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Crossing the Desert is the UAE's first reality show, where the central narrative follows an entrepreneur arriving in Dubai with the goal of launching a business. Each episode presents unique challenges and tests, creating a dynamic and unpredictable storyline. We ourselves do not know how our first season will end, because this is the real story of our host, and we experience it alongside him and our listeners! As our host navigates the journey of making decisions for his own business, he al ...
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If you’ve ever been served a drink adorned with a beautiful flower, there’s a good chance it came from Greeneration’s vertical farm. This farm specializes in growing microgreens and edible flowers for high-end restaurants. In this episode, we’re joined by its founder, Roman, and Daria, the Vice President of Growth & Product. They share insights on …
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Ep11 – How to increase your profit making data based decisions – Crossing the Desert – Fortis
43:08
In this episode, entrepreneurs launch their business based on precise calculations. They go all-in: putting in all their savings, taking out loans, selling their car — all to open a great spot and spend everything in 3 months. Will they manage to turn a profit within those three months? The hero of this episode is Rakesh Jain, the founder of Hive B…
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In this episode, a student project evolves into a lifelong endeavor. Stickers are revealed to have a thousand-year history. Despite attacks from critics, mutual understanding prevails. And karak flows through our veins. This time, Isaac interviews Raghad Murad, the founder of the Waggish sticker and merch brand. They discuss cultural references, Ar…
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You'll hear two stories. Daniel van Dooren and his partner Scott Chambers First had founded their surfing school on an empty market: no competitors, small community of surfers – and nobody else knew you could surf in Dubai. Galina Volgach started a real estate agency — to compete with thousand agencies in Dubai. In their stories businesses from bei…
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Get ready for another thrilling journey in Season 2 of Crossing the Desert! This time, our host isn’t just finding his footing—he’s making bold moves, taking bigger risks, and facing tougher challenges as he continues his mission to launch a business in Dubai. With new obstacles around every corner, Season 2 dives deeper into the highs and lows of …
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Ep8 – How to outsource manufacturing – With Botanist’s Simona Sotirovska – Crossing the Desert – Fortis
33:55
In this episode, Isaac discovers that to own a home care products brand, you don’t need your own production, equipment, or even your own formulas. In the modern world, you can own a restaurant without having a kitchen or a dining space. You can own a bakery without buying flour or hiring bakers. Isaac talks to Simona Sotirovska. She and her partner…
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Ep7 – How To Sell If You Are More Of A 'Product Person' – With Skin Concept’s Aisha Chishti - Crossing The Desert - Fortis
41:30
Budget numbers, big sales that can ruin a business, story about scummers, and tips on how to find suppliers – in this episode Isaac talks to Aisha Chishti. Aisha runs Skin Concept, a brand of handcrafted self-care products. It is very important for Aisha that everything is made by hand and from scratch, all products are sustainable and at the same …
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Ep6 – How To Delegate Work To Employees: Standardization, Hiring, Control – With Arabiatee’s Lidia – Crossing The Desert – Fortis
40:06
Lidia has developed her own method of teaching Arabic. It turned out to be so good that native-speaking Arab teachers invited her to teach it to them, and the students began to speak after the third lesson. In this episode, Lidia shares insights into transforming her teaching method into a thriving business, detailing her processes for hiring, onbo…
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Ep5 – How To Manage A Business And A Family – With Mumz And Munchkinz’ Hannah – Crossing The Desert – Fortis
36:05
There was a time when Hannah’s business had three directions at once: furniture production, a clothing brand for children, and events for children and their moms. And all of it while being a mom to three kids. It’d been too much so she had to prioritize and rebuild her business. Now her family and her business are growing together in synergy.If you…
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Ep4 – How To Build A Side Business While Working A Full Time Job – With Levant’s Wajda Khalidi – Crossing The Desert – Fortis
40:21
In the fourth episode of Fortis’s Crossing The Desert, Isaac is joined by Levant's Wajda Khalidi. Wajda shares her journey of balancing a demanding office career while slowly building her business step by step. She discusses the importance of patience and persistence, the challenges of maintaining product quality, and how she turned personal challe…
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Ep3 – How To Deal With People Copying Your Designs - With Tica's Omar & Dina - Crossing The Desert - Fortis
33:31
“So I sad: this is not your design, this can’t be right. And the guy said: what are you going to do about it?” I am Isaac, an entrepreneur who just moved to Dubai. In this episode, I interview Omar and Dina, the owners of the brand Tica’s . They will tell you what happened when they found their products being copied and the innovative business idea…
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Ep2 – How To Bring Investors To Your Business – With DK Hot Sauce's Danny - Crossing The Desert - Fortis
49:46
“If you respect city it respects you back” In this episode, Isaac interviews Danny, founder of the DK Hot Sause brand, and his wife Maria. Denny will tell you how he opened a business after working at Jimmy Choo and Armani, what working on an international cruise ship taught him, and how Covid had changed his life. Maria will tell how she created a…
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Ep1 – How To Grow A Sustainability Business In Dubai - With Sustainably U's Simy - Crossing The Desert - Fortis
36:23
“Our focus is always that that thing that will happen, but there it's just an imagination. You need to focus on today”. I am Isaac, an entrepreneur who just moved to Dubai. In this episode, I interview Simy, sustainable fashion designer and founder of the brand Sustainably U. She’ll tell you why every business should be sustainable, and how the ide…
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Welcome to “Crossing the Desert” podcast by Fortis. Here we tell stories of how businesses are setting and growing in the Emirates. You are gonna listen to Isaac's story; when he first came to Dubai he was impressed with it’s business spirit and huge projects. But he believes it’s not only about it. Ambitious dreamers come to Emirates to bring here…
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