"If you build a community, you won't become a commodity." That's the key takeaway from Lloyed Lobo's extraordinary new book, "From Grassroots to Greatness - 13 Rules to Build Iconic Brands with Community-Led Growth." Lloyed is the Cofounder of Boast.AI and Traction, known for his openness, vulnerability and inspiring attitude. In this latest episode of The Change Officer: Media & Comms, our host Ivan chats to Lloyed about this bestseller, exploring what drove him to write it, and the life-changing learnings he discovered in the process.  Ivan and Lloyed spoke about:  Why Lloy ..read more

"We need to challenge everything, including our own beliefs."  In the latest episode of The Change Officer: Media & Comms, our host Ivan sat down with Jamil Shinawi for a philosophical discussion about entrepreneurship, innovation, and startup culture in MENA.  Jamil is the Co-Founder and CEO of AHOY, the 1st MENA core tech infrastructure company specializing in movement, mobility, and logistics tech. Their mission is to allow developers to innovate the next-generation applications and systems development.  Ivan and Jamil spoke about:  AHOY's vision and ethical stan ..read more

In this episode of TCO (The Change Officer) Step Special Podcast Show, host Ivan Zeljković interviews Andrea Giannini, Co-Founder and CTO of Exovolar Industries, a startup aiming to make flying as simple as walking. The combination of jet engines, exoskeleton, and patented thrust vector nozzle design allows the legs to move in the sky. Andrea talks about the various applications of their technology, including first responders in disaster zones, and their plans to open the first flight park facility in Dubai by 2025. He also explains how Exovolar repurposes the technology used by SpaceX in lan ..read more

In this episode of TCO (The Change Officer) Step Special Podcast Show, host Ivan Zeljković sits down with Hasan Haider, Founder and Managing Partner at +VC, an early stage venture capital firm focused on the MENA region. With over 10 years of experience investing in MENA startups, Hasan shares his insights on what it takes to succeed as a startup in smaller markets and the importance of thinking global from the very beginning. Throughout the conversation, Hasan emphasizes the need for founders to have a mindset towards expansion, urging them to think beyond dominating their local market and in ..read more

In this episode of The Change Officer podcast, Ivan Zeljković speaks with Khaled Talhouni, Managing Partner at Nuwa Capital, a venture capital firm focused on investing in early-stage startups in the Middle East and North Africa region. Khaled discusses Nuwa Capital's unique approach to investing, where the focus is on founders first. He shares the firm's belief in building an inclusive community of seasoned founders who support newcomers to the portfolio. Nuwa Capital has also built a network of accomplished entrepreneurs who dedicate their time to support, guide, and mentor the companies the ..read more

In this episode of The Change Officer Podcast, Ivan Zeljković interviews Vijay Tirathrai, the Managing Director of Riyadh Techstars. Techstars is a global platform for innovation and investment that aims to help entrepreneurs succeed. They have invested in close to 4,000 companies over the last 16 years, with plans to invest in 800 more this year. During the interview, Vijay emphasizes the importance of being in the trenches with entrepreneurs and investing with them, rather than just serving them. He shares his insights on how mentorship can open doors and elevate startups, helping them devel ..read more

In this episode of The Change Officer (TCO) Step Special Podcast Show, Ivan Zeljković talks to Ali Abulhasan, the Co-Founder and CEO of Tap Payments. Tap Payments is a payment solution that simplifies payments in the MENA region and globally. With over 100,000 businesses of all sizes using their services, Tap Payments unifies and connects all regional and international payment methods under a single integration, making it easier for businesses to receive payments securely. During the episode, Ali shares his insights on the payment industry in the MENA region and how Tap Payments is making a di ..read more

Welcome to the latest episode of The Change Officer (TCO) podcast, where we embrace change and talk to the change-makers themselves. In this Step Special episode recorded at Dubai Internet City, our host Ivan Zeljković sat down with Lloyed Lobo, the Co-founder of Boast.AI & Traction. Lloyed is on a mission to help businesses accelerate their innovation by providing quicker access to R&D tax credits. During the conversation, Lloyed talked about the importance of being happy in your job and how his own experience led him to a breaking point. After working 24/7 for his company, Lloyed fou ..read more

In this episode of The Change Officer podcast recorded at the Step Conference in Dubai, host Ivan Zeljković sits down with Luka Erić, Co-Founder and CEO of rhetora.ai. Luka shares his experience as a sales rep, where he faced challenges while cold calling potential clients. He then founded rhetora.ai, a startup that uses AI to help salespeople master the art of cold calling and improve their sales pitches. Luka explains how the sales industry is changing, with more companies working remotely and younger generations lacking the social and communication skills needed for cold calling. He shares ..read more

In the latest episode of TCO (The Change Officer) Step Special Podcast Show, host Ivan Zeljković interviews Atul Hegde, Director of YAAP and Co-Founder of Rainmaker Ventures. Atul explains the growing importance of the Metaverse and how it will be the future of online presence. He also discusses the government's initiatives to encourage Metaverse and blockchain expansion in the region. Atul highlights the importance of storytelling in building powerful brands and talks about his company YAAP, a multi-specialized digital content marketing and design company that focuses on the life cycle of con ..read more