Conversations worth the time
Long-form conversations with the executives, founders and editors shaping the Gulf.
Episode 18ListenThe structure behind the money
with Viktoria Soltesz, Founder & CEO, PSP Angels
Why payment problems are almost always structure problems, and how companies entering the Gulf should sequence banking, licensing and provider decisions.
Episode 17ListenGoverning AI in production
with Omar bin Tariq, CTO, Gulf Digital Authority
Model ownership, data lineage and rollback plans, what responsible public-sector AI deployment actually requires.
Episode 16ListenSuccession without drama
with Layla Al Hashimi, Group COO, Emirates Industrial Holding
How Gulf family groups are formalising governance before the generational handover, and what it costs to leave it late.
Episode 15ListenThe Arabic standard
with Dr. Sarah Daher, Executive Director, Smart Media
Register, formality and cultural framing, why literal translation fails executive communication in the Gulf.
Episode 14ListenExperience is the asset
with Nadia Kassem, Managing Director, Meridian Hospitality Group
Cultural programming, collector audiences and the end of rate-led competition in Gulf luxury hospitality.
Episode 13ListenWriting a company into history
with Smart Book Editorial Team, Smart Book
Inside a legacy publishing project: archive research, oral history interviews and building a book that outlives its campaign.