The Dollar Diaries

In this insightful episode featuring Ramkumar Balasubramaniam, CFO of Barclays MEA, the discussion delves deep into the evolving role of a CFO beyond traditional financial stewardship. Ramkumar emphasizes the importance of CFOs adopting a holistic mindset, understanding the broader business drivers, and not merely being gatekeepers who say no. Drawing from his extensive experience transitioning...

In this episode, Vuk Zlatarov, Co-founder and CEO of Poddster and Podyx, shares his entrepreneurial journey that began in Dubai with a software development company called Creaitive Ventures. He discusses the challenges of the traditional agency model, leading him to pivot towards venture building and eventually founding Poddster, a podcast studio concept designed to create meaningful professional...

In this episode, Yulia Malova, a numerologist, delves into how numerology serves as a psychological tool to understand oneself rather than a method for predicting the future. She explains that numerology combines ancient mathematics and spirituality, tracing its roots to Pythagoras, and interprets the matrix of life through numbers found in everything around us, such as birth dates, car plates,...

In this episode, Rayana Masri, a senior communication and content executive at BPG Group, shares her inspiring journey of balancing work, lifestyle and education while making significant strides in the media and PR industry. Starting her career during her second year at university, Rayana navigated the pressures of academics alongside long hours at a production house, which helped shape her...

In this episode of The Dollar Diaries, Nourhan Fahmy, Associate Producer at Moniify , shares insights into her role and the competitive media landscape in Dubai. Nourhan explains that as an associate producer, she supports the newsroom by helping reporters and producers with research, data gathering, and producing her own articles. She emphasizes the importance of networking in Dubai’s media...

In this episode, Pranav Jyoti, General Partner at Mirai Capital and Chief Investment Officer for the Private Office of His Highness Shaikh Ahmed bin Faisal Al Qassimi, shares his insightful perspectives on education, entrepreneurship, and investment in the modern global landscape. He reflects on the rigid and outdated nature of traditional education systems, particularly in India and other...

In this episode, Antony Lovell, Sales Director for the Middle East, Africa, Central Asia, and South Asia (MEASA) at Shure, shares insights into the company's rich 100-year history and its impact on audio technology worldwide. He highlights Shure's evolution from a parts catalog company to a global leader in microphones and audio solutions, noting iconic products like the SM58 and the SM7 that...

In this episode, Richard Fitzgerald, CEO and Founder of Augustus Media, shared insightful perspectives on the company's approach to media in the Middle East through its prominent brands like Lovin', Smashi, and Odeum. He emphasized the importance of localized content and presence, explaining Augustus Media’s strategy of operating city-specific brands under a unified 'house of brands' model....

In this episode, Lama Osman, host of the Unicorn Bil Arabi Podcast, CEO/Co-Founder of PodHeros and a passionate tech educator, shares her inspiring journey from studying political science and economics to becoming a full-stack web developer and educator. Lama founded the Young Coders Academy in Lebanon, aiming to teach coding from kindergarten through grade 12 with a simplified and accessible...

In this episode of The Dollar Diaries, Shaheen, CFO and regional controller for Marsh McLennan in the Middle East, delves into the multifaceted nature of her role, balancing financial reporting, strategic growth, and board governance across diverse entities in the UAE and Saudi Arabia. She emphasizes the evolution of the CFO role from a traditional focus on financial closing and reporting to a...