eat ‘al fresco’. Ok, commitments, we conserve our energy and allocate maybe not in the UAE summer, but you catch my it to activities that truly matter to us. This allows drift! for better rest and rejuvenation, and ultimately, productivity. No matter what your schedule or task list may look like, switching off and resting is vital to your long- term health. Embrace the wisdom of the marathon 32
THE POWER OF REST Setting boundaries also helps safeguard our Start by acknowledging that rest and self-care are mental health. It allows us to establish limits on the not indulgent luxuries, but essential components demands and expectations placed on us by others. of a healthy and balanced life. Just as a car needs By saying ‘no’ to tasks or commitments that would regular maintenance to keep running smoothly, our overwhelm us, we reduce stress and maintain a bodies and minds require care and rejuvenation to healthier work-life balance. This contributes to a function optimally. Rest is not a selfish act; it is an more peaceful state of mind, promoting better rest investment in our physical, mental, and emotional and relaxation. wellbeing. And let us not forget that rest is not just about So, take a moment to breathe, relax, and invest in physical relaxation; rest also promotes mental the art of rest. Your mind and body will thank you and emotional rejuvenation. When we say ‘no’ and for it. set boundaries, we create space for reflection and introspection. This time allows us to evaluate Tamara Berrington our needs, desires, and goals, leading to greater Founder & Director clarity and a stronger sense of purpose. Such Tamkeen Training introspection can enhance our wellbeing and lead to more intentional and fulfilling rest. Tamara Berrington is a Learning and Development professional and the founder of Tamkeen Training. “But I don’t have time for rest, I should be working,” Tamara specialises in Corporate Wellbeing and Resilience and is I hear you screaming. Yes, it’s easy to fall into the also a Menopause Wellness practitioner. trap of feeling guilty when we take time to rest and prioritise self-care. www.tamkeentraining.me [email protected] Learning to rest without feeling guilty is not only essential for our wellbeing, but also crucial for maintaining sustainable productivity and overall happiness. Recognise the importance of rest. 33
Leadership Matters; How exceptional leaders differeniate themselves I’ll never forget the first moment I really knew leadership mattered. I was 19, working as a teller for a regional bank, and a group of executives came to visit our office. The top-performing teller that worked next to me had been working hard for years and was trying to earn a promotion to become a banker. In advance, she was promised time with the executives that day to share her story and earn their endorsement. She had put a lot of effort into that day- she had purchased a suit to wear to work for that day and had gotten up extra early to do her hair and practice what she would say. When the executives left without saying a word to her, she fell apart. She cried in the back break room, and it was at that exact moment, I made a promise to myself that if I ever was in a position of senior leadership, nothing like that would ever happen on my watch. I vowed to be better. This happened 22 years ago, and I still remember it like it was yesterday. Since then, I’ve spent over 2 decades observing, studying, and being in leadership at all levels, including my last role as a COO. I’ve created a framework for great leadership and put it into a book which was released this past February and is called the 7 V.I.R.T.U.E.S. of Exceptional Leaders: How to Become a Legendary Leader Who Transforms Teams. It became a #1 International bestseller on Amazon. If you want to be a better leader, these 7 practices are essential for you to practice. 34
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1. VISION All organisations want to accomplish great things, 2. INVOLVE OTHERS and nearly all of them track and measure their results. Problem is, all too many leaders spend way The best leaders know leadership is not about too much time talking about the “WHAT” and the them. Rather, it’s about others. Really outstanding “HOW”. What needs to be done, and how to do it. leaders involve their teams, their peers, their What they fail to discuss is the “WHY”. The why is partners, their clients, and as many people as where we inspire people, and not discussing it is a possible, in nearly everything they do. When you’re total miss. Great leaders have a compelling vision of in leadership, you no longer manage “things”. You a future reality that looks different than today. They lead and inspire the people who manage the things. frequently talk about why it must be done; why Terrific leaders know this. They involve others in key what the employees do actually matters. decisions, meetings, and events. They ensure that Not only do they have this vision- but they share their direct reports get constant coaching, and that it, communicate it, and talk about it constantly. people are involved in their own development and Great leaders eat, breathe, and live this vision every action plans. They’re constantly asking for feedback day. They ensure that people know the “why”, are excited about the “why”, and then know how they individually contribute to the bigger picture. They always make decisions in line with the greater vision for the company or the team, and ensure there’s real congruence between the vision statement and what people do everyday and how they spend their time. The best leaders in the world always rally their teams around all three of the following things: the vision (why), the mission (what), and a set of core values (how). When employees fully embrace these three things, they work with far more gusto- they are more engaged, more self-driven, and more excited to succeed; all on their own. 36
IN DEFENCE OF NONLE-AINDTEERRSAHCITPIVMEAMTTEEDRIAS and ideas. Great leaders know that leadership is not about what they, personally, can do. It’s about what they can coach, develop, influence, and inspire others to do. It’s about helping others see how valuable they are, helping others achieve and accomplish things they never thought possible for themselves. If you’re a great leader, your top priority should always be to help other people unleash their true talent and be great. It’s always concerning to me when I see leaders spending far too much time in their offices alone, writing board reports or analysing results, instead of being out with their people. 37
3. ROUTINE REGIMEN Exceptional leaders have consistent routines- leaders say things like “I meet with my team when I especially around the activities and behaviours that need to”. Great leaders say things like “I meet with matter most. They put the most important daily, my team weekly, on this set day and time.” Great weekly, or monthly actions that make a difference- leaders not only make time for these activities- but on a cadence. They put it on the calendar- and they create structured, predictable schedules don’t deviate from those plans. Coaching people around these things, and loop others in so everyone both in a 1:1 setting and in groups, sharing business knows what’s coming in advance. There’s not a updates, team building, and creating space to learn lot of surprises with great leaders. Remember, new things are all examples of the actions that consistency trumps intensity, every time. matter most. These activities shouldn’t just happen whenever there’s a fire drill, a problem, or an emergency- but on a consistent, regular basis. Poor 38
LEADERSHIP MATTERS Poor leaders deliver a lot of monologues- speeches with instructions and directions about what needs to be done, and by when. Great leaders, on the other hand, engage primarily in dialogues. Two-way conversations that again, INVOLVE numerous key stakeholders around a table, where everyone can have a voice. 55.. UNDERSTAND HOW UNDERSTANDING WORKS 4. TALK TERRIFICALLY Outstanding leaders know how very important learning and growth is for a team’s success. The Excellent leaders are often excellent communicators. business world is constantly evolving and changing, However, one thing excellent leaders do incredibly so if we, as people, aren’t upskilling ourselves, well, is create environments where others can excel then we’re already falling behind. Great leaders in communication, too. They work hard to establish are constantly creating learning environments, so safe, secure environments where people can have people can gain new skills, learn new things, and dialogue, ask questions, and share things they’re grow. Often times, unlearning what we previously afraid of or nervous about. They’re constantly knew is just as important as learning new things. asking questions of everyone around them, and Great leaders don’t view training or teaching as the they listen well. Great leaders take the time to recap responsibility of HR or the Learning & Development important conversations and follow up with people department: they know that for understanding after meetings or events. They remember what to truly take place, follow up is required, and their people said, and they’re specific in their feedback. involvement matters. They get involved in helping train and teach their teams, even if it’s just to ask about what was learned in training and then ensure it’s applied and executed. Training and learning means absolutely nothing if people don’t apply it, and apply it consistently afterwards. Great leaders know how important this is, and they get involved in making sure that takes place. 39
6. ENCOURAGE ENERGY Inspiring leaders are constantly finding reasons to and behaviours. They talk about lead measures encourage the heart by recognising and rewarding (which are predictable and influenceable), not just success. Great leaders don’t wait until a project has lag measures. This helps people feel their work is been fully completed to celebrate. They frequently noticed, valued, and appreciated. When you feel find small wins to celebrate. Their goal is always your work really matters, especially to leadership, progress- never perfection- so they’re terrific about you work harder. acknowledging milestones and steps along the way- before a project has been completed or before the team is at the finish line. They don’t just praise results. Instead, they also readily praise effort 40
LEADERSHIP MATTERS 7. SHOWCASE SWIMMING With everything that they do, incredible leaders tell their worst war stories about their earlier days walk the talk. They model the way. They showcase so others can learn from them. They create open, the very behaviours that they want to see in other safe environments for others to do the same. people. They practice what they preach, and they They’re approachable and accessible- and never act truly live everything that they’re asking others to like they’re above anyone or anything. They swim live. Their actions match their words. If they expect laps with their teams. others to readily admit their mistakes and be vulnerable- they do the same thing. They eagerly I guarantee you that if you follow these 7 PRACTICES you will be an exceptional leader. Your people will adore and respect you, stay fiercely loyal to you, and you will have sustainable and breakthrough results. Never forget that leadership is a tremendous gift and privilege, but it’s also great responsibility. People are counting on you to create an exciting environment where they can do their best work, develop and grow and make meaningful contributions. By doing all 7 of these things, you deliver just that. Amy Chambers Executive Coach / Life Coach / #1 International Bestselling Author / Speaker / Consultant 41
GULF NEWS ROUND UP June and July are the start of the hot months in the Gulf region, so if you are deciding to go there, be prepared for really intense heat. There are still some interesting events taking place that are worthwhile attending: 7-10 June Al Ula will attract thrill So here is your roundup of news: seekers with their Extreme Adventure UAE Astronaut Sultan Al Neyadi Al Ula – a festival for abseiling, hiking, cycling, dune buggies, rock climbing celebrated Eid El Fitr in Space but will and much more. he also be there for Eid Al Adha? – Stay tuned. Al Ahsa City in Eastern Saudi Saudi will now also send actually hosts tours during the summer where you can see the World Heritage astronauts into space and one of the site with their magnificent landscapes team will be the first Saudi woman in (and it is less hot there). space, Rayyanah Barnawi. Qatar will host a Fintech Have you heard about Burj conference in June with the latest Mubarak? Kuwait has announced plans trends called Finnovex. to build the “world’s tallest tower” – surpassing Burj Khalifa. Located in Silk One more thing… there is a really great City there will also be other attractions exhibition in Doha on Valentino - this is such as an “Olympic Stadium, a nature on until September . reservation area, a new airport and a duty-free area. FUN FACT Dubai will not only open a new Dubai has a new feature at the airport for children Expo City Mall in 2024 (which is being – they can stamp their own built by Emaar) no - get ready for the passport. This is for 4-12 year olds futuristic new flying taxi terminal due to only and they even get their own be ready by 2026. mascots called Salem and Salama. 42
MIDDLE EAST BUSINESS AND CULTURE Saudi has announced 4 new economic zones: the ‘King Abdullah Economic City’ (KAEC) SEZ, ‘Jazan’ SEZ, ‘Ras Al Khair’ SEZ and ‘Cloud Computing’ SEZ located in King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology (KACST). IMPORTANT DATES: Don’t forget the following important dates for the region: • Middle Eastern Father’s Day – 18 June • Eid Al Adha – 28 June • Islamic New Year – 18 July* * (depending on the lunar calendar) Corina Goetz is the Founder of Star-CaT, a 5 star Corina Goetz Middle Eastern Consulting and Training company based in London, UK. She specialises in helping her WWW.STAR-CAT.CO.UK clients create more business in the Middle East through cultural knowledge. 43
Still branding shirts with just a company logo? Edge-to-edge designs can take your branding to another level
A LOOK INSIDE THE STUDIO MARISA MANNS | www.mecs.design Adobe’s Firefly AI Brings Generative Fill to Photoshop Adobe Photoshop Beta has just been released with a revolutionary new feature - Generative Fill. Thanks to Adobe’s Firefly AI engine, users can quickly extend images, add or remove objects, experiment with inpainting and outpainting, and generate content with ease. Generative Fill is a type of artificial intelligence (AI) Given text inputs for a ‘clear desert sky at dusk’, that can be used to generate images based on text images B, C, and D are the 3 variations created prompts. It uses cloud-based image synthesis to fill entirely by Photoshop’s new Generative Fill. In this selected areas with new imagery. It takes the user’s example, a reasonably realistic result. text input and creates something entirely new based on it. Experimenting with adding other details, we found the results were less realistic. We gave the AI We downloaded the Beta version of Photoshop detailed instructions about adding hot air balloons shortly after launch. To see what Generative Fill and birds to the sky, and while it was able to insert can do, we started with this landscape image (A). balloons into the scene, they never looked quite Without cropping any of the original image away, we right. Those elements were obviously artificial extended the image upwards to create a square 1:1 CGI representations, rather than true-to-life image ratio. We then used Generative Fill to predict photographs. and create a suitable skyline. Nevertheless, Adobe’s groundbreaking new AI- powered Generative Fill capability is impressive and should be useful for dreaming up concept ideas. 46
ADOBE PHOTOSHOP BETA A B CD 47
Education Program 1001 Nights Educational programs Teaching children life skills, civic values, resilience, and social- emotional skills in formal and informLalIlFeaErnSinKgIeLnLviSronAmNenDts.CIVIC EDUCATION CURRICULUM Plans (Grades 5 & 6) hes specific civic value esson PlansS: COPE OF WORK: an animated10e01pNisIoGdHeTS in discussions vities in the10c0l1aNssigrhotosm- Comic Books x10 sorts ctivities homTeeacthoedr’soCwomitphanion Story Book /siblings Teacher’s Guide & Lesson Plans Student Activity Book Posters fe skills DVD’s, USB’s ivic values s critical thinking ORIGINATION - PRINT & LOGISTICS LEBANON - Levantine Arabic / French is the second language of Lebanon. JORDAN - Arabic - 3 main versions of the Arabic language: PHILLIPINES - Tagalog / Cebuano / Waray. IRAQ - Kurdish- 2 main dialects / Kurmanji HOLLAND - Dutch. (Northern) dialect / Sorani (Central) dialect. 48
OUR WORK Coo2-Arabic.indd 1 08/06/31 09:25:12 C001_BandiniMaster_20100507_Athena_CS3.indd 27 49
Some things have to be seen to be believed. Our HD printing is one of them At a printing press, quality comes down to the Every job we print is produced at approximately people running the press. The latest machinery 2x the industry-standard resolution. In plain and equipment are useless in the wrong hands. English, that means twice as much detail. Think A print company is only as good as it’s people. of it as High-Definition. This applies to just about any industry. Perhaps That’s why our print quality has to be seen in- your’s too. Human ability still determines the final person. And that’s why our work can command result. the respect of your prospective clients and partners. At mecs, we call ourselves a graphic design and print management agency. Because printing Whatever business you’re in, we can help you has always been part of our DNA. Our founders impress with print that’s out of this world. include a British Master Printer, trained at City & Guilds, London. We bring you more than 45 years of industry-experience and an obsession with quality, detail, and precision that is as strong as ever. globalprinthub.com/dubai
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