Voices of LIFE with Yalda Aoukar, Co-Founder and Managing Partner, Bracket Capital

Voices of LIFE with Yalda Aoukar, Co-Founder and Managing Partner, Bracket Capital

In this episode of Voices of LIFE, we speak with Yalda Aoukar (Co-Founder and Managing Partner, Bracket Capital) about resilience, entrepreneurship, and turning conviction into action.Yalda reflects on leaving Lebanon during the Civil War and how an unsettled childhood prepared her to navigate pressure and uncertainty. She shares defining moments from her career—from joining Lehman Brothers shortly before its collapse to building a network from scratch in Doha. She also recounts leaving a successful role while eight months pregnant to launch Bracket Capital, transforming her vision into a global investment firm through determination, storytelling, and hard work. Yalda discusses what she looks for in founders, the opportunities and risks surrounding AI, and how her foundation uses technology to protect children online. Finally, she reflects on the importance of paying opportunities forward and supporting the next generation of Lebanese talent.     Podcast hosted by Karim Jalbout (Founder, Constellation Advisory).   About LIFE LIFE is a worldwide membership organisation (non-political and non-religious) for Lebanese professionals in the diaspora. Founded in 2009, LIFE empowers the community through four pillars: Connect, Nurture, Promote, and Advocate—supporting the next generation through education, mentorship, entrepreneurship, and reform.   Follow LIFE Instagram: @lifelebanonukL inkedIn: LIFE Lebanon

Voices of LIFE with Elias Ghanem, Senior Client Partner, Capgemini

In this episode of Voices of LIFE, we speak with Elias Ghanem (LIFE Member; Senior Client Partner, Capgemini) about the major shifts reshaping financial services—from generational wealth transfer to the evolving role of payments and the power of professional communities.Elias explores one of the largest wealth transfers in history, with trillions expected to change hands from baby boomers to Gen X, millennials, and Gen Z, and what this means for the future of wealth management and financial institutions. He also unpacks why payments sit at the heart of modern commerce, shaping how people interact with businesses, technology, and each other.    Finally, Elias reflects on the strength of the Lebanese diaspora and the role communities like LIFE play in connecting ambitious professionals, creating opportunities, and giving back.   Podcast hosted by Ronnie Hammad (LIFE Member; Managing Partner, The Sublime Institute).About LIFELIFE is a worldwide membership organisation (non-political and non-religious) for Lebanese professionals in the diaspora.    Founded in 2009, LIFE empowers the community through four pillars: Connect, Nurture, Promote, and Advocate—supporting the next generation through education, mentorship, entrepreneurship, and reform.   Follow LIFE Instagram: @lifelebanonuk LinkedIn: LIFE Lebanon

Voices of LIFE with Anna Germanos, Meta

In this episode of Voices of LIFE, we speak with Anna Germanos (LIFE Board Member; Group Director, FMCG, Meta) about what it really takes to build brands on social media today—where content is judged in real time, performance matters, and context is everything.   Anna breaks down why social media strategy is never one-size-fits-all. From retail brands focused on conversion and sales, to luxury brands rooted in aspiration and storytelling, she explains how strong content is shaped by audience behaviour, industry dynamics, and clear business goals. She also shares why social media can backfire when messaging is insensitive, tone-deaf, or culturally misaligned—and how brands can recover through authenticity, active listening, and responding with clarity and responsibility. Finally, Anna reflects on what it means to carry Lebanese identity beyond borders, and how being part of communities like LIFE creates a meaningful avenue to stay connected and give back.   Podcast hosted by Joumanna Nasr Bercetche (LIFE Member; Anchor, Bloomberg Horizons Middle East & Africa).   About LIFE LIFE is a worldwide membership organisation (non-political and non-religious) for Lebanese professionals in the diaspora. Founded in 2009, LIFE empowers the community through four pillars: Connect, Nurture, Promote, and Advocate—supporting the next generation through education, mentorship, entrepreneurship, and reform. Follow LIFE Instagram: @lifelebanonuk LinkedIn: LIFE Lebanon

Voices of LIFE with Anis Rahal, Xfolio AI

In this episode of Voices of LIFE, we speak with Anis Rahal (CEO, Xfolio AI) about building and scaling with a clear end goal, thinking globally from day one, and competing creatively when you’re the smaller name in the room.Anis shares an unconventional early move that helped him raise funds: proposing a system to automate his own role and negotiating his exit instead of letting it become a setback. He then unpacks the mindset behind growth and exits—why companies need to be on the radar of global players, and why your brand and visibility often need to be far bigger than your current size if you want to sell and exit.    Finally, Anis explains the strategy he calls “annoying the competition”: showing up consistently against much larger rivals, pricing in a way they can’t ignore, and pushing until the market is forced to pay attention.   Podcast hosted by Ronnie Hammad (LIFE Board Member; Managing Partner, The Sublime Institute).   About LIFELIFE is a worldwide membership organisation (non-political and non-religious) for Lebanese professionals in the diaspora. Founded in 2009, LIFE empowers the community through four pillars: Connect, Nurture, Promote, and Advocate—supporting the next generation through education, mentorship, entrepreneurship, and reform.   Follow LIFE Instagram: @lifelebanonuk LinkedIn: LIFE Lebanon

Voices of LIFE with Wahid Chammas, Founder & CIO, TyreGate Capital

In this episode of Voices of LIFE, we speak with Wahid Chammas (Founder & CIO, TyreGate Capital) about trust, ambition, and the deeper role community can play in shaping identity and belonging.   Wahid reflects on how trust today is increasingly built around personalities—and why the real differentiator is not perfection, but resonance. He also speaks about setbacks and what they teach you: luck rarely comes without substance, and progress is built through hard work, ambition, humility, and leaving room for the unexpected. Finally, Wahid offers a deeply personal perspective on identity—what it means to feel “in between” places, and how joining LIFE gave him a sense of home, community, and belonging when he struggled to find it elsewhere.   Podcast hosted by Joumanna Nasr Bercetche (Anchor, Bloomberg Horizons Middle East & Africa).   About LIFE LIFE is a worldwide membership organisation (non-political and non-religious) for Lebanese professionals in the diaspora. Founded in 2009, LIFE empowers the community through four pillars: Connect, Nurture, Promote, and Advocate—supporting the next generation through education, mentorship, entrepreneurship, and reform.   Follow LIFE Instagram: @lifelebanonuk LinkedIn: LIFE Lebanon