Unscripted with Spencer Lodge Spencer Lodge

To measure a company's potential, simply ask its employees if they enjoy coming to work every day. Someone who follows this ethos is Emma Davies, a distinguished HR leader with over 25 years of experience driving cultural change and fostering people-centric organisations. Her exceptional people skills drove transformation in multibillion-dollar companies, earning her a 97% employee satisfaction rate and the title of HR Leader of the Year for the Middle East. She's also the visionary founder of the Evolved People Network, a platform dedicated to advancing professional development in the GCC region. Join us as we tap into Emma's extensive experience, the rising culture of quiet quitting, thoughts on the four-day workweek, and the high cost of employee turnover. From employee happiness secrets to effective coaching techniques, Emma doesn’t gatekeep anything when it comes to fostering a healthy workplace. Trust me, this is an episode you can't afford to miss. So, grab a pen and get ready to take notes!

Discussion points: 
3:24 Introduction to Emma and her work
5:43 The connection between leadership and HR
6:40 The perception of HR across the UK, USA, and UAE
11:37 The cost of replacing employees
14:58 Emma’s secret to a happy workforce
26:00 Quiet quitting culture
27:56 Ball-setting interview strategy
34:01 The importance of workplace culture
35:13 Emma’s take on medical insurance in organisations
39:28 The emphasis on team building
41:01 Financial education as an employer's obligation
44:48 The four-day workweek
47:59 Emma’s top coaching strategies for employee satisfaction
49:13 Three poor behaviours in the workplace

Show Sponsors:
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Socials:
Spencer Lodge
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Emma Davies
https://www.instagram.com/emmadaviesdubai/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/emma-davies-mcipd-35784713/

If you think your favourite social media influencers are living their dream, think again. What you see is just a fraction of their reality. Join me as I sit down with one of Dubai’s most famous content creators, Khalid Al Ameri. From making lighthearted and humorous videos for the past seven years, he has garnered a massive fan base of over 15 million followers. On top of being a comedic genius, he’s a genuinely kind soul who has become known for spreading positivity and awareness through his selfless acts. In this fascinating episode, Khalid lifts the lid on his content creation process, his approach to brand collaborations, and the secret to maintaining a positive mindset. Folks, we're about to peel back the layers to reveal the man behind the memes, who makes a shocking revelation about artists often being taken advantage of in the business world. So, get ready for this exclusive conversation that promises laughter, inspiration, and a rare glimpse into the emotional core of Khalid Al Ameri – tune in now!

Discussion points: 
3:00 Khalid’s thoughts on content creation
8:42 The distinction between an artist and an entrepreneur
11:32 The secret source of Khalid’s content ideas
14:36 Khalid’s content creation process
17:31 Balancing branded promotional content and unpaid content 
20:36 Assessing paid opportunities from brands
28:21 Khalid’s routine and mindset 
32:10 The impact that the UAE has on People of Determination

Show Sponsors:
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Socials:
Spencer Lodge
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Khalid Al Ameri
https://www.youtube.com/@KhalidAlAmeri
https://www.instagram.com/khalidalameri/?hl=en
https://www.tiktok.com/@khalidandsalama?lang=en
https://www.facebook.com/khalidalameri/

As the Vice President of Human Resources Middle East and Africa at Hilton, she’s driving the company's award-winning people and culture strategy, overseeing close to 30,000 team members across 120 regional hotels. Meet Marie-Louise Ek, a dynamic leader with an impressive track record of over 23 years. With her groundbreaking initiatives at Sandvik and influential leadership roles at APM Terminals, Bridgestone, Coty, and PepsiCo, she has successfully driven team building, fostered positive employee experiences, and led massive organisational transformations. More than a VP, she's a certified executive coach and a passionate advocate for agility, technology, and well-being. In this episode, Marie-Louise shares Hilton's employee wellness initiatives, talent attraction strategies, employee engagement tips, and ways to navigate workplace challenges. Marie-Louise doesn’t gatekeep her secrets, so tune-in, grab your notepad and get the inside scoop on creating a thriving workplace culture.

Discussion points: 
3:34 Why Marie-Louise chose to study Human Resources
4:25 How HR has evolved over the years
6:20 The employee wellness evolution
7:50 The key aspects of wellness that Hilton focuses on
12:21 Measures Hilton has adopted for their employees’ wellness
17:11 Educating employees on preventing health challenges
20:13 How SMEs can have more engaged employees
26:36 Marie-Louise’s views on working from home and flexible work
30:55 Differences in medical insurance in the corporate world
33:47 Investing time in mentoring employees
36:06 Secrets for attracting the right talent
43:46 How wellness is perceived in the West
47:22 4 things employers need for employee well-being
48:28 Tips by Marie-Louise to deal with an emotionally charged situation
50:50 How AI is making a difference in HR

Show Sponsors:
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Socials:
Spencer Lodge
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Marie-Louise Ek
https://www.linkedin.com/in/marie-louise-ek-9949253/

In the face of rising global divorce rates, this week’s guest on Unscripted With Spencer Lodge challenges conventional beliefs about why marriages fail, arguing that it’s men who have a bigger role to play than women. Saif Al-Yasi, a highly esteemed fitness and personal trainer in Dubai comes armed with a medical background in biology and biotechnology, an MBA, and a Master’s Degree in bodybuilding and nutrition. This conversation is a departure from the usual health and fitness chat, and instead Saif delves into the intricacies of relationships. In this episode, Saif talks about his relationship with his wife, the need for men to reclaim their strength, the toxic rhetoric taught by Andrew Tate and how you can enjoy a long and healthy marriage. Tune in for a fascinating chat packed with actionable advice and interesting insights.

Discussion points: 
2:38 An introduction to Saif
5:15 Growing up in Baghdad, Iraq
12:04 Saif’s education and qualifications 
15:16 Lessons from his first marriage
22:31 Arab and Western men in relationships and marriages 
26:10 The evolution of men's and women's roles 
28:56 Understanding 'growth' for men 
32:13 Saif’s opinion on Andrew Tate  
39:40 Marrying your best friend 
43:03 Real reasons for divorces 
49:53 Triggers for maintaining physical fitness 
54:48 Advice for self-improvement 
59:04 Decoding the cannibal diet
1:02:08 Saif’s experience of abstaining from sugar for 10 years

Show Sponsors:
Megavrse: Dive into immersive environments in the Metaverse that redefine the future of retail, art, and work
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Socials:
Spencer Lodge
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Saif Al-Yasi
https://m.facebook.com/wahsh.dxb
https://www.instagram.com/saifalyasi/
https://www.tiktok.com/@coachsaifalyasi
https://www.youtube.com/@WAHSHDXB

This week, my youngest ever guest is in the hot seat! If you’ve ever wondered what leadership looks like through the eyes of a child, then get ready for some pretty epic leadership insights from an 11-year-old. Meet Finley Suchley, the son of my business partner, Danielle, and the Head Boy of Kings' School, Dubai. In this episode, Finley takes the mic to share the remarkable wisdom he has learnt so far, including candid examples of good and bad leadership, the differences between Dyslexia and Dyspraxia, and why he feels lucky to have Dyslexia. Yes, you read that right! Finley’s perspective and enthusiasm towards leadership and life are world-class and many adults could learn a thing or two from him. So, folks, get ready to take inspiration from Finley's ambitions to grow and develop as a leader. Don't miss out on this brilliant conversation – hit ‘play’ now!

Discussion points:
3:17 Spencer and Finley’s relationship
3:59 An introduction to Finley
4:30 Examples of great leadership
5:38 Responsibilities as the Head Boy 
6:38 An example of poor leadership
8:54 Why leadership matters to Finley
9:40 The difference between Dyslexia and Dyspraxia 
13:57 Why Richard Branson is a great leader
16:07 Finley’s mum and dad as leaders 
19:04 Winning awards in sporting activities
21:00 Finley’s favourite teacher at school
24:45 Finley’s ambitions for becoming a great leader

Show Sponsors:
Megavrse: Dive into immersive environments in the Metaverse that redefine the future of retail, art, and work
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Socials:
Spencer Lodge
https://www.instagram.com/spencer.lodge/?hl=en
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https://www.facebook.com/spencerlodgeofficial/ 

Success doesn't wait around for excuses; it only responds to effort. Meet Rebecca Yarros – the #1 New York Times bestselling author and the literary genius behind more than twenty popular novels. Her most recent publication, 'Fourth Wing,' is set to be transformed into a series by Amazon. As a military wife and mother of six children, she serves as living proof that chasing dreams beats making excuses any day, and through her massive popularity, she has even gained more than half a million Instagram followers in just a few months! In this episode, she breaks down the process of writing books and turning them into a thriving business, making it clear that it's not as daunting as it seems. Along the way, she shares her personal journey, reveals the book that first inspired her, her experience with ADHD, and her financial aspirations. So, if you've ever dreamed of writing a book, Rebecca is the one to listen to. She knows exactly what it takes, how to do it, and most importantly, how to turn it into a profitable venture. Don't miss out – tune in now!


Discussion points: 
2:30 Thoughts on being successful
4:00 The inspiration behind Rebecca’s love of writing
5:15 The first book that impacted her
10:10 The role of gratitude in Rebecca’s life
17:18 Giving five pitches to her editor
20:14 The ways that ADHD affects her writing
23:56 Rebecca’s financial aspirations
25:55 What she thinks of publishers as businesses
27:05 Her book becoming a series with Amazon
32:23 Tips for someone wanting to become an author
36:04 The inspiration behind her non-profit work

Show Sponsors:
Megavrse: Dive into immersive environments in the Metaverse that redefine the future of retail, art, and work
https://www.megavrse.xyz/#/

Socials:
Spencer Lodge
https://www.instagram.com/spencer.lodge/?hl=en
https://www.tiktok.com/@spencer.lodge
https://www.linkedin.com/in/spencerlodge/
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Rebecca Yarros
https://www.tiktok.com/@rebeccayarros
https://twitter.com/rebeccayarros?lang=en
https://www.instagram.com/rebeccayarros/?hl=en
https://www.facebook.com/RebeccaElizabethYarros/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/rebecca-yarros-06615359/