In this episode of Coffee and Career Chats: Startup Edition, host Adel Hameed unpacks the “Authenticity Paradox”—the tension between staying true to oneself and adapting in a fast-changing world. Joined by Dr. Jana Habson, founder of Dubai’s MCM Conscious Mental Wellness Center, they explore how authenticity can sometimes conflict with leadership demands, especially in diverse cultural settings.

Dr. Habson examines the impact of collectivistic and individualistic cultures on leadership, offering insights into how these cultural differences shape perceptions of authenticity. Together, they discuss how societal norms and national backgrounds can challenge leaders to rethink what it means to be “authentic” and offer strategies to balance genuine leadership with cultural adaptability.

Whether you’re leading a team or aspiring to start your own venture, this episode provides practical takeaways on maintaining core values while being mindful of cultural dynamics in today’s globalized landscape.

Dr. Jana Habson’s LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/janarahabson/

Links to the two articles:

1. The Authenticity Paradox, by Hermania Ibarra, https://hbr.org/2015/01/the-authenticity-paradox.

2. When Your Good Mentor Goes Bad, by Amy Jen Su and Muriel Maignan Wilkins, https://hbr.org/2010/07/how-to-makeover-your-mentoring
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In this episode of Coffee and Career Chat: Startup Edition, host Adel Hameed discusses the essentials of startup leadership. Whether you're scaling your team or navigating the complexities of leading a fast-paced startup, this episode offers actionable insights to help you become a more effective leader.

We explore the LEDA Leadership Framework—Leading with Empathy, Empowering Employees, Decisive Decision-Making, and Adaptability to Change—to highlight the key qualities that define successful startup leaders. Adel also shares her insights from the Action-Based Mastery (ABM) leadership framework, emphasizing the importance of balancing strategic thinking with hands-on execution.

Finally, we discuss practical ways to create a feedback-rich culture in your startup, drawing on insights from Ron Carucci’s Harvard Business Review article, "4 Ways to Get Honest, Critical Feedback from Your Employees." Learn how to ask for pushback, read nonverbal cues, and foster an environment where your team feels safe to speak up.

Tune in for practical tips, personal anecdotes, and expert advice on how to lead with confidence and adaptability in the dynamic world of startups. Don’t miss out—listen now, and level up your leadership skills!

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In today’s episode of Coffee and Career Chats: Startup Edition, we dive into one of the most critical phases in a startup’s journey—scaling. We'll explore the challenges of scaling a startup, from maintaining product or service quality as your customer base expands, to talent acquisition and financial management. Discover practical strategies that successful startup leaders swear by to scale effectively without losing your way.

Our case study in this episode is inspired by an insightful article by Michael Redbord from Harvard Business Review titled "Scaling Customer Service as Your Startup Grows." We relate it to our own experience at PayTabs, where we turned our TrustPilot rating from under 1 in 2019 to consistently maintaining above 4 out of 5 for nearly four years through customer-centricity and proactive service strategies.

Don't miss out on this episode if you're in the midst of scaling your startup or aspiring to grow your business. Remember, growth isn’t just about getting bigger; it’s about getting better while keeping your customers at the heart of it all.

Be sure to check out the full article by Michael Redbord [link in the description], and don't forget to share, rate, and subscribe for more actionable insights!

#StartupGrowth #ScalingStrategies #CustomerCentricity #Leadership #Entrepreneurship #SaaS #StartupChallenges

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