Money Made Simple - All about Money

Understanding Money, Banking, and Financial Discipline

keswaniaakash@gmail.com (Aakash Keswani) — Tue, 3 Feb 2026 02:00:00 +0000

In this episode of Money Made Simple, I sit down with Sathyanath Shanbag, a seasoned finance professional with over two decades of experience across banking and corporate finance.

We break down money and banking in a practical, accessible way - from where to park your money and how to think about everyday financial decisions, to the role of discipline, cost control, and long-term thinking in building financial stability.

Sathyanath also shares insights from his career journey, including the early sacrifices required to move ahead, and how those experiences shaped his approach to leadership and decision-making. We discuss how banks think about cost control, why and how they choose to expand across the Middle East, and what truly makes banks successful in the region.

The conversation also touches on the evolution of banking in the UAE, the rise of digital and neo-banking, and what these changes mean for consumers and professionals today.

This podcast is for anyone who wants to understand money better, make more confident financial decisions, and learn how financial institutions and professionals think about growth, discipline, and long-term value.

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Proven Business Growth Strategies for Long-Term Success - Maureen Hall

keswaniaakash@gmail.com (Aakash Keswani) — Wed, 14 Jan 2026 02:00:00 +0000

From the Canadian Armed Forces to building a brand in Dubai - this is Maureen Hall’s story. In this powerful and uplifting episode, Maureen reflects on her early days in the UAE, starting a business from scratch by herself, no guidebook - just grit, vision, and relentless drive. She shares what it truly means to build a brand over two decades: from choosing fabrics and sourcing suppliers herself, to eventually hiring her first part-time employee, and then growing into a full-time team. We talk about the emotional side of entrepreneurship - the doubt, the persistence, the learning curve — and her advice to anyone navigating a new business. Beyond business, Maureen opens up about how she manages stress, and her grounded approach to life. She shares timeless wisdom on staying the course, pivoting when needed, and defining success on your own terms. This episode is a must-watch for anyone building something of their own, and looking for perspective, clarity, and courage.

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How Procurement can Make or Break an Organisation

keswaniaakash@gmail.com (Aakash Keswani) — Tue, 30 Dec 2025 02:00:00 +0000

Procurement is often misunderstood - especially in growing companies.

In this episode, Abdulhadi, a seasoned procurement leader, shares why procurement works best when it’s involved early in the process, rather than being approached at the last minute to approve a purchase.

He discusses how relying too heavily on a single supplier - often due to time pressure - can create long-term challenges, and why a more thoughtful approach leads to better outcomes for the business.

Beyond processes, Abdulhadi highlights the human side of leadership: the importance of saying thank you, recognising effort, and valuing employees beyond just compensation.

From a financial and operational perspective, he explains that procurement is not about slowing teams down. Instead, it’s about clearly explaining company policies, speaking the language of stakeholders, and supporting teams so everyone can move forward together and achieve company goals.

The key takeaway is simple:
Procurement isn’t here to stop progress : it’s here to enable it.

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Finance and Digital Marketing – Why is it Important That They Work Together?

keswaniaakash@gmail.com (Aakash Keswani) — Tue, 23 Dec 2025 01:00:00 +0000

In this episode of Money Made Simple, I sit down with Tariq to explore how professionals and businesses should think about careers, marketing, and capital efficiency in today’s environment.

We discuss what digital marketing work really looks like behind the scenes, how marketing roles are evaluated and paid across different countries, and why salary comparisons - especially across the GCC - depend far more on company, industry, and impact than geography alone.

The conversation also covers how marketing decisions connect directly to budgets and business outcomes, how to manage stakeholder expectations with transparency, and why early-stage spending choices matter more than scale.

This is a practical, grounded discussion on aligning careers, marketing effort, and financial decision-making. #MoneyMadeSimple

#MarketingCareers
#DigitalMarketing
#Careers
#Compensation
#BusinessStrategy
#CapitalEfficiency
#GCC
#Dubai
#AbuDhabi

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How to Increase Your Earning Potential: Insights from Recruiter Alison Daley

keswaniaakash@gmail.com (Aakash Keswani) — Tue, 16 Dec 2025 02:00:00 +0000

In this episode of Money Made Simple, recruitment consultant Alison Daley shares expert insights into how career decisions directly influence financial outcomes.

She breaks down what employers truly value, how candidates can position themselves for higher-earning roles, and the skills that drive long-term career and income growth.

Alison also discusses job market trends across the UAE and MENA, salary expectations, negotiation tactics, and the importance of building a professional identity centred around communication that leads to better financial opportunities.

This episode offers practical guidance for anyone seeking to improve their career path, strengthen their earning potential, and make smarter decisions about their professional future

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What It Really Takes to Grow Your Startup Team

keswaniaakash@gmail.com (Aakash Keswani) — Tue, 9 Dec 2025 02:00:00 +0000

In this episode of Money Made Simple, I sit down with David Reche, Co-Founder of Cercli - the platform that finally puts an end to payroll chaos, scattered employee data, and that “who approved this payment?” moment. The company recently announced a $12 million Series A round, underscoring the scale of the challenge they’re tackling and the confidence investors have in their mission.

David spills the secrets on automating onboarding, offboarding, reimbursements, and global contractor payments all in one place so HR, finance, and ops can actually breathe.

We also get into his entrepreneurial rollercoaster, scaling in MENA, and building products that actually solve real problems.

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Introducing: Money Made Simple

keswaniaakash@gmail.com (Aakash Keswani) — Sat, 22 Nov 2025 16:29:24 +0000

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