Your Onion

This show brings you an insight into business happening in Qatar and the MENA region. We peel away the layers of a company to reveal how the company works and the people behind it. We find out why and how people wanted to set-up their business here in the MENA region and what have been the highs and lows in doing so.

Ep. 206 Your Onion - Amber Musson-Thorp 02/13/2023

Ep. 206 Your Onion - Amber Musson-Thorp A star is born but not into acting or the modeling world as initially thought but into the medical insurance world. Amber Musson-Thorpe found her calling when she stepped onto the stage of medical insurance and hasn’t looked back since. /episode/index/show/youronionpodcast/id/25910139

Ep. 205 Your Onion - Raffat Zreik 01/10/2023

Ep. 205 Your Onion - Raffat Zreik One of my all-time favorite tracks was by a band called Madness, and the track was Driving In My Car. It reminds me of my teenage years, when I first got my driving license, and the freedom to escape the little village we lived in. I passed my test the first time. I was very thankful, I had ridden a motorbike the year before, just to get a true sense of what being on the road was all about and to get professional training also. Over the years, I have experienced driving situations that have shaken me up and which I have never experienced before, from having a burst tire on a motorway to having a child run out in front of my car to crashing into the back of another after being distracted by my kids in the back seat. These experiences really shake you up, and you handle the moment the best you can. Now think about your driving training before you took the test. Not much goes into what obstacles or situations might happen on the road, you just get tested on how well you can drive and maneuver a car. My next guest, Raffat Zriek, CEO & Founder of Gamyra, took this issue on board and created a driving simulation experience of dealing with difficult situations on the road. From there, he has created a business of virtual experiences to power the future of immersive and interactive digital realities. /episode/index/show/youronionpodcast/id/25558788

Ep. 204 Your Onion - Zewde Zewde 01/02/2023

Ep. 204 Your Onion - Zewde Zewde Many of my guests go to University following their parent's wishes. They qualify and then move into employment. After a while, they follow their heart or true calling and move into something they are genuinely passionate about. My next guest, Zewde Zewde, didn't follow the same rule book and started his side hustle while still studying. Taking him on a different path than his qualification would have done. /episode/index/show/youronionpodcast/id/25479102

Ep. 203 Your Onion - Serban Spirea 12/26/2022

Ep. 203 Your Onion - Serban Spirea My next guest is an ex-professional basketball player from Romania who joined his mum in Qatar 10 years ago. While waiting to sign up for a local basketball team, Serban Spirea fell into Real Estate, initially working for a company, then setting up his own. Join me as we follow his journey from landing on Qatar shores to seeing the Real Estate industry as it was and realizing he could make a difference based on his values in life. /episode/index/show/youronionpodcast/id/25430103

Ep. 202 Your Onion - Elsbeth Blekkenhorst-Tammes 12/19/2022

Ep. 202 Your Onion - Elsbeth Blekkenhorst-Tammes A regular guest to Ginger Camel and its podcasts, from ThinkBigQatar to Doha Heat to finally being on Your Onion Podcast. Elsbeth Blekkenhorst-Tammes reinvents herself as often as she has been on our podcasts. A fantastic lady driven by her love for life and freedom, she runs her business to help professional women in Qatar succeed. Enjoy her story /episode/index/show/youronionpodcast/id/25368939

Ep. 201 Your Onion - Gautam Bhattacharyya 12/12/2022

Ep. 201 Your Onion - Gautam Bhattacharyya A man who stands out from the blue-eyed blonde hair Swedish diplomatic service, Gautum Battacharyya brings his fabulous personality and holistic views on life, business, and politics to his role as Swedish Ambassador to Qatar and this podcast. /episode/index/show/youronionpodcast/id/25295370

Ep. 200 Your Onion - Tim Newnham 12/04/2022

Ep. 200 Your Onion - Tim Newnham Tim Newnham, an ex-pat brat, plugged into electromuscular stimulation bringing great results in his own fitness for his clients and Doha Rugby Club. /episode/index/show/youronionpodcast/id/25213890

Ep. 199 Your Onion - Shefa Ali 11/20/2022

Ep. 199 Your Onion - Shefa Ali I met my next guest Shefa Ali three years ago at a TEDxYouth talk at DPSMIS that she and I were presenting. There I was, nervous with my cue cards, and here was a confident lady standing tall, presenting about love and how she saw the world for future generations. Join me as I learn more about how and what makes this lady tick. /episode/index/show/youronionpodcast/id/25073997

Ep. 198 Your Onion - Saif Qazi 11/14/2022

Ep. 198 Your Onion - Saif Qazi Saif Qazi is the Co-Founder & CEO of an MBA project that started eight years ago. You might have come across it. It’s called Urban Point, Join me as we join Saif on his journey from Pakistan to Saudi Arabia to America to Germany, finally landing here in Qatar. /episode/index/show/youronionpodcast/id/24997680

Ep. 197 Your Onion - Sarmad Qazi 11/11/2022

Ep. 197 Your Onion - Sarmad Qazi Some of us love the written word, and all that word can reveal in a sentence or paragraph is to inform, excite, to educate the reader. My next guest Sarmad Qazi went on that memorizing journey of the word. Join me as we explore his world of PR and communication. /episode/index/show/youronionpodcast/id/24977652

Ep. 196 Your Onion - Harriet Gyamfuah 11/06/2022

Ep. 196 Your Onion - Harriet Gyamfuah My next guest loves the glitz and the glamour of the fashion industry and has the energy and fun to embrace that world. Please join me as we explore the world of Harriet Gyamfuah. You won't be disappointed. /episode/index/show/youronionpodcast/id/24918741

Ep. 195 Your Onion - Abdurahiman E P 11/03/2022

Ep. 195 Your Onion - Abdurahiman E P My next guest is a prolific entrepreneur who, over 30 years or more, has built an empire that takes care of the society in Qatar. Abdurahman EP is the founder and Chairman of Care n Cure group of companies. An active and well-dynamic person, he also is the president of the Qatar Indian Association, a sports organization that aims at spreading sporting values to the Indian community here in Qatar. He was also my first guest on Doha Heat podcast way back in 2014, after he successfully launched the first BNI chapter here in Qatar. /episode/index/show/youronionpodcast/id/24897246

Ep. 194 Your Onion - Julia George 10/30/2022

Ep. 194 Your Onion - Julia George When you meet people through business networking, you are generally only introduced to the person in the suit or dress representing this company and their position. What fascinates me is the real person behind all that, who has a passion that fills their spare time to the max. My next guest is Julia George, a Country Manager for a retail outlet by day and a bikini sculptor by night. /episode/index/show/youronionpodcast/id/24844065

Ep. 193 Your Onion - Patric Rozario 10/27/2022

Ep. 193 Your Onion - Patric Rozario My next guest showed up in my world around 2011. He showed me an art world made up of precious stones and emeralds. Patric Rozario is an inspirational artist, always looking for ways to wow his audience to appreciate his art and introduce art in all areas of our lives. /episode/index/show/youronionpodcast/id/24816957

Ep. 192 Your Onion - Fiorella Otero 10/22/2022

Ep. 192 Your Onion - Fiorella Otero When we look back to the time when education led to full-time work and hobbies were just fun to fill our spare time. Do we sometimes wonder what if it was the other way around? Some people have been fortunate to follow their hobbies into full-time passion and work. Others went the education, full-time work route to jump to their passion/hobby, which became their dream job. Fiorella Otero did just that. /episode/index/show/youronionpodcast/id/24766551

Ep. 191 Your Onion - John Shanlian 10/16/2022

Ep. 191 Your Onion - John Shanlian I've known my next guest for the last 11 years, a previous host on Your Onion and guest John Shanlian, Founder & Managing Partner of The Hub Group. He reveals himself as a proud Canadian / Armenian serial entrepreneur, real estate expert, and someone who hates bosses, even himself sometimes. /episode/index/show/youronionpodcast/id/24699339

Ep. 190 Your Onion - Dr. Sadriya Al-Kohji 10/09/2022

Ep. 190 Your Onion - Dr. Sadriya Al-Kohji This week is Qatar Sustainability Week, a National Campaign which aims to engage the community in a wide range of sustainability-oriented activities, raising awareness among the wider community and showcasing the progress Qatar has made in the areas of sustainability. Before, when I thought about sustainability, I, like most people, thought about the environment and recycling. With my next guest Dr. Sadriya Al-Kohji that perspective changed, as you will hear in this podcast. /episode/index/show/youronionpodcast/id/24630045

Ep. 189 Your Onion - Asmaa Al-Kuwari 10/02/2022

Ep. 189 Your Onion - Asmaa Al-Kuwari Born in Qatar, moved to the US, lived there until the age of ten, then moved back to Qatar. In the words of Asmaa Al-Kuwari, that was a huge culture shock !!! Join me as I discover the internal and external struggles that Asma had to deal with to fit in with her family and culture back in Qatar and how she rediscovered her true self at University and beyond. /episode/index/show/youronionpodcast/id/24556968

Ep. 188 Your Onion - Richard Hollywood 09/25/2022

Ep. 188 Your Onion - Richard Hollywood With over 28 years of experience in a range of leadership and management roles within Further & Higher Education across the UK and the Middle East, Richard Hollywood has been driving transformational change achieving performance and sustainability improvements and growth. But this wasn't the reason for being my guest today. This man achieved what I only dreamed of as a teenager, and that was to work in a music recording studio. I had to have him come in and tell his story. /episode/index/show/youronionpodcast/id/24480147

Ep. 187 Your Onion - Beverley Crowther 09/18/2022

Ep. 187 Your Onion - Beverley Crowther A wise and beautiful soul who has been on a life journey giving to others and cats, at times forgetting to look after herself. Join me as I peel away Beverley Crowther's layers of life to reveal a shining star. /episode/index/show/youronionpodcast/id/24408768

Ep. 186 Your Onion - Jeffrey Asselstine 09/11/2022

Ep. 186 Your Onion - Jeffrey Asselstine Jeffrey has been a frequent guest on the podcast, and with that in mind, I wanted to see if I could peel away a few more layers to reveal the true Jeffrey Asselstine, Managing Director & Founder of Nelson Park Property. /episode/index/show/youronionpodcast/id/24338043

Ep. 185 Your Onion - Daniel Toledo 09/04/2022

Ep. 185 Your Onion - Daniel Toledo Boho Social Restuarant is a new social place and foodie destination housed in a circular structure on top of Katara Beach Club. Stunning bohemian chic interiors by award-winning interior designer Paul Bishop and a menu that takes you on a culinary journey into the Americas, Asia, Southern Europe, and the Middle East. The pilot that takes you on this culinary journey is none other than Daniel Toledo, General Manager. /episode/index/show/youronionpodcast/id/24265998

Ep. 184 Your Onion - Rock Bottom 05/03/2022

Ep. 184 Your Onion - Rock Bottom If you have found yourself at rock bottom, tired, lacking energy, and failing to see anything positive happening in your life, don’t worry this is a turning point in your life. This is the start of a new chapter, a new direction, a new beginning within yourself and the people around you. Allow me to be your shining light and show you what untapped power you have inside of you and the recurring habits holding you back. Allow me to show you the various areas in your life that have not been fulfilled and that could make a difference for you and for others. Let me be your guide, hold your hand and take one step at a time towards the dreams and goals you had before. I look forward to meeting you. /episode/index/show/youronionpodcast/id/22737161

Ep. 183 Your Onion - Lonely At The Top 04/26/2022

Ep. 183 Your Onion - Lonely At The Top From someone who has been there, I call and reach out to anyone that is going through the same experience, who is confused, dazed, and lost. You might have lost your job, your company, you might have been demoted or had a cut in your salary. You might feel isolated working from home or just being at home with no work to go to. I am here to help, from someone who has experienced all the above, I know what it feels like, the emotions, the feelings, the thoughts that you go through. Let me be your guide and give you the tools to get you back on track, to be the best you can be. I look forward to meeting you. /episode/index/show/youronionpodcast/id/22737146

Ep. 182 Your Onion - Lonely At The Top 04/18/2022

Ep. 182 Your Onion - Lonely At The Top So this is a shout out to all the business owners, entrepreneurs, and even managers and CEOs that have reached the top of their game and find that it's not what they dreamed of, or maybe you are at a point where being at the top is not fulfilling anymore, it becomes a routine that doesn’t get you excited and make you jump out of bed. Allow me to show you how to appreciate the position you are in and look at it in a different light, to use your time more efficiently that has a purpose, that will energize you and get you jumping out of bed each morning. To reconnect with family and friends you might have lost on the way to the top, to really be present this time around. If none of that resonates with you, then maybe it’s time to climb down, base jump, fly off the mountain, and look for new mountains to climb. Allow me to be your support, as it’s been some time since you tackled the climb and new skills will be needed for the journey down. I look forward to meeting you. /episode/index/show/youronionpodcast/id/22736348

Ep. 181 Your Onion - On Top Of The World 04/11/2022

Ep. 181 Your Onion - On Top Of The World Are you at that point where your business/career/life is being taken to the next level where you feel the exhilaration and the buzz but you feel the uneasy ground below you or the bitterly cold wind around you? Allow me to be your support, your shield that takes you to that next level of success in your business/career/life. I look forward to meeting you. /episode/index/show/youronionpodcast/id/22736336

Ep. 180 Your Onion - The Entrepreneurs Climb 03/22/2022

Ep. 180 Your Onion - The Entrepreneurs Climb When I finally got the chance to run my own business, that’s all I could think about. I was going to achieve this and prove to others that I could make this business work, but it would take my total concentration and dedication to make it work. I was my hardest critic, not allowing myself to rest or focus on anything else apart from making this company work. I would look after the team before looking after myself because I knew that I needed their support to make this company successful. I created a haven at the office where the outside world would not affect the creativity that happened within the company. My buzz was to hear laughter and conversations within the office, that people were enjoying what they loved to do. With that buzz came confidence within the team that we could tackle any project/client that came our way, and we did. I left my family behind at times physically there but mentally sitting in my office planning my next move. I would work all hours and then network, taking me further away from my family. Putting a lot of strain on my marriage and my relationship with my children became less and less, as they couldn’t connect with me. Over the years, even though the company was getting bigger and we were achieving more success, I became more distant from family and work colleagues. Affecting me at work overtime. The more people I took on, the less I had to do, even though the company had achieved so much over eight years. I had reached the top of the mountain, but it wasn’t the view I was expecting. Music By: Picture By: /episode/index/show/youronionpodcast/id/22531013

Ep. 179 Your Onion - Ready To Start Your Business? 03/07/2022

Ep. 179 Your Onion - Ready To Start Your Business? When I made that move from my full-time, paycheque 9 to 5 job to an entrepreneur/business owner world I felt alone and lost. This was a world I wasn't used to, so I started to reach out to groups and organizations where experienced business owners, entrepreneurs, and business people would meet on a regular basis and talk about their industry, field of expertise, experience, and their highs and lows. I initially turned up in a mish-mash of clothes with conflicting colors and long hair, I felt uncomfortable, out of place, some people laughed at me, others turned away, as I just didn't look or speak the part. The words that they spoke seemed alien to me but I just listened, laugh when others laughed, drank when others drank, and slowly felt comfortable in the new environment I was in. I slowly found my voice by joining other business groups that wanted to hear your voice and gave me the opportunity each week to present myself and my company, the more I did it the more I became confident in myself. It made me look at how I looked and how I presented myself and the company. It was a work in progress. By networking, I gained business colleagues who then introduced me to a wider network that grew and grew. So how are you turning up to the base camp and the campfire, do you feel out of place, lost for words, uncomfortable in the way you look, the way you present yourself? Allow me to greet you at base camp, show you around, introduce you to the right people and get you ready to sit around the campfire and present yourself in confidence. I look forward to meeting you. Music By: Picture By: /episode/index/show/youronionpodcast/id/22347476

Ep. 178 Your Onion - The Journey of Learning 02/28/2022

Ep. 178 Your Onion - The Journey of Learning So where are you on your journey, is there a mountain you wish to climb? Maybe you are still looking from the crest of the hill wondering what path to take, maybe you are dealing with your comfort zone, family and friends that are trying to keep you safe, maybe you’ve met the climbers that fell at the first ridge and have put doubts in your mind that you are not equipped to climb that mountain. I was initially equipped with the basic climbing gear, which eventually got me to the top of the mountain but now over the years, I am equipped with the latest gear which makes the climb a lot easier. I can join you anywhere you like from the crest of the hill to walking along the path to the base of the mountain, anywhere on that mountain to the very top, please reach out to me. I look forward to meeting you. Music By: Picture By: /episode/index/show/youronionpodcast/id/22253171

Ep. 177 Your Onion - Dealing With The Storm 02/20/2022

Ep. 177 Your Onion - Dealing With The Storm If you’ve gone through the last two years trying to weather the storm, I am sure you feel mentally and physically exhausted. Maybe your storm is still overhead or maybe it's passed and the clouds have broken, either way, it's time to recharge your batteries. If you would like to explore more of how you can prepare yourself for the storm or the storm you are in, take shelter from the storm, embrace the storm, and finally prepare for your ongoing journey please reach out to me. I look forward to meeting you. Music By: https://www.epidemicsound.com/ Picture By: Canva.com /episode/index/show/youronionpodcast/id/22192034

Your Onion

TOPICS