Money Made Simple - All about Money

Aakash Keswani
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Money Made Simple breaks down business and finance in a way anyone can understand. Each episode features experts from diverse industries who’ve made an impact, showing how they think, make decisions, and grow. Real stories, practical insights, no big fancy terms... just inspiration and takeaways you can apply in your career or personal life. Aakash Keswani is a senior finance leader with more than a decade of experience across banking, technology, and media. He has advised banks and financial institutions, overseen multi-million-dollar budgets, and guided companies through high-growth phases with disciplined financial management and helped leadership teams make informed, data-driven decisions. On Money Made Simple, he distills complex financial concepts into clear, practical insights drawn from real-world leadership experience.

Episodes

  1. Jun 22

    Insights from One of the Fastest-Growing Food Brands in the World

    In this episode of Money Made Simple, I sit down with Shivangi Madan, Director of Brand Marketing at Jollibee UAE, to talk about brand growth, customer behaviour, business decisions, and what it takes to build a food brand that people keep coming back to.  We discuss Jollibee's journey in the UAE, how the brand has grown across the country with close to 30 locations and counting, and why it continues to rank among the most visible and popular food brands. Shivangi shares how Jollibee thinks about location strategy, delivery platforms, store design, brand identity, customer habits, and the balance between reaching customers through delivery apps while also building long-term brand loyalty.  We also talk about the financial and commercial side of building a brand. A strong brand is not only about visibility. It connects to customer acquisition, repeat purchases, delivery economics, location decisions, loyalty, and sustainable growth. Shivangi also shares her personal career journey, from moving out of the tech industry, taking the risk of leaving Microsoft, coming to the UAE, and building her career in brand leadership.  This conversation is for anyone who wants to understand what sits behind the success of a major food brand: the decisions, numbers, risks, customer behaviour, and career choices that shape growth in the UAE. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

    Insights from One of the Fastest-Growing Food Brands in the World

  2. May 15

    From Corporate Banking to Entrepreneurship with Nadia Al-Mahdi

    What does it really take to build a brand from scratch? In this episode of Money Made Simple, I sit down with Nadia Al-Mahdi, a former banker turned entrepreneur, to talk about her inspiring journey of leaving the corporate world and building her own candle and lifestyle business from the ground up. Nadia shares the reality of starting alone - from finding customers and building trust, to creating a loyal community around her products. We also explore how her background in banking shaped the way she approaches business strategy, structure, and long-term growth. Beyond entrepreneurship, this conversation dives into personal growth, resilience, and the mindset required to keep moving forward while building something meaningful. This episode is for anyone thinking about starting a business, pivoting careers, or simply looking for honest insights about growth, life, and entrepreneurship. Special thanks to TIE Dubai (https://www.youtube.com/@tie-dubai)  for the support in making this conversation possible Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

    From Corporate Banking to Entrepreneurship with Nadia Al-Mahdi

  3. Feb 3

    Understanding Money, Banking, and Financial Discipline

    In this episode of Money Made Simple, I sit down with Sathyanath Shanbag, a seasoned finance professional with over two decades of experience across banking and corporate finance. We break down money and banking in a practical, accessible way - from where to park your money and how to think about everyday financial decisions, to the role of discipline, cost control, and long-term thinking in building financial stability. Sathyanath also shares insights from his career journey, including the early sacrifices required to move ahead, and how those experiences shaped his approach to leadership and decision-making. We discuss how banks think about cost control, why and how they choose to expand across the Middle East, and what truly makes banks successful in the region. The conversation also touches on the evolution of banking in the UAE, the rise of digital and neo-banking, and what these changes mean for consumers and professionals today. This podcast is for anyone who wants to understand money better, make more confident financial decisions, and learn how financial institutions and professionals think about growth, discipline, and long-term value. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

    Understanding Money, Banking, and Financial Discipline

  4. Jan 14

    Proven Business Growth Strategies for Long-Term Success - Maureen Hall

    From the Canadian Armed Forces to building a brand in Dubai - this is Maureen Hall’s story. In this powerful and uplifting episode, Maureen reflects on her early days in the UAE, starting a business from scratch by herself, no guidebook - just grit, vision, and relentless drive. She shares what it truly means to build a brand over two decades: from choosing fabrics and sourcing suppliers herself, to eventually hiring her first part-time employee, and then growing into a full-time team. We talk about the emotional side of entrepreneurship - the doubt, the persistence, the learning curve — and her advice to anyone navigating a new business. Beyond business, Maureen opens up about how she manages stress, and her grounded approach to life. She shares timeless wisdom on staying the course, pivoting when needed, and defining success on your own terms. This episode is a must-watch for anyone building something of their own, and looking for perspective, clarity, and courage. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

    Proven Business Growth Strategies for Long-Term Success - Maureen Hall

  5. 12/30/2025

    How Procurement can Make or Break an Organisation

    Procurement is often misunderstood - especially in growing companies. In this episode, Abdulhadi, a seasoned procurement leader, shares why procurement works best when it’s involved early in the process, rather than being approached at the last minute to approve a purchase. He discusses how relying too heavily on a single supplier - often due to time pressure - can create long-term challenges, and why a more thoughtful approach leads to better outcomes for the business. Beyond processes, Abdulhadi highlights the human side of leadership: the importance of saying thank you, recognising effort, and valuing employees beyond just compensation. From a financial and operational perspective, he explains that procurement is not about slowing teams down. Instead, it’s about clearly explaining company policies, speaking the language of stakeholders, and supporting teams so everyone can move forward together and achieve company goals. The key takeaway is simple: Procurement isn’t here to stop progress : it’s here to enable it. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

    How Procurement can Make or Break an Organisation

  6. 12/23/2025

    Finance and Digital Marketing – Why is it Important That They Work Together?

    In this episode of Money Made Simple, I sit down with Tariq to explore how professionals and businesses should think about careers, marketing, and capital efficiency in today’s environment. We discuss what digital marketing work really looks like behind the scenes, how marketing roles are evaluated and paid across different countries, and why salary comparisons - especially across the GCC - depend far more on company, industry, and impact than geography alone. The conversation also covers how marketing decisions connect directly to budgets and business outcomes, how to manage stakeholder expectations with transparency, and why early-stage spending choices matter more than scale. This is a practical, grounded discussion on aligning careers, marketing effort, and financial decision-making.   #MoneyMadeSimple #MarketingCareers #DigitalMarketing #Careers #Compensation #BusinessStrategy #CapitalEfficiency #GCC #Dubai #AbuDhabi Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

    Finance and Digital Marketing – Why is it Important That They Work Together?

  7. 12/16/2025

    How to Increase Your Earning Potential: Insights from Recruiter Alison Daley

    In this episode of Money Made Simple, recruitment consultant Alison Daley shares expert insights into how career decisions directly influence financial outcomes.  She breaks down what employers truly value, how candidates can position themselves for higher-earning roles, and the skills that drive long-term career and income growth.  Alison also discusses job market trends across the UAE and MENA, salary expectations, negotiation tactics, and the importance of building a professional identity centred around communication that leads to better financial opportunities.  This episode offers practical guidance for anyone seeking to improve their career path, strengthen their earning potential, and make smarter decisions about their professional future Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

    How to Increase Your Earning Potential: Insights from Recruiter Alison Daley

  8. 12/09/2025

    What It Really Takes to Grow Your Startup Team

    In this episode of Money Made Simple, I sit down with David Reche, Co-Founder of Cercli - the platform that finally puts an end to payroll chaos, scattered employee data, and that “who approved this payment?” moment. The company recently announced a $12 million Series A round, underscoring the scale of the challenge they’re tackling and the confidence investors have in their mission.  David spills the secrets on automating onboarding, offboarding, reimbursements, and global contractor payments all in one place so HR, finance, and ops can actually breathe.  We also get into his entrepreneurial rollercoaster, scaling in MENA, and building products that actually solve real problems. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

    What It Really Takes to Grow Your Startup Team

  9. 11/22/2025

    Introducing: Money Made Simple

    Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

    Introducing: Money Made Simple

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About

Money Made Simple breaks down business and finance in a way anyone can understand. Each episode features experts from diverse industries who’ve made an impact, showing how they think, make decisions, and grow. Real stories, practical insights, no big fancy terms... just inspiration and takeaways you can apply in your career or personal life. Aakash Keswani is a senior finance leader with more than a decade of experience across banking, technology, and media. He has advised banks and financial institutions, overseen multi-million-dollar budgets, and guided companies through high-growth phases with disciplined financial management and helped leadership teams make informed, data-driven decisions. On Money Made Simple, he distills complex financial concepts into clear, practical insights drawn from real-world leadership experience.

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