What does it really take to build a successful career as a lawyer in Dubai’s booming fintech scene — and how do you thrive in one of the fastest-evolving legal landscapes in the world?In this episode, I sit down with Anna Zeitlin, a UK-qualified lawyer and Partner at Addleshaw Goddard, specializing in fintech and financial regulation. Anna works closely with governments across the Middle East, shaping new regulatory frameworks, and advises conglomerates and multinational companies (MNCs) navigating the complex intersection of law, finance, and technology.🔑 Key moments & insightsWhat is fintech (really)? Anna explains how finance and technology are merging — and why the UAE is leading the charge.How Dubai stays ahead: Inside the UAE’s vision for blockchain, fintech hubs, and new regulatory shifts that are opening doors for global business.Working with government and global clients: How Anna and her firm collaborate with regulators and MNCs to shape financial innovation responsibly.Confidence and imposter syndrome: How to own your space even when you’re the youngest — or only — voice in the room.Listening and asking the right questions: Why the smartest people aren’t the ones with all the answers, but the ones who ask “bloody good questions.”Plain English law: Making complex ideas simple, building trust, and removing the jargon that keeps clients in the dark.Critical thinking in the age of AI: Why ChatGPT can’t replace curiosity, depth, or real-world experience.💡 Why you should watchIf you’re considering moving to Dubai, building a career in law, or exploring fintech and regulation, this episode gives you a front-row seat to what it’s really like inside the region’s most forward-thinking legal circles.You’ll get raw, honest insights on how to communicate with confidence, adapt fast, and build lasting relationships in a city where innovation never slows down.👥 Who this episode is forLawyers and professionals planning a move to DubaiFintech founders and investors exploring the UAE marketCorporate leaders and in-house counsels navigating regulationAnyone passionate about growth, communication, and authenticity in business🗣️ The vibeThis isn’t your typical legal chat. It’s real talk about success, self-doubt, ambition, and what happens when opportunity meets preparation.“This Is Your Turning Point” brings together voices shaping their industries — people who are rewriting the rules, one decision at a time.💬 If this episode resonates, like, comment, and share — someone you know could be at their own turning point right now.📩 Connect with Anna on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/anna-zeitlin-956246136/🎧 Subscribe for more honest conversations on sales, leadership, law, and the mindset behind success.🎙️ This Is Your Turning Point – with Anna Zeitlin, Partner at Addleshaw Goddard | Fintech & Financial RegulationHow Dubai Became a Global Fintech Hub | Lawyer Anna Zeitan on Law, Growth & Opportunity
Last month I attended the WHX TECH event, focuses on Technologies that are changing the healthcare sector. I was lucky enough to see, hear and speak with Sally Ann Frank who delivered a keynote on How To Craft A Compelling Value Proposition For Investors & Customers
Sally Was kind enough to speak with me after and I was cheeky enough to ask her to do a quick podcast interview
With more than 25 years of experience in high-tech business development, sales, and marketing, Sally is passionate about helping health and life sciences companies and startups use Microsoft technology to provide better, more-cost effective care.
As the WW Lead for Health & Life Sciences at Microsoft for Startups, Sally works directly with founders, VCs, M12 and others in the industry to partner with Microsoft and accelerate their development and growth.
Through business strategy planning, go-to-market development, and technical excellence, Sally enable startups to achieve their short-term revenue goals and long-term visions. I also leverage my extensive network and expertise to mentor, advise, and support startups in various programs and initiatives. In addition, Sally is a board member, speaker, and thought leader, who enjoys learning about the latest trends and innovations in the health and life sciences sector.
✅ The biggest mistakes founders make when pitching
✅ Why starting with a clear “what” and “why” is essential
✅ How to build a strong go-to-market and business model
✅ The power of storytelling and empathy in corporate selling
✅ The importance of bringing the right people into your journey – and letting go of ego
✅ Real-world insights from Microsoft’s startup ecosystem
✅ Lessons from unicorn founders and successful healthcare startups
✅ The mindset needed to show up confidently on stage
✅ Surprising wisdom from therapy dogs and emotional connection
✅ Why repetition and feedback are key to great presentations
Thank you for doing this pop up podcast, I really enjoyed it and know the audience will get value from your insights
Feel free to connect with Sally on linkedin
https://www.linkedin.com/in/sallyafrank/
She has also published some great books that dive deeper
into these topics
https://www.sallyannfrank.com/
In this episode, I sit down once again with Dr Corrie Block, executive coach, author of The Chief Executive Coach, and one of the most respected voices in leadership and performance.Dr Corrie shares powerful insights from his new book — diving into what it really means to coach at the Olympic level of business, why most “executive coaches” aren’t truly qualified, and how companies like Google and lessons from The Trillion Dollar Coach (Bill Campbell) changed the way the world views leadership development.We talk about:🧠 The difference between therapy and true executive coaching🏆 Why every CEO plays an Olympic-level game — and what kind of coach they actually need💡 The neuroscience of flow and how to trigger 500% more productivity❤️ Why “happiness” can distract you from true fulfillment🔥 Why promoting “skills” instead of “mindsets” breaks leadership in most organizations⏱️ Why Dr Corrie believes all executive coaching should be ROI-positive (and even “free” to the company)This conversation goes deep — from Simon Sinek’s idea of vulnerability, to Marshall Goldsmith’s publishing pace, to Matt Damon’s “Good Will Hunting” and what it teaches us about real coaching.If you lead a team, coach executives, or just want to perform at your peak — this one’s for you.📘 Connect with Dr Corrie Block:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/corrieblock/Website: https://www.corrieblock.com/Book: The Chief Executive Coach — available on Amazon💬 If you enjoyed this episode:👍 Like the video📝 Comment your biggest takeaway🔔 Subscribe for more conversations with leaders and coaches redefining success#Leadership #ExecutiveCoaching #DrCorrieBlock #Performance #FlowState #TheTrillionDollarCoach #MarshallGoldsmith #SimonSinek #MarkChatShow
The Failures of Having a Podcast 🎙️ | What I Learned from Season 1 of This Is Your Turning Point
Social media shows everyone’s wins — but rarely the failures.
In this episode, I share the truth about what went wrong (and right) in Season 1 of my podcast, This Is Your Turning Point.
From awkward interviews to production mishaps and self-doubt, I’ve learned that the only way to succeed is by failing in public.
If you’ve ever wanted to start a podcast, or you’ve struggled to stay consistent, this video is for you.
I’ll show you:
👉 What really happens behind the mic
👉 The biggest mistakes I made (and what I’d do differently)
👉 Why practice isn’t enough — you need real experience
👉 How vulnerability can help you grow faster
Every episode got a little better — because I kept going.
The only way to get started… is to get started.
A huge thank you to my incredible guests from Season 1:
Andrew Stotter-Brooks
Dr. Corrie Block
Emma Jordaan
Michael Kenner
Bushra Ahmed
Darren & Andrew (DNA)
Adam Wolf
Greg Turner
💡 If you or someone in your team would like to be a guest on Season 2, visit:
🌐 www.thisisyourturningpoint.com
LEWIS ALLSOPP: Building a World-Class Business in Dubai | Leadership, Risk & Growth | Season 2 PremiereWe are BACK with Season 2 — and we’re starting with a story that goes way beyond real estate.Lewis Allsopp, Chairman and Co-Founder of Allsopp & Allsopp Group, has built one of Dubai’s most respected businesses — a 650+ person company started in 2008 during the global financial crash.Yes, it’s a real estate business… but this is not just a real estate story.This is about vision, leadership, resilience, and what it takes to build something extraordinary in one of the most competitive cities in the world.In this episode, we dive into:🚀 Building through crisis - starting a company when others were quitting👬 Working with family - the dynamic between Lewis and his brother Carl📊 Scaling from 50 to 650 employees - what changes, what breaks, what evolves💡 Hiring: ready-made talent vs. raw potential🧠 The psychology of leadership - social pressures, failures, and self-belief💥 How to take big risks (and survive them)🥇 Book smart vs street smart - what actually matters⚠️ Why companies fail - the hard truths no one talks about🌍 Building a personal brand that opens doors💬 How to build a life that’s not just successful, but sustainableLewis has created more than a business - he’s built a culture, a team, and a life on his own terms.This conversation is for anyone who’s ever thought about taking a risk, leading people, or building something that lasts.👇 Watch the full episode to learn how great companies — and great lives — are really built.🎧 Don’t forget to subscribe for more real, unfiltered conversations with leaders shaping the Middle East and beyond.📍 Follow me on LinkedIn & Instagram for more behind-the-scenes insights.#LewisAllsopp #AllsoppAndAllsopp #DubaiBusiness #Leadership #Entrepreneurship #SuccessStories #DubaiPodcast #BusinessGrowth #Resilience #FoundersJourney #LeadershipPodcast #BuildSomethingGreat
📢 Mastering Communication: My Talk at Middlesex University’s Executive MBA Program
🎤 The Opportunity
After hosting the CIPD Awards at The Ritz-Carlton in Dubai, I connected with key professionals, which led to an invitation to speak to Executive MBA students at Middlesex University. This is a great example of how networking and delivering value can open unexpected doors.
🗣️ The Talk
During my session, I covered essential topics on communication and storytelling, focusing on:
✅ The power of storytelling – How stories create impact and make your message memorable.
✅ Understanding what’s important to the other person – The key to real connection and influence.
✅ The 5 things we all want to be – A framework that helps you communicate in a way that truly resonates.
🚀 Why It Matters
Great communication isn’t just about what you say—it’s about how you make others feel. Whether in business, leadership, or everyday conversations, mastering these skills can set you apart.
🔗 Tune in to learn how you can elevate your communication skills and create meaningful connections!
4o
Following my pre event chat, what happened on the night?
Enjoy episode and don't forget to like share and subscribe
People think you shouldn't work for free and In small parts I believe that but there are so many areas where it works to collaborate where it can benefit both sides .
On this episode I share the build up to the Awards event i'm hosting,
Exposure is very important,
Along with this I speak about the 2 day broker course I delivered the last 2 days,
I am not the biggest fan of online courses but unfortunately this is how the people want to engage so it is what it is.
Calling clients is tough!
The internal doubts we have, the fear of being screamed at, it all plays around in our head!
Along with a mindset shift of believing you are someone of value, why not try this approach.
Rather than asking a client if the're interesting in buying what you're selling
Btw, you're offering your services (something they know nothing about)
Why not lead with value?
Now think, what could be of value to the client?
Watch this episode to learn techniques that will create value with your client and in turn lead to opportunities.
This weeks episode I speak about networking but not in a place where you're uncomfortable standing around
On the golf course where you can have a general conversation and start to establish trust with someone .
That's what happened with me!
The good thing about what I do is that what I teach is shown pretty much in my conversation with someone,
Nothing to do with 1 liners, its about establishing trust .
Really enjoyed last week, got out the apartment, worked in an office environment, met lots of new people and gave value to the community!
Why do you want to be a leader? Last week I had the opportunity to speak at HR summit & Expo in Dubai, I had the chance to talk about anything I wanted Straight away though I knew what I wanted to speak about . Understanding if leadership is the right move for you. You will know people who got promoted and were gone from the business in 6 months. Why does this happen? In my presentation I showed it from 2 sides. Should they have been a leader in the first place? What should the company be doing to protect the person? During my presentation I like to ask thought provoking questions, reason being, everyone knows what they’re doing but are they doing it? Along with my own experience I’ve been fortunate enough to have some incredible conversations with CHRO and senior leaders who not only talk but have proven strategies. I speak about these during my presentation. Do you think this can help you, your development and the development of people in your business? Want a copy of the presentation? I’ve put this together on 2 pages. If you want a copy! Comment in the box ‘YES’ and I’ll send it to you! Working with ICS Learn team, they wanted to make sure this presentation stayed evergreen so we recorded it. Comment YES YES for both 😂😂 People say I look so calm on stage but In all honestly, I have doubts constantly but I know if I can get through it, it really can bring value to people and make a difference in their lives .
If you can overcome this, you won’t care who you speak in front of. I’m the youngest of 3 boys, 1 of my brothers use to practice his wrestling moves on me, They would make me believe it was good business to swap a £5 note for a shiny 50 pence. I would get them back by informing my parents they had done bad things (like sneaking out) I’m no grass though 😂Our family tradition has always been Friday night family dinners, I’d say looking back it impacted my life in 2 ways First I hated the idea my friends were going out and I was stuck in doors but it really gives you the grounding and foundations needed, I appreciate my family time so much . Second was that being the youngest , I was the butt of all jokes, My dad never shied away from going along with my brothers and taking the mick out of me . I’m the youngest, I accept it, it’s fine 😂But , you can imagine the nerves and anxiety speaking at the table, worried anything I say will be ridiculed or picked at. Was a lot of this In my head? Maybe but either way it was how I felt. Fast forward many years , I can get up and speak in front of anyone, not worried about beingRediculed or have what I say be picked at, How am I able to do this? Well… I overcame the fear of speaking at the dinner table , When ever I’m nervous (which happens all the time) I go back to that dinner table and know it can never be worse than that time , If I can speak in front of my dad, I can speak in front of anyone! We can always picture worst case scenario for something we’re about to do,I go back to that time and I use it as a positive. Which moments can you go back to that will help you overcome the challenges you face now?
Failing my way (in public, in my car) to success
On this episode I speak about hiring someone who was meant to raise the bar, a new benchmark on what success looks like,
Trouble was, I made the wrong choice
Now, if you make a bad choice you can either bite the bullet, hold or your hands up and solve the issue before it gets out of hand,
Or you can drag it out and in the end, relationships , culture and all round energy can get effected watch this episode to see what happened to me,
I do these videos to show the challenges, everyday is a struggle,
I will tell you nothing comes easy and show you where I fail but I will fail my way to success.
What happens when you don't make a decision as a leader?
On the show today, Bushra Ahmed
A Dubai based, award winning DIFC litigator, arbitrator, and barrister, individually ranked in C&P and L500 in Dispute Resolution and Employment. Specialisms: banking, mis-selling, regulatory, employment and enforcement.
We speak about transferable skills, conflict resolution, communication skills, listening skills,
I am fascinated by law because I wanted to be a lawyer when I was younger but when I look at skills needed to be a lawyer, I have been able to apply those to what I do now and build a career
In this episode we discussthe importance still of hard work even with AI , Everyone has seen the show SUITS but is there a Mike in the team?What is the reality of this?
Transferable Skills: Boost Your Career Success
Problem-Solving: The Power of Listening
Smarter Ways to Resolve Disputes
How UK Lawyers Practice Law in Dubai: A Unique Insight
Mediation: The Key to Effective Leadership
Understanding Mis-Selling in Financial Products: Legal Insights
The Key to Conflict Resolution
The Power of Evidence: Proving Your Case Effectively
Ep 107 Practicing Law in the UAE, A UK Barristers Guide with Bushra Ahmed
As a leader, what would you do in this situation? This was a big eye opener for me.
Around 6 years ago I decided I was leaving the company I worked at for 7 years, I have my own company now but back then I was looking for a leadership role at one of the flag ship companies In Dubai .
During the interview I was asked a situational question. Mark, you’re leading a team and the the online product goes down, no one can open the app, no one can use it, what do you do ?
Now, on reflection, I completely messed up here! My response
I’ll do what ever I have to, I’ll do this job , I’ll do that job, I’ll be up all night to ensure it’s done and everyone is back on line!!At the time I thought it showed my grit and determination
BUT
The reason for the question was to see the level of trust I had in my team! What should I have done?
Well I need to first of all picture that I know my team, I trust them and they are more than capable to get this issue resolved ! With that mindset I then can go about what is my role and that is to support them in the background
Yes I have to still be hands on but in no way should I be trying to do the tech guys job when I don’t even know how to set up a laptop! Why am I saying this? 2 things 1 - I realized that maybe I’m not the leader I thought I was.2 - don’t be so eager during an interview to say you’ll turn the world upside down to get it doneThink what you would actually do in that role and probably something you’ve already been doing for a number of months / years.If you want to know what else happened during this Interview, something that meant I wasn’t even going to get the job in the first place, watch out for my “failing my way (in public) to success podcast Where I tell more of this story, you’ll be SHOCKED and I’m hoping it questions some of the stupidity that goes on today! Leaders, recruiters, interviewers, interviewees , what’s your thoughts on this? Has it happened to you? hashtag#leadership hashtag#interview hashtag#candidate hashtag#recruitment hashtag#grit hashtag#determination
what values do you want in your team and as a leader? on this episode I speak about key questions you need to be asking if you want to be building a strong team Along with this I speak about the importance of having the right personalities in the team, WIDGET Working genius www.workinggenius.com (1) Wonder - is there a better way (day dream when younger) (2) Genius of invention - joy and energy of coming up with new ideas (3) Discernment (gut feel) good at seeing patterns , integrative thinkers (4) Galvanize - rally the troops, enjoy getting people up (5) Enablement - people that get joy and energy out of saying yes and they love to help. If you think it’s a good idea , I’m going to follow you (6) Tenacity - they like to get it done, they like to get it finished You might have the right people but are they sitting on the right seat on the bus
because of my behaviors and my intentions I was given an opportunity within the company to be promoted So going through the interview process my director he said to me Mark what do you think about going for a promotion? And I said well I'm not sure but I'll give it a go I asked him what are you expecting to see in my presentation? And he actually gave me an overview So when you're banging your head against the wall thinking what should I be presenting What is this person going to expect Ask the question What are you expecting to see from this? And he gave me a breakdown And it wasn't that he gave me the answers I still had to put it together go through the presentation And that was tough But at least I had a sort of expectation of what he wanted to see and that really helped he comes up with a question and he says why should you get this job over the other person? And I said bluntly and to the point I'm not here to talk about the other person I'm here to talk about myself If I do not get this job I will leave the business Now for about 7 years in my head I've told myself that the reason why I've said that is because I'm the man and what a line to drop and everything And the truth is that actually isn't true And it's only through going for a presentation I did last week about the social pressures of leadership and why people decide to be a leader in the first place And one of the reasons is the social pressure of oh you're not a manager yet Oh you're still doing a sales job Oh I thought you'd be a bit more than that by now And it wasn't that I fell for that particular trap It was that everyone would have known that I would have gone for this promotion And if I wouldn't have got the job I said to myself oh now I've got a taste of it I have to go for a leadership role But the truth is I thought I'll be so embarrassed going back into what I was doing when everybody across the business you know everyone saw that I was interviewing for it Everyone knew that I was going for that position So that was a little bit of an awakening in the last couple of weeks really because even though yes I felt that oh I couldn't once I got a taste for leadership I couldn't go back into doing just what I was doing But also I came to a realisation that yeah I would have been embarrassed i would have been embarrassed to go back and have that person who i was a team member with have a promotion and me just continue with what what i was doing which you know i was pretty happy with coming in making good money uh but it's 2 ways here one is that i've been identified as a leader my director saw something in me now whether he thought and again this is the journey I've been on you know was I coachable enough Did he see me as the person that could be coachable? And I honestly believe that in the last you know from working with him getting things wrong multiple times but putting my hands up challenging him as well You know you might not think To be coachable you can challenge but he wanted me to challenge him because it was a sort of mentor-mentee thing
You requested it so we joined forces again! It was clear from our first time speaking that 1 hour definitely was not enough. This is a clip from our 2nd time sitting down, this full episode will be shared shortly. Here Andrew shares his 5 ingredients to be an impactful leader Disclaimer - please remember that even though Andrew Mentions 5 key areas to focus for leadership, everything is cemented with being authentic and true to who you are. 1st ) Clarity Direction of travel, why are we doing this? What is the purpose of doing this? Tell me what you understand about this, tell me what you heard, tell me what the next steps are. It is hard as a leader to listen and let the team 2nd) Feedback Honest feedback Seek feedback from your team and people around you Be open to asking for feedback Thank you for the feedback, Maybe asking them to share an example of the feedback. Be careful as a leader because people are fearful of telling you something, what happens here? problems get built up when it could have got resolved quickly by informing the leader early on. 3rd) Input vs output Understand role they play in the team John Adair - Action Centered Leadership Sandhurst, Military Define task, understand individuals contribution and how that affects the team. We all play different positions but together we make 1 team. If we focus on everyone being happy, we wont complete the task. 4th) Personal Growth People need to feel like they're learning with you Showing them how to learn and grow People need new opportunities and they need to be challenged They will be afraid of this but its important to show the team that its possible. 5) Kindness and care Elton Mayo - Psychologist Exploring how we can motivate team members Hygiene factors - Salary, corner office, relationship you have with your manager Issue is they can be expensive, they become the norm Real sense of achievement, being care for and loved, this is where you can have a real impact in people Andrew speaks about the study that was done with the Illinois Electrical Company. Thank you for watching, please give this a like share and follow, the more we do this, the bigger reach and bigger guests! 5 Key Ingredients to be an impactful leader with Andrew Stotter-Brooks
I'm bored of talking into a camera, (it doesn't feel right) so I thought I would do a more , in the flow episode. Last week I did a presentation about the pitfalls of leadership and it got me thinking , In this episode I share story of when I was promoted and a few of the first actions I took. Let me hear your thoughts on this
🎙️ Episode 105: How Did You Do That? With DNA - The Mind-Reading Duo 🎙️ This week on the podcast, I sit down with the unforgettable mind-reading duo DNA—Darren & Andrew —who left audiences and judges across the UK stunned with their unbelievable act. Known for their Saturday night TV magic, DNA has captivated millions with their mysterious ability to read minds, making them the perfect guests to explore the art of persuasion and influence in business and beyond. Why bring magicians onto a business podcast? Because the skills that fuel their performances—presentation, audience engagement, and the ability to influence decisions—are just as vital to building a career or business. DNA breaks down the surprising parallels between magic and business success, sharing insights and stories on: ✨ Presenting with confidence ✨ Captivating and holding an audience’s attention ✨ Influencing thoughts and decisions in real time ✨ Recovering gracefully from mistakes on stage And yes, they even throw in a few mind-bending tricks that will leave you saying, "How did they do that?" Catch this unique episode for an eye-opening look at how skills from the stage can apply to the boardroom—and beyond. A huge thank you to Darren and Andrew for joining us; I'm thrilled to finally share this one with you!
Emma Jordaan is a leading authority in cultural intelligence So, what is Cultural Intelligence and why would it help with your success? On this show I speak with Emma about how to negotiate with clients to create a win/win Building a career you need people around you who will support and guide you, CQ will help with this All too often we hear people say, "that's not how we do it" "its not done like that hear" "they keep making the mistakes and not doing it right" So why does this happen? There is no right, there is no wrong, its just how it is, from where they are from, Living in Dubai, UAE, it really is a melting point of different cultures and nationalities Emma talks about Building rapport with clients and colleagues and the mistakes we make . Emma is based in the UAE, I highly recommend reaching out to her to explore and evaluate your business with CQ, it really can take you and your team to the next level. “In a world where crossing boundaries is routine, CQ becomes a vitally important aptitude and skill." -- Harvard Business Review “David Livermore explains why modern multinational organisations need to be global and must understand that "There's really no such thing as a uniform global culture." This message applies not just to marketing but to recruiting and managing teams of workers in different parts of the world." -- The Economist "90% of leading executives from 68 countries said finding effective cross-cultural personnel is a top management challenge." – Economist Intelligence Unit Infinite Consulting is a learning and development consultancy specialising in Cultural Intelligence (CQ) Training Assessments and 1 -to -1 Coaching in the UAE. We understand the importance of Cultural Intelligence in today's global business environment, and we are committed to helping individuals and organisations develop the skills and knowledge needed to succeed in diverse and multicultural settings. If you want to learn more about this, contact us today! At Infinite Consulting, we are passionate about helping individuals and organisations thrive in a multicultural workplace. That's why we offer a comprehensive range of services, including CQ® Assessments, tailored Training programs including Cultural Intelligence CQ® , Unconscious Biases, Psychological safety, relocation programmes and personalised 1-to-1 coaching sessions. 📞+971 58 565 9223 ✉️: info@infiniteconsultingme.com