In The ARENA with Dariush Soudi Dariush Soudi

In this episode of In the ARENA, Dr Dmitriy Averin joins me to discuss all things teeth.



From the mistakes that everyone makes when choosing a dentist, to why your teeth are so important and how they can affect your overall health. 



Taking care of your teeth has never been more interesting. 



Key Podcast Topics: 

The mistake most people make when choosing a dentist

The role that teeth play in our lives

Why your teeth are so important



Dr Averin’s biography: 

Dr Averin is a porcelain veneer specialist from the Ukraine with over 10 years of experience in crafting customized veneers. Currently, he is based at the Invisalign Center in Dubai.

Dr Averin is passionate about teeth, because he believes that teeth are full of symbolism and have a big impact on our self-esteem and confidence. He wants to change the way people perceive themselves, one smile at a time. 



Podcast highlights: 

00:00 Introduction

02:01 Dr Averin’s background

08:13 Starting his own clinic

12:10 The two areas of expertise in dentistry

14:27 Discovering the vision

17:50 Becoming an entrepreneur

20:28 Veneers

26:15 Losing his clinic because of the war

30:43 The role that teeth play in our lives

36:01 How Dr Averin met his second wife

43:33 Hand crafted veneers

44:37 Moving to Dubai

46:09 Mistakes that most people make when choosing dentists

48:30 The most expensive veneers in Dubai

56:56 What does it mean to be an artist?

01:05:58 The future for Dr Averin



Stay Connected: For more enlightening interviews featuring Gladiators and titans of the industry, make sure to subscribe to my YouTube Channel. You can also connect with me on the following social platforms:




Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dariushsoudiofficial/


Threads: https://www.threads.net/@dariushsoudi


Twitter: https://twitter.com/dariushspeaks


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LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dariushsoudi/


Website: https://dariushsoudi.com


Gladiator Summit: https://www.gladiatorsummit.com/ 

In this episode of In the ARENA, the managing partner of Creative Zone, Jigar Sagar joins me to share his secrets to success. 

With over 15 ventures collectively valued at $350 million+, his strategies and mindset is essential to learn from for all aspiring entrepreneurs and leaders. 



Key Podcast topics: 

Are entrepreneurs dying?

Investing in startups

How to recruit talent



Jigar’s biography: 

Jigar Sagar is a seasoned founder, investor, and mentor with over 15 ventures collectively valued at $350 million+.

Sagar has been the Managing Partner of Creative Zone, the largest business setup advisory firm in Dubai, since 2020. Leading a team of 160 professionals, he has elevated the company to unparalleled heights, earning accolades and facilitating expansion into new territories.

If you’re looking to scale your business, Jigar will be sharing his expertise on how you can build a foundation through people, process, technology, and money.



Podcast highlights: 

00:00 Introduction

01:38 Are entrepreneurs dying? 

03:43 Is entrepreneurship the same all over the world?06:57 Jigar’s drive and purpose

12:59 How to recruit talent

19:39 “Just do it!”

24:11 From accountant to business owner

30:59 Challenges Jigar faced

36:11 Becoming a shareholder

40:46 “I don’t chase money”

43:46 Performance is non-negotiable

47:20 Are you afraid of death?

49:26 Investing and startups

54:37 How many businesses does Jigar have?

1:01:59 How to approach Jigar

1:09:45 Jigar’s speech at the Gladiator Summit



Stay Connected: For more enlightening interviews featuring Gladiators and titans of the industry, make sure to subscribe to my YouTube Channel. You can also connect with me on the following social platforms:


Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dariushsoudiofficial/


Threads: https://www.threads.net/@dariushsoudi


Twitter: https://twitter.com/dariushspeaks


TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@dariushsoudiofficial


Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DariushSoudiOfficial


LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dariushsoudi/


Website: https://dariushsoudi.com


Gladiator Summit: https://www.gladiatorsummit.com/ 

In this episode of In The ARENA, Dr Corrie Block joins me to discuss how he is changing the dynamic in the workplace, both for CEO’s and employees. 

His goal? To help individuals find meaning at work. 



Key podcast topics:

How to be a strong leader

The hallmark of an effective coach

The challenge that most CEO’s face



Dr Corrie’s biography:

Dr Corrie is primarily a practitioner, with an academic addiction. He’s completed 4 post-grad degrees (including master’s in business administration & Global Leadership, a Swiss DBA and a UK PhD), all while working full time. Dr Corrie likes to write as well, with features in Gulf Business, Forbes, CEO Magazine, Entrepreneur, MEED, Oxford Journals and Routledge Academic Books. 

Dr Corrie has been an international speaker on stages around the world, delivering workshops and deep insights on employee engagement, meaningful management, A.I, culture, tech, innovation and the organization of the future. 



Podcast highlights:

00:00 Introduction

01:05 Dr Corrie’s secret: curiosity

03:23 Moving to Estonia and Yemen

12:48 “I do difficult things, because they’re difficult”

19:58 Opening a business is like having kids

25:03 Time is the only fair resource

28:00 The challenge that most CEO’s face

31:05 How to be a strong leader

42:08 Losing everything from bankruptcy

45:19 Sharing vulnerabilities and being completely transparent in relationships

50:41 How does our personal life impact our professional life?

54:59 The hallmark of an effective coach

59:30 “A handshake is my contract”

1:04:00 Love is a shortcut to survive



Stay Connected: For more enlightening interviews featuring Gladiators and titans of the industry, make sure to subscribe to my YouTube Channel. You can also connect with me on the following social platforms:




Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dariushsoudiofficial/


Threads: https://www.threads.net/@dariushsoudi


Twitter: https://twitter.com/dariushspeaks


TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@dariushsoudiofficial


Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DariushSoudiOfficial


LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dariushsoudi/


Website: https://dariushsoudi.com


Gladiator Summit: https://www.gladiatorsummit.com/ 

In this episode on In The ARENA, Obediah Ayton joins me to share his expertise and insight into raising funds for startups, the impact of social media on your business and advice for aspiring entrepreneurs. 



Key podcast topics:

Categories of investors in the Middle East

Building credibility in the UAE

Private Equity and VC’s 



Obediah’s biography:

Obediah Ayton is an entrepreneur who started his journey in the UAE in 2018. He has successfully built his own business and operates a portfolio of companies under a holding group called “Dhabi Hold Co”. 



Mr. Ayton invests in startups across the Middle East region, in parallel establishing joint ventures in diverse sectors such as Fintech, Wealth Management, Agriculture, and Software. Mr Ayton has a passion for climate, technology, and animal welfare. Mr Ayton has over 80,000 followers on Linkedin and is considered to be a thought leader in Middle East Family Offices. 



Podcast highlights:

00:00 Introduction

03:44 Obediah’s first 2 businesses in Dubai

07:03 The attitude of the wealthy

10:55 Getting funded by Mark Bezos

16:20 “A cardboard box changed my life”

21:27 The impact of social media

36:49 Categories of investors in the Middle East

39:44 The real agenda of western super powers

41:46 Private equity and venture capital companies

45:03 Geo politics and the Middle East

53:12 Building credibility in the UAE

55:00 “You will never please everyone”

1:02:30 The future is in the middle east

1:05:38 Society teaches you to expect failure

1:08:40 “I prefer people that grow slowly”

1:13:38 Overcommunication is essential 



Stay Connected: For more enlightening interviews featuring Gladiators and titans of the industry, make sure to subscribe to my YouTube Channel. You can also connect with me on the following social platforms:




Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dariushsoudiofficial/


Threads: https://www.threads.net/@dariushsoudi


Twitter: https://twitter.com/dariushspeaks


TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@dariushsoudiofficial


Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DariushSoudiOfficial


LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dariushsoudi/


Website: https://dariushsoudi.com


Gladiator Mastery: https://gladiatorsmastery.com

In this episode of In The ARENA, I’m joined by Lorenzo Jooris, the CEO of Creative Zone. 

Lorenzo shares his expertise in helping startups grow and flourish in Dubai, making this episode critical to those wanting to start their own business or grow their small business. 



Key Podcast Topics:

How to enter international markets

3 essentials for start-ups

How to set up a company in Dubai



Lorenzo’s biography:

Lorenzo Jooris has been a global nomad from his early days. Born and raised in Argentina, to Belgium/German parents, it didn’t take long for him to seek new business and professional horizons. Lorenzo brings more than 20 years of experience in sales, management, business consultancy and corporate leadership in the Middle East, Africa, Asia and Latin America.

At the age of 25 he moved to the UK to start his career in the production of country branding campaigns and national advertising projects. In 2005 he went on to establish One World Communications, a full fledged multimedia powerhouse advising governments around the world in branding and communication strategies.

He later on established LEADERS Middle East magazine in the UAE, Envision Films and Eventus, when he thought it was time for him to spend more time at home and less traveling the world. LEADERS Middle East allowed him to curate events such as the Young Global Leader Summit and the Power Women of Arabia Debate.

Lorenzo joined Arton Capital in 2018 as their Vice President of Global Growth and Strategy where he oversaw the international expansion of the company in charge of sales, marketing and events worldwide.

Lorenzo is now the CEO of Creative Zone in Dubai, having joined in January 2020.



Podcast highlights:

00:00 Introduction

00:58 Lorenzo’s background

05:27 How to enter international markets

07:15 “I had complete burnout”09:39 Becoming the CEO of Creative Zone

15:25 The future of Saudi Arabia

23:21 The growth of business in Dubai

26:35 The high standards and leadership in Dubai

28:47 How Creative Zone helps startups

32:39 Sales funnels and creating community

35:40 The startup circle

38:24 How easy is it to start a company in Saudi?

42:00 How to set up a company in Dubai

44:27 The Golden Visa

51:40 The top 3 benefits of living in Dubai

54:10 Debunking: It’s expensive to live in Dubai

56:00 The safety in Dubai

58:08 Future plans for Lorenzo and Creative Zone

1:01:06 3 essentials for startups

1:06:36 Investing in startups 



Stay Connected: For more enlightening interviews featuring Gladiators and titans of the industry, make sure to subscribe to my YouTube Channel. You can also connect with me on the following social platforms:


Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dariushsoudiofficial/


Threads: https://www.threads.net/@dariushsoudi


Twitter: https://twitter.com/dariushspeaks


TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@dariushsoudiofficial


Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DariushSoudiOfficial


LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dariushsoudi/


Website: https://dariushsoudi.com


Gladiator Mastery: https://gladiatorsmastery.com

In this episode of In The ARENA, I had the privilege of being Daniel Leese’s first interview. Daniel Leese is a well known podcast host in the UAE and along with having an inspiring story, is focused on inspiring and helping others.



Key podcast topics:

Toxic relationships with parents

Neglect as a child

“I got arrested 3 times”



Daniel’s biography:

Daniel is the youngest of 3 children, and grew up in the UK. After experiencing trauma, regret and pain, Daniel turned his life around. Since moving to Dubai, Daniel has achieved success as the head of business development of KOJ Interiors and the Host of The Recipe to Success Podcast.



Now his focus is on educating others on the importance of skincare, by founding a men's skincare brand called Andsom Skincare.



Podcast highlights:

00:00 Introduction

01:23 The balance between happiness and drive

05:51 Experiencing neglect as a child

10:12 Toxic parent relationships

13:50 Sentenced to prison for 2 years

25:30 Working as a chef in a michelin star restaurant

30:40 The first rule of sales; people buy from people

35:50 Never make a decision based on emotions

41:00 Relationships and healing

45:47 Starting a podcast show

52:44 3 lessons from sales coaching

1:04:02 Daniel’s new business: the beginning of Andsom Skin

1:23:49 The biggest takeaway from this podcast



Stay Connected: For more enlightening interviews featuring Gladiators and titans of the industry, make sure to subscribe to my YouTube Channel. You can also connect with me on the following social platforms:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dariushsoudiofficial/

Threads: https://www.threads.net/@dariushsoudi

Twitter: https://twitter.com/dariushspeaks

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@dariushsoudiofficial

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DariushSoudiOfficial

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dariushsoudi/

Website: https://dariushsoudi.com

Gladiator Mastery: https://gladiatorsmastery.com

AndsomSkin: https://andsomskin.com