Lyve Talks

Evolving Together: Strategies for Building a Thriving Partner Ecosystem

Fri, 10 Jan 2025 08:48:50 +0000

Lyve Talks episode 23 is out!

In episode 23 of #LyveTalks, Karim Bakhache and Raffaella Campagnoli dive into an engaging conversation about the vital role of partner ecosystems in driving business growth. With 25 years of extensive experience in strategy and transformation, Raffaella shares valuable insights on how organizations can leverage partnerships to foster innovation and drive sustainable growth.

During the episode, they delve into the significance of collaboration and how it can empower organizations to adapt and thrive in today’s fast-paced environment, revealing strategies that businesses can employ to cultivate strong partnerships. The discussion sheds light on how to navigate the complexities of these ecosystems and the opportunities they present for growth and innovation.

Driving Innovation in Robotics: The Future of Autonomous Deliveries

Mon, 09 Dec 2024 05:50:46 +0000

Lyve Talks episode 22 is out!🎙️

In this UAE National Day special episode, Karim Bakhache is joined by Khalifa Al Qama, Executive Director at Dubai Future Foundation and a trailblazer in bridging robotics with applied research in the UAE. With over a decade of experience, Khalifa has been instrumental in advancing standards, strategies, and policies that shape the future of emerging technologies and autonomous systems.

Together, they explore the future of autonomous deliveries, diving into cutting-edge innovations, the early challenges of integrating robotics, and the UAE’s bold vision for global leadership in technology. They also reflect on the roots of Lyve’s strategic association with the Dubai Future Foundation and discuss how this partnership is driving the next wave of innovation in the region. Tune into this episode where we celebrate the UAE’s spirit of progress and explore the future of robotics in this thought-provoking conversation.

#UAENationalDay #53years #Innovation #Robotics #AutonomousDeliveries #UAE #progress

Charting the Roadmap to Digital Transformation Success for Retail Businesses

Mon, 23 Sep 2024 06:44:28 +0000

#LyveTalks Episode 21 is out!🎙️

In our latest episode, Karim Bakhache evaluates digital advancements from a retail perspective with Dharmendra Mehta, a visionary leader in digital transformation. As a trailblazer in digital transformation, Dharmendra’s digital prowess has overhauled the retail and e-commerce space across the GCC and India. He has been at the helm of supporting some of the largest retail brands globally, helping them transition from traditional to unified commerce.The dialogue dives into the crucial steps involved in launching sustainable digital strategies, pinpointing key challenges, and essential technologies powering order and delivery management for retail businesses.

#digitaltransformation #ecommerce #retail #digitalstrategies #deliverymanagement #ordermanagement

Insights for On-Demand Businesses: Transcending Customer Expectations

Mon, 22 Jul 2024 06:44:48 +0000

Episode #20 of #LyveTalks is out!🎙️In episode #20 of #LyveTalks, Karim Bakhache and Agam Garg discuss the on-demand industry's journey amid market shifts and morphing customer expectations. Agam excels in launching new markets and products with 12+ years of global experience. With a proven track record for leading strategic expansions and scaling operations, Agam notably propelled several brands in the logistics space, vastly improving operational efficiency and market reach.

The conversation outlines strategies and innovations pivotal to succeeding in the on-demand industry, pinpointing potential obstacles and takeaways from past instances to guide new entrants through this transformation.

SaaS Innovation: Navigating the New Age of Technology

Wed, 26 Jun 2024 12:30:24 +0000

#LyveTalks episode 19 is out!In our 2nd anniversary special, Karim Bakhache has a special guest - our in-house tech expert, GregoryHucker, Chief Technology Officer at Lyve Global. Greg is a technology entrepreneur and digital e-commerce leader with over 22 years of global IT, operations, and deep technology acumen across various industries including logistics, travel, telecommunications, healthcare, and more.

In this exclusive episode, Karim and Greg break down the adoption of new-age technology on a granular level, tracing its evolution from on-premise solutions to the ubiquitous cloud. They zoom in on the transformative impact of SaaS tech, emphasizing the criticality of innovation, ML and AI in a tech-driven world.

Harnessing Content & Communication in an Evolving Retail Environment

Wed, 22 May 2024 06:05:33 +0000

On the latest edition of #LyveTalks Karim sits down with Natasha Hatherall, the founder and CEO of TishTash Communications. A passionate advocate for women in business and women's health, Natasha has over two decades of experience in marketing, media, and PR, with a PhD in psychology and marketing. She founded TishTash Communications in 2012, a leading independent communication and PR agency with notable retail clients like ASICS, The Body Shop, and Lego.

In this episode, Natasha and Karim explore the challenges and opportunities associated with content marketing today. They examine how brands can use content in a dynamic marketspace by harnessing digital platforms and being responsive to consumer needs; touching upon real-world examples for retail brands to build compelling narratives that resonate with their audience.

Decoding Retail Success: Customer Behaviour, Experience, and Innovation

Mon, 29 Apr 2024 05:18:39 +0000

In an all-new episode of #LyveTalks, our guest Ayman Beydoun and Karim dissect the various components that amount to retail success. As BFL Group’s Deputy CEO and COO, Ayman has 12+ years of acumen in revenue optimization across GCC and Europe, specializing in startup infrastructures, turnarounds, and expansion strategies.

This episode delves into fundamental strategies for enhancing customer experience, understanding consumer behavior, hyper personalization, AI and technological innovations that have disrupted the retail industry.

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#podcast #retail #retailers #ai #technology #customerexperience #customerbehaviour #success #business

Starting a Business in the Digital Age

Thu, 21 Mar 2024 06:30:00 +0000

Join our host, Karim Bakhache, as he chats with Lorenzo Jooris, CEO of Creative Zone - a forerunner in Dubai's business advisory ecosystem. The discussion throws light on the intricacies of launching a business in the digital era, leveraging Lorenzo's wealth of experience in the Middle Eastern and South Asian markets. Known for his commitment to community empowerment, Lorenzo has led impactful initiatives supporting aspiring entrepreneurs.

This episode explores invaluable perspectives for scaling up in the current digital landscape. From seasoned entrepreneurs looking to adapt to the digital age or startup founders seeking guidance on launching their venture, this dialogue provides actionable advice, throwing light on today's rapidly evolving business environment.

The Future of Smart Vending: Opportunities & Challenges

Thu, 15 Feb 2024 12:23:56 +0000

This episode explores a profound conversation between Zubair Abdul Rahman, founder and CEO of FreshNow and our host, Karim Bakhache. Zubair initiated FreshNow in 2016 alongside his brothers, displaying entrepreneurial prowess rooted in his upbringing within a business-oriented family. Having a keen eye for opportunities that enhance convenience for people, he is at the helm of FreshNow, working towards establishing a unique space for the brand, catering to over 1500 customers daily across 69 locations.

From the integration of cutting-edge technologies such as AI and IoT to the scope presented amidst the latest technology trends, Karim and Zubair engage in an interesting dialogue on the evolution of vending machines. A deeper look at the advancement of smart machines paints a clear picture on how various industries have adapted to the customer demand. They go over the challenges that smart vending machines present, concluding the discussion with what the future holds across different parts of the world.

Rise of MarTech: Refining Customer Journeys With Data

Mon, 15 Jan 2024 18:30:00 +0000

Tune in to our host, Karim, and the ingenious Salam Saadeh, founder and CEO of Datanuum, dive into a captivating discussion. Salam is a computer scientist turned entrepreneur with over 25 years of executive experience. As the CEO Founder of DATANUUM, she leads a seasoned team in revolutionizing first-party Customer Data, Marketing Loyalty.Her career spans successful stints in capital markets and investment banking, notably as the first UAE female Managing Director at SHUAA.

In this episode, Salam shares intriguing insights on the fascinating world of delivering data-driven customer experiences, built on the pillars of loyalty and elevated customer journeys. They explore the synergy between technology and human touchpoints, emphasizing the importance of striking the right balance to create authentic and personalized interactions that resonate with customers on a profound level.

Riding the Quick Commerce Wave: Fulfillment and Online Business Growth

Mon, 11 Dec 2023 12:52:39 +0000

In this episode, Karim has an insightful conversation with our guest Leo Dovbenko – a serial entrepreneur, angel investor with 15 years in FoodTech, Retail, and Horeca, and founder of Yallahub and Yallamarket. He has spearheaded 15 successful projects and 3 start-ups in the UAE.Karim and Leo give a glimpse into the rapidly transforming world of quick commerce. They discuss the points to consider when starting a quick commerce business and how this industry comes laid out with several trials and tribulations such as its capital intensive nature as well as stock warehousing. The conversation digs deeper to uncover the market demand for quick commerce, the involvement of centralized hubs for fulfillment, associated investments and growth-hacking strategies for online businesses.

Implementation and Implications of Drone Delivery Deployment

Mon, 30 Oct 2023 14:39:19 +0000

In this episode, Karim and Dr.Malick, a PHD holder and professor of industrial engineering at the American University of Sharjah, have an insightful and dynamic conversation on the emerging drone technology, the various use cases, and its prevalence across the globe.

The Evolution and Impact of Digitization on the F&B Industry

Mon, 04 Sep 2023 06:00:00 +0000

In the latest episode of Lyve Talks, which marks the 1 year anniversary of our podcast journey, our host Karim Bakhache sits down with Costas Papadopoulos, Deputy General Manager at One Delivery Cyprus, part of PHC Franchised Restaurants Public Ltd. With over twenty years experience in the Hospitality industry, Costas has been dealing mainly with franchise operations since 2003 for worldwide known and local brands in categories including casual dining, fast casual, and QSR operations.Karim and Costas contemplate the transformative face of the F&B sector and how it has taken a different direction in light of technological advancements over the course of the last three decades.

Funding Ecosystem: early stages of venture capital

Fri, 21 Jul 2023 04:43:30 +0000

In episode 10 of #LyveTalks, our guest is Walid Mansour, co-founder and co-CEO of MEVP. Walid’s deep involvement in the VC & Technology ecosystem in the MENA region dates back to the mid 2000s - when Walid had been intimately involved in his transformational entrepreneurial story by participating in the setup, scale up and exit of several VC Funds and Technology companies. Walid now serves as a board member and advisor to many successful internet and technology companies regionally andglobally.Karim Bakhache, Nader Museitif (CIO at Lyve) and Walid Mansour, discuss the nitty-gritty surrounding the Venture Capital and MENA tech ecosystem, in contrast with the investment landscape across various geographies.

Scaling up your tech business: the dos and don'ts

Fri, 09 Jun 2023 09:37:19 +0000

On our latest episode of #LyveTalks, our guest Omar Halabieh, Director of Technology at Amazon Payment Services. Omar has over 20 years of technology experience where he has delivered transformational initiatives that have created competitive advantage, enabled business growth, exceeded customer expectations, and transformed global organizations. Before his current role, he had led technology teams within Amazon’s Supply Chain Optimization Technologies organization out of Seattle, USA.Karim and Omar delve deep into the convoluted journey of scaling up a tech company, and how to navigate it. Omar stresses the importance of having a forward-looking strategy, leading the team with transparency and empathy throughout the inevitable changes brought along by growth - and last but not least, keeping up with technology to avoid playing catch-up.

From Startup to IPO in Abu Dhabi

Mon, 20 Mar 2023 07:00:00 +0000

In this episode, Karim and Nader Museitif - Chief Investment Officer at Lyve - chat with Markus Thomas, Head of Investments at Abu Dhabi IPO Fund (ADIPOF).Markus is an experienced Capital Markets deal maker and investor with a career long focus on first time issuers. Having implemented merchant banking and investment strategies in senior positions across Europe, the UK and the UAE, he brings a wealth of experience as well as deep origination and execution relationships to the fund.He had previously served as Head of Investments and a member of the Executive Committee at Abu Dhabi Investment Office (ADIO) the central government hub supporting private sector #investment in the Emirate of Abu Dhab.Karim, Nader and Markus discuss some of the main efforts by the Abu Dhabi government to build a thriving ecosystem. Markus covers what Abu Dhabi can offer to companies of all sizes; from company setup support, to business incentives, all the way to IPO support and investment from the IPO fund - giving a great intro to how businesses can leverage the UAE and Abu Dhabi opportunity.

The driving force behind ecommerce: The growth, trends and multiple facets of Fintech

Tue, 14 Feb 2023 07:28:17 +0000

In this episode, Karim interviews J.K Khalil, General Manager of MENA East at Mastercard, with over 18 years of tech, banking, consulting andpayments experience. Prior to Mastercard, Khalil was a senior manager with Strategy & (formerly Booz & Company). In 2021, he was recognized in Arabian Business’ Young Achievers List (formerly known as 40 under 40), profiling young leaders who are making their mark in the GCC and the wider region.Karim and J.K Khalil discuss the growth of fintech and its intersection with ecommerce. Khalil covers the different types of payments and their popularity in different regions as well as cryptocurrencies - and Mastercard's expansion of digital innovation portfolio through investments and acquisitions.

The power of branding

Mon, 05 Dec 2022 09:56:59 +0000

In this episode, Karim interviews Nina Seredai-Udalova, Founder and Managing Director of Ninth Space. Nina has extensive experience in the design industry and is skilled in Business Planning and Business Strategy as well as Brand Development and Brand Strategy.Nina differentiates between marketing and branding, and addresses the role of vision in the latter. She discusses common mistakes made by businesses when creating a brand and gives businesses tips on how to find their purpose, create an impactful brand and loyal customers.

The Automation and Digitalization of Restaurants and Cloud Kitchens

Thu, 10 Nov 2022 07:24:26 +0000

In this episode, Karim interviews Omar Rifai, co-founder and Chief Growth Officer of Grubtech. Omar has 16 years of experience in private equity. His experience in the technology space started with angel investing in numerous MENA based start-ups since moving to the region. Along with a few investors, Omar funded a regional cloud kitchen business called Ikcon (now Reef Technologies), before co-founding Grubtech. Karim and Omar discuss operating systems for kitchens’ and restaurants and their goal to increase operational transparency while reducing the time from order creation to delivery. Omar sheds light on Grubtech’s aim to simplify and centralize all information for kitchens and restaurants, while ensuring all systems have a bidirectional flow of information and are properly integrated with one another.

Sustainability in the final mile: What’s in it for organizations?

Tue, 01 Nov 2022 08:48:23 +0000

In this Episode, Karim Bakhache interviews Adam Ridgway, CEO of One Moto. Adam specialises in sustainable product development, tech-driven vehicles and delivering the future of mobility to the everyday commuter and logistics sector. Adam has built four businesses in the UAE over 13 years in Dubai and is managing a portfolio of start-up companies for respected brands under The MEDIACUBED Group. Adam is also a speaker of Future and Smart Mobility, and a start-up mentor for the future of entrepreneurship in the region. Karim and Adam discuss what sustainability entails in the field of last-mile delivery, the benefits of 3PLs and F&B businesses going green, and how to make this switch.

The Great Resignation and ways to ensure employee happiness and engagement

Tue, 02 Aug 2022 09:05:50 +0000

In this episode, Karim Bakhache interviews Maha Zaatari, HR and Workplace Consultant. Maha specializes in the space of employee engagement and happiness.Maha worked in recruitment, performance management and planning before moving into HR consultancy. She has worked for multinationals such as Aon Hewitt and Great Place To Work, helping organizations improve their workplace culture.Some of her clients include the Ministry of Happiness and Dubai Police, with whom she works on happiness and positivity projects.Karim and Maha discuss The Great Resignation post pandemic and what it takes to keep employees happy, engaged and productive to avoid high turnovers in organizations.

Lyve acquires Jeebly

Tue, 05 Jul 2022 08:50:12 +0000

In this episode, Karim Bakhache and Nader Museitif - Chief Investment Officer at Lyve - co-host Jeebly co-founder Raman Pathak. A professional with over 11+ years of experience in General Management, Finance & Operations - Raman's core expertise lies in efficiency optimization by leveraging latest advancements in technology especiallyArtificial Intelligence and Machine Learning. He currently manages Jeebly - a tech start-up in the Last Mile Logistics space and has made inroads into performance acceleration via cross-utilization of resources amongst different business verticals using proprietary technology.In this episode, Karim, Nader and Raman discuss the acquisition of Jeebly by Lyve.

How to plan inorganic growth successfully

Wed, 29 Jun 2022 06:41:30 +0000

In this episode, Karim Bakhache interviews Nader Museitif, Chief Investment Officer at Lyve. Nader currently leads all M&A, investments, and corporate development activities with a focus on expanding Lyve’s footprint across markets and diversifying its product offering.As head of Business at Uber for Middle East and North Africa, Nader led Uber's business development and commercial efforts to ensure growth across the MENA region. Nader was the Director of M&A and Franchising for the UAE company Aramex. Karim and Nader discuss organic vs inorganic growth and what it takes for mergers and acquisitions to be successful.