Level up with Hakim

AbdalHakim Omar
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Level Up with Hakim is where business, mindset, and growth collide. Inspiring conversations with leaders and entrepreneurs sharing strategies, stories, and insights to help you win, grow, and level up in work and life.

  1. 2d ago

    WHO DOES YOUR AI REALLY WORK FOR? Founders of VendeeX 48#

    Explore how buyer-first AI could reshape online shopping and hospitality. Hakim speaks with VendeeX Labs co-founders Dr. Darryl Carlton and Ross Gardiner about data privacy, buyer control, spending safeguards, and what hotels may need to prepare for agentic commerce. Chapters: 0:12 Welcome and guest introductions 1:25 Why build for agentic commerce? 3:53 The idea behind VendeeX 5:21 Data ownership and buyer control 8:40 What buyer sovereignty means 12:15 Ranking, revenue, and conflicts of interest 18:27 Safeguards for AI-driven purchases 24:50 Spending controls in plain English 27:12 What AI shopping could mean for travel 30:30 How AI agents may change hotel discovery 35:02 VendeeX’s vision for agentic commerce 37:28 Advice for buyers and merchants 39:23 What “level up” means to the guests Connect with Ross https://www.linkedin.com/in/rossgardiner/ connect with Darryl https://www.linkedin.com/in/darrylcarlton/ Apple Podcast https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/level-up-with-hakim/id1872491718 Amazon music https://music.amazon.co.uk/podcasts/8864be9e-558a-4632-94b2-6b121a5d7ebf/level-up-with-hakim

    WHO DOES YOUR AI REALLY WORK FOR? Founders of VendeeX 48#

  2. Nov 3

    Are you Building or Just LARPING As A founder with @Emily Edwards #47

    DescriptionWhat does it take to build a business people want to work with? Hakim talks with Emily Edwards, a commercial advisor, coach and creator of Magnetic Foundership. They cover leaving corporate life, the four levels founders move through, and using AI without losing your own judgment. Chapters 0:00 Cold open 0:16 Welcome and introducing Emily 1:10 Who is Emily Edwards? 2:43 Falling into the travel industry 4:04 Why a commercial path 5:28 Breaking the cycle and the move to coaching 8:29 Leaving corporate to build a business 10:28 The hardest part of going from employee to founder 11:56 What Emily is building now 15:15 The four levels of Magnetic Foundership 19:55 The biggest problems founders face 22:57 Shifts in travel and hotel tech 26:35 Using AI without the echo chamber 30:30 The hardest lesson: no one's coming to save you 32:15 Advice for founders who feel overwhelmed 33:18 What commercial success and leveling up meanThis is a draft only. I haven't published or exported anything. Connect with Emily https://www.linkedin.com/in/emilyedwardscoaching/ Spotify https://open.spotify.com/episode/4ms6FNOCeymLf0f3g00PDs?si=kpbj5tE_TjWDmPE9RSop_g Apple Podcast https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/level-up-with-hakim/id1872491718 Amazon music https://music.amazon.co.uk/podcasts/8864be9e-558a-4632-94b2-6b121a5d7ebf/level-up-with-hakim

    Are you Building or Just LARPING As A founder with @Emily Edwards #47

  3. Oct 29

    How to get Hired in Hotel Tech - Ed & Chris Founders of Hospitality Tech Jobs #46

    Hospitality tech has a talent problem, but it is not the one most people think. The real gap is trust, context, and knowing who actually fits where, and this conversation with Chris and Ed shows why the old CV-and-LinkedIn model is breaking down.Chris and Ed, the co-founders of Hospitality Tech Jobs, explain how they are building a more human way to connect people, companies, and opportunities across hotel tech. Chris brings more than 12 years inside the hotel tech ecosystem, while Ed draws on his background in HR, pre-openings, and supporting 30+ hotel openings to spot what recruiters usually miss.You'll discover:Why hotel tech hiring fails when companies lead with brand instead of fitHow honest conversations uncover what candidates really want, from pay to environment to purposeWhy a six-month guarantee forces better hiring decisionsWhat makes hotel tech different from general recruiting, and why specialization mattersHow salary benchmarking, sentiment data, and deep industry knowledge change the hiring gameYouTube chapter ideas 00:00 - Why hospitality tech has a talent problem01:50 - How Chris and Ed became the connectors07:26 - What hotel tech actually includes11:23 - The secret to better matching candidates15:06 - Why network beats transactional recruiting24:25 - What makes Hospitality Tech Jobs different34:41 - How to break into hotel tech46:45 - The AI-human balance in recruiting64:40 - What level up means now Connect with Ed https://www.linkedin.com/in/edouardclark/ connect with Christopher https://www.linkedin.com/in/christophirving/ https://hospitalitytechjobs.com/ Spotify https://open.spotify.com/episode/33j6ATA09iOBqqKC7gjcVe?si=AJ_8CFkiT1yktJQKGS63Qg Apple Podcast https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/level-up-with-hakim/id1872491718 Amazon music https://music.amazon.co.uk/podcasts/8864be9e-558a-4632-94b2-6b121a5d7ebf/level-up-with-hakim

    How to get Hired in Hotel Tech - Ed & Chris Founders of Hospitality Tech Jobs #46

  4. Oct 22

    Escaping the Operator TRAP with Mike DeJong - Author of Grow Smart #45

    Can Your Business Grow Without You? Escaping the Operator Trap with Mike DeJongIs your business growing or does everything still depend on you? In this episode of Level Up, Hakim Omar talks with Mike DeJong, author of Grow Smart, Your Path to Freedom, about escaping the “operator trap” and building a business that can run and grow without its owner at the center of every decision.Mike draws on experience across aviation, international manufacturing, franchising, turnarounds, real estate, and small business. He shares the wake-up call that changed his approach, the systems and habits that helped him step back, and the lessons he learned while helping businesses improve performance. Guest links Website: mikedejong.com LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/mikedejongspeakerTimestamps 00:00 Can your business run and grow without you? 00:51 Meet Mike DeJong 02:30 Why Mike began helping business owners 04:01 What a business that runs without its owner looks like 05:37 Healthy owner involvement vs. unhealthy dependency 08:14 From aviation and franchising to the operator trap 09:24 The Mexico trip that became a wake-up call 10:16 Why Mike started building procedures and systems 12:10 The moment his team told him to leave 14:09 The leadership lesson: stop answering every question 14:34 Creating a culture of responsibility without blame 16:04 A turnaround story: from -12% to +23% 18:19 The small customer-experience details that matter 20:15 Early signs you’re trapped in the operation 23:26 Which procedures should owners document first? 26:04 Decisions that should no longer return to the owner 29:21 What to build first: systems, people, or metrics? 30:14 Buying back time to work on the business 32:14 How often should owners review performance? 35:46 Common delegation mistakes 38:08 A costly example of ignoring procedures 40:04 AI, automation, and the operator trap 43:17 AI’s impact on jobs and business 46:45 Advice for people starting a business 49:49 A sales mindset that makes rejection easier 53:01 What does “Level Up” mean to Mike? 54:28 Closing thoughts Spotify https://open.spotify.com/episode/6jYqx0kCudPFAhVp08D5lY?si=5KeL4fhJTSSGs9KN0UW0tA Apple Podcast https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/level-up-with-hakim/id1872491718 Amazon music https://music.amazon.co.uk/podcasts/8864be9e-558a-4632-94b2-6b121a5d7ebf/level-up-with-hakim

    Escaping the Operator TRAP with Mike DeJong - Author of Grow Smart #45

  5. Oct 1

    How Hotels Can Turn REVIEWS into Revenue with @Jan Heuninck CEO of HotelSpeaker #44

    YouTube descriptionJan Heuninck is the CEO of Hotel Speaker, an Olympic sailor, and a founder with an unconventional path, from leaving university to scaling a Web3 company to 94 employees and millions of users. In this episode of Level Up, Jan shares how sport shaped his discipline, what rapid growth really feels like, and why hospitality technology should make service more human not less. We also explore how Hotel Speaker helps hotels turn guest reviews into stronger relationships and better business decisions. Timestamps 00:00 — Introduction to Jan Heuninck 01:18 — Entrepreneurship, sailing, and Jan’s background 02:28 — Building a disciplined daily routine 04:02 — Why Jan left university to build businesses 06:17 — Scaling a Web3 company at speed 09:12 — Moving from Web3 into hospitality technology 11:36 — What Hotel Speaker does 13:28 — Why hotel review responses matter 15:41 — How Hotel Speaker works with new hotels 18:04 — Giving hotel teams more time for guests 20:14 — Balancing AI with human expertise 23:11 — The biggest online-reputation mistakes hotels make 24:53 — The future of AI in hospitality 27:46 — Time-management advice for founders 29:34 — Handling setbacks and staying motivated 31:10 — What “Level Up” means to Jan 32:17 — ClosingConnect with Jan https://www.linkedin.com/in/jan-heuninck/ HotelSpeaker http://www.hotelspeaker.com Spotify https://open.spotify.com/episode/1RSYVYYt4o2iwJaf2njKjJ?si=Cz5-wI_cR8i0ssapnTWaEg Apple Podcast https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/level-up-with-hakim/id1872491718 Amazon music https://music.amazon.co.uk/podcasts/8864be9e-558a-4632-94b2-6b121a5d7ebf/level-up-with-hakim

    How Hotels Can Turn REVIEWS into Revenue with @Jan Heuninck CEO of HotelSpeaker #44

  6. Sep 18

    Your Next Chapter Needs Intention with Kanku B. Michelsen #43

    How Career Coaching and Luxury Travel Both Start With the Same QuestionHakim speaks with Kanku Michelsen, a senior career coach and luxury travel advisor, about the shared mindset behind navigating career transitions and planning meaningful travel. The conversation centers on one powerful idea: whether you are rebuilding after a layoff or trying to reset on vacation, the first step is to get clear on what you actually want.Kanku explains how her portfolio career evolved from a personal identity shift, why she takes an inside-out approach to travel planning, and how she helps executives move through grief, clarity, and courage before rushing into the next opportunity. Timestamps00:00 - Welcome and why travel and career transitions belong in the same conversation 01:18 - Kanku Michelsen’s portfolio career: executive coaching and luxury travel 02:12 - The personal turning point that led her into travel advising 04:33 - Why she researched the travel industry for years before launching 06:19 - Why ambiguity is the common thread between coaching and travel 07:17 - Why busy executives take time off seriously, but often plan it too mechanically 09:29 - Her inside-out framework for planning trips around purpose and experience 12:16 - The biggest misconception leaders have about career transitions 13:15 - Why “Who am I now?” is the key question after a layoff or reinvention 16:28 - The first practical step before touching a resume or LinkedIn profile 18:19 - Why career transitions often need one small step at a time 20:12 - How she balances emotional processing with forward-looking strategy 21:05 - Why some people need months, not days, to detach from a long-held role 22:52 - Why her corporate background helps her understand executive travel needs 25:05 - The most common mistake in the first 30 days after a career loss 27:45 - Where AI helps in coaching and travel, and where it falls short 31:13 - Why AI will change jobs, but not replace human connection 34:09 - Why personalized travel advising is growing, not shrinking 38:08 - The first real step for someone going through a transition 40:16 - What “level up” means to Kanku: clarity, honesty, and honoring what matters now Connect with Kanku https://www.linkedin.com/in/kankumichelsen/ Also watch and listen on: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/7Ed3dWmcL9F4B6c7ZZGCkI?si=bHowYxyYRXaUTwqcCTq1Ow Apple Podcast https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/level-up-with-hakim/id1872491718 Amazon music https://music.amazon.co.uk/podcasts/8864be9e-558a-4632-94b2-6b121a5d7ebf/level-up-with-hakim

    Your Next Chapter Needs Intention with Kanku B. Michelsen #43

  7. Sep 4

    WHY most corporate EVENTS are FORGOTTEN with David Moore CEO of Moore Events #42

    How David Moore designs events people actually rememberIn this episode, Hakim speaks with David Moore, CEO and director of fun at Moore Style Events, about what separates a smooth event from a memorable one. David brings more than 20 years of experience designing executive meetings, leadership summits, conferences, product launches, and customer events around the world.We discuss how guest experience starts long before attendees arrive, why relationships with hotel teams matter so much, and how AI may streamline event planning without replacing the human touch. Timestamps(00:00) Why most events are forgotten quickly (00:36) Meet David Moore, director of fun (01:38) How the director of fun title came to be (03:30) Why smaller, more personal events stand out (05:17) What separates smooth events from memorable ones (07:29) David’s five Ws framework for planning (09:15) Why event budgets often surprise first timers (12:22) Guest experience starts before the event begins (13:40) Personalization that makes guests feel known (16:10) The hardest part of international event planning (21:36) What makes a hotel team trustworthy (24:41) First impressions during a site visit (29:29) The most misunderstood part of hotel collaboration (35:44) What makes a strong hotel proposal stand out (39:12) Relationship first, delivery second (40:51) When promises about internet and space fall apart (43:51) The future of events and AI (52:49) Virtual events versus in person experiences (54:54) Rapid fire: underrated registration, communication, and welcome (56:14) What leveling up means in events Connect with David via Linedin https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidlmoore/ Website http://www.moorestyleevents.com Also watch and listen on: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/0nOZlxK9K5yK7max9lWvPF?si=2IbMNGISQym_5ATJM3iMug Apple Podcast https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/level-up-with-hakim/id1872491718 Amazon music https://music.amazon.co.uk/podcasts/8864be9e-558a-4632-94b2-6b121a5d7ebf/level-up-with-hakim

    WHY most corporate EVENTS are FORGOTTEN with David Moore CEO of Moore Events #42

  8. Aug 27

    Why Hotels Get Ignored in the Nordics with @Regitze Cecilie Founder of ROSE #41

    EPISODE DESCRIPTION - Ready to publishMost hotel brands don’t fail on product - they fail on relevance. Regitze, founder of Rose Nordic Hospitality PR and positioning agency, reveals why the Nordics reward cultural intelligence, not copy-paste luxury. If you’re a hotel, retreat, or travel brand trying to break into Scandinavia, this conversation shows why visibility starts long before publicity. Regitze has spent more than a decade working across hospitality, storytelling, strategic communication, and market positioning, and she explains what international brands consistently miss when they try to “enter the Nordics.” You’ll discover why authenticity in this market is not a marketing word but a test of whether the guest experience, brand promise, people, and place actually align. We break down why positioning has to come before PR, why “Nordic-looking” is not the same as being Nordic-relevant, and why concepts like wellness, sustainability, and quiet luxury only work when they are built into the entire operation - not just added to the pitch deck.Regitze also shares what Nordic travelers really respond to, from simplicity and sense of place to human connection, architectural integrity, and genuine hospitality. Suggested YouTube chapters:00:00 Why hotel visibility starts with relevance02:23 What international brands get wrong in the Nordics03:42 Positioning before PR05:07 What Nordic travelers really want07:37 Why “Nordic-looking” is not enough09:52 Why entering the market takes years12:21 Why publicity without positioning fails16:21 Storytelling that actually works21:43 Wellness as a philosophy, not a label27:11 Hotels becoming destinations28:42 Where Nordic hospitality is headed33:37 What hospitality should never automate36:48 AI, sameness, and brand identity39:14 Rapid fire: trends, brands, and what level up means Connect with Regitze https://www.linkedin.com/in/regitze-cecilie-rosenvinge-4b375b39/ Rose Hospitality advisory https://www.linkedin.com/company/rosenordic/ Also watch on: https://open.spotify.com/episode/344CtyJKq4LXbaBK82h71z?si=gdlORkq-RauuKuEa-EbUpQ Apple Podcast https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/level-up-with-hakim/id1872491718 Amazon music https://music.amazon.co.uk/podcasts/8864be9e-558a-4632-94b2-6b121a5d7ebf/level-up-with-hakim

    Why Hotels Get Ignored in the Nordics with @Regitze Cecilie Founder of ROSE #41
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About

Level Up with Hakim is where business, mindset, and growth collide. Inspiring conversations with leaders and entrepreneurs sharing strategies, stories, and insights to help you win, grow, and level up in work and life.

Information

  • Creator
    AbdalHakim Omar
  • Years Active
    2026
  • Episodes
    35
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 AbdalHakim Omar
  • Show Website
    Level up with Hakim