On this episode Barry had the opportunity to speak with Sam Dancy a PR professional and friend who has been involved in the UAE market for 15 years. Working across agency and in house, she made the jump to her own thing in 2013 and Footstep Communications was born.  Sam talks about her own professional journey, the lessons learned and some top tips for those thinking about doing their own thing, or have made the leap and are wondering what do do next.

Swenglanese - talking business in the UAE

Episode 53 - Samantha Dancy, Footstep Communications

On this episode of the podcast Barry speaks with Madhav Dhar - the co founder and COO of ZaZen Properties - Madhav tells his really interesting personal journey from birth in the UAE, boarding school, corporate life and then starting his own business in a super competitive niche. All in a country where that niche also doesn't have the best reputation. Precisely because of this, he's doing it differently, to change the perception of the industry but also to deliver properties that live up to the pre sales marketing hype. 

Episode 67 - Madhav Dhar - Co Founder and COO of ZaZen Properties

David and Piero talk about their entrepreneurial journey so far and how it has brought them to Exirio. Helping expats take better care of their money and investments by leveraging technology.

Episode 66 - David and Piero from Exirio - Understand Your Wealth in One Place

On this episode of the podcast it was an absolute pleasure to speak with Dr Saliha Afridi, the founder of the LightHouse Arabia Centre for Wellbeing.  Dr Saliha has had a bright and varied career to date and doesn't consider herself a business person or entrepreneur. But that aside, she is a person that has and continues to make a big impact in the region helping raise awareness around mental health, as well as treating people suffering from mental health issues. The staff at the centre are all about community and as with many of our interviews. We were left inspired and a little in awe!! 

Episode 65 - Dr Saliha Afridi - Founder of The Lighthouse Arabia Centre for Wellbeing

On this episode of the podcast Barry had the opportunity to speak with Aakansha Tangri, the founder of Re:Set your everyday. A daily online news organisation that looks to shine a light on subjects such as education, mental health, well being and inclusion. Aakanksha has had a varied career to date with time spent at CNN and Vice as a journalist, before turning her skills to build a platform to dig deeper into the conversations and topics that really matter. 

Episode 64 - Aakanksha Tangri - Founder of Re:Set

On this episode of the podcast, Barry had a really interesting conversation with Natalie Banks - the founder of a not for profit organisation called Azraq. But her journey didn't start there and Natalie talks Barry through her start in journalism. Setting up an initiative to save the sharks, followed by a move to the UAE where Azraq was born.  Motivating, inspiring and doing something she is truly passionate about. Talk about making an impact! 

Episode 63 - Natalie Banks - Founder of Azraq

This is a particularly special episode of the podcast with long time friend Jeff Price. Jeff has been an integral part of the broadcast landscape for an extended period of time, both in the UK and very much a part of the foundations here in the UAE. Throughout his career he has tried to help wherever he can and his focus on catering to the wellbeing of children is what caused his and Barry's paths to cross in the first place.  Apart from setting up Pearl FM which was a radio station specifically for children and their parents, Jeff has also been involved in setting up and running some of the commercial stations we listen to today, here in the UAE.  Jeff and his family have also been on an excruciating personal journey over the last few years. Jeff gives us an insight into this as well as his experience. Culminating in the fact that he's back on the ground here in the UAE, ready to help in any way he can, across a variety of different areas too. Listen in and reconnect if you know Jeff. He'd love to hear from you. 

Episode 62 - The one and only Jeff Price - he's back and ready to help!

This episode of Swenglanese saw Oskar and Barry catch up after Oskar's return to Sweden in the the middle of the COVID summer last June. The conversation was an update on what Oskar is doing, how the move from the UAE actually went and the changes he had to implement within his business - Strategic Tech Coaching to keep him going after 2 of his core niche markets were effectively shut down as a result of the global pandemic. 

Episode 61 - Oskar Andermo Swenglanese Catch Up

In this episode of Swenglanese Barry had the chance to speak to Rosa Bullock about her professional journey. Where it started with an interest in fashion, studying in London, to setting up a successful PR agency here in Dubai - Sociate PR. As with most journeys into entrepreneurialism, it isn't all plain sailing. Lots of ups and downs and a lot of perseverance. 

Episode 60 - Rosa Bullock - Sociate PR

On this episode of the podcast Barry had the pleasure of speaking with Ziad Matar. Ziad's story is such an interesting one, spanning the corporate ladder of Ericsson through to investing in companies, creating companies and now his own Podcast too.  Potential.com is an empowerment platform that has been used to help develop millions of people around the world. Coconut is the go to resource for recruiting in the hospitality industry. Meditari is the digital advisory network he helped setup, he's on the board of TiE Dubai after having been a member for many years and Wirelessly Yours is his awesome new podcast. 

Episode 59 - Ziad Matar - Wirelessly Yours (amongst many other things)

On this episode of the podcast Barry got the chance to speak with Vietek Ladislaav - originally a TV presenter covering Golf he transitioned into the world of video/content creation here in Dubai in 2013 with his own video production company Square Motion. He's seen the changes taking place here in the UAE and has adapted his business and himself to stay at the forefront of the niche. Now focusing on LinkedIn and helping leverage the platform for your business, Vietek has his training sessions called BeLinkedInSmart.com and is keen to help business owners make the most of an currently under utilised platform.

Episode 58 - Vietek Ladislaav - Be LinkedIn Smart

On this episode of the podcast, Barry had the chance to sit down with Sebastian Bates - the founder of the Warrior Academy and the global anti bullying movement, Not A Victim. Seb gives an insight into his entrepreneurial journey, his first job as a monkey chaser, the ability to spot opportunities and leverage them and how to hone the kind of mindset that allows you to delegate and keep you in the creator/innovator zone as an entrepreneur.

Episode 57 - Sebastian Bates - Warrior Academy

On this episode we have an in depth chat with Karl Edwards who runs his own production company KE Motion Pictures. We go back to the beginning and find out how he ended up making videos and content for some of the biggest brands on the planet.  We learn a bit about how just asking, can get you where you want to go and also how things have changed on the ground here in the UAE in the content creation business over the last 10 years or so. 

Episode 56 - Karl Edwards - KE Motion Pictures

On this episode Barry speaks with long time friend and owner of Animus Creative Matt Wilson.  They talk about Matt's professional journey starting in the UK in the newspaper industry, into IT networking and then to his own company, all with a design lead focus. Moving to the UAE about the same time as Barry, 15 years ago, Matt eventually setup Animus Creative to help people and companies really start to see how branding and design reflected in everything they do.  Enjoy! 

Episode 55 - Matt Wilson - Animus Creative

On this episode of the podcast Barry had the chance to speak to friend and dentist, Dr Geoffrey Sharpe who owns and runs The Perio Clinic located in Healthcare city. Having made the decision to do his own thing, not a decision taken lightly, Geoff talks us through the journey of setting up a business here in Dubai that had to have a physical location as well as support staff prior to seeing a single patient. Deadlines, budget and planning are all covered in an interesting chat with our friendly neighbourhood dentist.

Episode 54 - Dr Geoffrey Sharpe - The Perio Clinic

Barry and Oskar are two entrepreneurs based in Dubai in the UAE. Coming from different backgrounds with different experiences and in many cases differing opinions the two of them have both proof and of course opinions of what is required to be successful. Topics: entrepreneurship in Dubai and United Arab Emirates.