Ep409: Overcoming Rejections and Scaling Ventures with Serial Entrepreneur and Growth Strategist Feras Alhlou

Anish Patel began his career in the bustling 9-to-5 world of London, quickly rising through the ranks yet feeling deeply unfulfilled by age 25. Driven by a need for more, he set off for South America, where he spent the next seven years navigating dramatic highs and lows—going from financial rock bottom to building a seven-figure video advertising company. However, with rapid success came a steep price. Severe burnout and depression spurred Anish’s journey toward finding life’s deeper meaning. This search took him through intense phases of heavy partying and substance use, as well as a creative exploration of art, poetry, and acting. These experiences ultimately led him to self-development and healing practices that would change his life’s course. Over the years, Anish dove deeply into somatic experiencing, energy work, attachment therapy, and masculine-feminine polarity, among other modalities. Through these studies, he discovered a profound truth: the power of presence—the art of allowing life’s energy to flow freely to unlock one’s greatest potential. Today, with a system of 10 principles rooted in container work, energy work, and over 12 years of experience in relationships and business, Anish Patel helps clients achieve lasting, authentic success. His mission is to guide others to unleash their true power and live with purpose.   More of Anish: Website: www.anishcpatel.com LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/anishcpatel/ Instagram: @anishcpatel Check out Reset Point: www.amazon.com/Reset-Point-Lifeforce-Principles-Outliers/    

Suneera Madhani is a true trailblazer in the business world. She is the CEO and co-founder of fintech startup Worth Ai. Known as “The Unlikely CEO” she previously founded Stax Payments, where she took an idea and built it first into a private startup with $140 million in recurring revenue and then into a business valued at over a billion dollars. This earned her the title of being the first female CEO to lead a unicorn out of Florida. She is also the founder of the CEO School podcast which has received over 1 million downloads and the founder of the CEO school company which empowers women to scale their businesses and change the landscape of the traditional business world.She has been featured in prestigious publications such as Forbes and Bloomberg and has been recognized by Fortune’s 40 Under 40, EY’s Entrepreneur of the Year, Entrepreneur Magazine’s 100 Most Influential Women, and Inc.’s 100 Female Founders. She is the daughter of Pakistani immigrants, and the first person in her family to attend college. She is a sought-after speaker, a mom of two young girls, a philanthropist, an advisor, an angel investor, and an avid traveler. More of Suneera: Website: suneeramadhani.com Streamline Your Business Operations: https://worthai.com/ Linkedin: @suneeramadhani Instagram: @suneeramadhani

Neil Emeigh is the founder and CEO of Rayobyte, a company he started at 21. Rayobyte serves over 5000 customers, including Fortune 500 companies, with a focus on web scraping. Beyond his professional achievements, he has pushed his personal limits by experimenting with activities like an Ironman and participating in a seven-day silent meditation retreat. Despite a generous offer to sell his company, Neil chose to continue leading Rayobyte, driven by a vision to create a greater impact and give back to the world. More of Neil: Website: www.neilemeigh.com Grow Your Business (Data Scraping): https://rayobyte.com/ LinkedIn: @neil-emeigh Twitter (X): @neilemeigh

Feras Alhlou is a serial entrepreneur, growth strategist, and startup advisor with a proven track record of scaling ventures from zero to eight figures. With decades of experience in the digital marketing and consulting space, Feras has successfully founded and exited multiple companies, serving high-profile clients like Google, Salesforce, and Johnson & Johnson. Known for his hands-on approach, he combines strategic insights with the discipline of martial arts, where he holds a third-degree black belt in Aikido. Feras is passionate about empowering entrepreneurs to build smarter, stronger businesses through his latest venture, Black Belt Start Up, where he provides practical coaching and business training to help others achieve their entrepreneurial goals. More of Feras: Website: www.startupwithferas.com  Start Growing Your Business: Enroll to Black Belt Startups LinkedIn: @ferasalhlou Instagram: @StartUpFeras Facebook: @StartUpFeras

Sacha Jarmon is an accomplished entrepreneur and jewelry designer, best known as the co-founder and CEO of Love Saro, a unique mother-daughter jewelry studio. Sacha's journey into the world of jewelry design began at a young age, heavily influenced by her mother, a professional stone and wood sculptor. This early exposure to art and creativity led her to start beadwork as a child, a passion that would eventually blossom into a full-fledged career.   More of Sacha: Website: https://www.lovesaro.com/co-founders LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sachajarmon/ Instagram: @welovesaro

Grace Vandecruze is the Founder and Managing Director of Grace Global Capital LLC, where she specializes in guiding clients through strategic growth and capital management. With over $25 billion in transactions to her credit, Grace’s expertise in private equity and investment banking has established her as a recognized leader in corporate governance. A Certified Public Accountant (CPA), she brings a wealth of financial acumen to the table. Beyond her professional accomplishments, Grace is an adventurer at heart, having scaled Mount Kilimanjaro and Everest Base Camp, and is also a licensed sailor. More of Grace: Website: www.graceglobalcapital.com LinkedIn: @gracevandecruze Facebook: @gracevandecruze Instagram: @gracevandecruze

David Steele is the founder and CEO of One Wealth Advisors, a firm dedicated to helping people simplify their lives and achieve their financial goals through Financial Life Planning. In addition to his role at One Wealth Advisors, David serves as the founder and Executive Chairman of Flour + Water Hospitality Group and as Managing Partner of Great Gold Hospitality Group. David is deeply connected to the arts and entertainment industries, particularly through his work as Managing Partner of Noise Pop. He is also a mixed media/collage artist, a producer of several plays, and a playwright. David is an avid supporter of local arts and cultural organizations, evidenced by his board membership at Playground, a non-profit playwright incubator, and his advisory role at Zero Food Print, an organization that collaborates with restaurants worldwide to combat climate change. While David's diverse background may suggest unrelated interests, he consistently applies the same disciplined approach to all his endeavors. This approach involves working collaboratively with partners and team members, setting clearly defined goals, developing and executing strategic plans to achieve those goals, and continuously monitoring results to ensure success. More of David: Website: davidsteele.xyz Read the Book: The Art of Happiness LinkedIn: @david-steele

Mathew Knowles is a legendary music executive, best-selling author, speaker, educator, and global leader in marketing, brand development, entrepreneurship and leadership.   With over $5 billion generated across multiple industries, a $75 million acquisition, and the development of some of culture's most notable careers such as Beyoncé, Destiny's Child, Solange and many more, Mathew is widely regarded as the best in the world at what he does and is a sought-after speaker, consultant and trainer for some of the world's largest organizations and conferences.   Leading some of the most successful marketing campaigns in history, working with organizations like Pepsi, L'Oreal, and Samsung to name a few, Mathew's professional insights and expert digital content have been recognized by organizations like LinkedIn, where he's been named a "LinkedIn Top Voice," a distinction reserved for the world's foremost authorities in their fields such as Bill Gates, Arianna Huffington, and Richard Branson. Aside from that, his expertise has also made him a highly notable advisor for dozens of organizations across a wide array of industries.   Currently, Mathew is involved in education and academia, teaching at multiple universities across the world, as well as serving on multiple boards. He is passionate about motivating and inspiring people of all creeds, nationalities and backgrounds, and a vocal advocate for health and wellness.  Book Mr. Knowles to Speak Experience the wisdom and expertise of a legendary music executive and visionary entrepreneur. Book Mr. Mathew Knowles to inspire and elevate your event. Visit mathewknowles.com to secure your date today! More of Mr. Knowles: Website: www.mathewknowles.com/ LinkedIn: @mathewknowles Facebook: @mrmathewknowles Instagram: @mrmathewknowles Explore Mr. Knowles' Books: mathewknowles.com/book-store  

Whitney Haldeman is the founder of The Blonde Atlas and founder and managing director of Atlas Adventures, a luxury boutique travel company that is driven by the desire to connect like minded woman through travel, harnessing the beauty of a new destination to facilitate new meaningful connections and cultural experiences. The company provides travel planning services for clients seeking luxury travel experiences, along with running boutique group trips for women who wish to meet other like minded women in a charming destination with a touch of luxury. Itineraries that are all hand-crafted through Whitney and her team’s own experiences. To date Atlas Adventures has delivered over 100 trips, bringing groups of women together through trips across the UK, Europe, and as far afield as New Zealand and South Africa. More of Whitney: Website:  www.blondeatlas.com/ Instagram: @blonde_atlas

Chardét Ryel is a dynamic wellness entrepreneur, author, and podcast host dedicated to redefining beauty and health beyond the constraints of diet culture. With a unique Brazilian American heritage and a wealth of diverse experiences, Chardét has spent over nine years empowering women worldwide to embrace confidence, beauty, and health on their own terms. As the founder of the transformative brand "Feel Good Naked," Chardét encourages women to strip away societal expectations and focus on genuine well-being. Her holistic approach to wellness encompasses not just physical health, but also psychological and emotional well-being. This philosophy is vividly captured in her book, "Seven Steps to Feel Good Naked," which offers practical strategies for embracing a healthier, more empowered life. Chardét's journey has taken her from corporate roles to wellness coaching, business travel, and living abroad in Portugal. Her experiences have shaped her mission to create supportive, non-judgmental spaces where women can thrive. During the COVID-19 pandemic, she became a vocal advocate for mental health and well-being, challenging negative narratives and offering a positive, growth-focused alternative. In addition to her entrepreneurial endeavors, Chardét hosts a popular podcast that further amplifies her message of self-acceptance and empowerment. Her work has earned her recognition on Forbes as a top-ranking non-diet fitness and wellness influencer. Through her innovative approach and unwavering dedication, Chardét Ryel continues to inspire and empower women to live authentically and confidently. Her mission is clear: to help women everywhere feel good in their own skin and lead lives that are not only healthier but also more fulfilling and empowered. More of Chardét Ryel: Website: https://chardetryel.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chardet/ Instagram: @chardetryel