Savvy Talk
Savvy Talk

Savvy Talk

Maha Abouelenein

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Episodes

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Savvy Talk is your backstage pass to the stories, strategies, and secrets of the people behind the world’s most compelling brands. Each episode dives deep into the journeys of entrepreneurs, innovators, and leaders who’ve built brands that captivate, inspire, and make an impact. Plus, hear from expert communications specialist Maha Abouelenein as she shares invaluable tips, tricks, and real-world examples of what works when building a personal brand. Learn how to define your unique value, amplify your voice, and create a brand that resonates authentically with your audience. Whether you’re an entrepreneur, a brand enthusiast, or simply someone looking to build a standout personal brand, Savvy Talks offers inspiration and actionable insights to fuel your journey. Tune in to Savvy Talk—where savvy minds meet bold brands.

Recent Episodes

Turning Pain into Purpose, with Loren Ridinger
FEB 12, 2025
Turning Pain into Purpose, with Loren Ridinger
In this episode, I sit down with Loren Ridinger—a powerhouse entrepreneur, motivational speaker, and co-founder of Market America. Loren and her husband, JR Ridinger, built a global empire, empowering thousands of entrepreneurs to achieve financial independence. But when she lost JR after 36 years of partnership and marriage, she faced an unimaginable challenge: how to turn grief into purpose. We dive into: The love story behind her new book, Scrambled or Sunny-Side Up? Living Your Best Life After Losing Your Greatest Love How she found strength and confidence again after loss The leadership lessons she learned while building (and continuing) her empire The power of vulnerability and why showing up—even when you're not sure how—is everything Why personal branding, reputation, and resilience matter now more than ever This episode is filled with raw emotion, life-changing insights, and powerful takeaways on love, loss, leadership, and reinvention. Loren's story is a masterclass in resilience—and whether you're navigating personal challenges or looking to redefine your future, this conversation will inspire you to show up for yourself, no matter what. 🎧 Tune in now and let us know your biggest takeaway! 📖 Grab Loren’s book here: Scrambled or Sunny-Side Up?  About Loren Ridinger: Loren Ridinger is the co-founder of Market America and SHOP.COM, a global entrepreneur, motivational speaker, and advocate for financial independence. Her company has paid out over $6 billion to independent entrepreneurs worldwide. Through her work in business, beauty, and self-development, Loren continues to empower and inspire others to step into their fullest potential. 📌 Follow Loren: Instagram: @lorenridinger Website: lorenridinger.com Timestamps: 00:00 - Intro 01:25 - The love story behind Scrambled or Sunny Side Up 06:46 - Navigating grief and rediscovering purpose 12:58 - Leadership, legacy, and resilience 20:35 - The power of showing up even when it’s hard 27:43 - Loren’s biggest lesson on success and reinvention
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36 MIN
Reputation - the single most important thing you have, with Gary Vaynerchuk
JUL 27, 2023
Reputation - the single most important thing you have, with Gary Vaynerchuk
Exciting Summer Surprise! While our podcast is taking a short break for the summer, we've got something special for you. Joining us on this episode is none other than Gary Vaynerchuk for an insightful conversation from Cannes Lions in France in June. We were both on a panel at SRMG Beach, discussing all things culture and tech. Gary delivers his trademark raw and practical knowledge bombs. Get ready for an epic podcast episode! Don`t miss our signature Rapid-fire questions in the end & prepare to be inspired! Let us know your thoughts on Instagram. Your feedback means the world to us! Stay awesome and enjoy your summer while we gear up for the return of Season Eight on Savvy Talk. Happy listening About Gary Vaynerchuk Gary Vaynerchuk is a serial entrepreneur, and serves as the Chairman of VaynerX, the CEO of VaynerMedia and the Creator & CEO of VeeFriends.  Gary is considered one of the leading global minds on what’s next in culture, relevance and the internet. Known as “GaryVee” he is described as one of the most forward thinkers in business – he acutely recognizes trends and patterns early to help others understand how these shifts impact markets and consumer behavior. Whether its emerging artists, esports, NFT investing or digital communications, Gary understands how to bring brand relevance to the forefront. He is a prolific angel investor with early investments in companies such as Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr, Venmo, Snapchat, Coinbase and Uber.  Gary is an entrepreneur at heart — he builds businesses. Today, he helps Fortune 1000 brands leverage consumer attention through his full service advertising agency, VaynerMedia which has offices in NY, LA, London, Mexico City, LATAM and Singapore. VaynerMedia is part of the VaynerX holding company which also includes VaynerProductions, VaynerNFT, Gallery Media Group, The Sasha Group, Tracer, VaynerSpeakers, VaynerTalent, and VaynerCommerce. Gary is also the Co-Founder of VaynerSports, Resy and Empathy Wines. Gary guided both Resy and Empathy to successful exits — both were sold respectively to American Express and Constellation Brands. He’s also a Board Member at Candy Digital, Co-Founder of VCR Group, Co-Founder of ArtOfficial, and Creator & CEO of VeeFriends. Gary was recently named to the Fortune list of the Top 50 Influential people in the NFT industry. In addition to running multiple businesses, Gary documents his life daily as a CEO through his social media channels which has more than 34 million followers and garnishes over 272 million monthly impressions/views across all platforms. His podcast ‘The GaryVee Audio Experience’ ranks among the top podcasts globally. He is a five-time New York Times Best-Selling Author and one of the most highly sought after public speakers.  Gary serves on the board of MikMak, Bojangles Restaurants, and Pencils of Promise. He is also a longtime Well Member of Charity:Water. You can find Gary Vaynerchuk on Instagram and on his website. Timestamps: 0:00 Intro 0:36 Getting Consumer Attention in the Age of Speed and Noise 3:39 What Brands Are Getting Wrong in Shifting Consumer Attention 4:30 Brands Lacking Common Sense in Modern Marketing 5:39 The Key to Being Culturally Relevant: Caring 8:56 Understanding PAC: Platforms and Culture 12:52 What Brands Can Do to Be Culturally Relevant 15:14 The Underappreciated Value of Social Media for Brands 16:25 The Unavoidable Future Impact of Deepfake Videos 24:07 Embracing Evolution 25:14 Rapid-fire section - Word Association Game 26:23 Optimism for the Middle East 26:58 The Broken Concept of Branding 28:20 Media and Creative Under One Roof 33:40 Your brand is your reputation. The single most important thing you have. 36:36 outro
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36 MIN
Show Don't Tell, Feel Don`t Listen, with Lynn Al Khatib
JUN 13, 2023
Show Don't Tell, Feel Don`t Listen, with Lynn Al Khatib
Welcome to Season 7 of Savvy Talk, I am excited to bring you leading voices from those shaping Dubai's cultural scene. Today we are joined by Lynn Al Khatib, Head of Communication at Chalhoub Group, the largest luxury retailer and distributor in the Middle East and North Africa. She has over 15 years of corporate and brand communication experience. Together, we dive into the fascinating world of communication strategies, industry insights, and talk about her journey from a corporate nutritionist to her current role at Chalhoub Group. Whether you're a communication enthusiast, a professional in the field, or simply curious about effective communications, this episode is for you! About Lynn Al Khatib Lynn Al Khatib is the Group Head of Communication at Chalhoub Group, the largest luxury retailer and distributor in the Middle East and North Africa. With over 15 years of corporate and brand communication experience, Lynn is an expert in developing communication strategies, managing social media channels, and building corporate brands. She joined Chalhoub Group in 2021 after a successful tenure as the Global Nutrition, Health, and Wellness Communication Manager at Nestlé S.A. Lynn's diverse background includes leading regional campaigns in nutrition and wellness, establishing corporate communications strategies, and driving impactful initiatives. At Chalhoub Group, Lynn plays a pivotal role in shaping the company's communication and branding strategy. Her responsibilities include building the Group's corporate brand, managing social media channels, and overseeing internal and external communications. She recently led the #نحن_المستقبل (#MYBOLDFUTURE) campaign, which aims to highlight the abundant career opportunities available in the Kingdom's retail sector for Saudi youth and propel them into dynamic careers within the luxury retail industry. Lynn's expertise and dedication have been instrumental in enhancing Chalhoub Group's reputation and fostering meaningful connections with stakeholders. With a Master's Degree in Nutrition and a Bachelor of Science Degree in Nutrition and Dietetics, Lynn combines her passion for communication with her commitment to promoting healthier lifestyles. Through her strategic approach and industry knowledge, Lynn continues to contribute to Chalhoub Group's success in the ever-expanding luxury retail market of the Middle East and North Africa. You can follow Lynn Al Khatib on Instagram and find out more at the Chalhoub Group website. Timestamps: 0:00 Intro 1:34 Lynn Al Khatib journey to the communications world 2:57 Even as a nutritionist I was scaling up informations 3:10 Falling in love for Internal Communications  5:11 Corporate Communications at Chalhoub Group    7:20 What did change in communications? How to do real time Communications?   9:35 Social Media strategy is about Authenticity & Transparency   11:57 Stakeholders engagement is not a side job    14:50 Sustainability and Retail 16:00 #نحن_المستقبل (#MYBOLDFUTURE) campaign    20:50 3 Reasons to pursue a career in fashion retail  23:19 How to start in PR and Communications? 26:46 How to stay updated with trends? Be in it 28:25 AI impact in PR and Communications industry 29:45 Rapid Fire Questions 32:50 outro 
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32 MIN
Love is a Business - From Educator to Matchmaker, with Christiana Maxion
JUN 6, 2023
Love is a Business - From Educator to Matchmaker, with Christiana Maxion
Welcome to Season 7 of Savvy Talk, I am excited to bring you leading voices from those shaping Dubai's cultural scene. Today we are joined by Christiana Maxion, The Dubai Matchmaker. And as she likes to say, "I am a native New Yorker rewriting the blueprint of the Dubai dating universe". From climbing the career ladder in education to establishing her own successful matchmaking agency, Christiana's journey is nothing short of remarkable. Tune in as we discuss her empowering approach to dating, the challenges she faced along the way, and her vision for transforming the dating landscape in the region. And also her plans for launching an app to help friendship building for adults. About Christiana Maxion Christiana climbed the career ladder in education, becoming a school leader and published author by the age of twenty-nine. Her journey led her to Dubai in 2019, a city teeming with over two hundred nationalities and inspiring individuals who make things happen. In 2020, Christiana started a comedic Instagram account, sharing her experiences as a Western expat navigating the Dubai dating scene during and post-lockdown. Her account gained immense popularity as she fearlessly promoted empowered dating with high standards and zero expectations. Revealing the brutal truths about dating in Dubai resonated with her followers, although it led to an unexpected turn in her career when her employer discovered the account. Undeterred, Christiana used this setback as an opportunity for reflection and established her own matchmaking agency. With a vision to revolutionize the dating landscape in the region, Christiana's agency gained rapid success, earning widespread media attention within just six months. Notably, she caught the eye of Patti Stanger and her team, who invited Christiana to represent Millionaire's Club and Cinqe Matchmaking in the GCC. Together, they have achieved remarkable results, boasting a 96% success rate and holding the largest global matchmaking database with thousands of happy couples matched. As the first public matchmaker and the premier elite service for the affluent, Christiana's agency is the number one choice in town. Stay tuned as we delve into her remarkable journey and insights in this captivating podcast episode. You can find Christiana Maxion on Instagram, Tiktok, Facebook and on her website. Timestamps 0:00 Intro 1:20 Christiana's journey - The Dubai Matchmaker 2:10 Empowering standpoint - Date with High Standards and Zero Expectations 3:02 The most interesting people leave in UAE 3:24 Stating her Matchmaker Agency 4:31 Patti Stanger call and Millionaire's Club partnership 6:45 96% success rate 7:59 How I work as a Matchmaker 8:34 Challenges you face in Dubai 9:17 Author of a book - Toby and The Falcon 10:12 Misconception on the business of Matchmaker 23:55 outro
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18 MIN