Vic Influential

YOU CAN’T SUCCEED UNLESS YOU TRY.

A lot of people don't try because they are afraid of looking like a failure in front of their family, friends, or community.

But what happens if you try, fail, try again… and eventually succeed?

Most people will forget the failure.

The bigger problem is that we often care too much about what people think of us.

We want to speak perfect English.
We want to sound educated.
We want to read more books.
We want to look polished.

But you can have perfect English, read 100 books, and still never build anything.

Knowledge is valuable. But what are you producing with it?

Your journey is yours.

Not your family's.
Not your friends'.
Not the people watching from the sidelines.

Try. Build. Fail if you have to. Learn. Try again.

Because you cannot succeed at something you were too afraid to attempt.

🎙️ Full conversation on VicInfluential.

BusinessMindset TakeAction SuccessMindset BuildInPublic PersonalDevelopment GulfBusiness VicInfluential Dubai UAE

Why Gulf Business Introductions Fail Access, Positioning & What Happens Next James Thorp

In this conversation, James Thorp explains why he doesn't make introductions blindly — especially when the relationship involves influential people across the Gulf.

With experience across $250M+ in deals and 170+ market entries, James explains what he looks for before putting someone in front of his network.

Is there a genuine fit?

Is the business ready?

Is the founder positioned correctly?

Is the narrative clear?

Is there a plan for what happens after the meeting?

And can the person actually handle the relationship once the introduction is made?

Because an introduction doesn't transfer your credibility to the person you're meeting.

You still have to earn the next conversation.

We also discuss the growing practice of paying for introductions, why access alone can be misleading, and the difference between simply getting into the room and knowing how to operate once you're there.

And when James talks about handling the relationship, he's not talking about language.

He's talking about how to make the flow of the conversation work.

IN THIS CLIP:

00:00 — Having access to powerful people in the Gulf
00:08 — Why people ask for introductions
00:13 — What happens after the introduction?
00:25 — Why James doesn't introduce people blindly
00:40 — Making sure there is a genuine fit
00:47 — Is the founder ready for the introduction?
00:55 — Business positioning and narrative
01:01 — What happens next after the meeting?
01:09 — Can you actually handle the relationship?
01:15 — Why a bad introduction can damage reputation
01:23 — Paying for introductions in the Gulf
01:38 — Why paid access doesn't guarantee results
01:53 — Positioning yourself for the conversation
01:57 — It's not about language — it's about the flow of the conversation

If you're a founder looking to enter the UAE, Saudi Arabia, or the wider GCC, this is an important distinction to understand:

Access may get you in the room. Positioning determines what happens next.

VICINFLUENTIAL — MAKING GREAT PEOPLE IMPOSSIBLE TO OVERLOOK.

James has executed more than $250 million in business and more than 170 market entries across the Gulf region.

But numbers alone don't tell you whether someone actually understands the Gulf.

In my conversation with James Thorp, we went beyond the numbers.

Doing over nine figures in business ex*****on and over 170 market entries across the region.

That makes you an asset, so I needed to ask him a simple question.

Why should someone looking to enter the Gulf listen to you?

His answer was, It isn't about finding a market that wants what you sell.

And it certainly isn't about coming into the Gulf expecting to do business exactly the way you did somewhere else.

James believes the people behind the product matter just as much as the product itself.

You need to want to be here genuinely.
You need to understand the ecosystem.
You need to adapt.
You need to build relationships.

And most importantly, ask yourself: do I actually want to be part of this market?

That is a conversation many companies don't have before entering the Gulf.

In this episode, we discussed business ex*****on, market entry, adaptation, relationships, and what it really takes to succeed in the Gulf region.

🎙️ Watch the full conversation on VicInfluential Podcast, dropping at 6 pm today

What happens when the world changes faster than our education system?

COVID-19 gave us a painful lesson.
Schools were shut down. Learning was disrupted. And it exposed something we don't talk about enough:

Are we really preparing African children for the future, or are we preparing them for the world that existed yesterday?

I recently sat down with Meshak Ashakah
Director at Baobab Global Academy, to talk about this question.

One thing that stood out was the idea that education should not stop at textbooks, classrooms, and examinations.

What if an African child could learn from a teacher in the UK, interact with students in the UAE, Canada or the US, and build relationships with people outside their own country?

That is the kind of thinking behind Baobab Global Academy.
Because the future our children are entering is global, our education system must become global too.

This conversation with Jovis wasn't just about Baobab.

What kind of education do we need to give the next generation of Africans if we want them to compete anywhere in the world?
GET THE STRATEGIC AFRICAN

If you're an African looking to build **income, influence, positioning, and global connections, The Strategic African explores the mindset and practical framework needed to navigate opportunities beyond your immediate environment.
https://books2read.com/u/4EG8GY

🌍 LEARN MORE ABOUT BAOBAB GLOBAL ACADEMY

Baobab Global Academy is building an approach to education for globally mobile families — combining global learning with cultural connection and flexibility.

https://baobabglobalacademy.com
Global Academy

From Stories to Al: How a New Generation of Builders Is Creating in the UAE Max Wigman

Can one book actually pay your bills in Dubai?

For Kenyan author, technology builder and entrepreneur Max Wigman, the answer is more complicated than simply writing more books.

In this episode of the VicInfluential Podcast, Victor O. Okengwu sits down with Max Wigman to discuss authorship, personal branding, technology, AI, entrepreneurship, visibility and building a life in the UAE as an African professional.

Max has been living in the UAE for around five years. He has written two books, is working on a third, and is transitioning from hospitality into technology, IT and AI.

But one of the biggest lessons from this conversation is simple:

Writing a book and building an audience are two completely different things.

An author can have one book, five books or eight books — but without an audience, positioning, marketing and distribution, those books may never become a meaningful business.

Max also explains why Dubai gives independent African authors access to tools and opportunities that may be harder to access in many African markets, particularly through platforms such as Amazon and Kindle.

⏱️ CHAPTERS

00:00 — Can 8 books pay your bills in Dubai?
02:00 — Meet Max Wigman: Kenyan author and technology builder
05:00 — Moving to Dubai and building an immigrant life
08:00 — From hospitality to technology, IT and AI
11:00 — How Max became an author
14:00 — The story behind The Nine Stitches
18:00 — The meaning behind A Burden of One's Choice
21:00 — The reality of being an unknown author in Dubai
25:00 — Why writing and building an audience are different
29:00 — Can being an author actually be profitable?
33:00 — Why your personal brand matters
37:00 — Your face becomes your passport
41:00 — Why authors need to learn sales and marketing
45:00 — Building intellectual property around your experience
49:00 — Why a book can become a legacy asset
54:00 — The attention economy and the power of visibility
58:00 — Can eight books really create financial freedom?
1:02:00 — Max's journey into technology and AI
1:05:00 — What's next for Max Wigman?

“Writing versus building an audience are two different concepts altogether.” — Max Wigman

The conversation is particularly relevant for African founders, authors, executives and professionals building their careers and businesses in the UAE.

Because the question isn't simply:

“What are you building?”

It's also:

“Who knows about what you're building?”

📚 READ MAX WIGMAN'S BOOK

https://books2read.com/u/mdBLN5

🏢 DISCOVER BAYTEE

BayTee — Software solutions for the real estate sector https://bay-tee.vercel .app/

🎙️ ABOUT MAX WIGMAN

Max Wigman is a Kenyan author, technology builder and Co-Founder of BayTee, a platform providing software solutions for the real estate sector.

He is also a full-stack engineer working with Digital Guard Wellness Initiative, an NGO focused on developing healthier technology habits.

Max is currently building at the intersection of storytelling, technology, AI and entrepreneurship.

🎙️ ABOUT VICINFLUENTIAL

VicInfluential is a UAE-based visibility and recognition platform connecting founders, executives, entrepreneurs and industry leaders through media, strategic positioning and business relationships.

Making great people impossible to overlook.

Subscribe for more conversations with African founders, executives, authors and builders creating across the UAE and the world.

I’d like to hear your worst experience as an African here in Dubai.”

The answer opened up a conversation about something many Africans living in Dubai may have experienced but rarely discuss openly:

Finding a place to live.

In this conversation, he explains how his experience as an African — and later as a family — influenced the way he viewed the housing market in Dubai.

That experience eventually contributed to the creation of Baity, a tech startup focused on the home and housing experience.

This isn't about attacking Dubai or making blanket statements.

It's about asking uncomfortable questions, sharing real experiences, and understanding what Africans encounter while building a life in the UAE.

Have you ever experienced discrimination or difficulty finding accommodation in Dubai because of your nationality, ethnicity or background?

Tell us your experience in the comments.

Do Africans Really Read Books? Max Wigman Says What Most People Won't

Why do so many African authors struggle to get their books into the hands of African readers?
In this conversation, Max Wigman and Victor O. Okengwu have an honest conversation about books, African readers, publishing, storytelling, and what it really takes to build an audience.
Max Wigman is an author, AI systems developer, machine learning student, and entrepreneur building across publishing, technology, and PropTech.
We discuss:
Why African authors struggle to build readership
Whether Africans are actually reading enough books
The business of publishing in Africa
Why writing the book may be easier than getting people to care about it
How authors can build an audience
The relationship between storytelling, technology and influence
Why visibility matters for modern authors
How African creators can position themselves globally
This isn't just a conversation about books.
It's a conversation about attention, culture, storytelling and the future of African ideas.
Watch the full conversation and tell us:
Do you think Africans read enough books?
Subscribe to VicInfluential for conversations with African founders, authors, executives and builders creating across Africa, Dubai and the global market.

Can writing books actually pay your bills in Dubai? 📚🇦🇪

According to author Max Wigman, one well-executed book can potentially become a source of income — but writing the book is only the beginning.

Here are the books: The Nine Stitches → https://books2read.com

/u/mdBLN5

A Burden of One's Choice → https://www .amazon.com/dp/BOFQ4G4SLD
If nobody knows you, you need to build your personal brand, grow an audience and learn how to market what you’ve created.

So the real question isn’t just:

Is it profitable to be an author?
Are you writing to express an idea, or are you building an audience around your ideas?

🎙️ Full conversation with Max Wigman on Vicinfluential YouTube Podcast .

UAE Business Setup: African Entrepreneurs' Biggest Mistakes EXPOSED

Need to open bank account options as a Nigerian? This guide explains how to secure personal and company accounts reliably.

Opening a bank account for Nigerians often involves navigating complex terms and conditions. Many individuals struggle to find institutions that accept their specific business type, but this process does not have to be difficult. This video outlines a proven method to secure your financial infrastructure regardless of your current business structure or location.

We focus on the practical steps required to successfully open a company bank account or personal account. By leveraging extensive experience with various financial institutions, we help you understand the requirements needed to get approved. Whether you are managing international transactions or setting up a new business entity, these insights provide the clarity needed to move forward without unnecessary delays.

Subscribe for weekly banking strategy breakdowns, and comment below if you have questions about specific documentation requirements.

Get a copy of THE STRATEGIC AFRICAN. 👇
https://a.co/d/09b5iSh8

0:00 Navigating Bank Account Openings for Nigerians
2:33 From Banking Career to Consultancy Success
5:34 How to Stand Out in a Saturated Market
9:22 Simplifying Business Setup for Nigerians
11:48 The Power of a Strong Support System
21:15 Building Trust Through Radical Transparency

Tell us in the comments.

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The Hard Truth About African Women Building Careers in Dubai

Why do some African women come to Dubai with ambition, qualifications and big dreams — but struggle to build the career and life they imagined?

In this conversation with Juliette Chioma, we go beyond the glamorous image of Dubai and have an honest conversation about what it really takes to succeed here.

Juliette brings a unique perspective — a Business & Finance graduate, partnerships professional, digital creator and UAE Golden Visa holder who has built her own network, platform and community in Dubai.

We discuss the difference between coming to Dubai and actually building in Dubai.

From career choices and personal branding to networking, relationships, visibility and financial decisions, this conversation explores some of the factors that can determine whether someone thrives or simply survives.

In this episode:

Why some African women struggle to build successful careers in Dubai

The difference between surviving and building a life in Dubai

What Dubai rewards beyond qualifications

Why networking is more than collecting contacts

How personal positioning can create opportunities

The importance of building valuable skills

What ambitious African professionals should understand before coming to Dubai

How women can turn visibility and relationships into real opportunities

The reality behind the Dubai lifestyle

Why your first job doesn't have to define your future

Dubai gives you access to opportunity — but opportunity alone isn't enough.

You need the right skills, relationships, positioning, mindset and strategy to turn access into progress.

Watch the full conversation and tell us:

What do you think separates African women who thrive in Dubai from those who struggle?

Subscribe to Vicinfluential for conversations about Dubai, African professionals, careers, business, personal branding, money and building influence.

0:00 Navigating Dubai as a Newcomer
0:31 The Strategy for Meaningful Connections
2:36 The Power of Working for Free
7:02 Being Intentional About Your Reputation
11:26 Taking Accountability for Your Success