Making Things Happen Hanisha Lalwani

I'm excited to introduce to you my next guest, Asim Burney, a multi-hyphenate. He's the Founder and Managing Director of Digital Age Research, a London-based market research company with a client portfolio including brands like BBC, Microsoft and Nestle. As a South Asian with roots in Pakistan and Europe, Asim's lived experiences and passion for inclusivity have him to launch his second venture - Qulture Qanvas, a new agency specializing in the research of ethnic minorities.

My conversation with Asim begins by exploring his upbringing in Belgium, his experience working across Europe, and then flows into how he bid adieu to his stable job to shape his love for research into an entrepreneurial adventure. We also talk about the cost of underinvesting in learning about your market and understand Asim's art of selling, and selling well.

But like I said before, Asim is a multi-hyphenate, what with millions of listeners of his popular show 'Khadaan - The Bollywood Podcast'. It's a nostalgic deep-dive of the movies of the three famous Khan actors: Amir, Shah Rukh and Salman. It's how I came to know Asim. He tells me about the interesting genesis of his podcast and how his decade's worth of podcasting experience has helped him become a stronger communicator, a critical skill in running his two companies.

So, I'll leave you to enjoy my chat with Asim, a clear ace at... making things happen.
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Follow Asim's work here: Qulture Qanvas | Digital Age Research
Khandaan - A Bollywood Podcast (Apple | Instagram | Patreon)

Would you like to meet a no-nonsense HR leader? Let me introduce you to Agni Skafidas.

Agni is an HR director with 20 years of experience and a 'roll-up your sleeves' and 'get things done' mindset. It's what I love about her, and why I wanted to interview her on my podcast.

Currently the People Director for two German companies by Tinsa, a Spanish real estate firm, Agni has formerly worked in HR roles with brands such as Delivery Hero, Olam Group, Emirates and Rockwell Collins.

With experience leading high performing teams across Europe, U.S., UK and the Middle East, she brings a holistic and sustainable approach to her function.

Apart from having been a part time lecturer in Germany and the UAE, Agni is also an executive coach and is currently mastering her woodworking craft.

Let's listen to how she makes (so many) things happen!

A university lecturer, podcast host, digital magazine curator, saxophone player and entrepreneur, you want to hear Steve’s advice on how he goes about making things happen.

Steve (Stephen King) is the professor I never had but wish I did. He's a Senior Lecturer at the Middlesex University
Dubai where he is the academic lead on the BA (Hon) Advertising, PR and Branding programme.

After almost a decade working in the PR industry, he landed a teaching job at the University, and thank God for that, for Steve is a wonderful professor making the learning experience for his students engaging and impactful. He has coached many of his students to victory
at industry awards and competitions and has also undertaken a study to propagate how awards can be integrated into the course curriculum.

Steve is a constant learner, so of course A.I. piqued his curiosity, so much so, that he did an interesting experiment which culminated into a research report. And somewhere between working, learning, doing and playing, Steve and his partner have launched their new business venture based on inclusion. Here's hoping you enjoy watching and learning from this interesting and fun episode.

If you have a growth mindset, want to develop your conviction, or simply want to hear people's journeys as they make things happen, this podcast is for you.

I'm Hanisha Lalwani, creator and host of this podcast. There's obviously a reason it's called 'Making Things Happen' - I resonate strongly with this phrase. I am all about making things happen - it could be bringing ideas to life, doing the small things towards achieving the big things, or even turning tough situations into opportunities.  

My podcast is for everyone, but particularly for students, graduates, and mid-career professionals from different industries who'd be interested to hear my conversations with inspiring people I know, people who've...made things happen...in life and at work.

In my very first episode, I speak to Alex Malouf, a prolific PR and communications leader in the Middle East and Africa region. His most recent role was Executive Director shaping the communications strategy for Ceer, Saudi Arabia's first electric vehicle brand.

With two decades of experience, a growing list of certifications, and board memberships, Alex is known for sparking discussions, pushing boundaries and moving the comms industry towards excellence.

In my interview, you'll hear him talk about how his eclectic mix of degrees (Arabic, Middle Eastern Politics, Computation and Marketing), family background and education have informed his career choices. You'll learn about his move from journalism to PR, his impressive multilingual skills, his approach to handling challenges and his trick to getting networking right. Plus, he makes a very strong case for why the industry's professionals must pursue PR certifications.