Creator Sessions

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 sat down with Trevor McFarlane, founder of Emerging Markets Intelligence & Research (EMIR), to record a new episode of the #creatorsessions podcast.  Trevor brings his wealth of knowledge, regional understanding, and mind-blowing insights to this episode. We discussed: the origin story of EMIR the global economic environment driving factors of positive economic growth in the GCC challenges and opportunities for business leaders in the market About EMIR: Emerging Markets Intelligence and Research is an advisory firm that serves senior business leaders of multinational companies, local family trading conglomerates, SMEs, and government. Driven by a belief in the value of local, high-profile connections and a deep understanding of regional markets, EMIR is a firm that delivers actionable intelligence, connections, and content to over +1,000 decision-makers.

Tune in with our incredible guest Manal Rostom, the founder of Surviving Hijab, the first Egyptian woman to summit Everest, and a prominent marathoner and mountaineer who has achieved many firsts for Arab women. In this episode, Manal shares the most honest and raw experience of her summit - the overwhelming anxiety, discrimination, and imposter syndrome (as well as the beautiful moments and the incredible support of her community and guide). Find out what got her though as she pushed to the top. 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

Look who joined us in the studio, it's our special guest, client, and friend, Anja Petrovski, PR & Marketing Director of VW Middle East.   Anja joined us on the podcast to share valuable experiences and her approach to: Personal growth Leadership & Mentors  Empathy and Trust  Workplace Culture  Agency/Client Relationship  We hope you enjoy the full conversation. More about Anja: 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

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.

Tom and Dia discuss the biases that hinder effective decision making and why identifying them within ourselves is key to sustainable growth, both personally and professionally.

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!

Listen in as we learn from Liliane Assaf (Business Product Marketing Manager at Facebook MENA), a fellow tech-lover, marketing guru, and an all-around fantastic guest, we hope you get as much value from this conversation as we did! Here's what you can expect from this episode: We learn more about Discovery Commerce and how it works How SME's can leverage automation provides to maximize their Return on Ad Spend AR & Try Before You Buy, and how it's potentially saving the planet (well maybe not exactly, but it makes you think about it). Instagram announces Ads in Reels   And what to keep in mind before jumping on new trends and platforms If you enjoyed the show, connect with us on social media to keep the conversation going. 

Tune in with Ahmed Younis (aka Fizo), Head of Facebook Creative Shop MENA, and explore some exciting trends & technology with us. We talk about Fizo's team, how they can support agencies in the region, future content creation with AR & VR, audio-first content, and more. More about Fizo: Fizo has left his mark on some of the Middle East’s biggest brand names with local and international agencies. He co-founded the FC studio, joined Cairo Elephant - the 1st creative hub/independent agency in Egypt, and became the Executive Creative Director in FP7 Cairo/McCann’s world group and head of McCann’s Creative leadership Council for MEA, all the while, orchestrating a plethora of award-winning campaigns for the likes of Coco-Cola, Nestle, Mini Cooper, Fanta, McDonald’s and Orange at Cannes Lions, D&AD and LIA. In 2017, he joined the tech giant, Facebook, as head of Creative Shop for MENA.

We're talking to Vishal Badiani, Creative Strategy Lead at Snapchat MENA, for first-hand insights to keep up with shifting consumer behaviors and trends through creative activations and AR experiences. We asked Vishal about: - the ‘Try before you buy’ trends in online shopping - how brands can build a camera strategy, - the AR lens studio and more Tune in for the full scoop!

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

Get the full scoop on what it takes to create such an immense show, 212m in the sky, with a world-famous DJ. In this episode, Matt (3DB), Tom, Dia & Shona share how the team made it work, the highlights, the challenges & what this means to the entertainment industry. Check out the incredible performance by David Guetta and the team here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xaurMcGqZHU&feature=youtu.be 

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.

In 2020 we learned a lot from staying home and being connected to people primarily through technology. Connectivity is more blended with our everyday lives than ever before. In this session, we talk to Peter DeBenedictis (CMO Microsoft, Middle East & Africa) to discuss how this affects marketers and all business operations moving forward. Exploring all the opportunities and innovations we might see down the line. Peter describes Microsoft's role in enabling organisations and schools to shift their operations online, enabling people to adopt the technology available and achieve the most out of it. We also talk about how to avoid digital burnout, sharing some key productivity hacks for a more balanced, healthy, and efficient remote working environment. We hope you enjoy the discussion as much as we did!

Surviving racism, harmful stereotypes, discrimination, and fighting all of these things with grace and a positive attitude takes a true fighter. 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.