My First Business Naeem Parvez. Entrepreneur, Investor, Podcaster.

Join me in this inspiring episode as Rajesh Sajnani, the Founder and CEO of the RVS Group, shares his remarkable journey from a young entrepreneur to a visionary leader in the fashion and technology industries. ⚙️



Discover how Rajesh founded the RVS Group at the age of 19 in 1989 and grew it into a thriving enterprise with four subsidiaries, including Rajesh Trading Co. LLC, Si Fashion Galerie, The Studio, and the innovative ecommerce platform, Olyoly.com. Rajesh's ventures extends beyond fashion, as he delves into the technology space with Cloudhost Technology, recognized as the Best Innovative Cloud service provider in the SME segment. 💼



In this captivating conversation, Rajesh reflects on his entrepreneurial experiences and offers valuable insights into various topics, including:



00:00 ▶️ Introduction

06:51 🤗 Taking risks and embracing change (like jumping off a ship without knowing how to swim)

12:52 👗 The evolution of the Dubai fashion landscape

14:28 🌐 Building a strong ecosystem in the global fashion industry

32:47 💭 Insights into his latest venture, #8, a brand incubator business

41:47 📈 Identifying market gaps and competing on value

01:16:51 🤔 Balancing business innovation with personal reflection

01:32:34 ✍️ Rapid 30-day brand launches and business conceptualization in hospital rooms and more!





Tune in to gain valuable perspectives from Rajesh as he shares his entrepreneurial wisdom and passion for creating innovative solutions. Learn how he navigates challenges, embraces opportunities, and remains committed to driving positive change in the fashion and technology sectors. 💻



And for someone who’s a serial entrepreneur, I haven’t met a humbler human being who doesn’t pretend to be perfect - in fact, sometimes he doesn’t even think of himself as an entrepreneur. 🙂



I hope you enjoy this one as much as I did! 🎙️



--

This episode is brought to you by Entrepreneur’s Organization – Dubai.



The organization also offers a mentorship program that pairs members with experienced business leaders who can provide guidance and support as they grow their businesses.



So if you are a business owner, tired of taking on your challenges all alone and are looking for unique networking opportunities along with structured support through accountability groups and mentors, this community is for you.



To learn more on how to become a member, visit https://eodubai.com/ or reach out to EO Dubai Administrator adminsupport@eodubai.com.



Details about the EO membership:
https://eodubai.com/member-benefits-new/apply-for-membership-new/



Where to find the podcast:

▶️ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCjrbr87_ZSPICaDoTcCebyw

🎙 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6B5JdkAWrGSd927rZquJz7?si=4802c936a51f418c⁠

🎙 Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/my-first-business-with-naeem-parvez/id1615535576

🎙 Google Podcast: https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9mZWVkcy5idXp6c3Byb3V0LmNvbS8xOTE1MjA1LnJzcw?sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjk_8SnuPD5AhUBGRoKHZ-DAxMQ9sEGegQIARAC



Where to find Rajesh:

💼 ⁠LinkedIn⁠: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rajesh-sajnani/

📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rvsrajesh/

📸 ⁠Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rajesh.sajnani.9

🌐 ⁠Business Website(s): https://rvsgroup.ae/, https://cloudhost.ae/, https://si-fashion.com/



Where to find me:

📸 IG: http://www.instagram.com/the.naeem.parvez⁠

📸 IG: http://www.instagram.com/myfirstbusinesspodcast

💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nparvez⁠

🖥 Website: https://www.nparvez.com



My First Business is a podcast based in Dubai, hosted by Naeem Parvez. In each episode, Naeem (co-founder of Digitalina) interviews successful, but under-the-radar entrepreneurs in the city. The guests share valuable lessons they've learned on their entrepreneurial journeys, making each episode

Say hello to Shilpa, the heart and soul behind Apex Clinics Group, co-founded with her life partner, Ajoy. For the past seven years, they've been nurturing a space where dental care goes hand in hand with community warmth. 🤝

At Apex, it's all about offering comprehensive dental care—or as Shilpa likes to call it, "Community Friendly Dental Care." This isn't just a slogan; it's a family affair, with their young son playing a significant role in the clinic's day-to-day life. They're not just talking about community values; they're living them.

Shilpa's journey to this point is both diverse and rich. Armed with an MBA and a degree in Microbiology, she has a solid background in marketing, with more than a decade of experience across various fields like Telecom and Airlines. This eclectic mix of knowledge and experience has shaped her into a leader who sees beyond the balance sheet. 📝

But here's what truly makes Shilpa stand out: she's more than just a successful entrepreneur. She's someone who believes in the power of kindness and community. In a world where business can often be about the 'survival of the fittest,' Shilpa chooses a path less traveled. She's proof that success can be achieved by putting people and values first, making her business a platform for fostering community connections rather than just chasing profits. 💰



In this episode, Shilpa and I discussed:

00:00 ▶️ Introduction

08:28 🌟 The challenges of finding your IKIGAI

12:17 🤔 Knowing the right time to start your business

16:12 👨‍👩‍👦 Working with your spouse and kids in business

27:49 🗣 How communication can make or break you

43:52 🤝 Having long standing employees and keeping them

52:19 👭 Why community is a part of her USP

1:02:12 🫣 Taking on the right level of risk

1:12:06 🤗 The best way to use an accountability group

1:40:44 💼 The consequences of wanting to grow the business and much much more!



Dive into the heart of entrepreneurship and partnership in this episode. Explore the concept of Ikigai—your reason for being—and how it shapes your business journey, especially when working with your spouse.

Expect insights on growth, purpose, and the unique dynamics of sharing your professional and personal life with your partner. 💑

Loved putting this together and hope it inspires you. Share with those chasing dreams and making things happen! ✨




--

This episode is brought to you by ⁠Entrepreneur’s Organization – Dubai.⁠



The organization also offers a mentorship program that pairs members with experienced business leaders who can provide guidance and support as they grow their businesses.



So if you are a business owner, tired of taking on your challenges all alone and are looking for unique networking opportunities along with structured support through accountability groups and mentors, this community is for you.



To learn more on how to become a member, visit ⁠https://eodubai.com/⁠ or reach out to EO Dubai Administrator ⁠adminsupport@eodubai.com⁠.



Details about the EO membership:
⁠https://eodubai.com/member-benefits-new/apply-for-membership-new/



Where to find the podcast:
▶️ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCjrbr87_ZSPICaDoTcCebyw
🎙 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6B5JdkAWrGSd927rZquJz7?si=4802c936a51f418c⁠
🎙 Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/my-first-business-with-naeem-parvez/id1615535576
🎙 Google Podcast: https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9mZWVkcy5idXp6c3Byb3V0LmNvbS8xOTE1MjA1LnJzcw?sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjk_8SnuPD5AhUBGRoKHZ-DAxMQ9sEGegQIARAC



Where to find Shilpa:
💼 ⁠LinkedIn⁠: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shilpa-kane-a4608830/
📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sh_kane
📸 ⁠Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ShilpaKane
📸 ⁠Business Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/apexclinics/
🌐 ⁠Business Website: https://www.apexmedic

“You will at some point fall out of love with your business.” 😵


Welcome back to the My First Business Podcast - this is a mini-episode, where I take some the best parts of my interviews with phenomenal entrepreneurs and chop it up for you like a snack. 😋



In this bite sized version, you’ll be hearing from Rishi Kohli, Serial Entrepreneur, and CEO and Co-Founder of FIKA Mobility.🏍️



Hear from Rishi as he unveils firsthand experience being part of EO and the transformative power of being in the EO forum. He also highlights the invaluable peer-to-peer conversations, access to unique insights, and the sense of community that EO fosters. Discover the benefits of having a dedicated space for entrepreneurs to share, learn, and grow together!✨



This mini episode concludes with a powerful reflection on the essence of happiness over mere comfort in the entrepreneurial journey.



If you like this snack-sized version, be sure to check out the full episode with Rishi Kohli on YouTube or Spotify or Apple, and oh, why haven’t you subscribed yet? 👀



Chapters:
00:00 Introduction
01:20 Impact of EO in life and business
08:58 Falling out of love with the business



Link to Rishi's Full Episode Interview: https://youtu.be/HTWwUzuDZ6g
—



Where to find the podcast:
▶️ YouTube⁠⁠⁠: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCjrbr87_ZSPICaDoTcCebyw
🎙 Spotify⁠⁠: https://open.spotify.com/show/6B5JdkAWrGSd927rZquJz7?si=4802c936a51f418c
🎙 ⁠⁠⁠Apple Podcasts⁠⁠⁠: https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/my-first-business-with-naeem-parvez/id1615535576
🎙 ⁠⁠Google Podcast⁠⁠⁠: https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9mZWVkcy5idXp6c3Byb3V0LmNvbS8xOTE1MjA1LnJzcw?sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjk_8SnuPD5AhUBGRoKHZ-DAxMQ9sEGegQIARAC



Where to find Rishi:
💼 LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rishi-kohli-56abb423/
📸 ⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠: https://www.instagram.com/rishikohli1
🌐 Business Website - https://fikamobility.com/, https://lemelighting.com/, https://www.waterwise.ae/



Where to find me:
📸 IG: http://www.instagram.com/the.naeem.parvez
📸 IG: http://www.instagram.com/myfirstbusinesspodcast
💼 ⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nparvez
🖥 Website: https://www.nparvez.com/



My First Business is a podcast based in Dubai, hosted by Naeem Parvez. In each episode, Naeem (co-founder of Digitalina) interviews successful, but under-the-radar entrepreneurs in the city. The guests share valuable lessons they've learned on their entrepreneurial journeys, making each episode feel like a conversation with a mentor you never had.



Love From My First Business, a Dubai Podcast.

“Your own self-belief is your investment.”



What I loved about Divakar the most is that I can safely say, he is on another level. His feet are firmly planted on the ground, yet his brain processes things from the view of a satellite orbiting the earth.



In 2007, Divakar was an esteemed banker and had one of the best jobs in India - but he felt his curiosity draining every single day. He felt like the walls of knowledge were closing on him. He couldn’t stand having his thoughts constrained by artificial barriers.



The banker turned ex-banker, and founded DVS Advisory group, which designs tax structures for entrepreneurs, SMEs & funded startups to enter India, expand globally from India or exit India, with zero penalties & 100% clarity.



Divakar uses his business as his laboratory: he uses it to ideate, experiment, and build new products, services and models.



You’ve probably seen him around - he’s a Forbes Advisor, has over 500 media publications and quotes and is also author of 15+ books on Direct & International Taxation.



In this captivating conversation, Divakar and I dive deep into the concept of thought capitalism – a revolutionary approach to understanding and navigating the complexities of the modern economic landscape.


We also explored other topics like:

00:00 ▶️ Introduction
06:14 🤔 Two kinds of capitalism: thought capitalism and currency based capitalism
12:43 ✨ Difference between perceived and actual reality
16:20 🧾 How to predict a country’s tax laws by just observing their traffic jams
32:29 🇮🇳 Why everyone should pay attention in India
1:00:02 👛 Enlarging your psychological wallet
1:03:22⚡ How energy is currency
1:05:25 ✍️ The compounding effect of intention
1:08:50 💭 Why poverty is possibly just a state of mind
1:21:24👫🏽 Working with your spouse
1:33:13 1️⃣ Keeping the main thing, the main thing and much, much more!




I can safely say, this was a life altering podcast for me. I had goosebumps throughout the conversation, and a few awakening moments as I listened to it again, and I think it will happen to you as well.



From discussing India's rise as a global economic powerhouse to exploring the opportunities and challenges facing entrepreneurs in the country, this episode is packed with invaluable wisdom and perspective. 🚀🌍



--

This episode is brought to you by ⁠Entrepreneur’s Organization – Dubai.⁠



The organization also offers a mentorship program that pairs members with experienced business leaders who can provide guidance and support as they grow their businesses.



So if you are a business owner, tired of taking on your challenges all alone and are looking for unique networking opportunities along with structured support through accountability groups and mentors, this community is for you.



To learn more on how to become a member, visit ⁠https://eodubai.com/⁠ or reach out to EO Dubai Administrator ⁠adminsupport@eodubai.com⁠.



Details about the EO membership:
⁠https://eodubai.com/member-benefits-new/apply-for-membership-new/
--



Where to find the podcast:
▶️ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@UCjrbr87_ZSPICaDoTcCebyw
🎙 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6B5JdkAWrGSd927rZquJz7?si=4802c936a51f418c⁠
🎙 Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/my-first-business-with-naeem-parvez/id1615535576
🎙 Google Podcast: https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9mZWVkcy5idXp6c3Byb3V0LmNvbS8xOTE1MjA1LnJzcw?sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjk_8SnuPD5AhUBGRoKHZ-DAxMQ9sEGegQIARAC



Where to find Divakar:
💼 Personal LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/divakarvijayasarathy/
💼 Business LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/dvs-advisors/
🌐 Business Website: https://onedvs.com/



Where to find me:
📸 IG: http://www.instagram.com/the.naeem.parvez⁠
📸 IG: http://www.instagram.com/myfirstbusinesspodcast
💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/

“Will you always have a perfect product? No, probably not. Because you're always iterating, you're always wanting to improve. Why? Because your customer wants something better. You always have to listen to your customer.” 😌

Welcome back to the My First Business Podcast - this is a mini-episode, where I take some the best parts of my interviews with phenomenal entrepreneurs and chop it up for you like a snack. 😋

In this bite sized version, you’ll be hearing from Rishi Kohli, Serial Entrepreneur, and CEO and Co-Founder of FIKA Mobility.

Rishi discusses the significance of customer feedback, and the pitfalls of shortcuts when building products. He also emphasizes the art of perfecting products, cautioning against the perils of copying competitors. Learn how FIKA embraced the mantra of staying true to core strengths. 💪

This mini-episode is a distilled dose of entrepreneurial wisdom, reminding us all of the timeless principles that drive business excellence.

If you like this snack-sized version, be sure to check out the full episode with Rishi Kohli on YouTube or Spotify or Apple, and oh, why haven’t you subscribed yet? 👀

Chapters:
00:00 Introduction
00:37 Move fast, break things philosophy
01:15 Customer’s safety first
02:47 Advantage of taking your time
04:25 Short-term thinking
05:42 Keeping an eye on competitors

Link to Rishi's Full Episode Interview: https://youtu.be/HTWwUzuDZ6g
—

Where to find the podcast:
▶️ YouTube⁠⁠⁠: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCjrbr87_ZSPICaDoTcCebyw
🎙 Spotify⁠⁠: https://open.spotify.com/show/6B5JdkAWrGSd927rZquJz7?si=4802c936a51f418c
🎙 ⁠⁠⁠Apple Podcasts⁠⁠⁠: https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/my-first-business-with-naeem-parvez/id1615535576
🎙 ⁠⁠Google Podcast⁠⁠⁠: https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9mZWVkcy5idXp6c3Byb3V0LmNvbS8xOTE1MjA1LnJzcw?sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjk_8SnuPD5AhUBGRoKHZ-DAxMQ9sEGegQIARAC

Where to find Rishi:
💼 LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rishi-kohli-56abb423/
📸 ⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠: https://www.instagram.com/rishikohli1
🌐 Business Website - https://fikamobility.com/, https://lemelighting.com/, https://www.waterwise.ae/

Where to find me:
📸 IG: http://www.instagram.com/the.naeem.parvez
📸 IG: http://www.instagram.com/myfirstbusinesspodcast
💼 ⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nparvez
🖥 Website: https://www.nparvez.com/

My First Business is a podcast based in Dubai, hosted by Naeem Parvez. In each episode, Naeem (co-founder of Digitalina) interviews successful, but under-the-radar entrepreneurs in the city. The guests share valuable lessons they've learned on their entrepreneurial journeys, making each episode feel like a conversation with a mentor you never had.

Love From My First Business, a Dubai Podcast.

What drives you to continue building and growing the business? What’s your calling? 🤗



Meet Nishan, CEO and Revenue Head of Bluestream, a design + manufacturing company based in Dubai, where he’s dedicated to creating and enhancing products and services that promote sustainable urban development. 🍃



He says it’s his calling to do so. 🫡



Nishan's narrative is one of personal conviction—a journey woven with threads of legacy, resilience, and unyielding determination. As a steward of his father's vision, he has not only steered Bluestream's trajectory but has sculpted it into a beacon of progress and ingenuity.



If you live in Dubai, you must have sat on one of their many park benches for sure, and hung out in the many public spaces they’ve built that we take for granted. 🪑



A biomedical engineer by education, Nishan has over 17 years of experience in Bluestream following in his father's footsteps - who founded the company. As a focused re-founder, he has been able to grow the company from 3 member trading organization to a full-fledged design and production facility now in Jebel Ali. 🏢



Nishan is also a member of the Entrepreneur's Organization and was a Founding Member of Vistage Worldwide Inc’s Dubai Chapter.



In this episode, here’s what Nishan and I talked about:

✍️ 10:41 Learnings from biographies of successful people

🏇 15:58 Takeaways from the movie “Seabiscuit”

🌟 22:49 Finding your North Star and your calling

😓 31:50 Failures while scaling a business

🤝 37:03 Advice on hiring senior executives

👨 48:11 How Jeff Bezos uses the ‘Regret Minimization Framework’

🎩 1:02:57 Manage time while wearing ALL the possible hats

💵 1:41:26 The mind-blowing take on the psychology behind pricing

🤔 1:50:21 What pathological obsession means to him and much, much more!



What I loved about Nishan the most is that not only is he a book nerd like me, but he’s got this uncanny ability to reference what he’s read and apply it to all the conversations we were having.



Nishan is one of the smartest dudes that’s come on the show, he’s a life long learner and has a pathological obsession with the truth & an obsession with optimism - and that’s exactly who is this podcast is for. 🎧



This conversation is fast paced, I think it’s just the nature of how quick Nishan thinks while maintaining serious depth in the topics that we explored - this will be an absolute treat for your ears. I hope you enjoy this episode as much as I did. 🌟



--

This episode is brought to you by ⁠Entrepreneur’s Organization – Dubai.⁠



The organization also offers a mentorship program that pairs members with experienced business leaders who can provide guidance and support as they grow their businesses.



So if you are a business owner, tired of taking on your challenges all alone and are looking for unique networking opportunities along with structured support through accountability groups and mentors, this community is for you.



To learn more on how to become a member, visit ⁠https://eodubai.com/⁠ or reach out to EO Dubai Administrator ⁠adminsupport@eodubai.com⁠.



Details about the EO membership:
⁠https://eodubai.com/member-benefits-new/apply-for-membership-new/
--




Where to find the podcast:▶️ ⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠🎙 ⁠⁠Spotify⁠⁠🎙 ⁠⁠Apple Podcasts⁠⁠🎙 ⁠⁠Google Podcast⁠⁠



Where to find Nishan:💼 Personal LinkedIn 🐤 Personal Twitter🌐 Business Website📷 Business Instagram💼 Business Facebook▶️ Business YouTube🐤 Business Twitter

Where to find me:📸 Podcast IG: ⁠⁠@myfirstbusinesspodcast⁠⁠📸 Personal IG: @the.naeem.parvez💼 ⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠