Money Moves

MONIIFY
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Money Moves is a deep dive into the minds of the most successful and influential entrepreneurs in frontier markets, shaping the conversation around money and innovation. Each week we bring you exclusive insights from the sharpest minds in business, tech and investing in high-potential markets. From crypto and AI to startups and global giants, Natasha and her guests deliver the ideas and tools you need to seize opportunities and grow your wealth.

  1. 7 Sept

    $80 million then zero | Former e& Group CEO

    What does it take to reinvent a telecom giant and what makes a founder worth betting on?  Hatem Dowidar, investor and former Group CEO of e&, joins Money Moves for a conversation spanning big business, technology, entrepreneurship and investing.  He takes us inside the thinking behind Etisalat’s transformation into e&, and how the relationship between telecom companies, technology platforms and their customers have changed over the past two decades.  We also get into Hatem’s life as an investor: what catches his attention in a founder, why a brilliant idea isn’t always enough, whether a corporate career can actually prepare you for entrepreneurship and what happens when a company once valued at $80 million ends up at zero.  Plus, Hatem shares his approach to making difficult decisions, building at scale and knowing when a business or its leadership needs to change.  Chapters   00:00 Intro  00:54 Why Etisalat Became e&  01:51 How Telecom Lost Its Power  03:53 How e& Expanded Beyond Telecom  06:03 Who Will AI Replace?  07:16 What Hatem Looks for Before Investing  08:38 The Two Founder Types That Failed  11:17 Why Startups Struggle to Scale Across Emerging Markets  13:19 Where Hatem Sees the Biggest Investment Opportunities  16:08 What Emerging Market Leaders See Before Everyone Else  17:20 Can a Company Grow Too Fast?  18:29 Entrepreneur vs. Corporate Career  22:26 The Most Important Advice for Any CEO

  2. 31 Aug

    Why I Give The Money Back | Dubai's Top Food Blogger

    In Dubai, where you eat tonight was probably decided by a video, and that video was probably paid for. Alex Augusti, founder of Just Food DXB, has spent five years building one of the city's most trusted food pages in an industry where trust is routinely for sale, and he says the thing that made it valuable was learning to say no.  In this episode of Money Moves, Alex explains how a 500-dirham ice cream review turned into a full-time business, why he asked for money from day one instead of accepting free meals, and what a brand partnership actually pays at the top end.  He breaks down where the real money sits and where the traps are, why taking 10,000 dirhams off a mom-and-pop restaurant can do more harm than good, why he gives clients their money back when the food isn't right, and the three number rules he gives creators, restaurants and anyone running this as a side hustle.  Alex also shares how to spot a bought review as a viewer, what happened when he rated a burger below its competitors and the owner turned out to be his wife's boss, why he hates the algorithm with every fiber of his being, and the video that sold out a friend's entire weekend of stock in four hours.  From fake followers and five-star Google reviews to burger fatigue, boycott accusations and the inside scoop about the restaurant he's opening, this is a conversation about building something people believe when everyone around you is for sale.  Watch the full episode of Money Moves with Alex Augusti.  Chapters   0:00 Inside Dubai’s Paid Food Review Economy  1:19 How JustFoodDXB Started  3:03 From Free Ice Cream to Paid Reviews  3:55 How Much Food Bloggers Really Make  4:32 Standing Out in Dubai’s Food Scene  5:33 Where the Real Creator Money Is  6:42 Should Creators Quit Their Day Jobs?  7:35 Why Alex Hates the Algorithm  8:28 Can Paid Reviews Still Be Honest?  10:13 How to Spot Fake Food Reviews  11:17 Why He Turns Down 95% of Deals  12:57 The Review That Triggered Legal Threats  15:13 Which Restaurants He Won’t Cover  16:07 The “Alex Effect” on Restaurant Sales  17:03 What Restaurants Get Wrong About Influencers  17:47 3 Rules for Creators, Restaurants & Side Hustlers  19:20 Alex’s Next Move: Opening Aatish

  3. 24 Aug

    Gymwear Brand Taking on Nike and Adidas | SQUATWOLF founder

    What does it take to build a global brand from the Gulf?  Anam Khalid and her husband started SQUATWOLF from their Dubai apartment with AED 250,000 in savings. Today, the activewear brand ships to more than 120 countries.   In this episode of Money Moves, Anam, founder and co-CEO of SQUATWOLF, takes us inside what happened in between.  She explains how personal trainers and micro-influencers helped build SQUATWOLF's early community, why opening its marketing globally during COVID brought orders from more than 60 countries in a single day, and how Dubai became a launchpad for taking the brand international.   But scaling brought a new set of problems. Anam breaks down the shift from D2C to an omnichannel business, why the team now works on products 18 months ahead, and why expanding into retail meant building what was essentially an entirely new business unit.   Her lesson?  “If you follow someone, you will always be the number two.”   From profitability before growth to the role luck plays in success, this is a candid conversation about building, funding and scaling a homegrown brand and trying to make sure SQUATWOLF becomes one of the names global competitors must watch.  Chapters    00:00 Introduction 00:47 Why the name SQUATWOLF? 01:36 The role of activewear brands in establishing gym communities in the UAE 02:44 The journey from starting in their apartment to shipping to 120+ countries 05:12 Was SQUATWOLF ready to ship their products to 120+ countries? 05:33 Who were SQUATWOLF’s first customers? 06:35 Anam discusses the dynamics and impact of the ASCA investment 08:34 Anam’s most surprising learnings while building SQUATWOLF 11:11 Is growing too fast a disadvantage? 13:52 How does the additional costs get distributed? 12:40 The impact of geopolitical tensions on SQUATWOLF 14:39 Most underestimated challenges of building a brand in the Middle East 17:03 How did Anam navigate pressures in her corporate to startup transition? 17:54 What was Anam’s most expensive mistake? 20:26 A rule that Anam feels founders must follow 21:52 A moment when Anam felt SQUATWOLF might not work 23:53 Anam on the “luck factor” in success 24:25 Bye

  4. 17 Aug

    $120K to $8 Million in 3 Years | Thndr CEO

    In 2016, Ahmad Hammouda pitched the idea of a brokerage without brokers. The industry said no. So he built it himself.  Today, Thndr is helping reshape how people across the region invest, growing from $120,000 in annual revenue to $8 million in just three years and reaching $1 billion in assets under custody.  In this episode of Money Moves, Ahmad breaks down the conviction it took to keep building when the numbers were not moving, why chasing hype is one of the biggest investing mistakes and how Thndr uses both code and content to make finance feel accessible.  He also gets honest about why most people should not start a company, the mental toll of entrepreneurship, and the fundraising milestone that left him feeling empty.  For Ahmad, the real win was never the valuation. It was hearing from a mother who used Thndr to invest in her son’s future.  Chapters:   00:00 Why Your Paycheck Isn’t Enough  01:10 What Is Thndr?  02:13 Building Through Egypt’s Financial Crisis  04:35 The Brokerage Without Brokers Idea  07:03 Why Only 0.5% of Egyptians Invest  08:59 Fixing the Financial Literacy Gap  09:44 Why Thndr Treats Creators Like Engineers  13:37 The FOMO Trap  16:21 From $120K to $8M  17:18 Thndr’s Biggest Early Product Mistake  19:16 Building a $1 Billion Investment Platform  20:41 Why Starting a Company Shouldn’t Be Your Goal  21:16 The 3 Reasons People Start Companies  23:40 The Problem Ahmad Is Obsessed With  25:29 The Mental Health Cost of Building a Company  26:53 Why Fundraising Left Him Feeling Empty  27:30 Getting More Women to Invest  29:15 The User Story That Made It Worth It

  5. 10 Aug

    We Built An Egyptian Brand Gigi Hadid Carries | Okhtein

    What does it really take to build a global luxury brand from Cairo?  Aya and Mounaz Abdel Raouf, the co-founders of Okhtein, take us behind the scenes and reveal the business behind the brand. From celebrity placements to their premium pricing strategy and why it is time for brands to stop seeking Western validation.  00:00: Introduction 00:53: Mounaz and Aya describe Okhtein as a business 02:07: Okhtein’s most difficult challenges 05:42: How does Okhtein navigate difficulties? 07:41: Where all does an Okhtein bag travel? 08:57: Do logistical costs cut Okhtein’s margins? 10:20: How is Okhtein’s most expensive handbag manufactured? 14:08: How did Okhtein partner with Harrods? 15:41: The Bidayat investment and the relationship with Rachid Mohamed Rachid 16:51: Why did Okhtein expand into fine jewelry? 18:01: How did Emma Watson & Queen Rania carry Okhtein bags? 19:55: The MENA luxury market dynamics & how does it impact brand building? 26:37: Why did Mounaz and Aya position Okhtein as a “luxury” brand? 27:46: Bye Bye

  6. 3 Aug

    The Wolf of Real Estate on the Biggest Investment of Your Life

    Dubai property has made people rich, nervous and sometimes reckless. Dr Mohanad Al Wadiya, CEO of Harbor Real Estate and the man the market calls the Wolf of Real Estate, has spent 25 years watching all three, and he says most buyers still decide with emotion instead of numbers.  In this episode of Money Moves, Mohanad explains why the down payment is the wrong number to anchor on, what price per square foot actually reveals about value, and why he told a client not to buy a $20 million home in Downtown Dubai.  00:00 Introduction  00:51 Why They Call Him the Wolf of Real Estate  01:50 Dinner With the Wolf of Wall Street  02:09 Leaving the Family Business for Dubai Holding  03:29 The Plot That Sold for Almost a Billion Dirhams  04:06 2008 Was My First School  04:58 The Abandoned Supercar Myth  06:08 How Harbor Grew Through the Crash  07:53 How Serious the Conflict Really Is  09:48 What 20% Below Asking Really Means  11:00 Why Dubai Recovers Faster Than Other Markets  12:14 The Assets That Hold Up in a Crisis  13:30 The Only Number That Shows Real Value  14:29 What Institutional Buyers Ask That You Don't  15:21 The $20M Home He Told a Client Not to Buy  16:30 Tokenisation, REITs and Fractional Ownership  18:12 What to Check Before Buying a Fraction  19:03 One Rule for First-Time Buyers  19:52 One Rule for Landlords  20:47 One Rule for Off-Plan Buyers  21:12 The Mistakes Buyers Make Over and Over  22:27 Don't Rush, But Don't Procrastinate  23:58 The Biggest Red Flag in Broker Ads  24:43 The One Question to Ask Your Broker  25:12 Buying With Emotion Instead of Numbers

  7. 27 Jul

    Why The Giving Movement Pulled Back From Global to Win the Gulf

    In this episode of Money Moves, The Giving Movement CEO Rania Masri El Khatib explains why homegrown brands need to understand their own market first, how The Giving Movement is balancing growth with profitability and what it really takes to build a fashion business that lasts.  00:00 Introduction  00:55 Winning Your Home Market First  01:55 The Experience Behind Level Shoes  03:15 The Mistakes That Nearly Killed the Brand  03:53 The Silicon Valley Growth Trap  04:54 Taking Over After the Founder Exited  06:39 Where Fashion Brands Trap Their Cash  07:05 Why the Gulf Has Few Global Fashion Brands  08:40 The Rise of Homegrown Brand Pride  10:12 How The Giving Movement Gives Back  11:49 Can Purpose and Profit Coexist?  12:47 The Real Cost of Manufacturing in the UAE  14:52 The First Number Every Fashion CEO Should Check  15:17 The Margin Mistake That Kills Brands  16:31 Why Creative Founders Need Business Education  17:28 The First 90 Days as CEO  18:18 Combining Fast Fashion and Luxury Lessons  19:10 Why The Giving Movement Stopped Global Shipping  21:14 Leading Through Rising Costs and Conflict  22:30 Two Rules for Gulf Founders  22:41 Plans for the US and UK  23:19 Why Community and Culture Matter  23:59 Navigating the Brand Through Crisis  25:12 What’s Next for The Giving Movement

    Why The Giving Movement Pulled Back From Global to Win the Gulf

  8. 30 Apr

    Dubai Real Estate King: ‘Dubai’s infrastructure is UNBEATABLE’| Firas Al Msaddi

    In this episode of Money Moves, Dania Alshowaikh sits down with Firas Al Msaddi, Founder and CEO of fäm Properties to share the raw and inspiring story of how he entered the real estate industry and turned a bankrupt company into one of the UAE’s leading real estate firms. From humble beginnings to leading a data-driven, tech-powered agency in Dubai, Firas opens up about the defining moments that shaped his journey. 00:00 Introduction  00:56 How he got into property01:49 Starting fäm Properties from a bankrupt company03:15 Picking the right developments04:21 Creating value for clients04:55 Do real estate brokers have a bad reputation?06:05 Importance of transparency in real estate08:30 Advice for brokers to succeed10:03 Is everyone cut out to be an entrepreneur?11:38 Why everyone should have a goal12:15 Firas’ relationship with money13:20 Why Firas has never ever taken a loan16:16 Personal weaknesses Firas has worked on17:21 How Firas almost lost his company twice19:45 Is Dubai’s hot property market going to burst?21:03 Dubai’s booming luxury real estate segment23:05 Why Dubai’s property market is so attractive24:07 How to choose where to invest in Dubai25:45 Data and Dubai’s property market26:15 How AI is impacting the real estate sector30:20 What advice Firas would give his 21-year-old self We dive into how fäm Properties became known for its transparency and client-first approach, and why Firas believes that creating real value is the only way to succeed in a market often clouded by distrust. He discusses how to pick the right developments, the importance of integrity in real estate brokerage, and what separates truly successful brokers from the rest.Firas also reflects on his personal relationship with money, why he’s never taken a loan, and the mindset that helped him survive nearly losing his company — not once, but twice. He talks candidly about the personal weaknesses he's worked on, what drives him, and why having a clear goal is non-negotiable for anyone chasing success, especially in entrepreneurship.We also unpack the current state of Dubai’s property market — is the boom sustainable, or is a correction coming? Firas breaks down what makes Dubai such an attractive place to invest, how data and AI are reshaping real estate, and his advice for anyone looking to invest wisely or start their own journey in the industry. Plus, he shares the one thing he wishes he could tell his 21-year-old self.

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About

Money Moves is a deep dive into the minds of the most successful and influential entrepreneurs in frontier markets, shaping the conversation around money and innovation. Each week we bring you exclusive insights from the sharpest minds in business, tech and investing in high-potential markets. From crypto and AI to startups and global giants, Natasha and her guests deliver the ideas and tools you need to seize opportunities and grow your wealth.

Information

  • Creator
    MONIIFY
  • Years Active
    2026
  • Episodes
    13
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © MONIIFY
  • Show Website
    Money Moves