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Made in Dubai with Spencer Lodge: Daily Summaries Delivered
by Spencer Lodge
Formerly the Unscripted Podcast with Spencer LodgeJoin Spencer Lodge as he connects with the most fascinating personalities in Dubai. A city that rose from the desert sands to become one of the most ambitious, innovative and inspiring places on Earth. Behind its glittering skyline are people with stories just as extraordinary - pioneers, dreamers and doers who dared to turn bold visions into reality.Made in Dubai is where those stories are told. Hosted by Spencer Lodge, each episode is a front-row seat to conversations with the people shaping the UAE's future — from business leaders and record-breakers to cultural icons and creative disruptors.But this isn't just about their success. It's about the journey - the risks they took, the challenges they faced and the moments that defined them. It's about the unique magic of Dubai: a place where ambition meets opportunity, where cultures from around the world collide to create something truly special and where anything feels possible.
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- 5 days ago1h 12m
#422: Can Businesses Keep Up with AI Without Investing in Their People? | Casper Hammer
Casper Hammer, CEO of Biz Group, works with organisations to develop the people and capabilities needed to drive meaningful change. From preparing employees for AI to developing stronger leaders and building high-performing teams, this conversation explores why people remain central to business transformation. AI is changing the way businesses operate, but investing in technology alone isn't enough. Without the right people, leadership and training, even the most advanced tools can fall short. Timestamps: 01:42 - How Leadership Has Evolved 05:04 - Core Organizational & Leadership Challenges 07:03 - Are Leaders Born or Made? 09:36 - What Makes a Good Leader? 12:20 - Driving Organizational Impact & Commercial Results 16:03 - Motivating Sales Teams & the 80/20 Rule 21:43 - Technology, CRM, & System Adoption 25:43 - The Role of AI in Workplace Transformation 31:10 - Addressing Job Security Concerns Surrounding AI 35:33 - Aligning Employee Ambition with Business Goals 40:40 - Efficiency, Productivity, & Real-World AI Application 43:44 - Applying Leadership Strategies Across Corporates & SMEs 49:37 - Casper Hammer's Journey at Biz Group 53:30 - Cultural Diversity & Leadership Dynamics in the UAE 59:04 - Creating Purpose-Driven Business & Social Impact 01:05:46 - Career Mentorship, Inspiration, & Closing Thoughts Follow Spencer Lodge on Social Media: https://www.instagram.com/madeindubaipodcast/?hl=en https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61586194260076 https://www.instagram.com/spencer.lodge/?hl=en https://www.tiktok.com/@spencer.lodge https://www.linkedin.com/in/spencerlodge/ https://www.youtube.com/c/SpencerLodgeTV https://www.facebook.com/spencerlodgeofficial/ Follow Casper Hammer on Social Media: https://www.linkedin.com/in/casperhammer/ https://www.linkedin.com/company/biz-group-fz-llc/home/ https://www.instagram.com/bizgroup/ https://www.learningwithbiz.com/about-us/ https://www.facebook.com/bizgroup
- 1 weeks ago1h 13m
#421: From Reporting to Sir Richard Branson to Shaping One of the UAE's Biggest Telecoms Businesses | Karim Benkirane
Karim Benkirane is responsible for driving billions in revenue as Chief Commercial Officer at du. From launching Virgin Mobile in the region with Richard Branson to leading commercial growth in one of the UAE's biggest industries, his career offers a unique perspective on business, leadership and innovation. Why do telecom services cost so much in the UAE? Is competition enough to keep prices down, and what are customers really paying for when it comes to network quality? This episode also explores the future of 5G and 6G, AI and data security, the rise of digital payments, and what it takes to build a high-performing team. Timestamps 02:54 - Telecom Pricing & Cost Factors in the UAE 04:27 - Market Competition & Telecom Duopoly 05:27 - VoIP Restrictions (WhatsApp Calls & Botim) 06:54 - The Difference Between 5G and 6G Technology 09:30 - How to Choose a Telecom Provider in Dubai 11:08 - Smart Home Connectivity & Device Usage Growth 12:40 - Mobile Number Portability (Switching Networks) 13:58 - What Makes du Different? 15:07 - Karim Benkirane's Background & Early Life 17:15 - Early Career Journey in Telecom 19:09 - Working with Sir Richard Branson & Virgin Mobile 22:17 - Career Influences & Mentorship 25:39 - Lessons in Leadership & Challenging the Boss 27:34 - Innovation Environment in the UAE 29:28 - AI's Role in Business & Industry 33:14 - Data Security & Enterprise AI Tools 35:41 - Introducing du Pay & Digital Financial Services 37:41 - The Evolution of Payments: Cash vs. Digital Wallets 40:19 - Key Revenue Drivers for du 42:38 - Leadership Style & People Management 45:11 - Managing Diversity & Motivating Teams 47:36 - Is Leadership Inherent or Learned? 49:54 - Mentoring the Next Generation 53:01 - University Degrees vs. Real-World Experience 58:52 - What Makes a Successful Salesperson? 01:01:15 - du's Stock Performance & Financial Success 01:07:48 - Future Growth & Ambitions for du 01:10:58 - Morocco & Personal Retirement Plans Follow Spencer Lodge on Social Media: https://www.instagram.com/madeindubaipodcast/?hl=en https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61586194260076 https://www.instagram.com/spencer.lodge/?hl=en https://www.tiktok.com/@spencer.lodge https://www.linkedin.com/in/spencerlodge/ https://www.youtube.com/c/SpencerLodgeTV https://www.facebook.com/spencerlodgeofficial/ Follow Karim Benkirane on Social Media: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-king-97b7a5107/ https://www.instagram.com/du/?hl=en https://www.du.ae/personal https://www.linkedin.com/company/du/home/
- 2 weeks ago56 min
#420: From Being Adopted as a Child to Building a Global Sim Racing Business | Michael King
Michael's story goes far beyond business. Adopted as a baby, he grew up with parents who went on to foster around 300 children. Their example helped shape his approach to leadership, honesty and how he treats people. Michael also shares his experience of leading a business through a period of change, the challenges of transforming its business model and the lessons he has learnt throughout his career. Timestamps 01:54 - What Is Sim Racing? 02:41 - Inside the Simulator Experience 04:53 - The Sim Racing Market & Max Verstappen 07:01 - Michael's Journey to Dubai 08:08 - CIMCO Venue & Production City HQ 10:08 - Brand X Sims & Global F1 Partnerships 11:43 - Early Career & Law School Lessons 13:30 - Leadership Through Change 15:00 - Sales Lessons & Learning to Listen 17:41 - Personal Growth & Integrity in Business 20:24 - Building Company Culture & Managing Ego 22:47 - Managing a Multinational Team 25:20 - Hiring & Growing the Business 27:10 - Michael's Childhood & Adoption Story 35:34 - Host Shares Personal Story on Adoption 38:56 - Fostering 300+ Children: Parents' Legacy 48:08 - Drive, Ambition, and Personal Mindset 50:35 - Future Business Strategy & Personal Branding 55:12 - Advice for Business Growth & Closing Thoughts Follow Spencer Lodge on Social Media: https://www.instagram.com/madeindubaipodcast/?hl=en https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61586194260076 https://www.instagram.com/spencer.lodge/?hl=en https://www.tiktok.com/@spencer.lodge https://www.linkedin.com/in/spencerlodge/ https://www.youtube.com/c/SpencerLodgeTV https://www.facebook.com/spencerlodgeofficial/ Follow Michael King on Social Media: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-king-97b7a5107/ https://www.linkedin.com/company/simco-l-l-c/about/ https://simco.llc/ https://www.instagram.com/simco_dubai/
- 3 weeks ago47 min
#419: Can AI Make Healthcare Accessible to Everyone? | Michele Tarnow
Michele Tarnow is the CEO and founder of Alliance Care Technologies, a company developing technology and partnerships to expand access to preventative health screening. Michelle explains how her technology can screen people in minutes, even in communities with limited access to doctors and healthcare facilities. She shares the example of 800,000 people screened for diabetes and cardiovascular disease in Lagos, where 60% of those needing follow-up were lost in the process. 00:00 - Introduction & ACT's Mission 01:53 - How AI & Tech Enable Universal Healthcare 04:05 - Preventive AI Screenings vs. Traditional Methods 09:57 - Gamification & Increasing Patient Engagement 11:27 - Data Privacy, Security, and Compliance in the UAE 13:30 - Safe Use of AI: Risk Assessment vs. Diagnosis 18:40 - Ecosystem Approach & Healthcare Adoption Challenges 25:48 - Will AI Ever Replace Doctors? 35:43 - Economic & Health Benefits of Early Detection 40:58 - Why ACT Chose Dubai and the UAE 42:49 - Michele Tarnow's Background & Peace Corps Experience 46:14 - Conclusion Timestamps Follow Spencer Lodge on Social Media: https://www.instagram.com/madeindubaipodcast/?hl=en https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61586194260076 https://www.instagram.com/spencer.lodge/?hl=en https://www.tiktok.com/@spencer.lodge https://www.linkedin.com/in/spencerlodge/ https://www.youtube.com/c/SpencerLodgeTV https://www.facebook.com/spencerlodgeofficial/ Follow Michele Tarnow on Social Media: https://www.linkedin.com/in/micheletarnow/ https://www.instagram.com/micheletarnow/ https://www.linkedin.com/company/alliance-care-technologies/home/ https://www.facebook.com/alliancecaretech/ https://www.instagram.com/alliancecaretech/ https://alliancecaretech.com/
- Oct 12, 20261h 15m
#418: How AI Is Changing Guest Expectations and Reshaping Hotels | Raki Phillips
Technology is changing the way hotels operate, from how guests choose where to stay to how businesses manage pricing and performance. But as Raki Phillips explains, hospitality still comes down to the experience guests have and whether they want to come back. Raki Phillips also shares his perspective on protecting room rates during periods of disruption, the resilience of the UAE's tourism industry, and the growth opportunities across the Middle East and Africa. Timestamps 0:00 Introduction 4:05 How hotel groups decide where to open new properties 7:34 The opportunities and risks of investing in Africa 14:50 Why the guest experience matters more than the numbers 16:20 How the UAE's tourism industry is handling disruption 28:49 Hotel occupancy, profitability and protecting room rates 32:02 What UAE travel figures reveal about the industry's recovery 40:32 How AI is changing the way people book hotels 41:26 Will hotel brands still matter when AI chooses where you stay? 43:55 Why hospitality still needs a personal touch 45:15 How technology could transform the hotel guest experience 48:25 Why hotel pricing needs to change 51:39 The difference between being an entrepreneur and a corporate leader 1:01:18 Why Rakki Phillips believes in the UAE's long-term future 1:03:01 How hotels can adapt and generate revenue during a crisis 1:08:52 What makes guests choose one hotel over another 1:10:04 Where Rakki Phillips would invest $500 million in hospitality 1:12:19 Why Africa could be the future of hospitality growth Follow Spencer Lodge on Social Media: https://www.instagram.com/madeindubaipodcast/?hl=en https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61586194260076 https://www.instagram.com/spencer.lodge/?hl=en https://www.tiktok.com/@spencer.lodge https://www.linkedin.com/in/spencerlodge/ https://www.youtube.com/c/SpencerLodgeTV https://www.facebook.com/spencerlodgeofficial/ Follow Raki Phillips on Social Media: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rakiphillips/ https://www.linkedin.com/company/accor/home/ https://www.instagram.com/rakiphillips/?hl=en https://www.instagram.com/accor/?hl=en
- Oct 5, 20261h 1m
#417: What happens to the UAE's supply chain when one of the region's most important trade routes is disrupted? | Ayman Kabbara
From alternative ports and rerouting cargo to rising freight costs, limited capacity and the importance of keeping essential goods moving, Ayman explains how logistics companies adapt when the usual routes are no longer available. Ayman Kabbara also discusses pharmaceuticals, global trade, AI, blockchain and preparing for future supply chain disruptions. Timestamps 0:00 Introduction 1:08 What happens when Jebel Ali is disrupted 14:22 How the UAE keeps goods moving through alternative routes 21:48 Why freight and air freight costs can rise during a crisis 27:04 How logistics companies prioritise essential and life-saving goods 30:49 Why supply chain disruptions affect businesses far beyond shipping 33:24 Why blockchain could transform global logistics 36:36 How AI is changing freight forwarding 39:45 Preparing for the next "black swan" event 52:29 Why logistics is the engine behind global trade 55:17 What businesses should look for in a freight forwarding company Follow Spencer Lodge on Social Media: https://www.instagram.com/madeindubaipodcast/?hl=en https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61586194260076 https://www.instagram.com/spencer.lodge/?hl=en https://www.tiktok.com/@spencer.lodge https://www.linkedin.com/in/spencerlodge/ https://www.youtube.com/c/SpencerLodgeTV https://www.facebook.com/spencerlodgeofficial/ Follow Ayman Kabbara on Social Media: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ayman-kabbara/ https://www.scangl.com/ https://www.linkedin.com/company/scan-global-logistics/ https://www.linkedin.com/company/scan-global-logistics/
- Sep 28, 20261h 9m
#416: From Nissan to Louvre Abu Dhabi: Reda Raad on 27 Years of Making Brands Stand Out
Reda Raad has spent the last 20 years shaping how one of the world's biggest car brands is seen across this region, and picked up international recognition along the way for his work putting the Louvre Abu Dhabi on the map. He talks to Spencer about the discipline he says most people are losing in the age of AI, and why some brands earn decades of trust in this region while others never get close. Timestamps 02:00 – Starting a new podcast and personal motivations 03:07 – Working with his father and their early professional relationship 08:06 – Childhood memories, growing up in Dubai, and family dynamics 13:07 – Starting at the bottom as an Assistant Account Executive 22:50 – A humbling lesson from his father about consistency 26:33 – Nissan's long-standing history and brand loyalty in the GCC region 33:23 – Founding TBWA and gaining Nissan's trust 39:48 – Understanding agency identity: "The Disruption Company" 45:00 – The role of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in advertising and thinking 56:56 – Specific AI tools used in business (Omni, Claude, ChatGPT) 59:01 – Outdoor advertising and the Louvre Abu Dhabi case study 01:06:11 – Five key things to look for when choosing an advertising agency Follow Spencer Lodge on Social Media: https://www.instagram.com/madeindubaipodcast/?hl=en https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61586194260076 https://www.instagram.com/spencer.lodge/?hl=en https://www.tiktok.com/@spencer.lodge https://www.linkedin.com/in/spencerlodge/ https://www.youtube.com/c/SpencerLodgeTV https://www.facebook.com/spencerlodgeofficial/ Follow Reda Raad on Social Media: https://www.linkedin.com/in/reda-raad/ https://www.instagram.com/redaraaddxb/ https://tbwaraad.com https://www.facebook.com/TBWARAAD/ https://x.com/TBWARAADDUBAI https://www.linkedin.com/company/tbwa-raad/ https://www.instagram.com/tbwaraad/
- Sep 21, 20261h 3m
#415: What Does It Actually Take to Build Landmarks Like Ain Dubai and the Royal Atlantis? | Dean McGrail, WSP
Dean McGrail has spent over two decades building his career in the Gulf, and today he leads WSP's operations across the Middle East and Asia. He talks to Spencer about the humbling start that shaped his entire career, his approach to leading his team, and what it's actually taken, personally and professionally, to get to where he is now. Timestamps 0:00 Introduction 0:28 What WSP actually does 1:45 The landmarks across the region, Ain Dubai, Royal Atlantis, Guggenheim Abu Dhabi and more 3:26 "We've been part of building a nation" 4:14 The scope of his role 5:47 Does he feel presidential 6:39 Imposter syndrome 7:39 Growing up in Aldershot 8:44 Rejected from the RAF and told he was "socially inadequate" 10:19 How he ended up studying fire engineering by chance 11:47 His first job overseas in Hong Kong 13:19 Joining WSP and his dad's reaction 19:01 His two mentors, Chris Cole and Norman Curtis 29:23 Why you can't fake thirty years of trust in ten 31:22 His warning to newcomers arriving in the Gulf 34:33 The hardest conversation he's had with his mentor 40:11 Would he give someone a blueprint for his job 41:06 Build your network, get uncomfortable 44:34 "Quality is the absolute cornerstone of everything we do" 46:20 What he's sacrificed for his career 48:58 Was it a price worth paying 50:07 Does he feel guilt 53:41 Who is Dean McGrail without the title 55:29 What AI has actually changed at WSP 1:00:00 What he'd tell himself at 19 Follow Spencer Lodge on Social Media: https://www.instagram.com/madeindubaipodcast/?hl=en https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61586194260076 https://www.instagram.com/spencer.lodge/?hl=en https://www.tiktok.com/@spencer.lodge https://www.linkedin.com/in/spencerlodge/ https://www.youtube.com/c/SpencerLodgeTV https://www.facebook.com/spencerlodgeofficial/ Follow Dean McGrail on Social Media: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dean-mcgrail/ https://www.instagram.com/wsp_me/?hl=en https://www.wsp.com/en-me/ https://www.linkedin.com/company/wsp-in-the-middle-east/
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About Made in Dubai with Spencer Lodge
Formerly the Unscripted Podcast with Spencer LodgeJoin Spencer Lodge as he connects with the most fascinating personalities in Dubai. A city that rose from the desert sands to become one of the most ambitious, innovative and inspiring places on Earth. Behind its glittering skyline are people with stories just as extraordinary - pioneers, dreamers and doers who dared to turn bold visions into reality.Made in Dubai is where those stories are told. Hosted by Spencer Lodge, each episode is a front-row seat to conversations with the people shaping the UAE's future — from business leaders and record-breakers to cultural icons and creative disruptors.But this isn't just about their success. It's about the journey - the risks they took, the challenges they faced and the moments that defined them. It's about the unique magic of Dubai: a place where ambition meets opportunity, where cultures from around the world collide to create something truly special and where anything feels possible.
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