Global Innovators with Jim Stenman

Throughout her distinguished career in the heart of London's financial hub, Modupe Ladipo honed her skills at renowned institutions such as ABN AMRO, Credit Suisse, and the London Stock Exchange. In this episode of Global Innovators, we explore the captivating journey of this true trailblazer who has seamlessly transitioned from the dynamic financial landscape of the UK to her homeland, Nigeria. There, she has emerged as a pioneering expert in financial inclusion, acting as a catalyst for the significant increase in the country's banking penetration among adults – from 21% in 2008 to an impressive 52% by 2023, according to EFInA A2F surveys conducted in both years. Based in Africa since 2008, she's become a driving force in leveraging the power of data to empower individuals and nations, unlocking their full potential. She currently serves as the Founder & CEO of Prosperar Development Consulting. Her notable contributions in Africa include setting up EFInA, partially funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, highlighting her dedication to addressing pervasive poverty — a significant barrier to global development. In this episode, Ladipo reflects on the intricacies of her career, challenging cultural norms and finding her distinctive voice. Join us for an inspirational narrative of shattering barriers and catalyzing transformative change in Africa and beyond.

Hana Kazim, a pioneering writer, producer, and director, leverages her unique upbringing to confront challenges and taboo subjects head-on. Having recently launched the Middle East’s first production company dedicated to horror, the Dubai-native honed her craft at Image Nation, an Academy Award-winning film studio, and co-directed an Arab folklore series for one of the region's largest streamers. As the driving force behind Wiswas Productions, Kazim is now on a mission to breathe fresh air into a film genre that is often overlooked in modern-day Gulf countries, while providing powerful social commentary along the way. Harnessing the power of storytelling, she wants to reveal profound truths about a society in flux, while also inspiring a fresh wave of women filmmakers to claim their rightful place behind the lens.

Omar Shihab is a management consultant turned restauranteur who has emerged as a leading voice within the UAE’s F&B sector. As the charismatic General Manager of BOCA, he has reimagined modern European cuisine through the use of local, home-grown ingredients in a desert region that imports the majority of its food. This unique approach, coupled with carefully tracking the restaurant’s carbon footprint, has earned Omar top awards for his pioneering business model that offers a bold blueprint for the wider industry.

Henry Gordon-Smith is a blogger turned entrepreneur who is on a mission to transform agriculture through the use of technology. Having spent his early years in Hong Kong, Henry grew up with a deep sense of appreciation for how busy urban spaces can co-exist alongside a thriving nature. It's a passion that didn’t only spark an interest in sustainable living, but eventually led him down the road of creating what he’s hailed the world's first urban agricultural consultancy, covering areas such as vertical farming, hydroponics or greenhouses. As the Founder and CEO of Agritecture, he advises farmers around the world on how to increase their crop using the latest technology, including artificial intelligence and machine learning. It's a concept that's struck a chord with tech-savvy clients from Texas to Riyadh that are looking to maximize their produce at a time when natural resources are growing increasingly scarce. Though business is stable, Henry has faced many challenges in recent years. This includes trying to bounce back from the impact of Covid-19, which he describes as the most challenging time of his life. Deeply concerned about the future of our planet, Henry is working hard to make a difference through his own actions and is a strong believer in bringing people together through agriculture. His company has worked with displaced Syrian refugees and is currently developing a comprehensive urban agriculture plan for the city of Dallas.

When Bass Ackermann arrived in the UAE as a young expat, he experienced first-hand how challenging it can be to find affordable housing due to the steep upfront payments typically required when securing a place to live. Now, the South African-born real estate executive is gearing up to launch an exciting new co-living concept that aims to solve that problem by removing excessive deposits, while also offering a flexible approach that could prove ideal for digital nomads in the Gulf. The inspiration behind HIVE Coliv, which combines modern living with community spaces, came to Bass after spending his early career on large developments that he felt sometimes lacked market demand. Having worked around the clock to bring HIVE to life, he hopes it will resonate in Middle East's leading business hub, which has embraced hybrid work models as part of its goal to attract top global talent. Bass believes these factors could help make it a huge success, especially because of its disruptive approach that aims to fight urban loneliness and provide the flexibility he longed for over a decade ago.

Katharine Budd is the co-founder of Now Money — a Dubai-based start-up that's shaking up the world of mobile money. Founded in 2016, the digital platform has processed over 1 million payments through granting low-paid migrant workers access to basic financial services — which the company believes everyone deserves. Though often excluded from the traditional banking sector, this segment is now able to receive their salaries and transfer money to their families overseas at the touch of a button. It's something that's helped put the company on the map — having been featured in Forbes Middle East and the Financial Times. Katharine and her team have recently embarked on an exciting expansion plan across the Gulf. This move comes as the World Bank expects the global remittance market to low- and middle-income countries could reach $589 billion by the end of 2021 — an increase by over 7% that largely defies the global economic recession brought on by Covid-19.