Loulou Khazen Baz

13/03/2023

Episode 48 of Conversations with Loulou is live!

I chat to leading clinical psychologist and eating disorders expert Carine El Khazen Hadati about:

👧🏻 Raising resilient and independent girls

🧠 Being mindful of our internalized biases

🫄The motherhood penalty and the constant shaming of women

Happy and may women continue to thrive! 💪🏻🙌🏻🧘

A not to be missed conversation for all parents out there.

Here is a link to watch the full episode.

On the occasion of International Women's day 2023, I wanted to address the topic from a mental health angle. I chat to Carine el Khazen Hadati, the clinical ...

01/03/2023

🇦🇪 IFC - International Finance Corporation is helping -based companies expand into emerging markets to drive growth across MENA and beyond, IFC's Sufyan Al Issa recently told Loulou Khazen Baz.

During the podcast interview, he also discussed:

👩‍💻 IFC’s support for MENA’s underserved women-led startups,

💵 the launch of IFC’s $255 million venture capital platform, and

🌍 the importance of private sector-led solutions.

🎥 You can watch the interview here wrld.bg/bICe50M6JbA

01/03/2023

There is no shortage of discussions on but often, these discussions seem too generic, too distanced from our daily lives.

Episode 47 of Conversations with Loulou tackles one aspect of climate change and that is food security and how we ought to be modernizing our agriculture practices to meet our food needs.

The Middle East and Africa region is extremely susceptible to climate shocks and we can all do something about it at an individual level.

A great conversation with marine oceanographer turned climate venture investor Hossam Allam, General partner at Climate Resilience Fund.

To listen to or watch the full episode visit: www.conversationswithloulou.com

16/05/2022

Feras Jalbout is the Founder & CEO of GetBaraka, an investment app born in the UAE and targeting the young generation in our region. With as little as $1, you can open an investment account and buy shares in your favorite companies.. So how was Baraka born, how should we look at investing amidst volatility in the markets and what did Feras' experience with Y Combinator the world's top accelerator teach him about pitching to investors and fundraising in general.

As usual, you can watch the full video on or listen to conversation on ALL apps by searching for "Conversations with Loulou".

Don't forget to leave us a rating & review, it helps in getting he show discovered. Many thanks for all those who support the show!

Wishing you light & love.

Feras Jalbout has spent his career in finance doing asset management, trading and being heavily exposed to startups having worked with and advised one of the...

30/04/2022

Rashid Al Ghurair came up with a simple idea: on-demand fuel. A few years later, his startup CAFU is celebrating its 6th million fill up. Cafu has also expanded it's product offering as it currently seeks to become a one-stop-shop for all your car service needs.
Rashid comes from one of the biggest and most successful business families in the UAE, but has decided to forge a path on his own, this is how he did it.

Rashid Al Ghurair is the Founder & CEO of Cafu (www.cafu.com), the first on-demand fuel delivery company in the Middle East that is expanding to become the o...

29/04/2022

Have you watched Fast & Furious 7? Do you remember Vin Diesel's sports car leaping from a building to another in Abu Dhabi?

Well that car, the Lykan, is the brainchild of Lebanese entrepreneur Ralph R. Debbas. I catch up with Ralph to talk about how he got started, how he built his first car and what projects he is currently working on as he continues to build W Motors, the first car manufacturer born out of the Middle East!

The Middle East region is known for many things, but building cars was not one of them, but entrepreneur Ralph R. Debbas was about to change that forever!Fre...

20/12/2021

We've all been fascinated with crypto.. we meticulously watch its ups and downs and try to make sense of it all. In my latest episode of Conversations with Loulou, I tackle crypto with CoinMENA's Talal Tabbaa. We discuss his entrepreneurial journey and his experience fund raising via an ICO (Initial Coin Offering), we then talk about the genesis of CoinMENA and what Talal and his Co-Founders Dina Sam'an and Yazan Barghuthi are building and more importantly why. We touch on the future of money and why Bitcoin, in Talal's view has won the crypto currency race. There is a lot in there to unpack! This episode promises to be highly informative and full of energy!

Talal is the Co-Founder and Chairman at CoinMENA, a crypto business that was founded by Talal and his Co-Founders Dina Sam'an and Yazan Barghuthi - and regul...

19/09/2021

One of the most enlightening conversations I've had on Conversations with Loulou and one that is very much needed today. Our lives are increasingly stressful and we're constantly bombarded by negativity on the news, social media, you name it. We are always connected and that makes us anxious.
Dr. Saliha Afridi is a Clinical Psychologist, a mother of 4 and a successful entrepreneur having founded The LightHouse Arabia, one of the largest mental health and wellbeing centers in the UAE.
In this talk we take a break from startups and business and we discuss subjects that are relevant to all of us. Burnout, motivation, motherhood, releasing our creativity and taking back our power. Very powerful and highly inspiring 40 minutes that you won't regret watching.

https://youtu.be/n1Ltq2YAoaI

Dr. Saliha Afridi has been on a journey of discovery, healing and impact. The clinical psychologist, entrepreneur and mother of four spends her day between h...

01/06/2021

** New Podcast Episode**

Join me as I chat with Daniel Ahmed, an entrepreneur, fintech expert and ex-senior analyst reporting directly to the UAE’s Minister of State for Artificial intelligence.

Daniel is the co-founder & COO of Fasset, a digital asset gateway - offering a cryptocurrency exchange as well as asset-backed tokens - that has recently launched in the MENA region. Fasset is currently regulated by the Central Bank of Bahrain and is still in Beta mode i.e. restricted to a limited number of people yet has a waitlist in the 10s of thousands.

We discuss:
- An overview of cryptocurrencies and provides us with a MENA perspective
- The launch of Fasset and what differentiates it from other crypto exchanges in MENA.
- The recent crypto crash and his outlook
- Advise for everyone looking to invest in crypto
- The role of central bank digital currencies (CBDCs) in providing legitimacy and mass adoption to the notion of ‘digital money’.

You can visit my website:
www.conversationswithloulou.com to watch the full episode or YouTube, or you can listen on your favourite podcast app!

Fasset is a newly launched MENA based digital asset gateway. What does that mean? It is a that is leveraging the blockchain technology to tokenize r...

24/05/2021

Digital Art vs. Physical Art

Creating art requires imagination, planning and time. The tools for creation are different, some work with a brush, others work with a Wacom (a tool used by graphic designers and illustrators to draw directly onto their computers). So why should their value be different? Why should we give more weight to something that we can hang on a wall, versus something we can see on a screen? Here is Kristel Bechara on and why they're so important for digital artists.

To watch the full episode visit: https://youtu.be/6GTWGZcX79g



https://youtu.be/0OEfY-hN01c

Non fungible tokens (NFTs) have opened a channel for digital artists and creators to not only sell their art, but also have proof of ownership over their wor...

22/05/2021

In episode 19 of Conversations with Loulou, I learn about Non Fungible Tokens (NFTs).

- What are they?
- Why are they becoming popular among artists
- Kristel Bechara - Artist's decision to sell NFTs making her the first Middle Eastern artist to do so on a global platform.

Enjoy this short clip that shows some of her art. For the full video you can visit my website:

Conversationswithloulou.com

Watch the full video on YouTube: https://youtu.be/6GTWGZcX79g

Despite having her latest collection "Pshychomachia" currently displayed in her gallery and her website, Kristel wanted to create a special digital art colle...

27/10/2020

I really, really, really do not enjoy fundraising!

Sounds familiar? Well even the mighty Mishaal Al Gergawi feels that way. So if you ever thought you’re the only entrepreneur who is suffering... Well you’re not!

But am sure most of us can’t describe the process as creatively as Mishaal :)

I’ve had a fascinating chat with one of the ’s top intellectuals and thinkers about working on his Axis (at age 40), his fascination with learning (he has read about 300 books so far) as well as the anecdote behind him accidentally becoming a renowned columnist back in 2008.

We’ve also worked on improving the audio experience of the show so I’d be keen to get your feedback!

Enjoy Episode 16 on Apple Podcast: http://bit.ly/cwl_apple_mishaal

Or visit the show's website: https://bit.ly/cwl_linkedin

13/10/2020

FIND A WAY NOT TO LOSE HOPE

As many people are facing uncertainties in what has been one hell of a year, finding ways to stay positive and fight on is critical to our wellbeing. This too shall pass.

In light of the disruption that has hit the market, I wanted to have a conversation with Ali Matar, the head of EMEA Emerging Markets to get his views on the following:

- What makes a good manager
- Aligning employee with company objectives
- Setting up the LinkedIn office for the region
- Gender diversity and where we stand in MENA
- Moving forward during and beyond

I hope you enjoy Episode 15 of Conversations with Loulou and as usual, I would love your feedback and appreciate your support for the show by subscribing on Apple Podcast and leaving us a review! 🙏🏼

You can visit the show's website: http://bit.ly/cwl_facebook

Or Apple Podcast: http://bit.ly/cwl_applepodcast_fb

Or use your favorite podcast app: Apple, Spotify, Anghami, Google, IMDb and more.

11/10/2020

We create our own luck.

Sometimes we get a head start in life, we’re born in a progressive country, we come from a successful family, we get access to great education, we have access to mentors while growing up, we have good genes.

Sometimes we don’t have some or none of the above. The question is, what should we do about it?

I believe that we can create our own luck and today more than ever, we have at our disposal tools that can help us change our fate provided of course we know how to read and write and have access to the internet.

Here are a few examples:
- Access to free online education via Udemy, Coursera, Khan Academy
- Access to endless “how to” content on YouTube
- Access to freemium tools like Shopify to open an online store
- Access to Facebook and Instagram to sell any service or product
- Access to LinkedIn and Twitter to build a professional network
- Access to live streaming features to share our story, unfiltered
- Access to the gig-economy platforms Nabbesh, Ureed, Upwork, Careem
- Access to accelerators and incubators if we want to start a business

Despite 2020 being an awful year to say the least, it is a good time for us to be alive. Thank you Yazan Madanat for hosting me!

For the full video visit Pod Kas with Yaz

21/09/2020

As I was going through my 20s, I really believed that mothers couldn't be successful

In hindsight, it's probably one of the reasons I didn't want to have kids for the longest time. Until I finally had my daughter in my mid 30s.

Yes being a mother, a wife, a leader, an entrepreneur, an athlete and whatever it is you juggle with is tough and that's why I've come to learn that mothers are made of tungsten. And if they don't know it yet, they must know that it is there.

Here are some great tips from the wonderful Dr. Nadine Hachach-Haram who became a mother while she was still studying medicine and had to perform the mother of while most of us were partying our youth away!

👶🏼 kids know when you're feeling guilty and that is bad for the relationship dynamics, so don't feel guilty

⏳time is valuable and it's more about quality over quantity. Prioritize your activities and make sure you're there when it matters

🥼doing is more powerful than talking. Your kids watch you fail, try and succeed and they are proud

We still have a lot of work to do.

Please add your comments below! 🗣📝

To listen to the full episode visit the show's website:
www.conversationswithloulou.com or any Podcast APP.

12/08/2020

2020 has certainly been a unique year that has stopped us all in our tracks. Many people around the world have been facing health challenges, financial challenges, emotional and relationship challenges. In our region, the explosion in Lebanon has been catastrophic to say the least.

But at the end, life has to go on and eventually there will be light at the end of the tunnel.

Episode 10 of Conversations with Loulou features Dina El Mofty, an Egyptian entrepreneur who dedicated nearly 2 decades building Injaz | إنجاز, an NGO that bridges the gap between students in public schools and universities and companies by providing these students with financial literacy, entrepreneurship and work readiness skills. Like all entrepreneurs, Dina has faced several challenges throughout the way but has learnt that ultimately, God's got your back.

The full audio episode is available on all podcast platforms such as Apple Podcast: https://lnkd.in/e8MbZZa

And a slightly longer video version is available on YouTube: https://lnkd.in/eGUGniT

If you love the episode please give me a shout on social media over Twitter/ Instagram and Dina's Instagram

21/07/2020

What the hell am I doing here?

How many times did you say this to yourself irrespective of the context and more importantly what did you do about it?
I speak to Binod Shankar about that moment and what he decided to do about it.
A super insightful chat with someone who’s been through challenging experiences from his early childhood until he ultimately ‘found himself’.
You can listen to the full episode of on and more! Or you can visit the show’s website (link in bio).

08/07/2020

Do Venture Capital firms in MENA (VCs) add enough value to entrepreneurs? Kuwaiti entrepreneur and investor Abdulaziz B. Al Loughani puts his entrepreneurial hat on to argue that while VCs get a lot of publicity, the majority of their value lies in writing cheques.

In this chat, we discuss the value of getting advise from Startup founders versus investment professionals. We also discuss building companies that last forever, Talabat's US$ 170 Million in 2015, Floward's massive growth, IPOs, M&A, low hanging fruits and more!

There are also shoutouts to 500 Startups, Elie Habib and eyewa!

The full video can be viewed here: https://lnkd.in/eXNYp6x

You can listen to the audio interview by searching for 'Conversations with Loulou' on Apple Podcast, Anghami, Spotify, Deezer and more.

Thank you so much to all who subscribed, sent feedback or sent messages of encouragement! I am happy to hear you're tuning in! Help me grow the show by sharing with your network, subscribing and writing reviews! Much love ❤️

22/06/2020

⚡️⚡️My conversation with Sonia Weymuller is now LIVE!

An inspiring chat with a smart, gentle and genuine lady. We discuss Sonia's latest venture into impact investing via Conscious Collective (a product of VentureSouq), her journey into entrepreneurship, advice for founders and the importance of "finding yourself". Sonia talks about her personal challenges and how they served as a "kick in the butt" and got her to reset and change course. I am positive you're going to love our chat ❤️

There is a quick shoutout to strong female founders like Ambareen Musa and Sarah Jones.

The full interview can be heard on all podcast platforms by searching for "Conversations with Loulou". You can also visit my website: https://lnkd.in/fYx-kxR

The video is available on my YouTube channel: https://lnkd.in/d8a7CtP

The episode is supported by Primal Alignment: https://lnkd.in/diTvUDn



*If you like the conversations and would like to sponsor the show, you can reach out to [email protected]

**If you find the conversations inspiring and informative be 😇 and share with your friends 🙏🏼

14/06/2020

My friend Nadim Samara is a media agency top leader having worked with Omnicom Media Group for 18+ years starting literally from the ground up! Nadim is currently the CEO of Omnicom Media Group for the MENA region, a UD$500M+ business with over 800 employees!

In this conversation we discuss the role of culture in building a resilient company and the strategies that Nadim uses to continue to grow the business as the industry as a whole is facing disruption and transformation.

Some great leadership insights in this discussion specifically for anyone working in the advertising/ media agency space, publishing and marketing.

My guest Nadim Samara is the CEO of Omnicom Media Group (OMG) MENA, the premier media and marketing services group. He is a media agency veteran having built...

11/06/2020

An "intrapreneur" is someone who often takes initiatives or given new projects within a company. So they have autonomy but they often work within the boundaries of the company.

This questions reminds me of the old "are entrepreneurs born or bred debate".. Chris has successfully made the switch from corporate to startup when he founded Health Central in 2005 but it wasn't easy.

Would love your input on this.

For the full conversation go here: https://youtu.be/_l6RZ_wvN70

08/06/2020

My conversation with Christopher Schroeder is now LIVE!

I first met Chris in 2012 when he was interviewing entrepreneurs to feature in his book, Startup Rising - The Entrepreneurial Revolution Remaking the Middle East. And since 2012, I've gotten to know Chris as an incredibly accessible mentor, I could always count of Chris for a candid opinion and unconditional support.
Chris had a fascinating career from investment banking to politics to becoming the CEO of the washingtonpost.com and ultimately becoming an entrepreneur in 2005 when he co-founded Health Central which later got acquired by Remedy Health in 2012.

Today, Chris is a global venture investor with a keen interest in emerging markets.

In this talk we discuss his own journey, his advice for entrepreneurs, we also discuss the sectors he is currently looking into for investments as well as the potential 'tech' opportunities for a post-COVID world. I am positive you will enjoy the conversation as much as I did! ❤️

You can view the full interview on YouTube (English subtitles now available) https://lnkd.in/eZScRqx

Or listen in via Apple Podcast: https://lnkd.in/fXSuQQe
Also available on Anghami, Google, Spotify, Deezer.

Chris Schroeder is a global angel investor & advisor to tech startups with a keen interest in emerging markets. Chris is the co-founder of Next Billion Ventu...

06/06/2020

Good Morning!

For anyone interested in learning about , how to get started, how to get clients and how to present your services among other 'practical' tips, register to this FREE webinar that I will be holding with TiE Dubai at 11am GST (Dubai time) today.

I will be sharing a lot of tips based on my 8+ year experience running Nabbesh.com, the region's largest online freelance marketplace.

https://hub.tie.org/e/understanding-freelancing

Book online tickets for Understanding Freelancing happening on 06 June 2020. Get event details, venue, ticket price and more on Explara - Online event ticketing portal

31/05/2020

My latest conversation with Samer Hamadeh is live on YouTube and also on 'Conversations with Loulou' on your favorite podcast platform. In this chat, Samer takes us back through his experience of building Food & Beverage brands that people LOVE and all the challenges that come along with starting up from fundraising, managing board members, loosing a contract, meteoric rises and falls! If you don't know Samer, you've probably visited one of his clubs like Republique and Stereo Arcade or most recently visited his restaurant Akiba Dori. Samer is just getting started as he plans to launch more concepts and also help entrepreneurs get into the cumbersome and competitive Food & Beverage space. Tune in and as usual please subscribe to my YouTube channel or my podcast and give us a rating & a review! Much love ❤️

My guest Samer Hamadeh is a serial entrepreneur in the entertainment and Food & Beverage space having built some great concepts such as Republique, Stereo Ar...

11/05/2020

TONIGHT (Monday 11th May, 9PM, Dubai)

I interview Rayan Karaky LIVE via LinkedIn!

We discuss comedy, leadership, intra-preneurship, MENA digital trends, Marketing advice & COVID19

Follow my LinkedIn account to be able to view the interview LIVE!

06/05/2020

If you haven't yet listened to my conversation with Philip Bahoshy, CEO & Founder of MAGNiTT and you prefer to watch the video, you can visit Conversations with Loulou's YouTube channel and subscribe to get notified when videos are published.

Hope you enjoy Philip's insights and his honesty as he describes his journey with Magnitt and the challenges that entrepreneurs face in this region specifically as well as the MENA's investment landscape and opportunities.

Support for the show came for Join's Gifts (www.joigifts.com), they are live in 22 cities across MENA and are offering our listeners a 15% discount on all items!! Check them out and use the code: loulou15

My guest today founded a company that set out to be the _Tinder_ for startups & investors--Magnitt--which he conceptualized in 2012. Philip Bahoshy is a Brit...

27/04/2020

Being an entrepreneur is hard! My friend Philip Bahoshy has hustled his way to build MAGNiTT, the Middle East and Africa's largest data platform. I like to call it the CB Insights of the region. Tune in to "Conversations with Loulou" on your favorite podcast player to learn more about his journey and his insights on the startup scene. You can also visit my website www.conversationswithloulou.com and listen there.

Support for this episode comes from joi! Tune in to get a 15% discount during !

19/04/2020

If you haven’t heard my conversation with OMG MENA’s Nadim Samara than what are you waiting for? 300+ downloads last week 💪🏻💪🏻

We discuss the importance of which is a key ingredient in OMG’s success. If you’re also looking to work with OMG, you’ll be able to learn more about what matters when they select candidates..

Some fun bits also about Nadim’s biggest passions.. for instance, what does he love the most? Take a guess!

Search for ‘conversations with Loulou’ on Apple Podcast, Anghami, Spotify, Deezer and please subscribe so you can be notified when new episodes are out! If you like what you hear, please give the show a rating! Would highly appreciate it 🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻

As always, please send me your feedback and also which guests you’d like to hear from in the future!