The Unexpected CEO

Episode 3 - with Rashiqua Feroze

What if the real growth lever for your business… is you? 👀 In this episode of CEO Unexpected, we sit down with Rashiqua Feroze to break down how personal branding done right translates into real business growth—not just likes, but visibility, credibility, and opportunities. If you’re a founder, entrepreneur, or building something of your own, this episode is your playbook for showing up with intention across platforms and turning your presence into a growth engine. We cover: • Personal branding for entrepreneurs: what actually moves the needle • Why authenticity beats perfection (and always will) • How to use your story to build trust and connection • The key visibility and engagement signals that drive real opportunities • How to turn your online presence into clients, deals, and career growth Because people don’t connect with brands - they connect with the people behind them. If you’re ready to stop overthinking, start showing up, and build a personal brand that fuels your business, this one’s for you. 💼✨ 00:00 – Teaser 🎙️ Plot twist: visibility is the currency. If no one sees you, no one buys from you. 00:52 – How to find opportunities by being visible 👀 The real game? Getting seen. We break down how visibility opens doors you didn’t even know existed : career, clients, everything. 02:16 – From “marketing girl” to storytelling expert ✨ Rewriting your narrative isn’t luck - it’s strategy. Here’s how she turned her love for story telling into a successful career 04:09 – SEO = your unfair advantage 🔍 If you’re not searchable, you’re invisible. Learn how search engine optimization (SEO) keeps you relevant, discoverable, and ahead. 06:52 – Entrepreneurial mindset starts early 🚀 9–5 was supposed to be the plan… until being raised around entrepreneurs rewired everything: how you see risk, money, and what freedom actually looks like. 11:35 – Personal branding: the executive power move 💼 This is what separates leaders from the crowd. Your founder story does the heavy lifting: your brand just collects the results. 16:35 – Authenticity is the strategy (not the cliché) 🔥 Forget fake polish, real wins. Why authenticity is the actual driver of trust, growth, and business success. 23:55 – People connect with people, not logos 🤝 Storytelling isn’t fluff - it’s your growth engine. If you’re not telling your story, you’re leaving money on the table. 26:05 – The ROI of personal branding 💰 Let’s talk numbers. Visibility → credibility → opportunities → revenue. 30:52 – LinkedIn tweaks to rank at the top 📈 Small changes, big impact. Optimize your profile to get seen, followed, and remembered. 44:02 – Self-doubt as a solo founder 🧠 The real battle isn’t external : it’s internal. Faith, resilience, and trusting the process when things feel uncertain. 48:27 – “Your audience will find you” 📣 Inspired by Justin Welsh: build it right, show up consistently, and your people will come. 52:08 – The next big challenge 👀 57:48 – Waka Waka energy only 🎶 Because every CEO needs a hype song. Confidence is part of the strategy.

Episode 2 - with Sofia Sayah

How do you build a luxury event agency in Dubai — from absolute scratch?  In this episode of CEO Unexpected, Dubai entrepreneur Sofia Sayah takes us behind the scenes of her real startup journey :  from diplomatic dinners and global exposure to building a boutique luxury event agency in Dubai with grit, grace, and unapologetic founder energy   This is not just an event planning story. It’s a masterclass in entrepreneurship, reinvention, and resilience.   We break down what really goes into luxury event planning — the psychology behind unforgettable experiences, the precision clients never see, and the strategy behind those“effortless” high-end moments. Sofia also opens up about: * The hustle years, * The multiple business ventures that didn’t make it to the finish line * And how the COVID pandemic became the unexpected catalyst that pushed her to launch boldly instead of waiting for perfect timing. If you’re an aspiring entrepreneur, a female founder, or navigating a career pivot, this episode is for you! Hit play if you’re building something bold — or about to ! 💼Tap follow and claim your CEO seat. Heels optional. 👠   00:00 – Teaser This Is Not the Fairytale You Think It Is A bold preview of this female founder’s journey:  fromlegacy roots to building a luxury event agency in Dubai. Glamour, grit, pivots, and real CEO energy.   01:17 – The Plot Twist: Becoming Brave Before BecomingReady An honest look at the entrepreneurial journey,  why couragematters more than credentials, and how stepping into uncertainty is often the first CEO move.   04:31 – Born Into Legacy, Choosing Reinvention Growing up around entrepreneurship but deciding to carve her own path. The pressure of legacy, identity, and building something that feels truly yours.   11:45 – Hustle Era: Learning Through Service IndustryGrit The underestimated chapter…  Working in hospitality and service roles that quietly built the resilience, people skills, and stamina needed to lead.   11:47 – Serial Dreamer: Failed Ventures & FindingHer Voice Multiple business attempts. Projects that didn’t work. Lessons that shaped the founder she became. Why every failed business idea is data, not defeat.   15:05 – The Three Chapters Before Sosai From diplomatic hosting to hospitality to a fashion detour... How seemingly disconnected experiences aligned to launch a boutique luxury event agency.   17:10 – COVID: The Catalyst No One Saw Coming How the pandemic became the reset button that sparked action. Why entrepreneurs see opportunity where others see pause.   19:30 – Inside Sosai Events: What Luxury EventPlanning Really Looks Like Who they serve, what they create, and why event planning is psychology, precision, and storytelling:  not just aesthetics.   22:19 – What People Underestimate About Event Planning The invisible mechanics behind flawless events :  logistics, emotional intelligence, timing, and perception design.   28:39 – The Hard Lesson: Hard Work Doesn’t GuaranteeSuccess A raw founder truth about effort, timing, positioning, and luck in business.   29:25 – Leading With Empathy: The New CEO Standard? Is emotional intelligence the future of leadership? Building teams, managing clients, and leading with grace.   33:13 – Self-Doubt: Weakness or Growth? Does imposter syndrome ever disappear? Or is it simply expansion in disguise?   35:52 – Redefining Success What success feels like beyond Instagram ?  Impact, alignment, peace, and legacy.   ⚡ Rapid Fire 38:57 – The Legacy Question What impact does she want her events — and her company — to leave behind?   44:09 – Start Before You’re Ready Stop obsessing over perfection. Move. Launch. Learn. The ride won’t always be shiny — but it willalways be insightful.   48:50 – CEO Energy Closing Final reflections on resilience, reinvention, and building boldly — even when the path is nonlinear.

Saying No Like a CEO : 3 Scripts That Save Your Calendar✨

Say No Like a CEO: 3 Scripts That Save Your Calendar If your calendar is fully booked and your brain is fully cooked – this episode is your reset button. ✨ In this solo episode, we dive into how to: * Stop treating “yes” like a reflex and “no” like a problem * Use 3 plug-and-play scripts to protect your time (and your peace) * Shift from people-pleasing mode to calm, calendar-protecting CEO energy This isn’t about being cold or unavailable. It’s about taking your power (and your calendar) back, instead of letting other people book your life on your behalf. 🎧 Hit play to start saying no like a CEO—and yes to the version of you who actually has space to breathe, think, and thrive. 00:00 – Intro 01:26 – Why saying NO feels so hard 02:37 – The “not my job, still polite” no 03:56 – The calendar-protection “no” 05:28 – The personal life “no, I still love you” 06:49 – The mindset shifts behind the scripts 08:18 – Saying no like a CEO is a muscle – how to start training it this week 09:45 – Conclusion

Episode 1 - with Mira Tabbara

⚠️ Plot twist: most great founders weren’t “born for it”—they chose it. In Episode 1, Business & Mindset Coach Mira Tabbara spills the glow-up from NYC corporate girlie to Dubai solo entrepreneur—no fluff, only facts. We dig into the messy middle (hello, self-doubt), the mindset flips that actually work, and the tiny daily moves that stack into big wins. Expect funny anecdotes, “why did no one tell me this?” moments, and a clean playbook to turn your transitional phase into momentum. Hit play for your weekly courage boost… spiked with unapologetic CEO energy ! 💼Tap follow and claim your CEO seat—heels optional. 👠 Now let's keep each other accountable : CEO status roll call—where you at? A) Brainstorming 🧠 B) Drafting the plan ✍️ C) Soft launching ✨ D) Invoice energy only 💸 Drop your letter in the comment section below ! 👇 #Mindset #FoundersEnergy #CEOUnexpected #JeanieTalks

Self-Doubt to Greenlight: The 10-Minute Pre-Pitch Ritual

In today’s episode, we’re talking about that thing that hasblocked more emails, pitches, and DMs than your ex ever could: self-doubt. If you’ve got big ideas but your finger magically freezesevery time you reach for “send,” this 10-minute ritual is about to be your newbest friend. Let’s get into Self-Doubt to Greenlight. 💚✨ So hit follow and claim your main character seat – heels areoptional, but main-character attitude is mandatory. 💅✨