My Story - The Rebel Networker

I graduated with a Master’s in Engineering back in 1994… and then immediately did the most logical thing possible:

I ignored engineering and went into sales.

Why?

Because I love people, conversations, and real human connection — not sitting in a room staring at diagrams all day.

Pretty quickly, I realised something powerful:

The biggest wins in business don’t come from chasing, cold calling, or hoping marketing magic will save the day.

They come from trust.

They come from relationships.

They come from people who genuinely want you to succeed.

That became my obsession.

Over the years, I’ve trained and worked with thousands of entrepreneurs, leaders, and organisations around the world. Ive seen what works, what doesnt, and why some people struggle for years while others seem to have opportunities follow them everywhere.

Spoiler alert: It’s not luck.

It’s strategic relationships.

In 2006 I joined BNI, and a year later I found myself helping drive business communities across Dubai — launching chapters, building leadership groups, and proving that when you network with purpose instead of doing the usual “meet and hope,” everything changes. Along the way, I helped build three of the most successful chapters in the region… and I’m still incredibly proud of that.

Where That Journey Has Taken Me

Asentiv → helping entrepreneurs and executives achieve in months what most people take 5–10 years to build… by doing relationships differently.

Strategic Business Connect (SBC) → an ecosystem born in Dubai and now represented across three continents and expanding. A home for serious business owners who want trust, results, and meaningful connections — without the cheesy networking nonsense.

Speaking & Media → Ive spoken in 11 countries, authored 6 books (3 of which became international bestsellers), and been featured as a guest expert across UAE television, radio, and press. I’ve worked globally with governments, business councils, and corporate organisations — including delegations from Bahrain and the UAE — helping teams build trust, collaborate better, strengthen culture, and drive growth through people, not just technology.

In 2024, I was honoured to receive a Professorship from Tetr Business College, where I now work with budding entrepreneurs from around the world — something I absolutely love.

In recent years, I’ve also combined my passion for business with health, community, and longevity. Because powerful relationships don’t just build better businesses… they build better lives. And in a world obsessed with AI, automation, and “faster everything,” this human advantage is becoming the real secret sauce.

But here’s the truth:

Humans still run business.

Humans still make decisions.

And people still only do business with people they trust.

So whether I’m helping someone new to Dubai build influence fast, supporting established entrepreneurs to scale through stronger networks, or helping corporate teams reconnect as humans again… the mission is always the same:

Build relationships that actually matter — and watch what happens.

And when I’m not speaking, coaching, or running events, you’ll probably find me staying active, spending time with great people, laughing a lot, and connecting with humans who want to do cool things in the world.

This isn’t a job.

It’s my passion.

And I absolutely love it.