We have officially wrapped up season 1 of the Diving for Pearls (DFP) podcast. A special thank you to all of our listeners and guests for their unwavering support. A special thank you to The Skylark Collective U.K for the 2022 podcast nomination and for amplifying the voices of women across the globe. We are truly appreciative of the international recognition and nod.

In this Bonus Episode of Season 1 of DFP_UAE, I sit down with Roza Bairu, Marketing Manager at MindShift Consultants and former Marketing Executive at RBC TV in Dubai, to discuss how practicing self-reflection, developing a value system and resisting the urge to cover up our vulnerabilities, allow us to make choices about our lives and identity that are liberating and congruent with our true authentic self.

Roza shares how cultivating self-awareness and self-acceptance propelled her along her own journey of personal growth and self-discovery. No longer paralyzed by the fear of other people’s opinions, Roza began opening up about her struggles and letting go of her emotional armour. It was coping with the loss of her mother in 2019 that punctuated Roza’s spiritual journey, compelling her to look inward and ask for help. Roza found that by being genuine and real about what she needed, not only led to better outcomes, but helped restore inner peace. Roza maintains that when we develop nourishing relationships & surround ourselves with accepting, supportive people, we let go of unnecessary stress and judgment; we learn to be vulnerable, abandon ideas of perfection, vocalize our feelings & needs and learn to live more consciously in the present moment.

Please subscribe to the Diving for Pearls podcast on Apple, Spotify, Patreon, iHeart and wherever you listen to podcasts and please rate and review. Thank you in advance for your support. Please connect with Roza on Instagram @rozabairu and on LinkedIn @Roza Bairu Habtemariam.

Thank you.

@rozabairu @sarah_ham_71 @oprah @violadavis @sally_helgesen @coachgoldsmith @minsdhiftae @howwomenrise @ouraziza @linkedin @hubspot @msginapnelson @leeanddawndigital @divingforpearlsofficial @district2020 @buzzsprout

References and Websites:

MindShift-https://mindshift.ae/

Marianne Williamson- https://marianne.com/

Dr. Wayne Dyer- https://www.drwaynedyer.com/

Our Deepest Fear Quote- https://www.goodreads.com/quotes/928-our-deepest-fear-is-not-that-we-are-inadequate-our

The Journey of a Broken-Hearted Daughter- https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/journey-broken-hearted-daughter-roza-bairu-habtemariam-/

Diving for Pearls Ep. 12 with Tatyana Brown-

https://divingforpearls.buzzsprout.com/1489483/8915498-tatyana-brown-on-the-power-of-love-to-heal-ourselves-our-relationships-and-our-communities

How Women Rise by Sally Helgesen & Marshall Goldsmith

Off Balance: Getting Beyond the Work-Life Balance Myth to Personal and Professional Satisfaction by Matthew Kelly

(“Beautiful Spheres” by Aleksandra Krstic is the theme song for the DFP podcast. Please follow Aleksandra Krstic on Instagram at AleksandraKrstic_official and on FB at Aleksandra Krstic).

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Episode #21 of the Diving for Pearls (DFP) podcast has officially launched!!! In this final episode of Season 1 of DFP_UAE, I sit down with Mucha Nyandoro, Founder and Principal of Manelith, a Dubai-based management consultancy, and Founder and Chief of Tribe of Professional Tribes, to discuss how we can use amplification to improve equity, inclusion and dignity for all. Mucha contends that when we look for opportunities to deliberately amplify the stories and voices of others, especially women, we benefit everyone and help overcome status deficits. A Zimbabwean at heart, Mucha posits that when we serve as mentors to share knowledge and connections, we create unity amongst groups and shift away from dominant and mainstream narratives that are harmful and hurtful. A mentor with the Dubai Business Women Council, Mucha is on a mission to reshape conversations so that not only are women’s voices throughout Africa and the globe heard and heeded, but a different story about the African continent is told.

Please subscribe to the Diving for Pearls podcast on Apple, Spotify, Patreon, iHeart and wherever you listen to podcasts and please rate and review. Thank you in advance for your support. Please connect with Mucha Nyandoro on Instagram @mucha_nyandoro and professional_tribes, on Facebook @Professional Tribes, on LinkedIn @Mucha Hazel Nyandoro and Professional Tribes. Additionally, please connect with Mucha at https://professionaltribes.com/

Thank you.

@mucha_nyandoro

@quintessentially_yvonne

@theladymayowa

@professional_tribes

@_manelith

@uae_africa_networking_group

@pan_africa_collective

@africaunion_official

@ouraziza

@dbwc_uae

@msginapnelson

@divingforpearlsofficial

@district2020

@buzzsprout

References and Websites:

Professional Tribes -https://professionaltribes.com/

Dubai Business Women Council- https://www.dbwc.ae/

Dubai Chamber of Commerce- https://www.dubaichamber.com/

Agenda 2063- https://au.int/en/agenda2063/overview

Unicef 2019 Report- https://www.unicef.org/sites/default/files/2020-06/UNICEF-annual-report-2019_2.pdf

UAE in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math- https://www.uaeusaunited.com/story/uae-women-lead-stem

Diving for Pearls Ep. 12 with Tatyana Brown-

https://divingforpearls.buzzsprout.com/1489483/8915498-tatyana-brown-on-the-power-of-love-to-heal-ourselves-our-relationships-and-our-communities

Diving for Pearls Ep. 13 with Yvonne Mtengwa-

https://divingforpearls.buzzsprout.com/1489483/9221040-yvonne-mtengwa-on-leaning-into-faith-in-times-of-uncertainty

Diving for Pearls Ep. 16 with Mayowa Adegoke- https://divingforpearls.buzzsprout.com/1489483/9807129-mayowa-adegoke-on-the-power-of-story-to-transform-lives-hope-for-a-more-prosperous-africa

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Episode #20 of the Diving for Pearls podcast has officially launched!!! In this episode, I sit down with Sandra Martinho, Dubai-based international author, health consultant, spiritualist and storyteller to discuss how practicing the art of surrender and yielding to the natural unfolding of our lives can serve as key to us being anchored in peace and freedom. A colon cancer survivor and mother of two, Sandra chronicles her healing journey in “The Dance of Life”, a book she wrote as a guide to help others reconnect to self and reclaim their personal power. It was in reconnecting with her essence, returning to who she was before cancer, that allowed Sandra to heal her body, mind and soul. In making a conscious decision to live, she reminds us to breathe through changes, feel the pain, cry the tears, and let the changes that will happen, happen. As we are unable to “disaster-proof” every area of our lives, Sandra encourages us to focus on what we can control- our responses to what’s happening to us and what we can change within to become the person we want to be. She urges us to tap into our core nature, our true essence to uncover joy, happiness and purpose no matter our life circumstances.

Please subscribe to the Diving for Pearls podcast on Apple, Spotify, Patreon, iHeart and wherever you listen to podcasts and please rate and review. Thank you in advance for your support. Please connect with Sandra http://sandramartinho.com/

Additionally, please connect with Sandra on Instagram @sandra.c.i.martinho

on Facebook @ Sandra Martinho, on Linked in @Sandra Martinho and Twitter @SandraMartinho3.

Thank you.

@sandra.c.i.martinho

@csillagszem_

@tombilyeu

@msginapnelson

@impacttheory

@divingforpearlsofficial

@district2020

@buzzsprout

References and Websites:

Sandra Martinho -http://sandramartinho.com/

R.A.C.E (Raise Awareness of Coaching in Education)- https://coaching4education.com/

Man’s Search for Meaning by Vicktor Frankl

Impact Theory Podcast with Tom Bilyeu- https://impacttheory.com/

The Self-Determination Theory- https://selfdeterminationtheory.org/

(“Beautiful Spheres” by Aleksandra Krstic is the theme song for the DFP podcast. Please follow Aleksandra Krstic on Instagram at AleksandraKrstic_official and on FB at Aleksandra Krstic).

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Episode #19 of the Diving for Pearls podcast has officially launched!!! In this episode, I sit down with Courtney Brandt, Dubai-based author, food writer, content creator, speaker and feminist, to discuss how dogged perserverance, cultivating a mindset of grit and finding your tribe can make a marked difference in both your personal and professional life. The author of fourteen novels, four of which were published in 2020, and the Founder of A to Za’atar, a platform showcasing culinary and hospitality experiences from the UAE and beyond, Courtney inspires excellence and maintains that sustained, consistent effort toward a goal on a daily basis will enable us to adapt well in the face of change and adversity. Courtney’s commitment to the process of getting better without becoming emotionally attached to the results, has allowed her to parlay opportunities and take advantage of serendipity when it occurred. In addition to being a prolific writer, Courtney is a staunch advocate of equity in education, stressing that education be the backbone for nation building. Courtney upholds that providing a universal quality education for young girls and women in particular, is fundamental to the economic growth and development of all nations and that everyone should be promoting it to the greatest levels.

Please subscribe to the Diving for Pearls podcast on Apple, Spotify, Patreon, iHeart and wherever you listen to podcasts and please rate and review. Thank you in advance for your support. Please connect with Courtney @https://atozaatar.substack.com/

Additionally, please connect with Courtney on Instagram @_courtneybrandt_, on Facebook @AtoZa’atar, Linked in @Courtney Brandt and Twitter @CourtneyBrandt.

Thank you.

References and Websites:

A to Za’atar - https://atozaatar.substack.com/

Hello 7 Podcast- https://helloseven.co/podcast-page/

Hamnet by Maggie O’Farrell

K 9 Friends- https://www.k9friends.com/

Tresind Studio- https://tresindstudio.com/

Boca- https://boca.ae/

Hi Joint- https://www.instagram.com/high.joint/

(“Beautiful Spheres” by Aleksandra Krstic is the theme song for the DFP podcast. Please follow Aleksandra Krstic on Instagram at AleksandraKrstic_official and on FB at Aleksandra Krstic).

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Episode #18 of the Diving for Pearls podcast has officially launched!!! In this episode, I sit down with Lydia Andrews, Wealth Advisor and Wealth & Mindset Coach, and Founder of Love Yourself Financially to discuss fundamental steps you can take to build wealth for the long-term, attract life-changing abundance and foster growth where you need it most. As someone who has had to analyze her life from both a macro and micro level, Lydia recommends tapping into every aspect of our experiences to help us process events, clarify our thinking and hone in on what truly matters. With discipline and intentionality, she believes that we can lean into kindness and compassion everyday to shift our awareness, connect with others in authentic ways and experience the success, wealth and prosperity we all deserve.

Imbued with a desire to help and make an impact during some of her more formative years, Lydia, a native of Ghana, worked on supporting the disadvantaged and vulnerable through philanthropic work both in high school and college. It was her parents’ teachings about “lending a hand” to enable individuals and communities achieve positive outcomes that deeply resonated with her. Anchoring herself to some of the family’s core values, Lydia continued to focus on ways in which she could have real and sustainable impact on others. Through a series of career iterations and a journey of self-discovery, Lydia eventually moved to the financial sphere, focusing her efforts on providing economic development opportunities to women. Via workshops and coaching sessions, Lydia teaches women how to nurture and manage the money they have earned and grow it. In a similar vein, Lydia encourages our listeners to make courageous choices in career opportunities and relationships that will help them earn wealth, build wealth and eventually go on to preserve wealth. It is working from these three pillars (earn wealth, build wealth and preserve wealth) that Lydia believes that you can start your true wealth creation journey.

Please subscribe to the Diving for Pearls podcast on Apple, Spotify, Patreon, iHeart and wherever you listen to podcasts and please rate and review. Thank you in advance for your support. Please connect with Lydia on Facebook, on Instagram & Twitter @lydialydzzz and on LinkedIn @Lydia-Elim Andrews. Additionally please connect with Lydia at https://www.loveyourselffinancially.com/

Thank you.

References and Websites:
Love Yourself Financially
For the Love of Money by the O’Jays
FOPO (Fear of People’s Opinion)
Hello 7 Podcast
Why Women Won’t Ask for a Pay Raise

The Richest Man in Babylon by George S. Clason
We Should All Be Millionaires by Rachel Rodgers
Redefine Wealth for Yourself: How to Stop Chasing Money and Finally Live Your Life’s Purpose by Patrice C. Washington
Think and Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill
Who You Were Meant to Be: A Guide to Finding Or Recovering Your Life’s Purpose by Lindsay C. Gibson
The Lean Startup by Eric Ries
Start With Why by Simon Sinek

(“Beautiful Spheres” by Aleksandra Krstic is the theme song for the DFP podcast. Please follow Aleksandra Krstic on Instagram at AleksandraKrstic_official and on FB at Aleksandra Krstic).

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Episode #17 of the Diving for Pearls podcast has officially launched!!! In this episode, I sit down with Nancy Alhyari, Academic Cluster Manager for Abu Dhabi Public Schools and Acting Chief Financial Officer for Bella & Bella Productions, a platform dedicated to lifting, nurturing and empowering strong communities of women across the globe. We engage in dialogue about allowing core values to serve as guiding forces in one’s life, making intentional choices “to be” rather than “do”, connecting more deeply with the things & people who matter, and the importance of acknowledging & celebrating small wins and successes. An eternal learner committed to learning, growing and developing, Nancy has found ample opportunities to practice stewardship and help others understand their vision and purpose. Noting that a leader’s most powerful ally is his/her example, Nancy chooses to lead with the heart. She fervently believes that both empathy and compassion can be a powerful antidote to exclusion, divisiveness and conflict in our schools, communities and world. She believes that if we strengthen our own empathy skills, we can help others do the same.

A native of Amman, Jordan where women have been increasingly emerging as leaders and visionaries, Nancy is using her voice to ensure that young women live a positive and self-empowered life and make full use of their talents and abilities. An electrical engineer by trade and training, Nancy remains keen on raising awareness about female leadership and changing social norms about women in the workplace. Adopting her parents’ belief that women can achieve anything they set their mind to, Nancy encourages women to tap into their potential and leverage their innate talents and strengths to become fully, contributing and participatory members of their communities. It is Nancy’s hope that women avail themselves of opportunities in underrepresented fields and support & mentor their fellow female colleagues.

Adopting as a personal credo the notion of “leaving things in better shape than when you first got there” and understanding that in order to lead others you must lead yourself first, Nancy is making a conscious effort to create a safe space for individuals to have deep, meaningful and honest heart-to-heart conversations. It was her parents who fostered an ethos within the home for discussing the “undiscussable”. Following in her parents’ footsteps, Nancy has created authentic spaces for her students and colleagues alike to hold courageous conversations with shared respect and openness, thus enabling positive change and growth.

Please subscribe to the Diving for Pearls podcast on Apple, Spotify, Patreon, iHeart and wherever you listen to podcasts and please rate and review. Thank you in advance for your support. Please connect with Nancy on LinkedIn @Nancy Alhyari and on Instagram @nancyalhiyari.

Thank you.

References and Websites:

Jordanian Women Have Come a Long Way, but Much Work Remains to be Done-

https://www.arabnews.com/node/1821501/middle-east

12 Rules for Life: An Antidote to Chaos by Jordan B. Peterson

The 7 Habits of Highly Effective Peopleby Stephen R. Covey

How to Stop Worrying and Start Living by Dale Carnegie

The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse by Charlie Mackesy

Quote by Ralph Waldo Emerson- https://www.goodreads.com/quotes/7213675-to-laugh-often-and-much-to-win-the-respect-of

Locked In Syndrome

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Episode #16 of the Diving for Pearls podcast has officially launched!!! In this episode, I sit down with Mayowa Adegoke, a foreign correspondent for Channels TV, one of Africa’s leading news stations, to discuss the issues that Nigeria and the rest of world must address, from building trust & fostering collaboration to prioritizing education & embracing innovation, in order to move towards a more equitable and sustainable path. With a push for greater transparency and accountability on the part of those charged with governance, Mayowa believes that stability and prosperity can be achieved throughout Nigeria and the rest of the Africa continent.

Moving from the old, tired, oversimplistic narrative of Africa to a more balanced and hopeful one, according to Mayowa, will ultimately require a change in thinking, culture and ethos. Adamant about shifting and reframing the African narrative, Mayowa takes an intentional approach to sharing good news stories, and challenges media personnel and others to utilize their platform to keep conversations oriented in a positive direction, so as to influence, uplift and empower.

Growing up in a country that has the largest economy in Africa, Mayowa was surrounded with a strong familial support system that enabled her to embrace the indefatigable “can do” spirit of Nigeria, an optimistic spirit that has sustained Nigerians for generations upon generations. Mayowa credits both of her parents for believing in her dreams and modeling persistence at an early age. As a result of their immense belief in her and her capabilities, Mayowa was able to define her worth and nurture the seeds of self-confidence in others.

Mayowa, who is a champion of female empowerment, challenges women to channel the power of collaboration to be more forward-thinking, more solution-focused and take greater control of their lives. As someone who has always embraced authenticity in business and in life, Mayowa stresses the importance of living in alignment with one’s personal truths. She challenges us to own who we are in order to be more deeply connected to our natural abilities, strengths, and talents and live a richer, more complete life.

Please subscribe to the Diving for Pearls podcast on Apple, Spotify, Patreon, iHeart and wherever you listen to podcasts and please rate and review. Thank you in advance for your support. Please connect with Mayowa on LinkedIn @Mayowa Adegoke, on Instagram @theladymayowa and on Facebook @Mayowa Ogundele.

Thank you.

References and Websites:

Sacha Jafri- https://humanity-inspired.com/jafri.html

Khaleej Times-https://www.khaleejtimes.com/uae/kt-impact-sheikh-hamdan-comes-to-the-aid-of-nigerian-couple-with-quadruplets-in-dubai

Lovin Dubai- https://lovin.co/dubai/en/community/this-dubai-security-guard-has-incredible-musical-talent

Channels Television-https://www.channelstv.com/live/

CNN Africa- https://edition.cnn.com/africa

We Should All Be Millionaires: A Woman’s Guide to Earning More, Building Wealth, and Gaining Economic Power by Rachel Rodgers

(“Beautiful Spheres” by Aleksandra Krstic is the theme song for the DFP podcast. Please follow Aleksandra Krstic on Instagram at AleksandraKrstic_official and on FB at Aleksandra Krstic).

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Episode #15 of the Diving for Pearls podcast has officially launched!!! In this episode, I sit down with Leeba Thomas, Director of Content for Bella and Bella Productions and one-half of the husband & wife duo for the Lee and Dawn Agency, to discuss how encouraging, supporting and empowering others, changes lives. One of two girls raised in a traditional family in Mumbai, India, Lee (as she prefers to be called), talks about how she relies on the values taught by her parents & elders and learnt via her faith, to amplify others’ voices, be of service to her community and model the way of empowerment. As someone who has actively pursued and developed an intimate relationship with God, Lee is a shining example of what it means to align your life with your core values and beliefs, and live in purposefulness.

Growing up in one of the most populous cities in the world, Lee shares how her formative years in Mumbai, India taught her the values of perseverance, hard work and resilience. What was once a love/hate relationship has become one of deep appreciation and gratitude. Lee worked on cultivating an inner state of serenity and stillness through multiple contemplative practices; it is in her current life away from city dwelling that Lee can often be found poised in prayer, studying the word of God, conversing with God and using her creative talents and skills to empower individuals to believe in themselves and in turn, empower others. Refusing to be influenced by cultural and societal expectations, Lee, a curious investigator of life, has unpacked the tenets of her faith on her own to serve as a force for good in the world.

Whether it’s setting goals that contribute to a healthier planet, or looking for small ways to practice kindness, or simply valuing and appreciating others, Lee believes that one of the best advantages to living a purposeful and impactful life is gaining a greater sense of connection and engagement with those around us. Keen on helping young girls and women create a vision of the future that is both invigorating and inspiring through her work with Bella and Bella Productions and the Lee and Dawn Agency, Lee hopes to live a life that is compassionate, kind, fulfilling and honorable and help others live a meaningful and purpose-driven life.

Please subscribe to the Diving for Pearls podcast on Apple, Spotify, Patreon, iHeart and wherever you listen to podcasts and please rate and review. Thank you in advance for your support. Please connect with Lee Thomas on LinkedIn @Leeba Thomas, on Instagram @leeba_dawn_ and on Facebook @Leeba Thomas. Additionally, please also connect with Lee on Instagram @leeanddawnagency.

Thank you.

References and Websites:

Better India Article on Lee Thomas- https://www.facebook.com/thebetterindia/posts/it-has-been-a-year-since-i-purchased-clothes-and-75-per-cent-of-my-wardrobe-has-/10157646906674594/

Lee as a Spoken Word Artist- https://leher.app/leeba.thomas813

Why Women Give Up on Their Dreams (Forbes Article):

https://www.forbes.com/sites/soulaimagourani/2019/07/29/why-most-women-give-up-on-their-dreams/?sh=58e186a12082

Psalms 46:10- https://biblehub.com/psalms/46-10.htm

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