Dr. Romie Mushtaq debunks common misconceptions and gives a behind-the-scenes look at the business of public speaking.

Adela Cebotari pulls back the curtain on the essential tax and legal steps every new business owner must take.

Lien DePau, founder of The Big Exit, uncovers a shocking statistic - only 1% of sold businesses are female-founded.

After being sidelined at work, Itziar proves that if opportunities don't come to you, you can create them yourself.

Dr. Romie Mushtaq shares her groundbreaking insights on the "busy brain" epidemic plaguing female entrepreneurs.

Get an inside look into the transformative experience of spending a week with
Richard Branson.

Jen unpacks 5 transformative lessons learned during a week-long retreat on Richard Branson's Necker Island.

Maureen Hall, founder of COEGA Sunwear, discusses the evolving world of marketing and social media.

Kidzink founder Charlotte Borghesi shares her unconventional approach to building a high-growth team through people-first leadership. 

Radio host and author Helen Farmer discusses crafting the perfect brand voice while staying true to who you are. 

Janine Sudbury talks about her journey building multiple successful businesses in New Zealand over 25 years.

Zoë Chapman talks about how she built her business and what it's really like to pitch your product and business on the BBC's Dragon's Den.

Nikki Osbaldiston shares tips for thought leadership, personal branding, engaging content, and consistent networking using LinkedIn.

Right Bite founder Nathalie Haddad shares her journey from working as a nutritionist to starting her meal planning business 20 years ago.

Rawan Baddour, co-founder of Zest Equity, discusses how entrepreneurs and investors can thrive through innovative infrastructure.

Natasha Wells discusses the importance of branding for all businesses and balancing personal and business brands. 

Nicola Taylor shares insights on founding businesses with an equity mission and prioritising culture from the start.

Cath Vincent shares her tips for cash flow, delegation, and creating a business that supports your desired lifestyle.

Find out how small business owners can find collaborations that will help take their business to the next level. 

Jen discusses the top 10 reasons why your business may not be growing as quickly as you would like.

Jen sits down with digital business expert Tina Tower to discuss strategies for building a sustainable online business while maintaining a work-life balance. Tina shares lessons from her experience scaling multiple companies and offers tips for overcoming fears of showing up online, identifying a niche market, and growing a membership community.

Annabel Harper sits down with Jen to discuss her book "Shujaa'ah" which focuses on empowering women leaders in the Middle East. They dive into Annabel's journey working as an executive coach in Dubai and Saudi Arabia, the cultural challenges women face, and how leadership development programs are helping drive change.

Jen shares her top tips for using both online and in-person networking effectively to expand your business network and find new opportunities. She discusses the importance of relationship-building over direct selling and how to establish yourself as an expert online.

Skye Barbour shares her expertise in helping female entrepreneurs stop being so busy doing everything and start delegating tasks that don't match their strengths. She discusses the importance of focusing on your zone of genius while building systems and teams to handle other responsibilities.

Jen shares the top 10 mistakes she sees entrepreneurs making in their businesses based on over 25 years of experience. She discusses common issues with business plans, branding, marketing, operations, cash flow management, mindset and more. 

Claire Walker shares her 38-year journey building her London-based PR agency Firefly. She discusses adapting to changes in business, prioritising employee well-being, and building resilience through challenges like recession and personal loss.

Jen interviews Tim Hayden, founder of Hagley West watches, about how he grew his watch brand globally through creative storytelling and viral video challenges like the Find Tim Challenge.

World-renowned therapist Marisa Peer shares insights on finding success through passion and developing a positive mindset. 

Jen shares the top 10 things she would do differently if starting Female Fusion from scratch based on her experience building multiple businesses over the years.

Jen shares the top 5 strategies that were the biggest game changers for Female Fusion in 2023. She discusses the importance of planning, investing in her personal brand, getting serious about social media, focusing on LinkedIn, and launching THIS successful podcast!

Jen interviews lawyer Bianca Gracias about the important legal considerations all businesses should address. Bianca shares insights into setting up compliant operations and gives a checklist of must-haves, including:

• Company registration documents
• Contract templates
• IP protection
• Compliance with local laws

Tina Harris from LahLah Productions shares her journey of transforming her live children's entertainment business into a successful YouTube channel during the pandemic.

She discusses the importance of thumbnails, captions, video titles and more for optimising your YouTube presence.Tina also provides tips on monetising your channel and growing a global audience.

Jen discusses why personal branding is so important for female entrepreneurs at every stage of business. She shares strategies for developing a clear personal brand message and voice, being consistent across social media platforms, and networking to build trust and connections.

Jen sits down with Dr. Lucy Burns to discuss how she grew her health and wellness business Real Life Medicine from a side project to a seven-figure company.

Dr. Lucy shares the strategies that helped her reach that first million, the challenges of scaling even faster, and how she's refining operations to impact more lives while preserving work-life balance.

Jen Bowers is a branding expert who shares her wisdom on the importance of building strong brand foundations.

She also shares valuable insights into discovering your brand personality, your "who", and your "why" through personal connection.

Sally Porteous shares her expertise on using events to grow a business. As the founder of Red Lanyard and the Event Planners Workshop, she discusses common event planning challenges and mistakes to avoid.

Sally also provides tips for making events memorable and engaging for attendees.

Jen discusses the top areas business owners should focus on to build a profitable business.

She covers the importance of having a clear target customer, product/service offering, marketing strategy, systems and processes, and hiring the right people.

Jen shares her process for conducting an annual business review. She discusses the importance of tracking key metrics like revenue, costs, time allocation and more.

An analysis of this data allows you to identify what's working well and opportunities for improvement to help you set goals for the coming year.

Jen sits down with serial entrepreneur Donna Benton to discuss her journey building The Entertainer into a regional powerhouse before exiting and starting The Benton Group.

Donna shares her tips for evaluating new business ideas, building a top-notch team, and balancing multiple ventures while maintaining work-life harmony.

Jen interviews Erim Kaur, founder of luxury haircare brand ByErim. Erim shares how she turned her grandmother's traditional hair oil recipe into a seven-figure business. She discusses the importance of authenticity on social media and representation for women of colour entrepreneurs. 

In this episode, Jen discusses common challenges business owners face when it comes to finding customers. She shares tips for understanding your ideal customer, creating irresistible offers, and engaging customers through consistent communication and content marketing.

Jen interviews high-ticket coach Jackie Sharon Tamblyn about how she built a multi-seven figure coaching business in just 17 months. Jackie discusses the importance of focusing on client results over reach, outsourcing non-essential tasks, and investing in personal development to continuously grow as an entrepreneur.

Jen sits down with Elaine Jones, founder of Direct Debit Systems, to discuss her journey bringing direct debit payments to the UAE. Elaine shares how she saw the need for a paperless payment system and worked to develop the infrastructure to support it. Tune in to hear Elaine's story of building her business over 37 years and her vision for the future of digital payments.

Jen interviews Ioanna Angelidaki, founder of InstaShop, the leading online grocery delivery service in the UAE. Ioanna shares how she co-founded InstaShop in 2015 and grew it to serve customers across the country. She discusses the challenges of international expansion and how the pandemic accelerated growth. Ioanna also reflects on InstaShop's $360 million acquisition by Delivery Hero in 2020.

Jen Blendos sits down with Viviane Paxinos, CEO of AllBright, a global network for women. They discuss AllBright's mission to remove barriers for women in the workplace through inspiring, connecting, and upskilling opportunities. Viviane shares insights from her career pivot to leading AllBright and the impactful programs they offer, including reducing gender pay gaps.

This week, Jen interviews Fahed Bizzari, an expert in ChatGPT, about how entrepreneurs can use this AI tool to improve their business. You'll discover how ChatGPT can help with business planning, marketing, operations and SO much more!

In episode 63 of "Women on the Rise," host Jen Blandos sits down with Geeta Daswani, a London-based corporate lawyer from The Daswani Law Company Ltd. (The DLC). Geeta shares invaluable insights into the world of law and business, especially for small business owners and sole practitioners.

Join host Jen Blandos in this special episode of "Women on the Rise" as she sits down with Hazel Jackson, the founder of Biz Group. Hazel shares her incredible entrepreneurial journey, starting from scratch in Dubai with just $700 and growing her business into a thriving success with over 60 employees and expansion plans.

Join us for an inspiring conversation with Anna Zickerman, the founder of UPANDRUNNING Medical Center LLC in Dubai. Anna's journey began with a vision to introduce sports rehabilitation to the UAE, a concept virtually unheard of at the time.

Join us for an eco-friendly journey with Female Fusion member Sahar Karoubi, the founder of Bambuyu, a UAE-based brand specialising in sustainable bamboo toilet paper, tissues, and kitchen rolls. Sahar shares her entrepreneurial story, from the curiosity that led her to create environmentally conscious tissue products to the challenges and growth of her business.

Dive into the captivating world of video production and entrepreneurship in the UAE with Reim El Houni, the passionate founder of Ti22Films. With over 13 years of experience, Reim's company has evolved to cater to diverse markets and video production needs, including personal branding, social content, and animated content.

In this episode, your host Jen Blandos introduces you to Cheri-Lee Roux, the co-founder of "The Workshop Hub," a unique business that has undergone remarkable growth in just three years. Cheri-Lee shares the journey of her business, from its humble beginnings of small crafting workshops to scaling up and venturing into B2B activations for hotels and restaurants.

Join host Jen Blandos in a conversation with Female Fusion member, Antonia Bates, the founder of Studio Nu and the Healthy Entrepreneur Club. Discover how Antonia's journey in interior design led to a passion for holistic well-being among entrepreneurs.

Today, we're delighted to have Hala Gebran, the founder of Halo Halo Printworks, as our guest. Hala's business journey is a testament to persistence, passion, and creativity. She started with a unique concept, crafting Arabic-inspired greeting cards that bridge language barriers. Hala overcame her perfectionism and self-doubt to bring her beautiful creations to the market. 

Join host Jen Blandos as she sits down with Lucy Bradley, a seasoned entrepreneur with a 20-year journey in the UAE. Lucy shares insights from founding the marketing agency Plug and her work supporting female entrepreneurs through Female Fusion. They discuss the importance of authenticity, networking, and clear messaging in business.

In this special episode of "Women on the Rise," host Jen Blandos sits down with Veronique Bezou, the founder of Creadora, a creative agency in Dubai and Paris.

Veronique shares her inspiring journey from corporate life to entrepreneurship, highlighting how dealing with a difficult boss and experiencing extreme burnout led her to become the successful entrepreneur she is today.

In this episode of the Women on the Rise Podcast, host Jen Blandos sits down with Melon Perez, the co-founder of The MelRish Studio. Melon shares her incredible entrepreneurial journey, which started with a devastating setback. She and her husband had big dreams of opening a Filipino restaurant in Dubai, but a business partner's betrayal left them in financial ruin. Melon shares the challenges they faced and how they turned their passion for photography into a thriving business. She also discusses the importance of resilience and building strong relationships in the business world.

This month, we're introducing you to 30 incredible female fusion members, each with their unique entrepreneurial journey. Today, Jen sits down with Jan Almheiri, the founder of Bark Park and the Canine Kitchen in Dubai. 

Discover how Jan's passion for dogs led to the creation of a unique off-leash dog park and a thriving business that caters to dogs' well-being. Listen as Jan shares her journey from an accidental entrepreneur to a business owner who prioritises her furry clients' health and happiness. 

Join us in this insightful episode of Women of Impact as host Jen Blandos engages in a candid conversation with Nicki Wilson, the visionary behind Genie Recruitment. Discover how Genie Recruitment came into existence and Nicki's remarkable journey in the world of recruitment. Explore the power of authenticity, genuine leadership, and nurturing teams, as Nicki shares her unique approach to building a tight-knit, productive team. Get ready to gain invaluable insights into leadership, team management, and the entrepreneurial spirit.

In this episode of Women of Impact, we embark on a journey with Julie Lewis, the founder of Mountain High, as she takes us through the evolution of her adventurous life and business. Join us as we unravel the origins of Mountain High, a venture born out of Julie's desire to connect with nature, different cultures, and her own inner strength.

In this episode of the Women Of Impact series, join us as we dive into the incredible journey of Debbie Gobbett, the founder of Press Play LLC. Debbie's story spans continents, from Zimbabwe to the UK, and now thriving in the UAE, where she's changing the game in real estate photography and videography. 

Join host Jen Blandos in an inspiring episode as she welcomes Tala Badri, the visionary founder of the Centre for Musical Arts in Dubai. Discover the transformational power of entrepreneurship, especially for those with young children, as Tala shares her incredible journey

In this episode of "Women on the Rise," Jen Blandos interviews Stevi Lowmass, the founder of the Camel Soap Factory in Dubai. Stevi shares her incredible journey of transforming a unique idea into a thriving business. From her background in electronic payments to her passion for sustainable and regional products, Stevi takes us through her entrepreneurial path. She discusses the challenges of starting a soap-making business from scratch, the importance of customer feedback, and the impact of COVID-19 on her company. 

Join host Jen Blandos as she sits down with Theresa Tsui, one of the founding members of Skills Three, a purpose-driven social enterprise. Skills Three empowers women from disadvantaged communities by teaching them sewing skills and helping them create sustainable livelihoods. In this insightful conversation, Theresa shares the journey of Skills Three, their unique approach to teaching, and how they've successfully navigated the challenges of pricing and partnerships as a social enterprise.

In this episode, Jen Blandos sits down with Oana Andreea Radu, a successful entrepreneur and founding member of Female Fusion. Oana shares her entrepreneurial journey, which began nine years ago when she started her first business. Today, she runs an immigration consultancy company, an online marketplace, and several other projects. 

Join us in this captivating episode of the "Women on the Rise" podcast, where we continue to showcase remarkable female entrepreneurs from Female Fusion. Today, we feature Pamela Lilburne, the visionary founder of Linen Obsession. Pamela's entrepreneurial journey takes us from Australia to Dubai, encompassing challenges, marketing wisdom, and the significance of having a clear vision.

In today's special episode of "Women of Impact," we continue our month-long series featuring inspiring female entrepreneurs within Female Fusion. Host Jen Blandos sits down with member Priyaa Telavvane, the founder of 361 Degrees Design, to delve into her fascinating journey as an entrepreneur.

In this episode of our Women of Impact series, Jen welcomes Female Fusion member Mukta, the founder of Miss Palatable, for a deep dive into the beauty industry. Mukta shares her journey from a finance career to the world of cosmetics, highlighting her mission to bring cruelty-free and consciously formulated beauty products to Dubai. She discusses the challenges and opportunities in the beauty business, the importance of a unique brand identity, and the evolving consumer awareness post-COVID.

Join host Jen Blandos in a lively conversation with Clare Napper, the creative mind behind "The High Life" in the UAE. Clare shares her remarkable journey from working in advertising to becoming an acclaimed artist known for her iconic Dubai-inspired posters.

Join host Jen Blandos in this episode of "Women on the Rise '' as she chats with Priyanka Sengar, the visionary founder of Women First Jobs. Priyanka shares her inspiring journey from a successful corporate career to launching a groundbreaking platform that focuses on empowering female talent globally.

In this episode of "Women on the Rise," Jen sits down with the dynamic entrepreneur Sarmistha Mitra, founder of The Wellbeing Sanctuary in Dubai. Join them as they dive into the world of wellness centres and the journey of establishing a premium and authentic space amidst a bustling market.

In this episode, we sit down with Julie Mallon, the founder of Nurture 2 Sleep, to explore the profound impact of sleep on our overall well-being and business success. Julie, a former nurse and midwife, delves into the science behind sleep, sharing how it affects our cognitive function, emotional health, and physical performance. 

Join host Jen Blandos in this inspiring episode of Women the Women of Impact series with special guest Hanan Wehbi, founder of Maknoon. Discover the heartfelt story behind Maknoon's luxury brand that celebrates heritage and culture while giving back to communities in Lebanon, Palestine, and Syria. 

Hanan shares her journey of connecting with her roots, the challenges of building a unique business, and the power of patience and networking.

Join us in this episode of the "Women of Impact" series for an insightful conversation with Rana Akkad, the founder of "Jad's Inclusion," a unique special needs school in Dubai. Rana shares her inspiring journey of establishing a bridge between mainstream education and special needs centres for children who fall in between, facing academic, emotional, or physical struggles.

Through "Jad's Inclusion," Rana has created a safe and nurturing space for children with diverse abilities, focusing on incubating their strengths and helping them reintegrate into the community with confidence. Discover the importance of believing in your vision, fostering a supportive community, and embracing neurodiversity for a brighter, more inclusive future.

Join Jen as she chats with Zahara D'Souza, an experienced travel counsellor and an integral part of the Female Fusion community. Discover Zahara's incredible journey from the events industry to becoming a successful travel counsellor, thriving through challenges, and embracing the joys of exploring new destinations.

Tune in to explore the art of personalised travel planning, the significance of nurturing client relationships, and the magic of venturing into uncharted territories. You’ll be inspired by Zahara's genuine love for travel and her unique insights into the evolving landscape of travel counselling.

Step into the world of UAE business setup with host Jen Blandos and special guest Jenna Jenkins. In this insightful episode, Jenna, a seasoned business advisor, shares her expertise on the dynamic landscape of setting up a business in the UAE.

Discover how Mita saw a gap in the market and transformed her tech-centric PR agency into a powerhouse, focusing on underserved areas, and how she's now paving the way for AI startups. Dive into the world of communications, as Mita reveals the common PR mistakes small businesses make and offers actionable advice to stand out in the digital age.

In this episode, Jen shares 30 invaluable lessons from her podcasting journey with Female Fusion. Whether you're new to podcasting or looking to enhance your skills, these lessons offer practical wisdom to guide you.

This episode is a roadmap for clarity, purpose, and success in your podcasting endeavors.

This week's special guest is Hayley Mack, a creative visionary with a background in brand marketing. Hayley is the founder of Cent.Ldn, a one-of-a-kind candle business born during the pandemic. 

With her keen eye for detail and a passion for connecting with people through nostalgic storytelling, Hayley has transformed her love for candles into a thriving enterprise. Her unique approach to product development, focusing on capturing the essence of culture and music through her designs, has led to her candles being featured in prestigious stores worldwide.

In this episode of Women on the Rise, Jen Blandos talks about shiny object syndrome and how it can affect female entrepreneurs' businesses. Shiny object syndrome is the distraction and attraction to new, trendy ideas, opportunities, and trends that can be overwhelming for entrepreneurs. The constant influx of new ideas can cause them to lose focus on their core business goals and miss out on potential success.

Over the next 30 minutes, Jen discusses ten things that are common shiny objects that entrepreneurs can get distracted by, such as unnecessary spending, investing in the latest technology, and buying unnecessary software or courses.

She also highlights the importance of spending money wisely and investing in things that will drive success in the long term. For example, you may be tempted to spend a lot of money on a flashy, expensive website, but a basic brochure website can be just as effective when starting out. She also rdelives a timely reminder to prioritize networking and winning business, instead of focusing too much on unnecessary spending or technology.

In the latest episode of the Women on the Rise podcast, host Jen Blandos shares some valuable insights for female business owners who are struggling to make enough money. 

By following these tips, female business owners can increase their revenue and grow their business. 

Intuition serves as an essential tool for making decisions in the entrepreneurial world. It can help to quickly navigate through different scenarios and lead to more authentic and aligned choices.

When you learn to trust your intuition, you can uncover creative solutions and develop a deeper understanding of you businesses’ core values. Intuition can also play a significant role in cultivating an atmosphere of confidence, self-reliance, and authenticity.

In this episode of the Women on the Rise podcast, Jen Blandos encourages fellow female entrepreneurs to embrace their intuition and not shy away from making insightful decisions based on their instincts.

This week's podcast episode is all about something that's been a hot topic lately - working for free. As entrepreneurs, we've probably all been in that situation where we're asked to work for free in exchange for "exposure" or to build up our portfolio. But is it really worth it?

In this episode, we'll dive into why we shouldn't be working for free, except in a few select circumstances. When we work for free, it undervalues our work and makes it harder to charge what we're worth later on. We'll also talk about how some big companies try to get small businesses to work for free and why we should be careful about those offers.

When this week's guest, a hospitality consultant and vintage aficionado, found her entrepreneurial dreams are in jeopardy due to the pandemic, she pivoted to a bold bartering strategy to keep her secondhand store afloat.

Jelena Dancetovic is the GM and part owner of Retold, a secondhand clothing store in Dubai. She has 15 years of experience in hospitality and has been passionate about secondhand clothes since she was a child.

When she moved to Dubai 15 years ago, Jelena quickly found that it was too expensive to buy new clothes. She combined her hospitality background with her passion for vintage, and in 2012 started her own online vintage shop. When the pandemic hit, Jelena was faced with bankruptcy, but she quickly adapted her business model and started buying second-hand clothes from those leaving the country. By using her contacts in hospitality, she was able to organize events and used influencers to spread the word.

In a society where women receive less than 2% of capital investments, this week's podcast guest is on a mission to challenge the status quo and use gender as a lens to empower female founders.

Heather Henyon is the founder of Mindshift Capital, a gender lens VC fund. She has been investing in women for over a decade and has experience in building seven figure businesses around the world.

In this episode, Heather shares how the relationship between investors and entrepreneurs is like a marriage, and the importance of finding the right people, doing due diligence, and building organic relationships.

Today's guest, Maxine Cunningham created Pick My Brain to unlock a global marketplace of conversations, services, and expertise to help you dream out loud and manifest your vision.

 In this episode, Maxine shares how she was inspired to create Pick My Brain after asking herself what value conversations held and how they could be traded. Since it's conception 4 years go, she has conducted over a thousand Pick My Brain calls with people from 196 countries, covering every industry, culture, and background.  

This week's guest on the Women on the Rise Podcast is Olga Fleming - an angel investor specializing in tech-related investments such as Fintech, PropTech, Aviation Tech, and Travel Tech. She is a lawyer with a background in compliance, and she is passionate about helping startups to succeed.

Olga is an angel investor who focuses on investing in early-stage startups, providing them with both financial and advisory support. She works with startups to help them understand the importance of having the right advisors and investors onboard, and helps them find the right investors to make their project a success.

In this episode of the Women on the Rise podcast, Jen's 14-year old daughter Eva shares her experience of growing up with a mother who is an entrepreneur.

Eva discusses how she felt when her mother couldn't make it to all of her school events and provides words of wisdom for all working mothers, emphasising the importance of taking time for oneself and communicating with your children.

Eva's story serves as a reminder that it is possible to balance running a business and having a family.

After years of struggling to set boundaries and prioritize her own health and well-being, Jen (a self-confessed people pleaser) shares her empowering journey to establish healthy limits while making her business dreams a reality.

In this episode, Jen opens up about how by finally prioritizing and setting clear boundaries she was able to focus on growing Female Fusion while also making time for her family and herself. She also shares the calendar-blocking hack that allowed her to be more creative and relieved the pressure of being available all the time - and so much more!

We're shining the spotlight on all things PRICING this week, as Jen Blandos takes a deep dive into the pricing strategies that could enhance your business - including cost-based pricing, value-based pricing, pricing according to competitors, penetration pricing, loss leader pricing, and high initial pricing.

While each strategy comes with its own pros and cons, and Jen's breakdown and analysis of each in this episode will make a huge difference in determining which one will work best for your business.

Discover how one entrepreneur grew her business by 5x in just one year - and how you can too!

Jen Blandos, the founder of Female Fusion Network, shares her insights and expertise as a global entrepreneur, and how she created the right environment for Female Fusion Network to 5x its revenue in 2022.

In this podcast, Jen is taking you on a deep-dive into how to review your business' performance from 2022 to make the best decisions for 2023.

She will help you to uncover the essential elements of evaluating a small business' financial standing and how to interpret the numbers to make informed decisions for the future.

In this podcast premiere episode, your host Jen Blandos shares her experiences in overcoming challenges as an entrepreneur, and how she learned to think big, take risks, and pivot when faced with adversity. Despite being told "no" and facing the global recession, Jen was able to build multiple successful businesses and move to Dubai with her family. She overcame personal and professional challenges, including being diagnosed with breast cancer, to keep her business not only running, but thriving.