Creator Sessions

What did you think? Message us on IG (@creategroup.me) for a chat!

How is the metaverse changing how we communicate with our audiences? How can brands add value in this space?

Tune in to our latest episode with the founders of illusorr.com, the world’s first meta-architecture and technology company.

We chat about creating cross-platform, virtual brand experiences, what the metaverse means for the #tourism industry, and how it can impact the future.

What did you think? Message us on IG (@creategroup.me) for a chat!

We hope you enjoy this conversation, it definitely had us on the edge of our seats!

About Manal:

Manal Rostom is an Egyptian athlete and women’s rights activist who has achieved many firsts for Arab and Egyptian Women.

Being the first Egyptian to have completed five out of the six world marathon majors, Rostom is always up for the next challenge.

She recently made history by becoming The First Egyptian Woman To Scale Mount Everest and is the founder of world-renowned social media platform @survivinghijab

Anja has built a reputation, and a strong following, for authentically championing empathetic leadership, personal growth & work-life balance - being a mother and a business leader.

If you’re not following her on LinkedIn, you should be! As the PR & Marketing Director of VW Middle East, we’ve had the pleasure of working together for a while now, but this was a great opportunity to learn so much more.

We know how to pick 'em! Tune in with our very special guest, award-winning entrepreneur and culture evangelist, Lucy d'Abo to learn more about how Lucy and her team at Together are helping companies across the region to shape their culture and move forward in this new normal that we are all navigating since the start of the pandemic.

We discuss and share experiences around:

- Leadership and building a business, going through a sale and starting again - we love hearing about those aha moments that lead people to exciting places

- What's happening in workplace culture in the region as well as global trends

- Why investing in the best culture is critical for success and longevity

We loved this conversation and definitely wanted to pick Lucy's brain for more! Let us know what you think.
 

Welcome back to the podcast with a very special guest, Futures Strategist, bestselling author and one of our favourite people to chat to about mind-blowing 🤯 ideas, it's John Sanei. 

Tune in with our hosts Tom, Dia & John as they discuss: 

We hope you get some great take aways from this talk, it's definitely got us inspired and thinking ahead.

He's the UAE's first pitmaster and one of our favourite people to talk to, it's Hattem Mattar! We had an awesome time catching up with Hattem in this episode, tune in for some good laughs and inspiration as Hattem shares more about his story and how he's built such a beloved and authentic brand, centered around community, friendship and family while cooking a BBQ in his backyard.

Hattem shares the important life lessons and work ethic that have helped him embody his personal brand - and that's when business really started to grow. We also talk about some of the effects the pandemic has had and learn that some things, like a BBQ brisket, really can't be shared online and shouldn't be. 

Join the conversation and let us know what you think! 

Tune in with us as we sit down with Victor Dalmau, Managing Director of Volkswagen Middle East, in this episode Tom & Dia ask questions about the adoption of Electric Vehicles in the region and the direction that the automobile industry is moving in, how organisations can lead the way and take responsibility for the impact on our planet. Swapping stories in growth & leadership along the way. 🚀

It’s always a good chat when Tom & Dia get together and start talking about mindset, building resilience, setting goals, and finding support structures as they both embark on some exciting/ difficult / maybe crazy challenges in the months ahead.

If you’re interested in personal development, performance & growth in general, this one is for you! 🤓

If you enjoyed the show, connect with us on social media to keep the conversation going. 

Tune into this episode with Dr. Alan Goldhamer, as we dig into the topic of medically supervised, water-only fasting. Learn what it's all about, and how it works. Dr. Goldhamer share's how this work has helped thousands of patients to overcome chronic disease and transform physiology and psychology to live a healthier, happier, and longer life.

This episode has some eye-opening facts and takeaways for anyone who wants to learn more about the effects of fasting. With Ramadan approaching soon, it's a good time to learn more about all the positive effects it can have on the mind and body too. Tune in to join the conversation and let us know if you found this episode helpful.

About:
Dr. Alan Goldhamer is one of the world’s leading experts on medically supervised, water-only fasting. Articulate, inspiring, and energetic, he is a frequent lecturer and speaker on fasting, diet, and treatment of chronic diseases to achieve optimum health.

Dr. Goldhamer is the founder of True North Health Center, one of the first (and largest) facilities in the world that specializes in medically supervised water-only fasting, along with medical and chiropractic services, psychotherapy and counseling, and more.

His work and studies have appeared in countless medical journals. He was featured in the Netflix documentary What The Health. And his book The Pleasure Trap (co-authored by Dr. Doug Lisle), has helped thousands transcend their prison of compulsivity when it comes to food choice.

If you would like to know more about whether this is the right approach for you, please reach out to experts in this field such as Dr. Alan and the True North Health Center, do the research, and make sure it's the best fit for you.

Step back for a moment and see the world through a lens of gratitude and higher self-esteem with our next guest Brian Bogert. 

In this episode, Brian share's his inspiring story with us including his mission to help people unlock their highest potential and flourish in personal and professional life. Tune in now and let us know your thoughts about it. 

About: Brian helps executives, entrepreneurs and athletes learn this transformative approach that cultivates perspective, motivation, and direction to align their life with their true purpose and exceed their own expectations. He teaches not just to accept change, but to embrace pain in order to avoid suffering. Before becoming a full-time performance coach, Brian and his business partners successfully grew their office (in a global insurance brokerage firm) into a $15 million revenue business.

This guest is at the helm of building the @survivinghijab community - almost a million members and counting in a private FB group, one that's taken her to stand on stage at the FB HQ in front of 5000 people as well as championing the cause as a global brand ambassador for Nike.

If you haven’t guessed by now, we can only be talking about the highly admirable Manal Rostom.

We didn’t sit down to discuss her numerous achievements: her marathons, the Everest trek, or her insta-fame. This was a genuine conversation about how things are slowly changing, coupled with the clear realization that there is a whole lot more that needs to be done.

Tune in and help us push that change forward by joining us in conversation with the one and only Manal Rostom.

Navigating the Industry cycles, the pandemic, and much more in 2020 brands and agencies are having to redefine their identities and discover what it really means to be digital. Tune into this episode with the Editor of Campaign Middle East, Austyn Allison, discussing all things marketing and advertising in the current environment:
- How the Campaign publication has adapted to a growing digital audience
- Advertising on the side of caution, sensitivity, and authenticity
- How some brands have found a way into the conversation
- We discuss what a new model of agency might look like in a few years

There are definitely some thought-provoking points that resonate with us. We hope you enjoy the conversation! Let us know in the comments if you have any questions! 

In this episode, Tom joins Spencer on the Spencer Lodge Podcast to discuss the impact of Covid-19 on the SME sector In the Middle East.

Tune in to hear their advice on how brands can enhance their communications strategy during a pandemic, how organizations can add value to their communities, and ways of giving back in times of crisis.

We have a very special guest in this episode, it's Rami Zeidan, Head of Video and Creative at TikTok in the region. We're thankful Rami agreed to join us on zoom so we could record this talk, safely from our homes. Tune in for a first-hand view of how the platform has been adapting to the changes of COVID, helping communities to feel more connected and helping organizations like WHO and UNICEF to connect with a younger audience in a meaningful way. We also talk through his perspectives on:
- TikTok usage and trends since COVID-19 quarantine started
- working from home, while running a team, enjoying family time and connecting with new and old hobbies
- dive into how, in this situation, Digital/ Tech companies might be more positively affected right now

- and the outcomes that we, as communities, might see as a positive impact after COVID-19

If you're listening to this and feeling stuck, overwhelmed, or anxious about where we are heading, we hope you find as much joy and inspiration in this episode as we did! 

Dirk Stevens, CEO of TaskSpotting joins Daly in our studio to share his journey from FinTech to starting his business.
TaskSpotting (recently acquired by Crowd Analyzer) works with brands to activate consumer-created content, at scale. It’s cool.

- Dirk compares entrepreneurship to Breaking Bad (surprising, yet accurate)
- We find out how brands can activate "everyday influencers" to test their products in new markets

These startup stories are absolute fuel for the brain, tune in and let us know what YOU think!

Uncovering key strategies to become future-ready in business and all areas of life with John Sanei. John is a best-selling author and Singularity University faculty member, with insights that stem from a deep understanding in psychology, tech and disruption. In this episode, we explore how to follow our curiosity and approach the future with all the creativity, flexibility and optimism that it deserves.

His latest book is called FOREsight, check it out here:

How do we thrive in a fast-changing world in which we are torn between the rigid rules of industrial society and the flexible creativity that the future demands, between the certainty and safety of yesterday and the freedom and anxiety of tomorrow?

FOREsight is a collection of 20 scenarios that combine human psychology and futurism to help you connect the invisible dots between the reality we perceive and the abundant, optimistic future we can create.

His unlimited fascination with the future has seen him become Africa’s first faculty member at Singularity University in San Francisco, a lecturer at Duke Corporate Education in Johannesburg, and a Partner Associate at the Copenhagen Institute of Future Studies in Denmark.

Hope you enjoy this session, please comment below and let us know your feedback on the topic and what you think. 

Catching up with Omar Tom, the brilliant, storyteller, founder, and co-host of the Dukkan Show. 

In this episode we talked about the intersectionality of culture and the youth. We tapped into some insightful content creation tips for brands aiming to speak to the varied subcultures across the city. This episode speaks to brands, artists, marketers, influencers and anyone in the creative space. Ideas have been sparked!

We can’t wait for you to tune in and listen to these pioneers in their element!  

About:
The Dukkan Show is a podcast that delivers a sonic experience, showcasing the great conversations friends have when they hang out at their respective dukkan stoop. Dukkan Show is the voice of Neo-Bedouins and the home of the others. The term Dukkan literally means shop in Arabic.

When we heard our friend Brian Keane was in town we couldn’t just let him pass by without sharing some mind-bending stories with Tom and Dia.

In this special episode, we talk about the upcoming release of his new book 'Rewire Your Mindset', how to quit self-sabotaging and hit your goals in business and life.  As always the guys some epic adventures and mindset hacks. This episode got us thinking about mental endurance and pushing through our own perceived limits. Please enjoy!

If you want to hear more, here are the links to previous episodes with Brian and Tom:

Don't let your excuses today become your regrets tomorrow - BKF Podcast

UTMB Ultra Marathon Running for 42hrs straight and developing a f*** it mindset - BKF Podcast 

Our Head of Social Media, Daly taking over the podcast this week to sit down with Ahmed Saad, CEO, and co-founder of Crowd Analyzer, the leading Arabic social media listening platform in the Region. This session was extra special being that it’s our first podcast episode in Arabic!

Crowd Analyzer has skyrocketed since it launched, evolving into the first Arabic-focused social media monitoring tool, serving top-notch firms and companies such as Mckinsey & Co., UBER, PWC, and many more.

If you're tuning in, please hit us up and let us know if you want more episodes in Arabic! 

Joined by the incredible Mr. Paul Evans, to talk about his journey in entrepreneurship, from Egypt to Dubai, building Solutions Leisure into the multi-million-dollar business it is today.

As well as a little taste of his new book “When I Woke Up”, which will be released early November.

We hope you’ll be as inspired by this story as we are. It’s about decision making, conviction, not dwelling on losses and pushing forward to be the best version of yourself.

If you’re looking for a wake up call, this might be it!

For more information about Paul and where you can find the book, check this out: https://www.wheniwokeup.com/my-book/
"The True Story of Paul Evans written by Carolyn Coe – is one man’s inspiring story of starting rough, making mistakes, personal suffering and the raw grit it takes to get back up when life deals the heaviest blows. Told with his authentic humour and frank wit, this is an up front and personal account of a life of full of jaw dropping, gut wrenching and heart warming events that will leave you reeling in disbelief and full of admiration for one man’s spirit to survive and live life to the full."

We're honored to have Aby Sam Thomas, Editor in Chief at Entrepreneur Magazine, on the other side of the interview for a change. 

Tune in to hear how Aby quit his job as a software engineer for a career in journalism.  

Finding stories across NYC to interviewing the top Entrepreneurs in the Middle East. This is pure inspiration for anyone looking to make a big change or chase a dream.

(Aby - We hope to read all the early NYC stories in your book one day!)

This week we sat down with a very special guest, most of you know the voice from your morning drive, he is golden, he's also a startup founder and a long time friend of our hosts, Kris Fade.

The guys go way back, sharing stories of how it all began, before Create Media and Create Production were born.

And we covered just about everything from:

- how digital media has transformed advertising channels for Radio hosts and stations

- Kris finds his listeners are more engaged and connected than ever thanks to the integration of social media and the show

- the key to connecting with 160k plus following on instagram

- We loved hearing about what drives Kris to build his businesses - Fade Fit and Fade Fit Kids on top of his full time schedule

In case you don't know, Fade Fit Kids snack is a healthy, affordable, nut-free kids snack with no artificial additives. Prior to the show we had a business meeting with Kris and his daughters Noushie and Kikki who you'll hear at the end of this episode in:

- possibly the best thing that happened on the internet today (we'll have to put this out on video as well)

We couldn't have asked for a more delightful show. So settle in and please enjoy the show!

In this episode with Richard FitzGerald, founder of Lovin’ Dubai, our host Tom Otton and special guest Daly (our head of Social Media) we get into some interesting topics for anyone interested in new media and social media agencies. 

Find out why Rich left his role as #socialmedia director in a big media agency, let go of his salary and jumped into life as an entrepreneur in Dubai. 

We loved hearing about how Lovin'Dubai was created and how this business continues to evolve with We are Augustus, SmashiTv and Lovin Saudi

Rich shares,

* how to recognize #trends in new media and how to act fast, #strategically

* advice for brands who want a piece of #meme marketing and more

* growth hacking and hitting daily views targets to get to where they are

We’re left with lot’s to think about for sure. Let us know your feedback, we’d love to hear from you!

This is for anyone looking to adapt their marketing strategies with creative, smart, new insights from an agency and global brand perspective. 
We invited / coerced our favorite adventurer and film friend, Charbel to join us for this one, bringing to the table some his experiences as the Head of Marketing MENA at Sony Pictures (by day) and @wheresmybackpack (his after hours instagram life). Both are worth great discussion! We covered; 

Overall the chat takes some interesting turns, but will definitely leave you with a lot to think about... Enjoy! 

In this episode, our friend Holly Smith - founder of @smithstpaleo 👩‍🍳🔥🏋️‍-  joins us to talk through the ins and outs of Smith Street Paleo as we know it - the ultimate meal delivery service for the health conscious, but time poor folks in Dubai… Sound familiar?

If you want to feel inspired, listen to this...

* Did you know Smith ST started as a passion project - Holly started by sharing her homemade paleo recipes and nutrition tips with the @InnerFight CrossFit community before figuring out how to commercialize it into a successful business

* We explore how to create a business with a strong identity and hold in the community, even when you’re prone to overthinking things!

* The daily food and nutrition content you can find on Smith St Paleo is not only great for your health, it’s a great example of increasing brand consideration using social media tools. 

We love this interview, it’s funny, it’s honest and it’s packed with great insights about running a business and making great content! We hope this inspires you to find your own jam! Get in touch and let us know.

This week on the show we’re talking about the special relationship between brands and agencies, joined by our friend and marketing pundit Stephan Muller aka @stephanrunsdxb

Stephan's a smart guy who recently moved over to Porsche as marketing and events manager, following 6yrs with Nike and brings a lot of high-level insight to this discussion. 

In this episode:

It’s smart, it's funny and truly going to be valuable to anyone who’s trying to build themselves up on a professional and personal level. 
Check it out!

This week Tom + Dia discuss *old vs new leadership styles*, drawing on valuable lessons from managing different types of teams. If you’re looking for more discussion and #actionable insights around; 

*Ownership - Fostering a culture of teamwork and results starts from the top 

*Being of Service to your team 

*Empathy 

*Facilitating - it’s not your job to know all the answers but it is your job to find all the answers 

💥This session is for you! 💥

Please enjoy this latest episode with Tom Arnel - fueled by the best coffee in town - in the newly opened Common Grounds (JLT) location! 

We dug into some of his strategies over the years, hearing what it took to build Bull and Roo to where it is today. 

There are so many great takeaways in here, if you're just starting out, or developing your leadership style, or focussing on a strategy for growth. but we really wanted to highlight how building a specific team culture takes planning and intent to get right. Tom & Serg is a perfect example of this and if you’ve followed the brand you’ll know what we mean, but this also applies to brands across multiple industries too - Tom and Dia share some insights behind our own agency growth. 

We hope you find good insights to apply to your own business in some way. 

Check it out and let us know. 

This week we were joined in studio by our friend and social-rockstar Alexandra Maia @house_of_social - Listen up and find out how Alex found her turning point and transitioned from her agency job into following her passion and launching her brand - House of Social
Alex, Dia and Tom talk about what it takes to make life-changing decisions, understanding what is holding you back, no matter your background or industry. We’re so #inspired by their stories, we hope you enjoy this talk. 

BONUS: We asked you guys to send us your questions on Insta before we recorded this and we’ve got them covered toward the end of the show. Check it out: 

Have a read: https://medium.com/@checkli/fear-setting-free-checklist-download-template-tim-ferriss-dd9773a270d1 

You can also watch his Ted Talk here: https://www.ted.com/talks/tim_ferriss_why_you_should_define_your_fears_instead_of_your_goals?language=en 

And we also quote Richard Branson, a lot:

“It is only by being bold that you get anywhere. If you are a risk-taker, then the art is to protect the downside.” 

Here is RB’s 4 rules of decision making:

https://www.businessinsider.com/how-richard-branson-makes-difficult-decisions-2015-10#1-dont-act-on-an-emotional-response-1