“Dubai is where the Iranian private sector breathes and prospers.”¹ –Vali Nasr, 2009 __________ The UAE has a well-earned reputation as a world-class center for commerce, finance, logistics and more. By modernizing its infrastructure and reforming regulations to draw foreign investors, the Gulf nation is better equipped to withstand slumping oil prices than its neighbors….

Headlines focus on conflict and tension in the Arab world, but the rapid growth of broadband is important news that’s been under the radar. The mobile revolution is transforming the way people live and do business in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) and that development merits attention. The growth of broadband at about…

A founder with a great idea and the will to see it through can move mountains. But even the most capable founders often need a helping hand to overcome barriers to building a business.  THE MOST SATISFYING PART OF MY JOB IS MENTORING the next generation of entrepreneurs as they build tomorrow’s great companies. Working…

This is one of those “what I’ve learned” essays. It’s not meant to sound preachy. Helping emerging entrepreneurs in their early/growth stages informs the way I advise corporate clients at every stage of development. This is about the “gestalt” of what I tell clients rather than the methodology or process. From designing, building and marketing…