Business With Bartawi

Mahmoud Bartawi

Welcome to Business With Bartawi, the place where practical experience and entrepreneurship meet. This podcast is your key to learning from the best, hosted by Mahmoud Bartawi, a seasoned entrepreneur and former banking executive who has managed AED 2.5 billion at prestigious UAE banks including ENBD and FAB. Mahmoud’s journey includes selling his startup, UNDER500, to a $1.6 billion unicorn, Kitopi, and helping companies expand into the GCC market.

  1. ٣١ أغسطس

    How to Get Hired in 2025 (Even If You Have No Connections) – Mahdi Shafiei

    Everyone’s telling you to fix your CV.Mahdi says—throw it out.In this episode, he breaks down exactly how to land a job in 2025.The method? Numbers. Presentation. Confidence.This isn’t theory. It’s practical.🎯 Whether you’re in banking, sales, marketing, or media ,if you’re looking to grow or switch roles, watch this till the end.Share this with one person who’s job hunting right now.🎙️ In this episode of the BXB Podcast, we explore:1 / How Mahdi rebuilt his career in a new country2 / Why cover letters and CVs are dead3 / The power of personalized vertical videos4 / How to pitch yourself to companies like a founder 5 / What hiring managers really care about in 2025⏱ Timestamps 00:00 – Intro: Why we’re talking hiring 03:05 – Mahdi’s personal story of reinvention 07:22 – The TikTok CV strategy explained 14:20 – How to pitch yourself with vertical video 17:45 – The 3-second test for recruiters 22:10 – How to DM your way into a job 27:00 – Mistakes most job seekers still make 31:40 – Hiring as content: what founders are watching 36:20 – Mahdi’s framework for job-market leverage 41:00 – Advice for fresh grads and mid-career shifts📥 Follow Business with Bartawi on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/businesswithbartawi/👤 Follow Mahmoud Bartawi: Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/bartawi/ LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/in/mahmoud-bartawi/ X (Twitter) → https://x.com/bartawi

    ٥٠ من الدقائق
  2. ٢٠ أغسطس

    Ahmed Bin Sulayem: The Architect of Dubai’s Trade Empire

    Ahmed Bin Sulayem helped turn Dubai into one of the world’s most trusted trade centers.As Executive Chairman of DMCC, he has overseen the rise of the UAE’s most powerful free zone — home to over 26,000 companies and a central force behind Dubai’s global economic positioning.🎙️ In this special episode of the BXB Podcast, we explore:1 / How vision becomes infrastructure2 / The untold story behind DMCC’s origin and rise3 / Why trust, silence, and precision still move more than noise4 / Ahmed’s thoughts on blockchain, water, tokenization, and AI in the next decade of Dubai’s economyTimestamps0:00 – Intro: Seeing clarity where others see noise0:54 – DMCC’s early startup struggles (2001–2004)2:14 – Rwanda’s president & the tea trade lesson7:56 – Almas Tower: How it sold out in 8 hours10:21 – Breaking away from Dubai’s real estate obsession16:33 – From “outside Dubai” to the new heart of the city21:43 – The fastest decision that changed everything24:43 – “Fire me if it doesn’t work” — bold risks at DMCC40:04 – Why water is the next global commodity49:18 – Risk, AI, and the future of business in DubaiThis is not just a conversation.It’s a record of how systems get built — and how legacy is earned.We hope you enjoyed it📥 Follow Business with Bartawi on Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/businesswithbartawi/👤 Follow Mahmoud Bartawi:Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/bartawi/LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/in/mahmoud-bartawi/X (Twitter) → https://x.com/bartawi

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  3. ٢٩ يوليو

    Jason Hayes: How I Turned the 2008 Housing Crash into a 42-Country Real Estate Empire

    Jason Hayes is the Chariman of LuxuryProperty.com, now operating across 42 markets. After turning the 2008 U.S. housing crash into a distressed-stock portal that bought homes for pennies on the dollar , he leveraged a single-domain pivot into a global brand . In this episode of Business with Bartawi, Jason shares how to spot crisis-born opportunities, the untold power of a name, and the blueprint for scaling real estate in the digital age. 💡 Topics Covered: ✅ Turning crisis into opportunity (Distressed-stock portal) ✅ The domain-name pivot that redefined a brand ✅ Launching a remote branch in Erbil mid-pandemic ✅ Building a 42-market digital real estate empire ✅ Tactical plays for real-time lead generation ✅ The wildest concierge request (submarine story) ⏰ Timestamps: 0:00 How the 2008 crash became Jason’s launchpad 3:48 Why “luxuryproperty.com” outshone the old name 17:20 Strategies for scaling across 42 markets 24:10 Digital tactics to generate instant leads 28:00 “Submarine in the garage” – next-level concierge tales 32:00 Rapid-fire round: habits, regrets, superpowers 34:00 Jason’s final message to future builders 📥 Follow Business with Bartawi on Instagram: @businesswithbartawi 👤 Follow Mahmoud Bartawi: Instagram: @bartawi LinkedIn: Mahmoud Bartawi X (Twitter): @bartawi #RealEstate #DigitalTransformation #Dubai #BusinessWithBartawi #JasonHayes

    ٥٤ من الدقائق
  4. ٢١ يوليو

    PhD Trader: Why Most Tokens Fail & How Dubai Is Leading the Future of Real Estate | BXB EP 34

    What’s really happening behind Dubai’s token boom? 💰Anton Golub is a PhD-level algorithmic trader turned crypto founder.He built high-frequency systems, scaled a market-making firm during Bitcoin’s rise, and today leads FreedX — a zero-fee exchange built for the next phase of digital assets.In this episode of Business with Bartawi, Anton breaks down how Dubai is leading the way in tokenized real estate, why most token launches go wrong, and how founders can raise capital without relying on VCs.We dive into the future of investing, the playbook behind successful token economies, and what Dubai’s new wave of digital infrastructure really means.If you’re building a business, exploring crypto, or curious about where real estate and Web3 intersect — this one's for you.💡 Topics Covered:✅ How tokenization is transforming Dubai real estate✅ Why most ICOs and token launches fail✅ Lessons from building a zero-fee crypto exchange✅ The playbook for launching tokens that actually work✅ How to raise money without giving up control⏰ Timestamps:0:00 – From PhD to high-frequency trading3:48 – The Dubai moment that changed everything9:35 – Why most token launches fall apart17:20 – The 4 stages of launching a successful ICO24:10 – Can real estate be fully tokenized?26:30 – Incentives, Liquidity, and Economic Design 28:00 – Framework Failures: The One Thing They All Miss 29:00 – Building vs Hype: His Honest Take 30:00 – Existential Question: Why Build at All? 31:20 – Step-by-Step: How a Founder Should Launch an ICO 32:40 – Real-World Mistakes in Token Design (And How to Fix Them) 34:20 – What He Learned Using LinkedIn for Growth 35:00 – Mid-Episode Fatigue Tip (cut filler) 36:10 – How Crypto Deals Really Happen 36:55 – Reflection: His Regulatory Misread & Pivot 37:28 – Rapid Fire Round: Regret, Books, Superpowers 39:00 – Anton's Message to Builders in Emerging Markets 📥 Follow Business with Bartawi on Instagram:📸 @businesswithbartawi👤 Follow Mahmoud Bartawi:✩ Instagram: @bartawi✩ LinkedIn: Mahmoud Bartawi✩ X (Twitter): @bartawi#Crypto #DubaiRealEstate #Tokenization #Startups #Web3 #Podcasting #BusinessWithBartawi #AntonGolub

    ٤٢ من الدقائق
  5. ١٦ يوليو

    How to build a content Agency in 15 days | BXB EP 33

    Most people think they need ads, fancy gear, or investor money to build a brand.Mahdi Shafiei didn’t have any of that when he landed in Melbourne.In just 15 days, he built a content agency from scratch — using only raw content, smart psychology, and a $100K bet on himself. In this episode, he breaks down the unfiltered blueprint that helped him go viral in two countries, win 30 clients for free, and prove that hustle beats hype.Whether you're starting your first brand or scaling your 10th, this one hits different.💡 Topics Covered:✅ How to set up a content agency from scratch✅ Building a viral facade that sells before you do✅ Launching in a new country with zero followers✅ Why emotional content outperforms polished promos✅ How to close 30 clients without charging a dirham✅ The truth about websites, ads, and real traction✅ Using employee-generated content to scale✅ Copying with confidence — and building credibility fast⏰ Timestamps:00:00 Intro01:50 5 Steps to Set Up an Agency07:15 How to Build a Facade15:31 How I Got My First Paying Client17:51 Do You Need a Website to Launch a Business?19:55 How to Identify the Right Industry23:39 How to Close Your First Client28:10 Why the Facade Is So Important30:03 How to Sell Through Emotions41:18 How to Convince Your First Client to Pay43:40 Trifed Media’s Story44:58 How to Design Content for Your Clients48:09 How to Grab Attention49:41 Performance Marketing and AI (Avani)54:06 How to Find the Best Content for Your Clients56:02 How to Set Up Employee Generated Content56:40 Copy Shamelessly58:30 Emotions and Relatability🔗 Follow BXB on Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/businesswithbartawi/FOLLOW ME ON:✩ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bartawi/✩ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mahmoud-bartawi/✩ X (Twitter): https://x.com/bartawi

    ١ من الساعات
  6. ٦ يوليو

    Mahdi Al Shafiei: From Rock Bottom to $100M Media Empire | BXB EP 30

    Starting a content agency in Dubai , with zero funding, zero investors, and zero guarantees Mahdi Al Shafiei bet everything on Gen Z and built one of the most powerful media machines in the Middle East.In this raw and inspiring conversation, Mahdi reveals how he almost lost it all: the mistakes that cost him half his company, the ego that crept in, and the lonely nights no one picked up his calls.But he also shares how he turned it around — building an agency that now delivers over 500 million views a day, and why content, not capital, is the ultimate weapon in business.💡 Topics Covered:✅ The one decision that nearly destroyed his company✅ Why Gen Z is the future of marketing✅ The real cost of chasing too many opportunities✅ Delegation, discipline, and the chaos behind scaling✅ How to stay relevant when platforms shift overnight🔥 If you’re an entrepreneur, agency owner, or founder building in silence—this episode is for you.⏰ Timestamps:00:00 – Introduction02:12 – The Mindset Behind Building Trifid04:45 – The TikTok Bet That Changed Everything08:10 – Why Most Agencies Get Content Wrong11:32 – The Toughest Lesson From His Father16:00 – Losing Half His Company & Coming Back20:45 – Chaos, Delegation & Control25:10 – Hiring Through Energy, Not CVs27:20 – What Success Really Feels Like30:10 – Advice to Every Young Founder🔗 Follow BXB on Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/businesswithbartawi/FOLLOW ME ON:✩ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bartawi/✩ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mahmoud-bartawi/✩ X (Twitter): https://x.com/bartawi🎙️ What's the biggest lesson your last failure taught you? Drop it in the comments 👇#Entrepreneurship #AgencyLife #ContentCreation #Startups #Marketing #BXBPodcast

    ٣٢ من الدقائق
  7. ٥ يوليو

    He Spent 10 Years Building a Headset for Burnout | Dr. Ramses Alcaide | BXB EP 29

    🧠 What if your brain had a check-engine light?Dr. Ramses Alcaide spent 10 years building the world’s most advanced non-invasive brain-computer interface — a wearable headset that reads your mind, predicts burnout, and helps you take back control of your mental energy.In this episode of Business with Bartawi, he opens up about how a childhood encounter with disability sparked his mission, why neurotech is the next wave after software, and what it really takes to invent something the world thinks is impossible.We talk conviction, failure, science, and the blurry line between ambition and obsession.If you’ve ever pushed for a future no one else can see — this one’s for you.💡 Topics Covered:✅ The childhood accident that started it all✅ Why he chose the army before consumers✅ How burnout shows up in your brainwaves✅ What entrepreneurs get wrong about health data✅ Why non-invasive neurotech is the future✅ The real cost of building something 10 years too early⏰ Timestamps:0:00 – What if this tech doesn’t work?0:46 – A childhood moment that changed everything3:30 – Turning mission into method4:57 – The real impact of brain data7:20 – Why the military came first9:09 – This isn’t just a headphone10:31 – Testing Mahmoud’s brain in real time12:23 – Can this detect ADHD or burnout?14:57 – From lab to startup17:11 – The dawn of neurotech18:25 – Focus, flow, and the power of data19:15 – The future of cognitive environments21:12 – Elon vs. Neurable: What’s the difference?23:49 – When data causes anxiety26:10 – The red line: Ethics & privacy27:50 – 10 years of doubt. One shot at belief.30:07 – Brain-computer interfaces in 10 years31:32 – Building the app store for your brain📥 Follow Business with Bartawi on Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/businesswithbartawi/👤 Follow Mahmoud Bartawi:Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/bartawi/LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/in/mahmoud-bartawi/X (Twitter) → https://x.com/bartawi#Neurotech #BrainComputerInterface #StartupPodcast #MentalHealth #TechForGood #UAEFounders #BusinessWithBartawi #RamsesAlcaide #FutureOfHealth #WearableTech

    ٣٤ من الدقائق

حول

Welcome to Business With Bartawi, the place where practical experience and entrepreneurship meet. This podcast is your key to learning from the best, hosted by Mahmoud Bartawi, a seasoned entrepreneur and former banking executive who has managed AED 2.5 billion at prestigious UAE banks including ENBD and FAB. Mahmoud’s journey includes selling his startup, UNDER500, to a $1.6 billion unicorn, Kitopi, and helping companies expand into the GCC market.