Fluid Labs

Mia Jafari

Hosted by Mia Jafari, founder of Fluid Labs, this podcast series dives deep into the transformative potential of human creativity, featuring insights from visionary guest speakers across entrepreneurship, corporate innovation, creativity, and spirituality. Together, we explore how to unlock our unique creative potential to design products, services, solutions and systems that uplift and inspire. This series offers a fresh perspective on engaging with AI as a true collaborator—one that empowers us to craft life-enriching innovations that nourish all of life.

  1. Driving Change from Within: Igniting Saudi’s Vision 2030

    11/26/2024

    Driving Change from Within: Igniting Saudi’s Vision 2030

    In this episode of the Fluid Labs Podcast, we sit down with Saudi intrapreneur Abdulkareem Alalami to explore what it takes to spark meaningful change within large organizations in Saudi Arabia and beyond.  Innovation, as Abdulkareem explains, is much like The Matrix. Taking the blue pill keeps you in the status quo—safe, predictable, and unchallenged. But taking the red pill leads you into the unknown: a world of uncertainty, chaos, and boundless possibility. True innovation demands the courage to take the red pill, embrace disruption, and dive headfirst into the unpredictable.  Together, we discuss why teamwork outshines competition, how emotional intelligence fuels groundbreaking innovation, and why Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 positions the nation as a global leader in innovation. Topics covered in this episode: 1.       The Power of Collaboration: How teamwork and intrapreneurship lead to better business outcomes.  2.    AI as a Taskmaster: Why humans must harness emotional intelligence to thrive alongside AI in chaotic environments.  3.      Innovators Personify Chaos: Insights into navigating the formlessness of chaos and using it as a tool for focus and creativity.  4.        Saudi Arabia as a Hub for Innovation: How the nation’s rich history and Vision 2030 are enabling disruptive and sustainable advancements.  5.       Building Long-Term Relationships: Why launching a startup in Saudi Arabia requires treating it like a home and investing in meaningful connections really knowing your craft.   Whether you’re curious about navigating unpredictability, fostering innovation, or understanding Saudi Arabia’s unique approach to growth, this episode offers valuable insights from a leader in innovation. Learn more about Abdulkareem Alalami: https://www.linkedin.com/in/abdulkareem-alalami-0a92131b/

    51 min
  2. Nature as Mentor

    11/20/2024

    Nature as Mentor

    In this episode of the Fluid Labs podcast, hosted by Mia Jafari we are thrilled to welcome Alejandro Ortega, co-founder of “Pawsitive Leaders” and coach at “Deep Impact”. Alejandro blends his upbringing in Costa Rica—steeped in ancient cultures, wisdom, and nature—with his expertise in business development, partnerships, to bring a very unique perspective to innovation with intent. In this episode, we dive into:  The Power of Ancestral Inspiration - Alejandro shares how his grandmother inspired him to embody the change he wanted to see in the world. He reflects on the bold leaps he took to transform his vision into reality through entrepreneurship. The Secret Sauce of Strategic Partnerships - Alejandro reveals that the key to building meaningful partnerships—what we call “collaborating with life”—is realizing that we’re all in the same boat. While our goals may appear different, they often align at a deeper level. By combining our strengths and resources, we can move forward together and achieve far more than we ever could alone.  Learning from Nature and Biomimicry -  Alejandro shares lessons from Costa Rican and Mayan cultures, exploring how planetary intelligence and ancient wisdom can inspire innovation. He discusses how nature’s intricate designs and rhythms provide blueprints for problem-solving and collaboration.  Entrepreneurship and Lessons from the Seasons -   Drawing parallels between entrepreneurship and the changing seasons, Alejandro reflects on how indigenous communities observe and adapt to seasonal cycles, focusing on what truly matters. He emphasizes the importance of paying attention to meaningful signs in our environment and ignoring distractions that do not serve us.  Balancing Ancient Wisdom and Future Technology -  As technology accelerates at an incredible pace, Alejandro discusses the role that ancient wisdom, nature’s intelligence, and human creativity must play in shaping a balanced and sustainable future. He underscores that our collective wisdom is far greater than any single technological advancement.  Training AI with Humanity and Interconnectedness  - Alejandro explores how reconnecting with our humanity and our interconnectedness with nature allows us to train AI from a place of truth and deeper awareness. By grounding AI development in these deeper values, we can ensure it serves life and fosters connection rather than division.    You can connect with Alejandro on LinkedIn here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/aleortega/   You can connect with Mia on LinkedIn here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/miajafari/

    45 min
  3. Innovate with Reverence and Purpose

    11/03/2024

    Innovate with Reverence and Purpose

    In this episode of the Fluid Lab’s Podcast, our host Mia Jafari sits down with Michael McGlade, founder and creative director of ROVAR, a Belfast-based augmented reality startup bringing immersive experiences to visitors around the world. Together, they dive deep into the intersection of purpose-led innovation and commercial success, exploring what it takes to create solutions that inspire and resonate deeply with clients and customers alike whilst serving as a homage to our past, present and future.   Episode Highlights: Seating in the seat of intuition: How presence and deep listening can reveal what people truly want, turning insights into inspired innovation. Resilience through adversity: Growing up during the IRA era, Michael developed an intuitive awareness that shapes his approach to business and risk-taking focusing on inner gut knowing, service and what he calls a ‘nervous energy’ to deliver exceptional products. Contributing to his community & whilst scaling his business: The importance of giving back, serving as a role model, and showing others what’s possible whilst scaling to with other countries that have the same vision. Harnessing emerging tech: How Michael integrates AI as a tool to deliver faster, better, and authentically creative results. Navigating the“valley of death’: Navigating the challenging path from innovation to commercialisation, guided by his three P’s—People, Purpose, and Passion. The economics of the heart: Creating from the heart while building commercially viable products that serve and give back. …and much more! Let's keep the conversation going! Connect with Michael McGlade on LinkedIn and explore ROVAR’s latest innovations on their website: www.rovar.com/   To stay updated on events, workshops, podcasts, and programs from Fluid Labs, connect with Mia Jafari and follow us for more inspiring content on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fluid_labs

    46 min
  4. Our Self-Awareness is the Future Self-Awareness of AI

    10/21/2024

    Our Self-Awareness is the Future Self-Awareness of AI

    In this episode of the Fluid Labs Podcast, Mia Jafari interviews Hashem Al-Ghaili, a science communicator, filmmaker, and future tech expert. Together, they discuss how we can nurture AI to grow and evolve with values of collaboration, empathy, and global well-being, rather than continuing down a path of individualism and greed. They explore how we can leverage AI to enhance human creativity and ideas rather than diminish it. Podcast Takeaways: 1.       Self-awareness shapes AI development: The way we interact with AI, individually and collectively, influences its ethical framework and future growth. 2.       Ethics in AI:  Guiding AI development with ethical considerations is critical, and both individuals and organizations have a role in this responsibility. 3.       Global contrasts in AI regulation:  Different countries are racing to develop AI technologies, each with varying regulatory approaches that influence the technology’s trajectory. 4.       Human creativity remains essential:  Despite AI’s growing capabilities, human creativity continues to be a vital force for innovation and problem-solving. 5.       Embracing AI for the future of work:  AI has the potential to create new job roles, and by embracing its possibilities, we can explore uncharted areas of growth. 6.       Universal ethical guiding principles:  A global ethical code for AI could help steer its development toward collective benefit, particularly in sectors like agriculture. 7.       Universal basic income and AI: As AI automates more jobs, universal basic income could help support displaced workers, though secondary jobs will still be necessary for many. 8.       The future of creativity: AI will generate an abundance of content, impacting artists and AI tools should be seen as a means to enhance human productivity and creativity, not replace them. 9.       AI education is crucial: Societal adaptation requires widespread education about AI to ensure everyone can engage with it in meaningful ways. Stay in Touch with Us! To learn more about Hashem Al-Ghaili, you can visit his website: www.hashem-alghaili.com Hashem’s Instagram: @hashem.alghaili Hashem’s LinkedIn: @ hashem-al-ghaili To learn more about Mia Jafari, you can visit the Fluid Labs website: www. /fluid-labs.com Mia Jafari’s Instagram: @fluid_labs Mia Jafari’s LinkedIn: @miajafari

    54 min
  5. Empathy in Action: Building Impactful Teams through Diversity

    12/07/2023

    Empathy in Action: Building Impactful Teams through Diversity

    In this episode, we are joined by Dr. Anthony Giannoumis, a motivational speaker and the founder of Inclusive Leadership, to discuss how inclusivity and diversity can be integrated into who we are, what we create, and how we work. We explore the business value of incorporating inclusivity and diversity within the technologies, products, and services we build. Through hearing Anthony stories and real life examples we will discuss: 1. Diversity from Within - Internal diversity is about how much influence we allow into our life, and how the practice of inclusivity plays an Internal role in generating more inspired ideas and dynamic solutions. 2. Inclusive Design - Exploring the practical aspects of inclusive design and how designing with inclusivity at the core, including designing for extreme users, enhances our solutions for all users. 3. Rethinking Hiring Models - In practice, how do we reconsider hiring models by placing diversity at the centre of our approach, and the business sense of building with diversity and inclusion 4. Empathy as a Key Enabler for Meaningful Impact - The importance of enhancing our ability to empathize with users and building more impactful teams by fostering diversity and inclusion. 5. Swapping Validation for Vulnerability - Exploring how vulnerability improves our well-being by allowing us to be our authentic selves and enabling our teams to validate our authentic selves which in turn build trust among the people around us. ____________________________ About Dr. Anthony Giannoumis Dr. Anthony is a motivational speaker on inclusive leadership. His keynotes showcase his signature methodology - the sins and wins of inclusivity. He is American by birth, Norwegian by choice, and the world’s only computer programmer turned opera singer turned professor turned comedian turned co-founder of Inclusive Creation. He co-created the Inclusion Game and the mind behind the 4 Fundamental Principles of Universal Design. He is a lifetime diversity and inclusion advocate, a beloved mentor and reverse mentor, and the winner of numerous awards, including from the United Nations, for his inclusive innovations. He is the author of 50 scientific articles and the founder of the EQUALS-EU network for gender-inclusive innovation, which represents over 24 countries. He has received over 13 million euros worth of research and innovation grants, and as you can imagine, he was the last picked for gym class. Website: https://inclusiveleadership.solutions

    57 min
  6. Ahead of the Curve: Lead, Listen, Grow

    11/10/2023

    Ahead of the Curve: Lead, Listen, Grow

    This podcast session with Paul Littlejohn, Founder of Wingman Executive, will explore and discuss how, as a startup, once you secure funding to scale, you face a crucial decision—do you want to continue innovating, developing your business, and thriving in what you love doing, or be burdened by the challenges of managing your team and making the wrong hires? Who you hire, how they align with your vision, and how you infuse your values, purpose, mission, and well-being ethos into your team play pivotal roles in ensuring your startup's success during the scaling phase.   Podcast overview: [55 sec] How Paul has merged his learnings from being a fighter pilot in the Royal Marines into his work heading operations in a large multinational organization and into launching Wingman Executive. [7:30] What Paul learned from the military about inspired leadership and how you incorporate this into your role in a startup. [8:30] Building agility and momentum into startups and early-stage companies as they grow. [17:00] How to embed decentralized leadership into your culture so people come to you with solutions rather than challenges. [21:20] The role of diversity in leadership and how it plays in creating dynamic teams that can innovate and thrive. How to unleash the potential of every team member and give them the power to influence what we do. [25:15] How to inspire and motivate diversity to flourish by building a culture that encourages diverse people to work for and stay with you.. [31:42] What books, podcasts, films inspire Paul’s current thinking. _____ Dynamic and transformative leader with over a decade of diverse operational excellence, I combine high-stakes military acumen with corporate innovation to drive growth across global markets. My journey from being a fighter pilot to a C-suite executive has instilled in me resilience, agility, and a distinct approach to navigating complex business landscapes.At the core of my leadership philosophy is the empowerment of teams to achieve remarkable results. I believe in fostering collaborative environments and leveraging strategic insights to solve unique challenges. My track record speaks volumes about my commitment to operational efficiencies, cost savings, and turning visions into actionable strategies.My roles have always encompassed an internal consultancy element, allowing me to thrive in environments where I lead and shape high-performing teams to deliver business objectives. Whether optimizing sales at Meeting Point International or transforming operations at Emirates Group, my focus has always been on creating value and unlocking opportunities.In 2023, I founded Wingman Executive Consulting, leveraging my blend of military and corporate experience to transform leadership practices. My approach is centered on empowering leaders to inspire proactive, engaged, and solution-driven teams, ultimately fostering organizational excellence.I'm also a passionate mentor, transforming struggling teams into high achievers, and a management consultant, guiding leaders towards operational brilliance. My diverse training and experience in startups and AI sectors have enriched my perspective, allowing me to offer tailored solutions to unique challenges. Connect with Wingman Executive on Linkedin Here Connect with Wingman Executive on Instagram Here.

    35 min
  7. 11/06/2023

    Innovation As A Inner Journey

    To spark innovation and challenge the norm, we must, as suggested by ⁠⁠Vijay Raju⁠⁠, co-founder of The Propel Labs, pose the question: "What am I Designed For?" During this podcast, we will discuss this and more and cover: [2:15] What inspired Vijay to embark on his journey towards driving responsible growth and innovation. [4:29] How innovation and industry can thrive when we tap into our creativity, and how to nurture and let go of the fear of judgment and failure that hinders the innovation process. [10:56] Letting go of the external image and the fear of failure that hampers the innovation process. [15:31] Balancing the messy creative innovation process and leaping into emergence, taking inspired action. [21:20] How innovation happens outside of frameworks and creating a safe space to allow people to feel safe to adopt this messy mindset, along with the business value of this approach. [21:20] Moving into democratic leadership and leveraging collective intelligence to accelerate innovation and growth. [30:01] Asking what intelligence is in the context of artificial intelligence and how this will prompt us to explore new depths and unlock new dimensions of intelligence. [36:30] The books and podcasts that are currently inspire Vijay’s thinking.  ___ About Our Guest Speaker: Vijay Raju - Leading Growth through Responsible Innovation at Propel Labs Vijay partners with leading businesses, foundations and philanthropies to drive growth and impact through responsible innovations. Vijay is also the author of an upcoming book on entrepreneurs and intrapreneurs who are moving the planet towards #NetZero.Previously, Vijay was the Head of Strategy for the global #growth companies at WEF where he worked with CXOs of 300+ hypergrowth companies and unicorns on topics of sustainability #transformation and responsible use of advanced new technologies. He designed & launched a climate innovation challenge for Statkraft of Norway and led 5 editions of the 'Shaping the Better Future' social innovation challenge in partnership with Coca Cola. Several award winning ventures such as Kabaddiwalla Connect were created as an outcome of these innovation challenges.Vijay was also the Deputy Head of the Global Shapers Community where he led Shape #Sustainability, a movement launched in collaboration with UN to take the #SDG narrative from the country to the community level through a social media campaign and local actions in more than 100 cities. Vijay also designed Shaping Davos, an innovative format to bring in city level local voices into #Davos conversations.Prior to that, Vijay was a Venture Director at Innosight, an innovation strategy consultancy co-founded by Clay Christensen, the world's most influential management thinker. Vijay incubated Razor Rave, funded by P&G and was part of the core incubation team that launched several ventures including the Edison award winning 'Healthy Heart for All' for Medtronic. His innovation & venture work have been featured in books like Lean #Startup, First Mile & Little Black Book of #Innovation. Earlier, Vijay led Pet Alien, India's first Disney style animation series that aired in Cartoon Network. Vijay led a team of 120 artists and engineers to successfully deliver 52 episodes in 14 months and laid the foundation for the successful indian animation industry. His work has won several awards including national awards and daytime animation Emmy nominations.Vijay holds a Masters in Global #Leadership offered by WEF along with INSEAD, Wharton, Columbia, London Business School & CEIBS, China. Vijay also holds an MBA from the International University of Japan with a prestigious Monbukagakhusho scholarship from Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT), Govt of Japan. Vijay holds a Bachelors in Mechanical Engineering. Vijay has spoken at WEF Davos, Cannes Lions, TEDx and has written for WEF Agenda, Al Arabiya, Huffpost and Forbes.

    41 min

About

Hosted by Mia Jafari, founder of Fluid Labs, this podcast series dives deep into the transformative potential of human creativity, featuring insights from visionary guest speakers across entrepreneurship, corporate innovation, creativity, and spirituality. Together, we explore how to unlock our unique creative potential to design products, services, solutions and systems that uplift and inspire. This series offers a fresh perspective on engaging with AI as a true collaborator—one that empowers us to craft life-enriching innovations that nourish all of life.