The Hidden Code

Jigar Sagar
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Most people chase success. Very few understand the code behind it. The Hidden Code by Jigar Sagar is where founders and entrepreneurs reveal how they actually think, decide, and operate. This is not motivation. This is leverage. From mindset to market dynamics, identity to influence; we unpack what really drives outcomes in business. If you’re building in the UAE, you’ll want to stay close to this. Follow to decode the game.

  1. Oct 27

    Financial Coach Charbel Khoury On Why Chasing Money Is The Slowest Way To Get It

    Charbel Khoury, author of Life is Fair and founder of Atlantis Group, on why financial freedom should be built as a system, not chased as a number.​ When Charbel's father died of cancer, he decided he couldn't build a life on a monthly salary. He went into sales, encyclopedias first, then life insurance, and learned what he calls street smart before he ever learned finance. Years later he built Atlantis Group as a therapeutic approach to handling finances: sit people down, ask uncomfortable questions, and find out whether the dream they're still funding is one they actually want anymore.​​ CHAPTERS​ 03:08 What his mother taught him about being a father​ 04:32 Why the UAE has a place in his heart​ 05:32 There are no gifts in good times​ 07:02 Losing his father and walking away from a salary​ 07:25 Selling encyclopedias and life insurance​ 08:50 From street smart to financial coaching​ 09:40 Atlantis and the therapeutic approach to money​ 10:10 Is the dream you're funding already obsolete?​ 13:50 Founders should know who to hire​15.40 Downfall of great people​ 16:28 Does money spoil you or amplify you?​ 19:17 Life is Fair: why the belief decides the approach​ 21:45 Contribution, community and compounding returns​ 23:06 Why Abundance?​23:56 Charbel on spiritual tokens​ 26:10 What are you chasing?​ 28:40 Rapid fire round​ 33:33 The three ecosystems: family, career, financial freedom​37:39 The hidden code​ ​ Connect with Charbel Khoury:​ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kcharbel/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/charbelkhouryz/ Life is Fair: https://www.lifeisfairbook.com/ Atlantis Group: https://atlantisgroup.org/ ​ Connect with Jigar Sagar:​https://www.jigarsagar.com/​ ​ THE HIDDEN CODE​ Subscribe: https://www.youtube.com/@TheHiddenCodebyJigarSagar Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/76AD9WFd2bMhWEaKx1u3PW?si=QAze8vDgQmycKmPNM9g7tQ Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-hidden-code/id1894710799 Watch next: https://youtu.be/iPLHk0UWiYs ​ #CharbelKhoury #FinancialFreedom #MoneyMindset #TheHiddenCode #Dubai #JigarSagar​

  2. Oct 13

    LYVELY Founder Farah Zafar on Pivoting, Fear And Starting Over

    Farah Zafar spent her career making other people's impossible deals happen. Then she left law to build Lyvely, even though she isn't a natural entrepreneur.​ She grew up in Surrey, the daughter of immigrant parents, getting  up before dawn to deliver newspapers. Her name means happiness, which she decided early on that it was a responsibility rather than a gift. She became a lawyer succumbing to the expectations of an immigrant family. She became good at it. Good enough to reach the top, and then sit in a Riyadh boardroom during Covid wondering what any of it was for. What she says next is the part most founders won't admit out loud.She could make every impossible dream come true for men in distinguished positions. When she finally tried to do it for herself, the same drive wasn't there.​ This episode is about what she did next. She describes the entrepreneurial journey as an odyssey, and she is blunt about how glamorised it has become: the anxieties nobody posts about, the pivots that feel like failure, and what it actually takes to fight your own vision into existence.​ CHAPTERS​ ​ 02:35 Growing up in Surrey with immigrant parents​ 08:47 Responsibility you impose on yourself and why it beats validation​ 10:23 Wanting to be a fashion designer, becoming a lawyer​ 12:08 Reaching the pinnacle of law and asking what comes next​ 12:43 The Riyadh boardroom moment during Covid​ 13:04 Why leaving corporate is so hard​ 13:35  I am not a natural entrepreneur​ 17:00 Building other people's empires and being forgotten afterwards​ 18:05 Why the drive disappeared when the vision was her own​ 20:56 Entrepreneurship is glamorised and people are frozen by it​ 24:20 Working harder than anyone in the room​ 26:10 How to know when to pull the plug​ 26:55 Lyvely - the vision​ 27:30 Lyvely’s pivot to Africa​ 29:25 Bringing Lyvely to life​ 30:44 What Dubai gave her that nowhere else could​ 31:53 The demographic ceiling for UAE tech founders​ 34:02 Dubai's biggest opportunity​ 34:52 Rapid fire round​ 39:54 The hidden code​ ​ CONNECT WITH FARAH ZAFAR​ LinkedIn — https://www.linkedin.com/in/farahzafarceo/​ Instagram — https://www.instagram.com/rockstartechceo_fz/ Lyvely — ​https://get.lyvely.com/ ​ THE HIDDEN CODE​ Subscribe — https://www.youtube.com/@TheHiddenCodebyJigarSagar Spotify — https://open.spotify.com/show/76AD9WFd2bMhWEaKx1u3PW?si=QAze8vDgQmycKmPNM9g7tQ Apple Podcasts — https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-hidden-code/id1894710799 Watch next — https://youtu.be/gBBHLLpT-Yk Jigar Sagar — https://www.jigarsagar.com/​ ​ #FarahZafar #Lyvely #Entrepreneurship #WomenInLeadership#Dubai #TheHiddenCode​

  3. Sep 29

    Emirati Real Estate Entrepreneur Rashid Al Musallam on the Recipe for Success in Dubai

    FROM 3,000 DIRHAMS TO HIS OWN REAL ESTATE BUSINESS​ People often assume they already know Rashid Al Musallam's story. Born in Dubai. Emirati. Successful entrepreneur. To many, that sounds like a life where every opportunity was guaranteed. The reality couldn't be more different.​​ In this episode of The Hidden Code, I sit down with entrepreneur, investor and one of Dubai's leading off-plan real estate advisors, Rashid Al Musallam. What struck me most about this conversation wasn't how he challenged the misconceptions people have about Emiratis. It was how deeply he believes that reputation, integrity and hard work matter far more than where you were born.​ ​ Rashid openly speaks about the assumptions people make before they've even met him. From believing every Emirati is wealthy to assuming success comes without sacrifice, he shares the realities behind the stereotypes, including moments when he had just AED 3,000 in his bank account and the restaurant investment that lost him everything. ​ ​ What became clear throughout our conversation is that opportunity may open a door, but your character determines whether people invite you back.​ ​ We discussed:​ The biggest misconceptions people have about Emiratis and life in Dubai.​ Why reputation, ethics and trust are worth more than any business deal.​ He would  rather lose a client than convince someone into a deal that isn't right for them.​ How Dubai's leadership has built a culture centred around opportunity, entrepreneurship and safety.​ Why One Phone Call Real Estate.​ The future of Dubai, AI and the next generation of Emirati entrepreneurs. ​ If you've ever wondered what really lies behind the success stories coming out of Dubai, this conversation will challenge the assumptions you didn't even realise you had.​ ​ Connect with Rashid Al Musallam:​https://www.instagram.com/rsm30/ ​ Connect with Jigar Sagar:​https://www.jigarsagar.com/​ ​ Listen to The Hidden Code on:​Spotify​Apple Podcasts​YouTube​ ​ #RashidAlMusallam #Dubai #Entrepreneurship #Leadership #RealEstate #TheHiddenCode #JigarSagar​

  4. Sep 15

    Media Entrepreneur Reim El Houni On Why Visibility Is the New Currency

    Before she became one of the Middle East's leading storytellers, Reim El Houni was already creating opportunities where none existed. She emailed everyone she could at the BBC to land an internship. On her final day, she knocked on doors across every department looking for her next opportunity. Years later, she reached out across Media City and received multiple job offers. She even found her way onto the production of Mission Impossible by simply starting a conversation over dinner. Most people wait for the right opportunity. Reim has spent her career creating it.​ ​ In this episode of The Hidden Code, I sit down with media entrepreneur, Founder & CEO of Ti22 Films, Reim El Houni. What struck me most was her willingness to do what most people wouldn't. Throughout her career, she has consistently challenged conventional thinking, often being told she was too early, too ambitious or simply crazy. Yet those very decisions became the foundation of everything she has built.​ ​ Coming from a family of professionals rather than entrepreneurs, Reim had to learn business from the ground up. She shares what it took to make that transition, why she believes "no" should never be the final answer, and why visibility is far more than self-promotion. She calls it a deliberate, data-driven strategy for creating opportunity.​ ​ We discuss:​ Why creating your own opportunities is more powerful than waiting for the right one.​ The mindset that helped Reim transition from employee to entrepreneur.​ Why being "too early" can be just as challenging as being wrong.​ How failure and uncertainty became some of her greatest teachers.​ Why visibility is a strategic advantage, not an act of self-promotion.​ The thinking behind Mission Visible and why every person has a story worth telling.​ How AI is changing communication and why human stories will matter more than ever.​ ​ If you've ever felt like you're waiting for the right break, this conversation will change the way you think about luck, opportunity and building a career on your own terms.​ ​ Connect with Reim El Houni:​ ​ Connect with Jigar Sagar:​https://www.jigarsagar.com/​ ​ Listen to The Hidden Code on:​Spotify​Apple Podcasts​YouTube​ ​ #ReimElHouni #Entrepreneurship #Storytelling #PersonalBranding #Leadership #MissionVisible #TheHiddenCode #JigarSagar​

  5. Aug 25

    His Trauma Became His Superpower. Meet Dave Crane.

    Growing up, Dave Crane learned to read a room before he ever learned to command one. ​ ​ What started as childhood trauma eventually became what he calls "traumatic intelligence", the ability to understand people, communicate with them, and build trust in almost any room he walked into. It became the foundation of a career that has spanned across broadcasting, entrepreneurship, global events, thought leadership, and personal branding.​ ​ In this episode of The Hidden Code, I sit down with entrepreneur, speaker and communication strategist Dave Crane. What struck me most about this conversation was the way he sees the world. While we discussed a range of topics like trauma, entrepreneurship, Dubai, AI and networking, every conversation with him came back to one fundamental question: Who do you need to become before you can build the life you're chasing?​ ​ Dave has built businesses, launched ideas that changed Dubai's hospitality industry, coached global leaders. More than anything, he is someone who has reinvented himself in this space, from time to time. He recognizes that the people who thrive are the ones who continue evolving.​ ​ We discuss:​ How childhood trauma became Dave's greatest communication superpower. ​ Why leaving the UK for Dubai completely changed the trajectory of his life​ What made Dubai a “safe space”.​ The mindset that helped him rebuild after the events industry came to a standstill during the pandemic.​ Why networking, personal branding and communication create opportunities long before business plans do.​ How Dave discovered “Max” who unlocked the version of himself that could negotiate and lead like a business owner.​ What will be the competitive edge in the age of AI.​ ​ If you've ever wondered whether becoming more of yourself is the real key to success, this conversation will change the way you think about reinventing yourself and building a life full of purpose. ​ ​ Connect with Dave Crane:​ https://www.bookdavecrane.com/​ ​ Connect with Jigar Sagar:​ https://www.jigarsagar.com/ ​ ​ Listen to The Hidden Code on:​ Spotify​ Apple Podcasts​ YouTube​ ​ #DaveCrane #Entrepreneurship #PersonalBranding #Communication #Dubai #Leadership #AI #TheHiddenCode #JigarSagar​

  6. Aug 11

    He Lost £45 Million In 90 Days. Then Built It All Again.

    If you asked Matt Haycox in June 2008 how life was going, he would have told you: “everything was tickety-boo”. Just months after, the business empire he’d spent years building was gone. His credit score had gone from 999 to being bankrupt and living in a rented house. Most people never recover from losing everything. Matt did.​ ​ In this episode of The Hidden Code, I sit down with entrepreneur, investor and lender Matt Haycox, to talk about what really happens when success disappears and why rebuilding is an entirely different skill from building. What’s even more striking is that Matt didn’t recoil from his loss. He became even more daring and started taking bigger bets after losing it all. He is now a successful investor and lender who has funded businesses worth nearly £1 billion.​ ​ Matt has experienced entrepreneurship from both sides of the table, as someone who needed capital and as someone who now provides it. He has experienced the highest highs and the lowest lows, giving him a depth of insight only a few entrepreneurs possess. ​ ​ We talked about:​ Why some entrepreneurs rebuild stronger after failure, while others never recover.​ How to elevate your chances of risk in business into valuable opportunities. ​ The hidden differences between entrepreneurs who rebuild and those who never do. ​ Why Dubai is one of the best places in the world to build a business and where does it still fall short​ How can Dubai address gaps in business financing for small scale businesses and entrepreneurs. ​ Why networking matters in business than the idea itself. ​ ​ If you are building a business or even trying to rebuild one, this conversation will change the way you think about risk, money and losses. ​ ​ Connect with Matt Haycox:​ https://matt-haycox.com/​ Connect with Jigar Sagar:​ https://www.jigarsagar.com/ ​ ​ Listen to The Hidden Code on:​ Spotify​ Apple Podcasts​ YouTube​ ​ #MattHaycox #Entrepreneurship #Business #Dubai #BusinessGrowth #Fundraising #Leadership #TheHiddenCode #JigarSagar

  7. Jul 28

    The Game The Rich Play With Assets ft. Scott Thiel

    ​ Most people will never be a homeowner. For most people, the barrier was never themoney. It was access. For decades, wealth has been about more than how much youearn. It has been about who gets a seat at the table and who quietly stays locked out.​ ​ In this episode of The Hidden Code, I sit down with Scott Thiel, co-founder and CEO ofTokinvest, a VARA-regulated platform in Dubai, to get into how tokenising real-worldassets is rewriting the rules of ownership.​ ​ What we cover:​ What tokenisation really means beyond the crypto hype, the NFTs and coingambling.​ Own a slice of UK rental property from about AED 100.​ How Dubai's regulations are opening products once reserved for the rich.​ Real-world assets already moving onto blockchain: property, farmland, art, andmore.​ How everyday investors can finally play the wealth game of assets and yield.​ ​ If you have ever wondered why leaving your cash in the bank quietly makes you poorer,or how Dubai became a testing ground for regulated Web3 finance, this one will changehow you think about money and ownership.​ ​ Connect with Scott Thiel: https://ae.linkedin.com/in/scott-thiel-9961bb6​ Tokinvest: https://tokinvest.capital/​ Connect with Jigar Sagar: https://www.jigarsagar.com/​ ​ Listen to The Hidden Code on:​ Spotify​ Apple Podcasts​ YouTube​ ​ #Tokenization #RealWorldAssets #Dubai #WealthBuilding #Web3 #JigarSagar#ScottThiel

  8. Jul 14

    Can You Really Measure Creativity? ft. Jaimesha Patel

    A lot of CEOs are sure their problem is marketing. The real problem is that they can'tread what their market is telling them, so they keep reacting to it instead ofunderstanding it.​ ​ In this episode of The Hidden Code, I sit down with Jaimesha Patel, CEO of Creo Global,a data-led creative agency built on one uncomfortable idea: that even creativity shouldbe measurable. We get into why spending more rarely fixes growth, and whyinterpretation, not execution, is the part most businesses are missing.​ ​ What we cover:​ Why most CEOs misread their market and blame their marketing instead.​ The reality problem: busy teams, endless campaigns, and no clear signal on whatis actually working.​ How Jaimesha went from Sundays in her dad’s pharmacy in the UK to running afast-growing marketing agency in the UAE.​ Balancing creative instinct with hard data, and what to do when the numbersdisagree with your ego.​ How AI is reshaping creative and agency work, and why human judgment mattersmore now.​ When to walk away from a client who wants validation instead of the truth.​ If you are a founder, a CMO, or an agency leader who feels like you are doing more butlearning less, this one will challenge how you think about growth and the stories you tellyourself about your market.​ Connect with Jaimesha Patel: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jaimesha-patelCreo Global: https://creoglobal.co/Connect with Jigar Sagar: https://www.jigarsagar.com/ Listen to The Hidden Code on: ​ Spotify ​ Apple Podcasts​ YouTube​ #Marketing #DataDriven #UAE #Dubai #Founders #Creativity #AI #CreoGlobal#JaimeshaPatel #JigarSagar

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About

Most people chase success. Very few understand the code behind it. The Hidden Code by Jigar Sagar is where founders and entrepreneurs reveal how they actually think, decide, and operate. This is not motivation. This is leverage. From mindset to market dynamics, identity to influence; we unpack what really drives outcomes in business. If you’re building in the UAE, you’ll want to stay close to this. Follow to decode the game.

Information

  • Creator
    Jigar Sagar
  • Years Active
    2026
  • Episodes
    14
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Jigar Sagar
  • Show Website
    The Hidden Code