Episodes

  • Diplomat's Deep Dive: British Council's 90-Year Global Transformation
    Jul 17 2025

    Join us in celebrating 90 years of the British Council’s global influence with former Qatari Ambassador to the UK, HE Fahad Bin Mohammed Al Attiyah. We explore how the British Council has been generating "waves" of change worldwide through impactful cultural and educational initiatives.


    Ambassador Al Attiyah shares his remarkable journey—from international diplomacy to pioneering sustainable agriculture at Heenat Salma Farm—and highlights the British Council’s crucial role in building vital connections. You'll learn how the organization supports UK-Qatar relations, promotes British culture, and fosters mutual understanding.

    This episode offers deep insights into cultural soft power and presents a compelling vision for a future where humanity and nature thrive in harmony. Listen now


    𝗛𝗼𝘀𝘁:⁠ SteveMackie from ⁠Business Start Up Qatar


    𝗚𝘂𝗲𝘀𝘁: HE Fahad Bin Mohammed Al Attiyah, Qatar's Former UK Ambassador, Founder and CEO, Caravane Earth.


    𝗩𝗶𝘀𝗶𝘁: British Council Qatar

    Visit: British Embassy Doha

    This episode is powered by nestwork qatar

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    29 mins
  • Qatar Philharmonic & British Council: 90 Years of Musical Innovation
    Jul 14 2025

    Join us for a captivating discussion with Kurt Meister and Dr. Nasser Sahim of the Qatar Philharmonic Orchestra (QPO) as we celebrate 90 years of the British Council's global impact.

    Discover how QPO rose from scratch to a world-renowned ensemble, fusing Western and Arabic music, and putting Qatar on the international music map. They reveal the vision, challenges, and vital role of the British Council in their incredible journey of cultural exchange and artistic excellence.

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    27 mins
  • Empowering Artists: Nafiza Hafiz, British Council, & Sustainable Sudanese Fashion
    Jul 10 2025

    Empowering Artists: Nafiza Hafiz, British Council, & Sustainable Sudanese Fashion

    Uncover the inspiring story of Nafiza Hafiz, a Sudanese designer whose innovative sustainable fashion blends heritage with modern activism. Hear how the British Council's pivotal support helped her overcome challenges, pioneer eco-conscious design, and represent Sudanese creativity on the global stage. This episode offers powerful insights on art, entrepreneurship, and self-belief.


    𝗛𝗼𝘀𝘁:⁠ Steve Mackie from ⁠Business-Start Up Qatar

    𝗚𝘂𝗲𝘀𝘁: Nafiza Hafiz, Founder & Creative Director, NUCY


    Visit: British Council Qatar


    Visit: ukinqatar

    This episode is powered by Nestwork

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    23 mins
  • Planning Middle East Expansion? Corina Goetz's Essential Cultural & Business Insights
    Jul 9 2025

    Planning Middle East Expansion? Corina Goetz's Essential Cultural & Business Insights.


    Join us with Corina Goetz, Founder & CEO of @star_cat_ltd, a leading expert on Middle Eastern culture and business etiquette.

    Planning Middle East expansion or global growth? Corina shares essential insights to help you thrive! Learn to navigate cultural nuances, bridge the "knowledge gap," and build crucial relationships for regional success.

    Key takeaways include:

    • Middle Eastern business etiquette.

    • Dispelling common myths about the region.

    • Strategic advice for market entry.

    Enhance your global business strategy and cross-cultural communication with Corina's expert tips!

    Host:Steve Mackie | @SteveMackie01 (LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stevemackiesolutionsfour/)From @Business-StartUpQatar (Visit: https://www.businessstartupqatar.com/)

    Guest:Corina Goetz, Founder & CEO of @star_cat_ltd (Visit: https://star-cat.co.uk/)

    This episode is proudly powered by:@nestworkqatar (Visit: https://nestwork.com.qa/)


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    51 mins
  • Beyond Exams: How British Council & Qatar University Transform Lives
    Jul 7 2025

    Beyond Exams: How British Council & Qatar University Transform Lives


    Join us to celebrate 90 incredible years of the British Council's global impact! In this insightful episode of 'The I Wanna GROW Podcast,' we sit down with Dr Walid Massoud, a leading psychometrician, researcher, and manager of the Testing Center at Qatar University.Discover the vital role Qatar University's Testing Center plays in ensuring student success, from developing standardized exams to preparing thousands for higher education. Dr Walid Massoud shares how their long-standing collaboration with the British Council (dating back to 2001, specifically with IELTS exams) has created "waves" of growth, helping over 5,000 students annually gain essential English and Math competencies. Hear inspiring stories of former students becoming doctors, teachers, and professionals, showcasing the profound impact this partnership has on lives and communities worldwide.Explore the future of this powerful collaboration and the continued commitment to shaping brighter futures.#BritishCouncil90 #QatarUniversity #Education #IELTS


    𝗛𝗼𝘀𝘁:⁠ @SteveMackie01 https://www.linkedin.com/in/stevemackiesolutionsfour/ from ⁠@Business-StartUpQatar

    𝗩𝗶𝘀𝗶𝘁: https://www.businessstartupqatar.com/

    𝗚𝘂𝗲𝘀𝘁: Dr Walid Massoud, Manager of Testing Center at Qatar University

    𝗩𝗶𝘀𝗶𝘁: https://www.qu.edu.qa/


    This episode is powered by @nestworkqatar

    𝗩𝗶𝘀𝗶𝘁: https://nestwork.com.qa/


    Contact us: 📲: +974 5034 3737

    E - steve@solutionsfour.com

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    14 mins
  • Beyond Cinema: How DFI & British Council Inspire Youth in Qatar?
    Jul 3 2025

    Dive Beyond Cinema in this inspiring episode as we explore how the Doha Film Institute (DFI) and the British Council are powerfully inspiring youth in Qatar through the magic of film. Join us as Filmmaker Rawda Al-Thani, Junior Film Programmer at the Doha Film Institute, shares invaluable insights into DFI's impactful youth empowerment initiatives via cinema.


    Discover the profound global cultural impact of the British Council's 90-year legacy and the groundbreaking collaborations shaping the future of film and culture in the region and beyond. This is a must-listen for anyone interested in filmmaking, cultural exchange, and how art transforms lives.

    #YouthEmpowerment #FilmIndustry #CulturalExchange #BritishCouncil90 #QatarFilm #Filmmaking


    𝗛𝗼𝘀𝘁:⁠ Steve Mackie from ⁠Business Start Up Qatar 𝗚𝘂𝗲𝘀𝘁: Rawda Al-Thani, Junior Film Programmer At Doha Film Institute Visit: British Council Qatar Visit: British Embassy DohaThis episode is powered by Nestwork

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    12 mins
  • How to Thrive in Middle East Business: Ari Matityahu's Entrepreneurial Secrets
    Jul 1 2025

    How to Thrive in Middle East Business: Ari Matityahu's Entrepreneurial Secrets


    Curious what it really takes to build a thriving business and a life you value in the Middle East? 🤔 In this exclusive "I Wanna GROW" episode, we feature Ari Matityahu, Founder of Danforth Holdings, joining us from New York!

    Ari, with nearly a decade in the region, shares his incredible journey from aspiring teacher to a multi-company founder. Discover his "secret sauce" for leveraging local culture, identifying problems, and finding unique solutions. This conversation dives into the ups and downs of entrepreneurship, the immense opportunities in the GCC, and why "facetime" is the ultimate currency.

    If you're feeling stuck or ready to build your empire in the Middle East, this episode is your wake-up call to "Don't Give Up!"

    Tune in for powerful advice on perseverance, quality of life in the region, and why understanding the local culture is key to scaling your success.

    #Entrepreneurship #MiddleEastBusiness #StartupLife


    𝗛𝗼𝘀𝘁:⁠ Steve Mackie from ⁠Business-StartUpQatar

    𝗚𝘂𝗲𝘀𝘁: Ari Matityahu, Founder, Danforth Holdings


    This episode is powered by Nestwork

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    53 mins
  • How Music Education is Transforming Lives in Qatar: The QMA & British Council Story
    Jun 30 2025

    How Music Education is Transforming Lives in Qatar: The QMA & British Council Story

    Discover the incredible impact of music education in Qatar! In this inspiring episode, we celebrate 90 years of the British Council's remarkable legacy with Dr. Ozgur Mert Esen and Mr. Zlatan Fazlic from the Qatar Music Academy (QMA).


    Hear QMA's journey from just 35 to over 500 students, uniquely blending Arab traditional and Western classical music. Learn about their powerful partnership with the British Council, bringing world-class artists and transformative workshops that redefine music education.

    This conversation goes beyond entertainment, exploring how music fosters excellence, cultural understanding, and changes lives through global collaboration.

    #BritishCouncil90 #QatarMusicAcademy #MusicEducation


    𝗛𝗼𝘀𝘁:⁠ Steve Mackie from ⁠Business Start Up Qatar 𝗚𝘂𝗲𝘀𝘁𝘀: Dr Ozgur Mert Esen and Mr Zlatan Fazlic from the Qatar Music Academy Visit: British Council Qatar

    Visit: British Embassy, Qatar This episode is powered by Nestwork Qatar


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    22 mins