The Forward Thinking People Podcast with Namita Ramani

In this episode, we wrap up an incredible season 2 of The Forward Thinking People by discussing the 7 traits that define forward-thinking businesses. After interviewing 12 entrepreneurs this season, we’ve identified the core qualities that separate businesses that grow with purpose from those that falter. Here’s a glimpse of what we discuss: ✔️ How clarity in organizational values drives smarter decisions. ✔️ The power of continuous learning for leaders and their teams. ✔️ Why competition is your greatest motivator for growth. ✔️ The art of taking smart risks without compromising your vision. ✔️ How exceptional customer service builds loyalty beyond transactions. ✔️ Why trust is the foundation of empowered teams. ✔️ The role of delegation in freeing leaders to focus on strategy. Whether you’re just starting or scaling to new heights, this episode is filled with insights to inspire your next steps. Let’s stay curious, courageous, and forward-thinking together. See you next season! Follow TFTP: https://www.instagram.com/theforwardthinkingpeople Follow Namita Ramani: https://www.instagram.com/namitaramani/ https://www.facebook.com/ramani.namita/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/namitaramani/ https://www.youtube.com/channel/UConc_r4xXBwflx4XN9b5zNg/ Above Digital: https://www.abovedigital.com/

In this episode, we are thrilled to welcome Brian Kurtz, a direct marketing legend who has had two remarkable careers spanning over four decades. Brian Kurtz shares his extensive experience from his 34-year tenure at Boardroom Inc. where he sold over 1.3 billion pieces of direct mail via direct response television (infomercials) and as the founder of Titans Marketing. Entrepreneurs, especially in the coaching business, will find Brian's insights invaluable as he extensively shares the marketing principles that have driven his success. Learn about the importance of lists, offers, and creative copy in marketing, the role of humility and passion, and the significance of direct marketing concepts. Brian also discusses how to build a lasting business, create effective coaching programs, and keep your clients engaged and renewing. Plus, discover practical tips on writing compelling, story-driven emails to engage your audience. This episode is packed with actionable strategies for real results in your business! Follow TFTP https://www.instagram.com/theforwardthinkingpeople Follow Brian: https://www.briankurtz.net/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/brian-kurtz-a1934/ https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCyN1q8huqel6DDidQsJ90RQ https://www.facebook.com/briankurtzofficial Follow Namita Ramani: https://www.instagram.com/namitaramani/ https://www.facebook.com/ramani.namita/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/namitaramani/ https://www.youtube.com/channel/UConc_r4xXBwflx4XN9b5zNg/ Above Digital: https://www.abovedigital.com/

In this episode of the Forward Thinking People podcast, host Namita Ramani welcomes Kelly Lundberg, an international keynote speaker, personal brand strategist, and bestselling author, with over 20 years of experience. Kelly shares her remarkable journey from Scotland to Dubai, emphasising the importance of personal branding for entrepreneurs and CEOs. Throughout the discussion, Kelly highlights her experiences working with luxury brands, her career transition from fashion stylist to personal branding expert, and the evolving online landscape. She offers valuable insights on building credibility and trust, the significance of storytelling in personal branding, and the role of consistency and authenticity in a strong personal brand. Visit Kelly’s Website: https://kellylundbergofficial.com/ Follow Kelly on: https://www.instagram.com/kellylundberg.official/ https://www.youtube.com/user/styledbykelly https://www.linkedin.com/in/kellylundbergofficial/ Follow TFTP: https://www.instagram.com/theforwardthinkingpeople Follow Namita Ramani: https://www.instagram.com/namitaramani/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/namitaramani/ https://www.youtube.com/channel/UConc_r4xXBwflx4XN9b5zNg/ Visit Above Digital: https://www.abovedigital.com/

In this episode of the Forward Thinking People podcast, Namita Ramani sits down with Dr. Joy Antony, the founder and managing director of Dr. Joy Dental Clinics, to talk about his incredible journey from opening a single clinic in Dubai back in 2004 to running 13 clinics with over 350 employees and more than 80 dentists. Dr. Joy opens up about how he got into dentistry (even though his heart was drawn to business), the challenges he faced along the way, and how he expanded his practice despite financial struggles and recessions. He also shares what it takes to build a successful brand, the importance of systems and protocols in scaling a business, and the tough decisions he made to stop practicing dentistry and focus on growing his company. We also dive into Dr. Joy’s leadership style, how he manages a large team, and how he balances the demands of business with personal life. He talks candidly about taking risks, learning from mistakes, and the one decision that changed everything for him. Whether you’re an entrepreneur, a business owner, or just someone curious about what it takes to build and grow a business, this episode is packed with real-world insights and lessons from someone who’s been through it all. If you enjoyed this episode of the TFTP Podcast, follow our channel. Follow Dr Joy Antony: https://www.instagram.com/drjoydxb/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/joy-antony-64645044 https://www.facebook.com/joy.antony.140/ Visit Dr. Joy Dental Clinic website: https://www.drjoydentalclinic.com/team/dr-joy-antony/ Follow TFTP: https://www.instagram.com/theforwardthinkingpeople Follow Namita Ramani: https://www.instagram.com/namitaramani/ https://www.facebook.com/ramani.namita/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/namitaramani/ https://www.youtube.com/channel/UConc_r4xXBwflx4XN9b5zNg/ Visit Above Digital: https://www.abovedigital.com/

In this episode, meet Magdalena Orzehovska, a passionate olive oil and balsamic vinegar connoisseur and founder of Aroma de Olio. Magdalena's remarkable journey features a career in project management, a battle against breast cancer, and her unique path to becoming the UAE's only certified olive oil sommelier and consultant. Discover how her personal health challenges inspired her to create a business dedicated to providing the finest extra virgin olive oil and the rigorous training and research she invested to master her craft. Learn from Magdalena's experience in networking, building an e-commerce platform, and the importance of ongoing education. If you enjoyed this episode of the TFTP Podcast, subscribe to our channel for more. Follow Magdalena Orzechowska: https://www.linkedin.com/in/magdalenaorzechowska/ Follow Aroma di Olio: https://www.instagram.com/aromadiolio/ https://www.linkedin.com/company/aromadiolio/ Visit Aroma di Olio website: https://www.aromadiolio.com/ Follow TFTP on: https://www.instagram.com/theforwardthinkingpeople https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-forward-thinking-people-podcast Follow Namita Ramani:// https://www.instagram.com/namitaramani/ https://www.facebook.com/ramani.namita/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/namitaramani/ https://www.youtube.com/channel/UConc_r4xXBwflx4XN9b5zNg/ Above Digital: https://www.abovedigital.com/

From High-Profile Project Management to Thriving Entrepreneur: Kamelia Salimi’s Journey In this episode of The Forward Thinking People Podcast, host Namita Ramani talks with Kamelia Salimi, the managing partner at Zoga. Kamelia shares her diverse background in project management and interior design, detailing her journey from overseeing large-scale projects like JW Marriott Marquis and Plaza Versace Dubai to co-founding Zoga, a leading wellness studio in Dubai. She delves into the challenges and triumphs of transitioning from a corporate career to entrepreneurship, offering insights on managing a successful yoga business. Kamelia also discusses the importance of location, team building, marketing strategies, and the role of a supportive community in running a profitable wellness studio. Join us as we explore Kamelia’s inspiring story and her dedication to fostering health and well-being through yoga and holistic practices. Your engagement matters to us! Follow TFTP: https://www.instagram.com/theforwardthinkingpeople Follow Kamelia: https://www.instagram.com/travellin.yogi/?hl=en https://www.linkedin.com/in/kameliasalimi/ Follow Zoga Studio: https://www.instagram.com/zogadubai/ Visit Zoga Website: https://zoga.ae/ Follow Namita Ramani: https://www.instagram.com/namitaramani/ https://www.facebook.com/ramani.namita/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/namitaramani/ https://www.youtube.com/channel/UConc_r4xXBwflx4XN9b5zNg/ Above Digital: https://www.abovedigital.com/

In this episode of The Forward Thinking People Podcast, host Namita Ramani sits down with Wolfgang Hohmann, known as Wolf, the visionary behind Wolfi's Bike Shop. Wolfi shares his inspiring journey from being a chef in Germany to becoming a leading figure in the UAE’s cycling community. The conversation covers his early passion for cycling, the challenges faced in establishing a business in Dubai, and the strategic decisions that have shaped his career. Wolfi emphasizes the importance of resilience, community, and responsible selling in life and business. The episode also explores his recent decision to sell a substantial part of his business and his ongoing commitment to cycling in the UAE. Your engagement matters to us! Follow TFTP: https://www.instagram.com/theforwardthinkingpeople Follow Wolfgang Hohmann: https://www.instagram.com/wolfidxb https://www.linkedin.com/in/wolfgang-hohmann-11bb9218/ Follow Wolfi's Bike Shop: https://www.instagram.com/wolfis?igsh=amlkcGx0Y2Q0ZWx6 Follow Namita Ramani: https://www.instagram.com/namitaramani/ https://www.facebook.com/ramani.namita/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/namitaramani/ https://www.youtube.com/channel/UConc_r4xXBwflx4XN9b5zNg/ Above Digital: https://www.abovedigital.com/

In this special episode, Ambreen and I answer some questions we get from business owners on making sales through digital marketing. We take you through what digital marketing is and how it can sometimes be challenging to get it right in the UAE, while also talking about the right mindset and approach one should have when doing digital marketing. We go through KPI's and expectations from agencies or people you work with, and what the foundation of all marketing should be to help you get successful sales. Things we discuss: Why digital marketing is such a buzz word Challenges of doing digital marketing in the UAE The right mindset and approach to digital marketing for small businesses Difference between social media and digital advertising What determines a successful campaign & setting the right KPI's Understanding what to invest & results to expect from digital marketing Why it's a terrible idea to chase likes & followers & the business of fake engagement Understanding and working with algorithms for digital success Digital marketing for B2B businesses How to pick the right agency to work with The future of digital marketing and avoiding overwhelm of new platforms Notable moments: (29:52) If what you're offering is not valuable to the audience, then in most cases, it's not going to work. And that doesn't just go for digital marketing, it goes for any form of marketing (31:06) Your sales cycle and your customer journey - this is the businesses responsibility, to start thinking about these things. What is my customer journey, what is my sales process? If your sales team is not equipped properly and is not trained well and does not know how to handle the buzz that the digital marketing campaign creates for you, then you're not going to get a result (39:24) Your audience targeting is the most important thing you should keep in mind, because who your ad campaign reaches out to and who starts interacting with your ads.. the algorithm is watching that (44:20) Consumers are also spoilt for choice over here in Dubai because of the fact that we're a small audience and the locality, the area is also small. The audience has a lot of options on where to go in a small vicinity, so they're picky - they can easily move from one place to the other, which makes it difficult for businesses ------------- If you enjoyed this episode of Successful Marketing for Small Businesses in Dubai, check out the show notes on: https://www.abovedigital.com/podcast/ Follow Namita Ramani: https://www.instagram.com/namitaramani/ https://www.facebook.com/ramani.namita/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/namitaramani/ https://www.youtube.com/channel/UConc_r4xXBwflx4XN9b5zNg/ Above Digital: https://www.abovedigital.com/

In this episode, Reim El Houni, talks about the challenges she faced in the filmmaking, tv and digital industry and how she has to constantly be on top because of the evolutionary nature of these mediums. She talks about perseverance as she shares her journey which began 20 years ago as a production runner to winning the bronze medal in The New York Festival’s World’s Best Television & Films in 2018. Things we discuss: How things are changing and video content is now a MUST for everyone Pitching an online show, Dubai on Demand, back in 2014 when brands didn't see the value of being online Focusing on the social media landscape and working with influencers to help them grow Redefining the meaning of ‘influencers’ and helping content creators grow with a solid social media strategy How Linkedin and Instagram is one of the strongest social media channels in this region Learning to push back and maintaining boundaries Making mistakes and learning along the way Why maintaining business relationships are so important Understanding the market and implementing the right idea at the right time How small business owners end up spending more in the long run by choosing a cheaper option for video content How important it is to love the industry you’re working in so you can give it your best Trying to maintain normalcy in life with such a demanding career Notable moments: 15:00 - Well, I’ve made so many mistakes. The fortunate part was that I had already been in the industry for 10 years before I started my company so I had a good gauge of the market, what others were charging. So I think that's usually a good starting point. However, even with that knowledge, it was very important for me, in the beginning, to just get clients. 34:00 - When the brands started to realize: 1- We had just started and had no track record and views yet and 2- When they realized it was all online and all on YouTube. And back in 2014 most of the brands we met with were not interested on YouTube.  It's so fascinating to me now that 5 years out and everyone is on YouTube. I’ve always been a little early, you know. 40:00 - I think it’s great and terrible at the same time. I'm a big learner and I love going to conferences. I spent years going to the US. For my industry you go to different events even in Europe. I always came back very excited with a lot of ideas and wanted to implement them. As a result, I have implemented very early for this market. So, it’s just about whether or not you can keep the momentum going. I was very fortunate with Dubai on Demand. In 2014, no one was ready for that. I am fortunate to have a second coming with that in the last two years. But there was definitely a phase in the middle where it was very disheartening and I was thinking, “Am I doing the right thing?” 1:04:12 - I am a big believer in not having any regrets. I might make the wrong decisions but atleast I made the decisions.

In this episode, Nina talks about how her passion for art and creativity led her into the world of fashion and beauty. Armed with talent and a strong entrepreneurial spirit, Nina launched her own brand, The Mink Lashes, and wants to inspire other women to be fearless with their approach to beauty. Alongside Nina is her husband, Bobby who is the operational backbone of the brand. Bobby talks about why he decided to switch gears in his successful banking career and support his wife’s dream to build an international beauty empire.  Things we discuss: How Nina got inspired with photoshoots at a very young age How she started her journey with Estee Lauder and learned the basics of business Learning the signature style of each makeup brand How she built her own experience by breaking the norm Standing out from her competitors by offering additional services  How technology has made it so easy for people to put across their talent  Thinking about developing the business in a way that it doesn’t solely depend on her presence  How Bobby helped her understand the business operations on a whole new level Being encouraged by Bobby to take risks and have faith Learning to work together as a pair  Being genuine as an influencer  The importance of finding the right mentor Notable Moments:  20:24 - I’ll be honest. I didn't think to myself that this when I was freelancing, that it is just something on the side for me. I knew that I wanted to be huge. I wanted to make sure that this business is a success. And I wanted to be a lot more business savvy compared to my competitors who were out there.  That was always in my mind.  27:00 - You can't continue doing business in a way where you are not making the money. Ultimately you’re in for business, not for fun. There is a bottom line that you need to look in as well.  45:00 - I had a very strong business core DNA into me from a very young age. Because I was working in a bank, I was not able to utilize the experience that I had because I was working for someone else.  57:00 - I don't think it's often that you’ll find a husband and wife able to work with each other. I have to say, we do that pretty well. 1:27:32 - If I have got collaborations to come through paid or through social media bookings and it's something that I genuinely don't use, and there have been many, I won't do it. Because it isn't just about the money. You have to be genuine. ------------- If you enjoyed this episode of Successful Marketing for Small Businesses in Dubai, check out the show notes on https://www.abovedigital.com/podcast/ Follow Namita Ramani: https://www.instagram.com/namitaramani/ https://www.facebook.com/ramani.namita/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/namitaramani/ https://www.youtube.com/c/namitaramani Above Digital: https://www.abovedigital.com/

In this episode, Namita interviews her sales guru, Ramez Helou, Founder and CEO of "The Academy for Sales Excellence". After reaching the position of Business Head at Unilever in 2009, Ramez stepped away to pursue his passion for keynote speaking and sales training. Today Ramez has trained over 100,000 sales professionals in 5 continents by teaching them about authenticity and relationship-building instead of conventional sales techniques. Things we discuss: His journey of leaving a high-paying job as Business Head at Unilever to start his own sales training center  How he built a thriving business after starting as a one-man show Defining his own niche when the Dubai market was going through a recession Understanding objection is not rejection and dealing with points of objection before the client points it out Why it’s important to come across as a helper rather than a seller and living up to the promise Why time management is the most important resource for an entrepreneur Why relationship building is so important in finding your target audience How to differentiate your business from the competition & utilizing the latest tools to build authority Namita’s own personal experience and transformation after taking coaching from Ramez  His signature 10-week journey for business entrepreneurs that combines learning and a coaching session Notable moments: (12:00) - What if you train them and they leave? What if you don’t train them and they stay  (18:30) - Are you a giver of values or a taker?  (32:35) - Many people started asking me how do you do it… Packaging yourself and developing a product which allows them to free up their time so they can scale and they have a peace of mind that, God forbid, if anything happens it can provide for them later on (35:05) - You may be an expert in online marketing, but you might not be an expert in converting one to one conversation. You still have to sit down with the marketing directors of your clients and you need to be able to understand how a competitive pitch happens.  Maybe you’ve had them happen to you but now, to be on the launching side of that. Oh my God! It’s a completely different skill. (44:15) - To sell is to serve! It’s a philosophy. ------------- If you enjoyed this episode of Successful Marketing for Small Businesses in Dubai, check out the show notes on: https://www.abovedigital.com/podcast/ Follow Namita Ramani: https://www.instagram.com/namitaramani/ https://www.facebook.com/ramani.namita/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/namitaramani/ https://www.youtube.com/c/namitaramani Above Digital: https://www.abovedigital.com/

In this episode, Deepak Lalwani talks about how he challenged a fitness giant like Fitness First by offering a one-on-one fitness experience in his 1500 square foot boutique group exercise studio. He also talks about how he took a major risk when building the TRIP studio, a virtual reality immersive spinning class in Dubai. Deepak further discusses how GFX stands out from its competitors, by offering affordable and bespoke fitness classes to its customers. Things we discuss: How he manages to sustain a 16 year old team that comprises of some of his very first employees Recruiting efficient team members and implementing the right sales strategies How to replicate a business model in different countries and multiple locations Investing in team building activities and training Believing that fitness should be affordable for everyone Making exercise and fitness fun for kids Choosing the right franchisee who is as passionate about the business as yourself Why choosing the right location is the most important decision for any business Being patient and understanding the dynamics of the market before deciding to expand Notable Moments (25:58) - No app no business! We want to make it completely seamless for the user experience (27: 59) - Word of mouth. Honestly! The best marketing for us has been word of mouth. We have an Instagram presence. We have a great website presence. We are completely e-commerce driven. We have a Facebook presence. But at the end of it. It’s the people. Our members, they really really love what we’re doing. They love the instructors. They love the space. Ans they love the warmth They love the results. We have people change their lives. (58:09) - Talk is cheap! And a lot of people basically very easily said that you know, you can expand this right? I’m like, yes it can be. But it requires the same amount of energy as the first one. I’d rather do one well than ten poorly. ------------- If you enjoyed this episode of Successful Marketing for Small Businesses in Dubai, check out the show notes on: https://www.abovedigital.com/podcast/ Follow Namita Ramani: https://www.instagram.com/namitaramani/ https://www.facebook.com/ramani.namita/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/namitaramani/ https://www.youtube.com/c/namitaramani Above Digital: https://www.abovedigital.com/