Zero to N

Rachid Labrik

Zero to N dives into the real journeys behind building and scaling companies across the Middle East and Africa. Hosted by Rachid Labrik, it explores the trade-offs, failures, and transformations that shape the region’s most driven founders and operators. No hype. No filters. Just the real code of transformation from zero to N.

  1. 1d ago

    My Biggest Regret Changed EVERYTHING

    He gave the wrong answer. And it cost him everything he thought success meant. A student walked into Hamid Ben Lafdil's office. An orphan. Expelled from his social protection facility at 18 because the law said his time was up. No home. No plan. Nowhere to go. Hamid's response that day was wrong. He knew it immediately. And he never saw that student again. What happened next changed the entire trajectory of his life. In this episode, Rachid sits down with Hamid for a conversation that goes deep on failure, impact, reinvention, and what it really means to build something that outlasts you. What we cover: - The student who changed everything and the response Hamid still regrets - What separates a firefighter from an architect and why Hamid chose to be the architect - The difference between leading a company and leading an institution - Why selling his first company felt like a divorce - How Morocco climbed 60+ places in the World Bank ranking and what it took - The story of a girl who cancelled her own arranged marriage because of Jadara - What Hamid looks for in every entrepreneur before investing - Why your ambition must be bigger than you or you will stay exactly where you are - Launching a tech startup at 60 and targeting all of Africa Connect with Zero to N: Stay ahead of the curve with more candid conversations from founders and operators shaping the future of the Middle East and Africa. ➡️ Subscribe to Zero to N for Bi - weekly insights: https://www.youtube.com/@zerotoNpodcast ➡️ Visit our website: https://www.rachidlabrik.com/zero-to-n ➡️ Follow us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/zero-to-n-podcast/

    1h 7m

  2. Jun 15

    Mahmoud Bartawi: From Banker to Founder to Exit - The Unfiltered Story, Nobody Told You.

    Mahmoud Bartawi went from managing 2.5 billion dirhams as a banker in Dubai, to saving his family's 100-million-dirham debt crisis at 22 years old, to building a healthy food brand across 6 countries and selling it to Kitopi, all before launching his own podcast. In this episode of Zero to N, Rachid sits down with Mahmoud for an honest, emotional, and deeply tactical conversation about what it really takes to build, exit, and reinvent yourself. What we cover: If you've ever faced a moment where the weight of responsibility felt bigger than your experience, this episode is for you. Connect with Zero to N: Stay ahead of the curve with more candid conversations from founders and operators shaping the future of the Middle East and Africa. ➡️ Subscribe to Zero to N for Bi - weekly insights: Zero to N: The real code of transformation - YouTube➡️ Visit our website: Rachid | Growth, Leadership & Supply Chain➡️ Follow us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/zero-to-n-podcast/ #ZeroToN #MahmoudBartawi #Dubai #Entrepreneurship #MENA #FounderStory #Kitopi #Under500 #Leadership #BusinessWithBartawi #Podcast #GulfBusiness

    57 min

  3. Jun 1

    From Village Dreams to Global Impact

    What does it take for a CEO to rise from a small village to global success?In this episode, we sit down with Rachid, CEO of Slimstock , to unpack a powerful journey that moves from humble beginnings to building and leading at a global level. This is not just a story of success, it’s a deep dive into the mindset, decisions, and sacrifices required to transform vision into reality.Rachid shares the defining moments that shaped his path: overcoming early limitations, navigating setbacks, and building the discipline and leadership required to operate on a global stage. We explore how he thinks as a CEO today, what he had to unlearn, and the principles that continue to drive his growth.Whether you're an entrepreneur, aspiring founder, or someone building their career, this conversation offers real insights into what it actually takes to scale beyond your environment and constraints.

    59 min

  4. May 18

    Navigating Power & Progress: The Unfiltered Journey of Ghita Mezzour | Zero to N

    Ever wondered what it's truly like inside the rooms where national-level digital transformation decisions are made? This week, we sit down with Ghita Mezzour, a former Minister of Digital Transition, who shares the emotional journey of accepting a role that would transform her country, and herself. The Summary Join us for an incredibly candid conversation with Ghita Mezzour, a brilliant scientist and entrepreneur who took on the monumental task of becoming a Minister of Digital Transition. Ghita pulls back the curtain on the intense emotions, profound lessons, and surprising challenges of spearheading a national digital strategy, including multiplying the budget by 100x and aligning an entire country towards a common technological future. We also dive deep into her current mission: helping businesses harness the transformative power of AI for survival and growth. Connect with Zero to N: Stay ahead of the curve with more candid conversations from founders and operators shaping the future of the Middle East and Africa. ➡️ Subscribe to Zero to N for Bi - weekly insights: Zero to N: The real code of transformation - YouTube ➡️ Visit our website: Rachid | Growth, Leadership & Supply Chain ➡️ Follow us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/zero-to-n-podcast/

    1h 12m

  5. May 4

    Zero to N - From Local Leader to African Visionary - with Othman Benkirane

    Imagine a global giant like IKEA entering your market, alongside a looming financial crisis that freezes bank loans. Most businesses would crumble, but Othman BENKIRANE and his company, Keishar, didn't just survive – they emerged victorious, achieving unprecedented growth and setting their sights on global domination. How did they do it? **In this electrifying episode of "Zero to N: The Real Code of Transformation," host Rachid sits down with the visionary CEO of Keishar, Othman BENKIRANE. Othman reveals the incredible, Harvard Business School-studied story of how his family-owned furniture company not only weathered the storm of fierce competition and a national financial crisis but leveraged these challenges to reinvent its operations, foster a unique, family-like company culture, and spearhead aggressive international expansion across the African continent. This isn't just a business story; it's a masterclass in resilience, innovation, and purpose-driven leadership against all odds.Culture & People First: Discover the secret behind building a "family-like" company where employees are empowered, talented, and deeply invested in collective success, even for a legacy business. 🤝 Don't miss out on this incredible journey of transformation! Hit that 'Follow' button on Spotify, leave us a 5-star rating, and share this episode with anyone ready to turn challenges into triumphs! Your support helps us bring more inspiring stories like Othman's to you.** ➡️ Subscribe to Zero to N for Bi - weekly insights: Zero to N : The real code of transformation - YouTube➡️ Visit our website: Rachid | Growth, Leadership & Supply Chain➡️ Follow us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/zero-to-n-podcast/

    1h 12m

  6. Apr 20

    From Wall Street to Moroccan Tech: Karim Amor Journey

    Karim Amor's entrepreneurial journey was brutally interrupted at 23 by a life-threatening brain tumor, forcing him to confront mortality and abandon a high-flying, money-driven career abroad. This harrowing experience became the unexpected catalyst for a radical personal and professional transformation, fundamentally reshaping his definition of success and his path to building impactful companies in Morocco. In this raw, unfiltered episode of Zero to N, we sit down with Karim Amor, a serial entrepreneur, investor, and deep tech founder at the intersection of technology and impact. From navigating the cutthroat world of corporate banking and oil & gas to becoming a pioneer in Morocco's tech landscape, Karim shares the unvarnished truth about founding multiple companies (and failing several times), his philosophy of growth, and his current mission to tackle humanity's biggest health and data challenges with Epinium. This is the real code of transformation, stripped of all hype. Connect with Zero to N: Stay ahead of the curve with more candid conversations from founders and operators shaping the future of the Middle East and Africa. ➡️ Subscribe to Zero to N for Bi - weekly insights: Zero to N : The real code of transformation - YouTube ➡️ Visit our website: Rachid | Growth, Leadership & Supply Chain ➡️ Follow us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/zero-to-n-podcast/

    1h 21m

  7. Apr 6

    Zero to N - Episode 7 with Moustafa Hamwi - Becoming Again - Lessons From a Life That Refused to Stay the Same

    Moustafa Hamwi built a multi-million-dollar events empire in Dubai, living a life envied by many. Yet, at the peak of his external success, he faced a profound internal emptiness and a severe medical crisis that forced him to abandon everything in search of true meaning. This is the story of how Moustafa Hamwi dismantled his identity, confronted mortality, and completely rebuilt his understanding of success. In this raw, unfiltered conversation, Moustafa Hamwi chronicles his extraordinary journey from a high-flying Dubai nightlife impresario drowning in material success and battling internal demons, to a profound spiritual quest in the Himalayas. He shares the brutal honesty behind shedding multiple professional and personal identities, navigating intense self-doubt, and finding his true purpose in helping leaders across the Middle East and Africa turn disruption into opportunity. This is the real code of transformation, no hype, no filters.

    1h 5m

  8. Mar 23

    Zero to N - The Long Horizon - with H.E Hussain Al Mahmoudi

    What does it mean to lead with the future in mind?In this episode of Zero to N, H.E. Hussain Al Mahmoudi shares a journey shaped by long-term vision over short-term gain. From key moments in his career to his decision to return and contribute to Sharjah, this is a story of building with purpose.We explore forward-thinking leadership in the UAE, the creation of private-sector innovation, and the intentional development of talent for the next generation. It’s about recognising what’s missing… and having the conviction to create it.Because real leadership isn’t measured by what you achieve today, it’s defined by what continues long after you’re gone.#zeroton #sharjah #uae #leadershipjourney #leadership #technology

    1h 7m
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About

Zero to N dives into the real journeys behind building and scaling companies across the Middle East and Africa. Hosted by Rachid Labrik, it explores the trade-offs, failures, and transformations that shape the region’s most driven founders and operators. No hype. No filters. Just the real code of transformation from zero to N.

Information

  • Creator
    Rachid Labrik
  • Years Active
    2K
  • Episodes
    14
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Rachid Labrik
  • Show Website
    Zero to N