< Previous50 Vol. 22/15, October 2021 FEATURE / MEDIA or all its perceived glam- our, the music business is a notoriously tough industry. Many enter with big dreams, hoping to discover the next superstar, but most aren’t able to. Benny Pough isn’t most. Having held senior executive roles at legendary labels such as Motown, Def Jam, Epic Records and Roc Nation over a glittering 30-year career, Pough recently decided to go his own way, launching DVERSE Media – a full-service global music distribution and publishing company, integrated with over 100 digi- tal streaming platforms (DSPs), includ- ing Apple and Spotify. You’ve had a long, storied career in the music business that goes back over three decades. What were your proudest moments? I am most proud of two defining moments in my career. I started in this business as an intern at the iconic Motown Records and worked my way through many labels, including Def Jam and Epic Records. There I got to be a part of some of the careers of the largest artists in the world like Future, DJ Khaled, Kanye West, and Travis Scott, until I ascended to president of Roc Nation Music. Those experiences prepared me to become the music entrepreneur I am today with my label, DVERSE Media. Now, I have the ability to develop and create the next genera- tion of great new artists and executives. I’m also really proud of the new gener- ation of corporate executives I’ve hired and mentored. Knowing my focus on identifying talent has and will live long beyond my years in the industry makes me step back and say, ‘I’m not done.’ How have you seen the industry evolve over the past 30 years? How did this evolution lead you to eventually launch an indie label, DVERSE Media? “When I fi rst started in this business, CDs and vinyls were the main consumer products” F u Benny Pough says that technology has helped fuel a more global music scene, with UAE artists able to trend beyond the borders of the Middle EastArabianBusiness.com 51 / MEDIA 18 The record-breaking number of albums released by Roc Nation Music in 2018, under Pough’s presidency u DJ Khaled was one of the artists Pough helped deliver radio hits for u Kanye West is among the high-profi le artists who worked with Pough u Kandiid, Pough’s co-founded platform, helps creators easily monetise content “Social media and digital marketing are the present and future. It was a natural evolution for me to enter the space... there’s a lot of overlap between music and tech” “Streaming has exploded and independent labels have risen” When I first started in this business, CDs and vinyls were the main consumer prod- ucts. Now it’s all about streaming. Also, radio was the dominating factor in how music was exposed to the public in every format and in every country. Major labels were once the only means for new artists to become popular. Since then, stream- ing has exploded and independent labels have risen, allowing artists to take their careers into their own hands to control their own destinies. After being a part of some of the biggest artists’ careers, I realised the benefit of identifying talent and the success that comes with introducing that talent. I decided it was time for me to put all my years of skill and know-how into play and develop a company to allow indie artists to have an opportunity and a vehicle to be a part of a system to maximise their gifts. It was the natural progression for me to take what I’ve learned and step out on my own to create my own music entity. What are your thoughts on the Middle Eastern/Gulf music scene? Where do you feel it has developed well, and where is it lagging behind where you believe it should? After visiting the UAE, I have a true under- standing of how music has connected the globe. The music there is vibrant, rich and reflective of the cultural nuances of the region. I was amazed at how being in the Middle East felt no different than being in the epicentre of the US. When I hear artists like Soolking or Wegz, I can feel the same musical energy as I would in a major metropolitan city in the US, the UK, or Nigeria. Year after year, the music scene has developed as technology has allowed artists to become more global. The music is now trending beyond the borders of the Middle East. There is always the opportunity for artists to go deeper in their global reach and connect with non-Middle Eastern consumers and have a larger presence on different continents. How did surviving a horrifi c car crash inspire you to become an author? Did the same drive push you to get involved in various social causes? If you don’t learn from near-death situations in life, then you’re a fool. The beautiful thing about surviving a horrific situation is you realise the value of being alive, and how every day matters, every moment, and along with your purpose, the reason you’re here to make a differ- ence. I’ve always been involved in caring for other people, but the need to help was amplified after my accident. Prison Fellowship and Studio Samuel are both causes that have spoken to me. They speak to second chances, and maximis- ing opportunities and both hold tremen- dous value for me now. You’re also the co-founder of social media monetisation platform Kandiid. What drove you to launch a tech start-up? It was the next step. In my professional arsenal, it was the one industry I hadn’t tackled. Social media and digital market- ing are the present and the future. It was a natural evolution for me to enter into the space since there’s a lot of overlap between music and tech. Finally, what do you hope to teach young people through your private mentorship programme? Will people in this region be a part of it? The purpose of my book, ON IMPACT, is to give those who have not had the opportunity to understand the lessons of life a snapshot of my journey from work- ing at 11 years old delivering newspapers to the ups and downs of the music busi- ness, creating an extensive real estate portfolio and more. It wasn’t easy, but any dream, anything important to you, is worth fighting for. I’ve been able to give individual guidance to hundreds of executives along the way, and my book will allow me to touch more people, touch more lives, globally. 52 Vol. 22/15, October 2021 FROM SHARJAH TO THE WORLD SPO TLIGHT Mohamed Juma Al Musharrkh, CEO of Invest in Sharjah, explains the emirate’s role in contributing to the UAE’s global reputation as a leading destination for business, investment and innovation Will Invest in Sharjah be playing any role in Expo 2020 Dubai? Invest in Sharjah will leverage the Expo 2020 Dubai platform to host several high-level discussions, networking events and various activities to promote Sharjah’s lucrative business and investment opportunities across its rapidly diversifi ed economy. During the 6-month event, Invest in Sharjah will be present at the ‘Business Connect Centre’ on Expo grounds, highlighting Sharjah’s role in contributing to UAE’s global reputation as a leading destination for business, investment and innovation. We will showcase the top sectors including culture and tourism, mobility and logistics, health and wellbeing, greentech, human capital and innovation, advanced manufacturing and agri-food technology, that will contribute to realising UAE’s economic vision for the next 50 years. What do you hope to get out of the event? The Expo 2020 Dubai will serve as a major point of connection between UAE and the world. Invest in Sharjah will leverage this opportunity to host several open dialogues, partnerships and networking opportunities addressing future FDI prospects. We expect the event to play a pivotal role in granting visitors access to Sharjah’s current and future FDI opportunities, and serve as a key gateway to exploring Sharjah’s range of incentives as a world-class business ecosystem. We will also showcase Sharjah’s six world-class free zones that offer businesses and investors unrivalled advantages, as well as the integrated business and licencing services offered by Sharjah Investors Services Center (Saeed) that enables individuals and entities to set up shop in the emirate in less than 24 hours. u Invest in Sharjah aims to promote a diverse set of investment opportunities in the emiratearabianbusiness.com 53 / SPOTLIGHT u Invest in Sharjah will leverage on the Expo to host dialogues, partnerships and networking opportunities 4% Sharjah’s projected economic growth for 2021, according to a report from S&P Global “The Expo 2020 Dubai will serve as a major point of connection between UAE and the world” In your view, what will be the short-, medium- and long-term effects of the Expo be on the UAE and region as a whole? We predict three major areas that will be signifi cantly impacted in short, medium and long term as a result of the Expo 2020 Dubai’s success. First, the investment ecosystem will radically change in the light of the dawn of a new era of economic growth. Additionally, new sectors continue to emerge as a result of the growing demand from citizens and the fast-growing technology sector, the backbone of industrial growth. Existing FDI sectors such as real estate, retail, e-commerce, technology, manufactur- ing and more will continue to grow. Tourism and hospitality will be another major factor. Regionally, the sector will also witness major growth in the coming months, especially with the upcoming World Cup. Finally, major sectors such as employment, infrastructure, education and logistics will also witness renewed growth, which will be strongly backed and supported by UAE’s leading startup and SME ecosystem. How do you see the recently announced beachfront destinations playing a role in Sharjah’s growing tourism ecosystem? Along with major development projects covering tourism, retail, real estate, environ- ment, logistics and more, Shurooq has also been spearheading the development of major beachfront destinations within the cities of Sharjah, Khorfakkan and Kalba. Shurooq’s Al Hira Beach, the fi rst and largest fully serviced and integrated beachfront destination in the city of Sharjah, is expected to launch by end-2021. Luluya Beach, situated in Khorfakkan, will complement Shurooq’s existing Khorfakkan Beach destination, which has been a major attraction for residents and tourists in the Eastern Region. The Kalba Waterfront, Kalba’s fi rst world-class retail destination situated at the scenic Kalba lagoon, is expected to kick off a redefi ned experience for retailers exploring niche markets. These beachfront destinations play a signifi cant role in boosting in the emirate’s FDI, allowing businesses to explore new markets, tap into niche sectors and expand across new destinations. What tourism sub-sectors do you see delivering the most potential over the next decade? Studies have shown that over the past few years responsible tourism, which includes eco-tour- ism, eco-friendly lodges, adventure tourism and cultural tourism will be playing a leading role in growing the global tourism sector. Especially with the rapid rollout of vaccines and reduced travel restrictions, tourists continue to favour secluded tourism experiences where they can enjoy more individualised set of tourism experiences rather than mixing with others. Sharjah has been a key player in this market, with a number of major tourism and hospitality development projects covering the emirate’s central and eastern regions, such as the Mleiha Archaeological and Eco-tourism destination by Shurooq, the four eco-retreats under Shurooq’s “Sharjah Collection” brand managed by ‘Mysk Al Shaza’, and many more. How will IIS be involved in the UAE’s 50 Years programme? Invest in Sharjah is tasked with supporting, promoting and contributing to the growth and development of Sharjah’s FDI, and our mission is founded on the principle of bringing together the public and government sector from Sharjah to disseminate the wide range of FDI opportunities to investors worldwide. We also strongly focus on working and collaborating with UAE’s federal authorities such as the Ministry of Economy, as part of our efforts to spread UAE’s economic message to the world, and illustrate the important role Sharjah plays in UAE’s rapidly growing and attractive economic ecosystem, and its economic diversifi cation strategy. During the ‘world’s greatest show’, Invest in Sharjah will be organising and hosting three main events, bringing together public and private sectors, senior offi cials and economic experts from the UAE and the world, in addition to six networking events covering a wide range of key sectors which businesses and start-ups can benefi t from in Sharjah and the region. Participating in our roster of events will include a number of our major and key stakeholders and business partners from Sharjah and the UAE, as we are expected to welcome more than 90 delegations worldwide. u Al Musharrkh says Luluya Beach will complement Shurooq’s existing Khorfakkan Beach destination54 Vol. 22/15, October 2021 Behind the UAE-based startup digitalising human skills IT WAS DURING HER career at Careem that founder Sallyann Della Casa first came up with the idea for Gleac, the human skills platform which automates mentorship. With over 50,000 workplace situations addressed by high-profile mentors – includ- ing female regional CEOs and Nobel Prize winners – Gleac almost immediately provide corporate employees with human skills-based-feedback on their everyday challenges. As a woman in tech, Della Casa overcame funding and product-rolling hurdles to reach a level of success where Gleac will be powering UAE Pavilion’s Jobs of the Future section in Expo 2020. In a wide-reaching interview with Arabian Business, Della Casa delves into the origins of idea and what to expect from Gleac during the six-month-long exhibition. How did the idea for Gleac come about? I think it’s from all of my work with people and particularly when I was with Careem, where we had a very young workforce. There are many things that people just don’t have the life experience for and it’s not only the issue of age. Even if you’re older, the world and rules and things are shifting so quickly that we just don’t have the experience to be able to face those new situations where judgement and decision making is needed. Companies’ typical solution for this issue is referring their employees to their LMS system or online courses when all they want to do is to talk to somebody who’s been there and can say “here’s what I would do in that situation.” If we had a couple Sallyann Della Casa Arabian Business shines a light on the all-important SME sector in the region, from success stories and VC news to expert insights Gleac’s algorithm has a database of over 50,000 workplace challenges answered by mentors from 48 countries BY NABILA RAHAL arabianbusiness.com 55 of those people who we can be tapped into right away, just think of how quickly we’d be able to decide on how to resolve our human interac- tion-related work challenges. Where and how did you launch? I officially built my prototype in 2018 and the first company I shared it with was PwC. They looked at this tiny MVP I had built with $1,500 and said this is exactly what they need and they rolled out in December 2018. I hired my first tech team in January 2019, in India, and we built the product. I wanted to pilot it in an industry with high people- facing roles and rolled it out with Prada in September 2019, shortly before the pandemic started. They used Gleac to manage all the mental health checking in and upskilling for all their employees during the pandemic. They then recommended us to seven other high-end retailers. Take us through your funding journey. I bootstrapped up until last year and I’ve always had paying clients. Coming from Careem, I already knew some of the big players in the market and when I reached out to them, their initial reaction was to give a valuation of $2 or $3m which is too low. In this part of the world, startups that do well are things that worked in other countries and have been adopted in the region. So I chose to seek funding in the US with Juvo Ventures. They gave me a $10m valuation and agreed to lead my round. I’d have preferred funding from the region but, as a female in the region, I did not stand a chance to get the value that I know my product is worth. I’ll be closing this round within this month and I’m trying to do so with local investors – now that the big funds here have seen a US venture fund leading, they are more interested. I’ll then go for a full-fledged Series A in the second quarter of 2022. Hopefully, I do Expo right and that valuation will be two or three times what it is right now. I can set a regional example for building an IP at a world-class level from scratch and not copying and pasting. What are your expansion plans and how will you be using the funds? We’ll be completing our enterprise corporate SAS platform. At Expo, we’ll be launching a business to consumer (B2C) which requires an entirely different team so a lot of it will for hiring the team for our B2C experience. The third part of our funds is going to be building out and monetising our mentors for those who want to start giving one-on-one coaching or mentoring within the product. What is your business model? For B2B, our customers pay us $400 per employee per year. Once we launch the B2C, we are opening up everything for six months with no payment fee on the app. What will be your involvement in Expo? We will be part of the UAE government’s pavilion, in the section called Skills of the Future, which will be entirely powered by Gleac. We created a taxonomy of 250 jobs of the future that don’t even exist yet and you get to see, in two minutes, whether you qualify for those jobs or not. You then immediately get matched to one of our mentors and, through our app, get coaching to get ready for that job. This is our largest contract to date and is paid for by the government. People often ask me why, as a startup in tech, I am not in Silicon Valley and my response always is that the opportunities that we get at the highest level in this region are not available anywhere else. The government here goes all out when they see a startup that has the potential to put them on the map. What profile of people are you targeting? We look at companies that have high potential for women in very male-dominated industries such as women in the oil and gas sector. Most women don’t have the network or are too afraid to show up and ask for help and so I have a product that can help them rise. We also do well with frontline workers or those in high people-facing roles. Finally, we unlock innova- tions within companies. Many large companies operate in silos and so our feedback loop unlocks all kinds of informa- tion within a company that they never knew about. Why did you choose to focus on human skills? I think we make a mistake many times because we wrongly assume credentials, titles and all of those things are what make us unique and special but it’s actually the human skills that we all have. If with Gleac, I give everyone the opportunity to show their quality of thought and human skills – regardless of their level of education, pedigree or nationality – then I have fulfilled my lifelong mission. q WE LOOK AT COMPANIES THAT HAVE HIGH POTENTIAL FOR WOMEN IN VERY MALE-DOMINATED INDUSTRIES SUCH AS WOMEN IN THE OIL AND GAS SECTOR” q THE GOVERNMENT HERE GOES ALL OUT WHEN THEY SEE A STARTUP THAT HAS THE POTENTIAL TO PUT THEM ON THE MAP” $46.5bn The estimated value of the global soft skills training market by 2026, according to Industry ARC u Gleac will be part of the UAE Pavilion, in the section called Skills of the Future, which will be entirely powered by the platformLiquid assets 56 Vol. 22/15, October 2021 downs, before colours such as Red and Amber dictated where we could travel and for how long. I can’t claim to have known him (if only), but I can imagine his great sadness and frustration if his wings had been clipped by the pandemic, for one of the F I’M AN ADVOCATE for anything, it’s to move. As far as you can, as much as you can. Across the ocean, or simply across the river. Walk in someone else’s shoes or at least eat their food. It’s a plus for everybody.” Words penned by the late great Anthony Bourdain, the globe-trotting chef and author who travelled the world discovering and tast- ing as many of its flavours as he could. He passed away in 2018, before coronavirus and lock- riches of travel is trying the local cuisine, tasting that dish you wouldn’t dream of ordering. So if you, and your taste buds, can’t go out into the world what is the solution? Thankfully, one resort in Dubai has brought the world to it, creating a culinary vaca- tion, a place where you can travel through Europe and Asia one meal at a time. Jumeirah Al Naseem stares out at the perfectly blue Arabian Gulf and offers the requisite beach access of course, but it’s what happens off the sand that is truly exciting. In honour of the Olympics we head to Japan HOTEL REVIEW “ I A gastronomical treat from Europe to Asia Jumeirah Al Naseem is more than a series of restaurants, it’s a palace of modern architecture and interior design BY SCOTT ARMSTRONGArabianBusiness.com 57 first, first to get a mention is Kayto, the Japanese Peruvian fusion restaurant that gazes out at the sail-shaped Burj Al Arab and the glittering ocean, in these sweltering tempera- tures a seat by the window gives you perhaps the perfect sea view while staying cool. With a menu put together by celebrated Japanese- Argentinian chef Cristian Goya, Kayto began life as a pop-up restaurant, it was only supposed to operate until May 20. Whether it was the pandemic or its popular- ity that stayed its execution one bite of the sushi here will have you glad it’s still alive and kicking. What served as our starter was the rock shrimp tempura, shrimp roll, soft shell crab roll and the California roll. All were moist, with the rice cooked just so, and burst with flavour, each bite elicit a mutual nod of satisfaction and the unspoken ‘we are coming back here’ glance. I didn’t think there was much space for mains after, but thankfully we made room for the wagyu beef tataki and the amazing truffle mashed potatoes. All round it was a gold medal performance. Next stop on your culi- nary journey is France with another ‘pop-up’ French Riviera offering you the best of the Cote D’Azur in Dubai. Here, head chef Kim Joinié-Maurin conjures up the atmosphere and the rich tastes of the Mediterranean at his beachfront location. A gut-buster of menu will transport you and your stom- ach to southeastern France with delicious fare opening with the likes of the Tartare de Boeuf. A sumptuous flavour- packed affair, the Oignon Façon Tatin, a caramelised onion tart came with a surprise, parmesan ice cream, meanwhile, the scampi and scallops impressed on the seafood front. For me it was the fillet steak soaked in bourguignon sauce that truly was my passport to this other country. However, an undeni- able post-script to the story was the ‘pain perdu’, a French toast served “Crème Brulée” style, which persuades you to stretch the belt was notch further. It’s a quick trip over the border to Italy and Al Naseem’s Rockfish eaterie and Tuscan chef Marco Garfagnini. Again, views of the ocean and the Burj Al Arab come as standard with this stylish and spacious location. Here, seafood temptations such as spicy tuna tartare, lobster risotto, scallops in ginger, and line caught sea bass sit alongside meat treats such as the beef agnolotti or the signature veal chop Milanese with the truffle mash potato. You can double-down on Italian cuisine too at Villa Beach, here, the fare is uncompli- cated, honest and authentic, with lasagnas, carbon- aras and pizzas providing comforting fare. After all that travelling with your taste buds you may be hankering a return to the Emirates, thankfully the Al Mandhar lounge offers Arabic fare with excellent shawar- mas and tawoks. Of course, Jumeirah Al Naseem is more than a series of restaurants, it’s a palace of modern architecture and interior design. The rooms are, for want of a better word, cool, resembling a chic desert lodge. Sliding room dividers take their cue from Japanese Shoji cleverly allowing privacy or space whatever the need. At 60 sq m, the Ocean Club Supe- rior room features a clever lounge area which can be partitioned off to create a luxurious balcony area. Guests of Al Naseem also have access to the Talise spa at neighbouring Jumeirah Al Qasr where an energising massage between meals will bring back your appetite. Other benefits include access to the excellent Wild Wadi water park, and youngsters can be entertained at the Sinbad’s kids club. The great Bourdain once said: “Your body is not a temple, it's an amusement park. Enjoy the ride.” Jumei- rah Al Naseem provides the perfect retreat to put that wisdom to the test. Jumeirah Al Naseem Address: Jumeirah Street – Umm Suqeim 3 – Dubai Telephone: +971 4 366 8888 Email: mjinfo@jumeirah.com Rating: Five stars 500 sq m The area of Jumeirah Al Naseem’s Royal Suite which comes with two bathrooms, two bedrooms, a gym, a kitchenette and its own cinema QGUESTS OF AL NASEEM ALSO HAVE ACCESS TO THE TALISE SPA AT NEIGHBOURING JUMEIRAH AL QASR WHERE AN ENERGISING MASSAGE BETWEEN MEALS WILL BRING BACK YOUR APPETITE” u Jumeirah Al Naseem is designed with beautifully landscaped gardens, fi ve swimming pools, open-plan rooms and incredible dining destinations u Rockfi sh Restaurant offers beachfront dining with fresh seafood, sublime signature dishes and stunning sunsets QTHE ROOMS ARE, FOR WANT OF A BETTER WORD, COOL, RESEMBLING A CHIC DESERT LODGE” 58 Vol. 22/15, October 2021 Expo 2020 Dubai Following much fanfare, Expo 2020 Dubai opened its doors on October 1, marking the occasion with a star-studded opening ceremony complete with fi re and light shows across the city Size matters Safety fi rst Post Expo On the agenda Regional record Expo 2020 is the fi rst world expo to take place in the Middle East and will be the fi rst Expo to have a dedicated pavilion for African countries. Africa’s participation at Expo 2020 is a testament to the long-standing friendship between the UAE and the African continent. The $7bn, six-month- long Expo 2020 is located on a 4.38 sq km site, the size of 600 football fi elds, and adjacent to Al Maktoum International Airport in Dubai South. It is the largest global event since the pandemic and the largest world expo ever with 192 countries participating. Anyone attending Expo 2020 must show they have received a coronavirus vaccine that is recognised by their own government, or have had a recent PCR test taken within 72 hours to enter the site. Social distancing guidelines will be in place, including mask wearing at all times. District 2020 is the future vision of Expo 2020 Dubai – a sustainable and human- centric future city, which aims to foster a global innovation ecosystem that will support Dubai’s future agenda and the growth of the UAE’s economy. It will be home to an inclusive and diverse community. Beyond seeing the country pavilions, visitors to Expo 2020 can choose from 60 live events per day and over 200 food and beverage outlets. There will also be nightly light festivals where the buildings and spaces come alive with projections and light installations.Next >