Savvy Talk: Recent Episodes
Maha Abouelenein
SavvyTalk is hosted by Maha Abouelenein, who brings you communication strategies and trends for businesses, drawing from her vast experience as a professional storyteller and PR expert for the world’s largest companies. Maha has more than 28 years of experience, advising top government and corporate leaders. She is the Founder and Managing Director of Organizational Consultants, a strategic communications firm with offices in the USA, Dubai and Cairo. Maha has been managing communications for GaryVee’s brand for the past five years and has worked on all the major global sporting events including the African Cup of Nations in Egypt, the Olympics in the UK and the USA, 2 NBA All-Star Games, 4 NFL SuperBowls, and 8 Grand Slam Tennis Tournaments. She is an avid football fan and holds a Masters Degree in Communications from Minnesota State University – Mankato, USA and an undergraduate degree in International Business & Marketing with a minor in French.
Exciting Summer Surprise! While our podcast is taking a short break for the summer, we've got something special for you. Joining us on this episode is none other than Gary Vaynerchuk for an insightful conversation from Cannes Lions in France in June. We were both on a panel at SRMG Beach, discussing all things culture and tech. Gary delivers his trademark raw and practical knowledge bombs. Get ready for an epic podcast episode! Don`t miss our signature Rapid-fire questions in the end & prepare to be inspired! Let us know your thoughts on Instagram. Your feedback means the world to us! Stay awesome and enjoy your summer while we gear up for the return of Season Eight on Savvy Talk. Happy listening About Gary Vaynerchuk Gary Vaynerchuk is a serial entrepreneur, and serves as the Chairman of VaynerX, the CEO of VaynerMedia and the Creator & CEO of VeeFriends. Gary is considered one of the leading global minds on what’s next in culture, relevance and the internet. Known as “GaryVee” he is described as one of the most forward thinkers in business – he acutely recognizes trends and patterns early to help others understand how these shifts impact markets and consumer behavior. Whether its emerging artists, esports, NFT investing or digital communications, Gary understands how to bring brand relevance to the forefront. He is a prolific angel investor with early investments in companies such as Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr, Venmo, Snapchat, Coinbase and Uber. Gary is an entrepreneur at heart — he builds businesses. Today, he helps Fortune 1000 brands leverage consumer attention through his full service advertising agency, VaynerMedia which has offices in NY, LA, London, Mexico City, LATAM and Singapore. VaynerMedia is part of the VaynerX holding company which also includes VaynerProductions, VaynerNFT, Gallery Media Group, The Sasha Group, Tracer, VaynerSpeakers, VaynerTalent, and VaynerCommerce. Gary is also the Co-Founder of VaynerSports, Resy and Empathy Wines. Gary guided both Resy and Empathy to successful exits — both were sold respectively to American Express and Constellation Brands. He’s also a Board Member at Candy Digital, Co-Founder of VCR Group, Co-Founder of ArtOfficial, and Creator & CEO of VeeFriends. Gary was recently named to the Fortune list of the Top 50 Influential people in the NFT industry. In addition to running multiple businesses, Gary documents his life daily as a CEO through his social media channels which has more than 34 million followers and garnishes over 272 million monthly impressions/views across all platforms. His podcast ‘The GaryVee Audio Experience’ ranks among the top podcasts globally. He is a five-time New York Times Best-Selling Author and one of the most highly sought after public speakers. Gary serves on the board of MikMak, Bojangles Restaurants, and Pencils of Promise. He is also a longtime Well Member of Charity:Water. You can find Gary Vaynerchuk on Instagram and on his website. Timestamps: 0:00 Intro 0:36 Getting Consumer Attention in the Age of Speed and Noise 3:39 What Brands Are Getting Wrong in Shifting Consumer Attention 4:30 Brands Lacking Common Sense in Modern Marketing 5:39 The Key to Being Culturally Relevant: Caring 8:56 Understanding PAC: Platforms and Culture 12:52 What Brands Can Do to Be Culturally Relevant 15:14 The Underappreciated Value of Social Media for Brands 16:25 The Unavoidable Future Impact of Deepfake Videos 24:07 Embracing Evolution 25:14 Rapid-fire section - Word Association Game 26:23 Optimism for the Middle East 26:58 The Broken Concept of Branding 28:20 Media and Creative Under One Roof 33:40 Your brand is your reputation. The single most important thing you have. 36:36 outro
Welcome to Season 7 of Savvy Talk, I am excited to bring you leading voices from those shaping Dubai's cultural scene. Today we are joined by Lynn Al Khatib, Head of Communication at Chalhoub Group, the largest luxury retailer and distributor in the Middle East and North Africa. She has over 15 years of corporate and brand communication experience. Together, we dive into the fascinating world of communication strategies, industry insights, and talk about her journey from a corporate nutritionist to her current role at Chalhoub Group. Whether you're a communication enthusiast, a professional in the field, or simply curious about effective communications, this episode is for you! About Lynn Al Khatib Lynn Al Khatib is the Group Head of Communication at Chalhoub Group, the largest luxury retailer and distributor in the Middle East and North Africa. With over 15 years of corporate and brand communication experience, Lynn is an expert in developing communication strategies, managing social media channels, and building corporate brands. She joined Chalhoub Group in 2021 after a successful tenure as the Global Nutrition, Health, and Wellness Communication Manager at Nestlé S.A. Lynn's diverse background includes leading regional campaigns in nutrition and wellness, establishing corporate communications strategies, and driving impactful initiatives. At Chalhoub Group, Lynn plays a pivotal role in shaping the company's communication and branding strategy. Her responsibilities include building the Group's corporate brand, managing social media channels, and overseeing internal and external communications. She recently led the #نحن_المستقبل (#MYBOLDFUTURE) campaign, which aims to highlight the abundant career opportunities available in the Kingdom's retail sector for Saudi youth and propel them into dynamic careers within the luxury retail industry. Lynn's expertise and dedication have been instrumental in enhancing Chalhoub Group's reputation and fostering meaningful connections with stakeholders. With a Master's Degree in Nutrition and a Bachelor of Science Degree in Nutrition and Dietetics, Lynn combines her passion for communication with her commitment to promoting healthier lifestyles. Through her strategic approach and industry knowledge, Lynn continues to contribute to Chalhoub Group's success in the ever-expanding luxury retail market of the Middle East and North Africa. You can follow Lynn Al Khatib on Instagram and find out more at the Chalhoub Group website. Timestamps: 0:00 Intro 1:34 Lynn Al Khatib journey to the communications world 2:57 Even as a nutritionist I was scaling up informations 3:10 Falling in love for Internal Communications 5:11 Corporate Communications at Chalhoub Group 7:20 What did change in communications? How to do real time Communications? 9:35 Social Media strategy is about Authenticity & Transparency 11:57 Stakeholders engagement is not a side job 14:50 Sustainability and Retail 16:00 #نحن_المستقبل (#MYBOLDFUTURE) campaign 20:50 3 Reasons to pursue a career in fashion retail 23:19 How to start in PR and Communications? 26:46 How to stay updated with trends? Be in it 28:25 AI impact in PR and Communications industry 29:45 Rapid Fire Questions 32:50 outro
On today's episode, I'm joined by Moroccan-born Hind Sebti, a former beauty executive at Procter & Gamble and L’Oréal and co-founder of Waldencast and the creator of Whind a globally inspired beauty brand, inspired by a drawing from Hind’s home country, love of travel, nature, and art. With Whind, Hind wants to elevate skincare to a joyful act, to bring soulful self-care back by approaching it more as a ritual than anything else. We talked about her professional journey and how having the courage to ask completely changed the trajectory of her career and life. The challenges of building a global beauty brand during the pandemic. And about beauty being first and foremost an emotion. Links
Hind Sebti's on Instagram
Waldencast: Website • Instagram
Whind: Website • Instagram
Maha on Instagram • Twitter
Our website
On today's episode, I'm joined by my dear friend Fayrouz Eid. A talented entrepreneur, nutritionist, and mother of two adorable kids. Her passion for entrepreneurship made her build The Wellb, a company focused on helping people find long-lasting sustainable nutrition so they can get healthier and reach their goals. We first met while I was involved in a project of introducing Netflix to the Middle East. As a good chat between friends, in this episode we go all over the place, from talking about Adele's latest album to talking about the enormous impact being genuine in your social media can have in other people's lives. By discussing subjects like single motherhood joys and struggles, divorce, and therapy Fayrouz Eid helped normalize such important conversations in Egypt. And of course, we talked about FOOD! “Food is energy. We should be healing our relationship with food”. Please tell me what you want to hear more about and we will deliver! I love a good podcast and hopefully you do too! The podcast is called SavvyTalk if you're new here and it's available on all podcast players. Links:
Fayrouz Eid's Instagram
The Wellb: Website • Instagram
Nadine Abdel Ghaffar is the Founder and General Manager of Art D'Égypte and is my guest for this weeks show. She is an extraordinary woman that supports and promotes the Egyptian art and culture scene in bold ways never done before - including a massive installation at the Pyramids which seemed impossible to execute. We talked about traditional art, about digital art and its potential. I leave you with her quote: "Don't buy bags, buy art. Art is an investment." Let me know when you’re booking your flight to Egypt to take in some of the incredible art and culture she promotes! Links:
Nadine Abdel on Instagram
Art D’Égypte
Art D’Égypte on Instagram
Please tell me what you want to hear more about and we will deliver! I love a good podcast and hopefully you do too! The podcast is called SavvyTalk if you're new here and it's available on all podcast players.
In today's episode, I'm joined by Mazen Yassen, the Content Creator behind Justagoproer. Also actor, director and artist Manager. I have followed his work for about 6 to 7 years. We talked about his trajectory from the corporate world, where he stayed for 14 years, to then becoming an artist and content creator, a word that didn't even exist back then. Everything started to happen when he bought a GoPro and self-taught how to edit videos. We talked about inspiration, the hard work that content creation requires, advice for those who want to start on this path now, and the fact that it is never too late. Don't miss our rapid-fire questions in the end, so much fun. Links:
Mazen Yassen on Instagram • Facebook
Mazen Yassen on Youtube
Mazen Yassen on TikTok
The Content Creators
Big Entertainment Co
Please tell me what you want to hear more about and we will deliver! I love a good podcast and hopefully you do too! You can catch me on Twitter, and Instagram, and find our episodes on the website.
In today's episode I am sharing my conversation with the chairman of Weather Investments's parent company, the former chairman and CEO of Orascom Telecom Holding, my former boss and mentor, Naguib Sawiris, at this amazing event, RiseUp Summit in Egypt. Back in 2017, I interviewed him for his first appearance at Rise Up and once again I had this pleasure at the end of 2021. We had the chance to talk about innovation and how it requires a little bit of craziness, investments, and family. We also share some funny but meaningful stories of Orascom Telecom’s early days (I was employee number 5), when is the right time to quit your job, and of course the technology of the moment Blockchain. My favorite moment was when Naguib shared the power of believing in yourself. Wait until the end, I asked him some fun questions and we had a quick Q&A with the audience. Now tell me who is Naguib's favorite musician? Hope you enjoy this talk as much as I enjoyed doing it. Share your thoughts with me on this conversation - you can find me on Twitter and on Instagram. Naguib Sawiris on Twitter Please tell me what you want to hear more about and we will deliver! I love a good podcast and hopefully, you do too!
On today’s episode I’m joined by Heba Shunbo. She’s such an amazing personality—entrepreneur, interior designer, writer, podcast host, wife, mother of twins and one of the sisters behind the bakery The Four Fat Ladies. And just in time for Mother’s Day check out her book called "Mommy's Happy Hour." Love the new cover Heba!!! We got a chance to connect in Cairo about life as a modern mom and all the things — spoiler alert: the book is not about drinking ;-) And if you haven’t tried their carrot cake what are you waiting for? 🥕 Links:
Heba on Instagram
Heba’s website
The Four Fat Ladies on Instagram
In today’s episode, you guys will watch my talk at this amazing event, RiseUp Summit in Egypt. I shared my thoughts on how you can connect with your audience and build your brand through cultural relevance and storytelling having nothing less than the pyramids of Egypt as the background. An outstanding conference that brought together people like Nadine Abdel Ghaffar founder of Art D'Égypte; actress Amira Adeeb; and for the second time I interviewed Naguib Sawiris. I will share this interview too here in the podcast soo, get ready. Hope you enjoy this talk as much as I enjoyed doing it. Links:
RiseUp Summit
RiseUp Summit on Instagram
RiseUp Summit on Twitter
Please tell me what you want to hear more about and we will deliver! Connect with me on Instagram or Twitter. Find our previous episodes and more on my website.
We are launching Season 4 with a special series from newsmakers and shakers from Egypt! And then get ready we have an NFT edition, a Dubai edition and SO MUCH MORE. On today’s episode I’m joined by Omar Samra. He’s such an amazing personality—both an entrepreneur and as someone who has scaled amazing mountains and peaks in his life. He is the first Egyptian to climb Mount Everest, also is one of 40 known people to accomplish the "Explorers Grand Slam" challenge, which include climbing the highest mountain on every continent, the 7 summits, and skiing to both the South and North Poles. Last year saw the release of “beyond the raging sea”, a documentary which chronicles the maritime challenges he undertook to highlight the plight of refugees crossing dangerous waters. He was in Egypt a few weeks ago and I had a chance to reconnect with him. Links:
Omar's social: Website • Instagram • Facebook • Twitter • YouTube
Beyond the Raging Sea • on IMDb
Follow Digital & Savvy on Instagram
This week, we're talking about the qualities of good managers, and how to improve your own visibility as an employee. Maha shares how the role of the manager should be like that of a coach--someone who is motivating you to perform better, and help you grow.
This week, Maha answers questions we’ve received through the podcast and on Instagram over the last few weeks. On this episode, how to market a new pizza place with a shoestring budget, does Maha play tennis, can you make a ‘big’ announcement entirely organically, and a few more!
This week, Maha shares her thoughts on why Clubhouse is working, the power of social audio and her tips to consider if you'd like to engage on the platform. You can connect with her on Clubhouse, where she'll be hosting more rooms over the next few weeks. You can DM her on on Instagram for more.
A key takeaway for Maha to help get through periods like we've had last year were her relationships. Maha shares how she categorises them and recommends you get out your notebook and write down the relationships you will look after in the coming year.
2020 changed a lot of our work behaviours—everything from working from home, running meetings & projects via video conferencing and tech-based collaboration tools, and the change of that work-life balance. On the episode, Maha shares her top 10 markers for what the future of work holds in the new year and how businesses should adapt. Tell us what the future of your workplace looks like by connecting with Maha on Instagram.
Happy New Year everyone! We're kicking off 2021 with Maha's top learnings from the year that was, and her outlook for everything you need to pay attention to over the next 12 months. She also shares why 2021 is the year of intention & attention.
Maha often talks about creating value--for yourself and for others--and this episode features a few tips on how to get started on that process of value creation. She also shares a few pointers on how to define that value for a client so that it's a win-win for everyone.
We've been facing a huge shift in everything we do thanks to the circumstances around us--from how we live and shop to how we communicate with each other. On this episode, Maha shares 8 tips on communicating the essentials, how we can learn from all this and how we can build new skills.
Maha joins Nimi on Channel 4 to talk about how you can get started on creating your personal brand and adding value to every relationship.
As we continue this season helping you built the toolkit you need, I’m also going to be talking to entrepreneurs and brand owners about how they're dealing with the circumstances and impacts of the pandemic. My guest for this episode is the CEO & Founder of DryBar, Alli Webb. We got together on Instagram a couple weeks ago to chat about what got her started as an entrepreneur over a decade ago, how she manages so many branches with consistency and the burning question you've all been asking--when the Dry Bar will open up in the Middle East. You can also find the video of the chat on IGTV - just find us on Instagram and you'll see how Allie was able to maintain her gorgeous hair despite not visiting the salon in a few weeks.
Hey everyone, it's been a while and I hope you're all staying safe. We're back this week and starting off with an episode on my insights on how brands and companies should communicate during a crisis especially as it relates to Covid-19. Stay tuned for more in the coming weeks as we continue to navigate the situation.
Happy New Year everyone! This week, I'm sharing my top 10 things to keep an eye on in 2020--for your communication strategy and for yourself too. Plus, details about my upcoming bootcamp in Dubai.
In August I was in Australia with Gary Vaynerchuk as part of a deep-dive session called the GaryVee Experience (GVx), where attendees get time with everyone who works with Gary--David Rock, Tyler Schmitt, Claude Silver ... and me! I covered a session on earned media, and on this episode, you'll hear me with Gary during our closed-door session talking about some tips & working together.
Excited to share my first Arabic interview with the jewel of Egypt, Azza Fahmy.
Azza is the founder of a Jewellery company that works to bring timeless jewellery through modern & eclectic cultural designs. I talk to her about starting out in an entirely male-dominated industry 50 years ago to celebrities wearing her designs today.
Please let us know what you think of this episode, you can drop us a review on Apple Podcasts or DM us on Instagram @digitalandsavvy.
If you're a news junkie, Katie Couric needs no introduction. She's a journalist, an author and has been a significant part of the success stories of the US' three major TV networks that dominated the 80s and 90s--ABC, CBS & NBC, not to mention her work with CNN & Yahoo News as well.
15 years after being inducted into the TV Hall of Fame in 2004, we sat down at her home in the Hamptons to find out what she's been upto since she left the networks.
On this episode, the man who has been instrumental in driving the telecommunication industry in our region not once, but twice. Osman Sultan was the founding CEO of Mobinil, the first large scale integrated telecom company in the region, and in 2007 became the founding CEO of the UAE’s second telecoms company, Du. I’m honored Osman Sultan gave me insights into his playbook for this episode along with his vision for the industry in the years to come.
I’d love to hear what you thought of this episode, you can reach out to us on Instagram or leave us a review in Apple Podcasts.
I hope you’ve been enjoying our second season where I’m talking to movers & shakers about their brands, their companies and their stories.
I’m joined on this episode by serial entrepreneur Anas Bukhash about his businesses and his strategy of trying everything at least once. His story is about how working to build a career in something you’re passionate about defines you and your journey; and sometimes, it makes you stumble on what eventually makes you successful.
I’d love to get your feedback — you share share it with us on [Instagram] (https://instagram.com/digitalandsavvy) and on Twitter as well.
We’ll be back with a new guest in two weeks, see you then!
My guest today is Janan Shihadeh, who herself a bag customizer, muralist and an art-a-holic. She doesn’t consider herself an entrepreneur but I do—she’s found a way to make her passion work for her customers, creates great content and everyone’s trying to copy her style.
On this episode, I sit down with Ghizlan Guenez, a frustrated shopper who pivoted her career from finance to fashion. Ghizlan is the founder of the Modist, a luxury brand dedicated to dressing modestly.
Welcome to a new season of Savvy Talk! This season I’m going to be talking to amazing people who have built a personal or business brand worth emulating and learing from. And there is no better person to kick off this new season than Gary Vaynerchuk.
I’ve been fortunate to get to know Gary Vee a lot over the last year and I wanted to try and capture Gary unplugged. He’s a busy guy, so the best way to get my questions answered was to catch him as he drove between meetings.
With Ramadan around the corner, we’d like to take this opportunity to wish you Ramadan Kareem! This week, Maha shares her tips on how to use this period to launchpad initiatives that give back to the community, your customers & even your employees and partners.
How do you take your communication skills to the next level? This week, Maha shares why everyone should consider having a coach-—to improve the way you communicate, but also to sharpen your skills whether you’re a CEO or an employee. We also have some fun announcements about Maha’s workshops and upcoming news about the show!
We’ve spoken about previous episodes about good media relationships. One key aspect of this is pitching stories to get coverage for your business or brand. This week, Maha shares her thoughts on what makes a good story, and how to go about developing your pitch.
Even the biggest companies make mistakes. This week, Maha shares her lessons & tips on how to avoid these PR pitfalls and what we can learn from brands who’ve made mistakes in the past.
As every business or brand evolves, you outgrow your internal teams and need to work with a PR agency. This week, Maha helps you understand that tipping point and how to get started onboarding an agency and working with them to ensure a win-win partnership.
Every business and brand needs an audience to tell their story, to create value and to grow their brand—whether a product or a service. This week, Maha shares her six tips on how to grow your audience, and build a base of consistent and loyal followers.
This week, Maha talks about why developing good media relationships is so important for good Public Relations, and how to get started with some tips on working with reporters & packaging your stories.
Packaging a story Give the journalist all the information for them to understand your brand story and give them assets they need to tell your story. Package your story with information they need to share it!
- Written Content: Your narrative in a press release
- Written Content: Fact Sheet
- Visual Content: Infographics
- Visual Content: Video
- Visual Content: Photos/Gallery of Images
- Visual Content: GIF
- Visual Content: BROLL Video (Stock footage with natural sound)
- Important Links: Your Website
- Social Handles: All of your social media handles and platforms
For more information, email us at iam@digitalandsavvy.com or DM us on Instagram.
This week, Maha talks about influencers—how to identify the right ones to work with your brand to onboarding and establishing a win-win relationship with them, as well as some potential pitfalls.
This week, Maha explains the key differences between Public Relations and Advertising, and how the two functions can complement each other for your brand.
As a brand, how you convey your brand message matters. This week, Maha shares how storytelling leads to communication that is both effective and impactful, and how to tell a great story in the age of speed & noise.
This week, Maha shares more about why she believes ‘audio is the new video,’ and everything you need to know about how you can leverage voice for your brand. Plus, some quick tips on how to get started with podcasting.
You can subscribe in your favourite podcast player by looking for “Savvy Talk” and follow Digital & Savvy on Instagram for more updates and tips.
How do you leverage PR as a start-up without an agency or an in-house team? This week, Maha gives you the tips to be a PR Ninja — from preparing your assets, to working with media and leveraging events. We’ll be talking a lot more about PR on a shoe-string budget this year, so stay tuned! You can subscribe in your favourite podcast player by looking for “Savvy Talk” and follow Digital & Savvy on Instagramfor more updates and tips.
The absolute worst time to prepare for a crisis is when you’re in one! This week, Maha shares her insights on how to be better prepared to meet a crisis head on, what your brand should do in the face of a PR crisis and some tips on making sure you learn from each mistake. Subscribe to Savvy Talk in your favourite podcast player or streaming app by searching for Savvy Talk. We’re also on Alexa. You can also follow Digital & Savvy on Instagram.
Should you build a personal brand? How do you go about defining it and where do you start? On this episode, Maha tells you the lowdown on personal branding, defining a brand message and some tips on getting started & some key advice you haven’t heard before. You can subscribe to the show in any podcast player, or your favorite streaming app, just look for ‘Savvy Talk’. We’re also on [Alexa](https://www.amazon.com/Amaeya-FM-Savvy-Talk/dp/B07LCD49PB/ You can also follow Digital & Savvy on Instagram.
As we kick off 2019 let's think about how you can grow and evolve. I don’t really believe in new year's resolutions, but I do believe in reflecting and pausing as its about growing! This episode is based on an article I wrote where I ask 5 questions you should ask yourself based on trends that will boost you in 2019. You can subscribe to the show in any podcast player, or your favorite streaming app, just look for ‘Savvy Talk’. You can also follow Digital & Savvy on Instagram.