Level up with Hakim

Level Up with Hakim is where business, mindset, and growth collide. Inspiring conversations with leaders and entrepreneurs sharing strategies, stories, and insights to help you win, grow, and level up in work and life.

Level up with Hakim is a business podcast hosted by AbdalHakim Omar, with 30 episodes on record and a Required Pod Score of 80.

AbdalHakim Omar hosts Level up with Hakim, a business show with 30 episodes published.

Our AI reads these to draft pitches. Use them as grounding for a pitch that cites a real guest and a specific topic.

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  Episode #43

  Your Next Chapter Needs Intention with Kanku B. Michelsen #43

  Sep 18, 202637 minS1

  How Career Coaching and Luxury Travel Both Start With the Same Question Hakim speaks with Kanku Michelsen, a senior career coach and luxury travel advisor, about the shared mindset behind navigating career transitions and planning meaningful travel. The conversation centers on one powerful idea: whether you are rebuilding after a layoff or trying to reset on vacation, the first step is to get clear on what you actually want.Kanku explains how her portfolio career evolved from a personal identity shift, why she takes an inside-out approach to travel planning, and how she helps executives move through grief, clarity, and courage before rushing into the next opportunity. Timestamps 00:00 - Welcome and why travel and career transitions belong in the same conversation 01:18 - Kanku Michelsen’s portfolio career: executive coaching and luxury travel 02:12 - The personal turning point that led her into travel advising 04:33 - Why she researched the travel industry for years before launching 06:19 - Why ambiguity is the common thread between coaching and travel 07:17 - Why busy executives take time off seriously, but often plan it too mechanically 09:29 - Her inside-out framework for planning trips around purpose and experience 12:16 - The biggest misconception leaders have about career transitions 13:15 - Why “Who am I now?” is the key question after a layoff or reinvention 16:28 - The first practical step before touching a resume or LinkedIn profile 18:19 - Why career transitions often need one small step at a time 20:12 - How she balances emotional processing with forward-looking strategy 21:05 - Why some people need months, not days, to detach from a long-held role 22:52 - Why her corporate background helps her understand executive travel needs 25:05 - The most common mistake in the first 30 days after a career loss 27:45 - Where AI helps in coaching and travel, and where it falls short 31:13 - Why AI will change jobs, but not replace human connection 34:09 - Why personalized travel advising is growing, not shrinking 38:08 - The first real step for someone going through a transition 40:16 - What “level up” means to Kanku: clarity, honesty, and honoring what matters now Connect with Kanku https://www.linkedin.com/in/kankumichelsen/ Also watch and listen on: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/7Ed3dWmcL9F4B6c7ZZGCkI?si=bHowYxyYRXaUTwqcCTq1Ow Apple Podcast https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/level-up-with-hakim/id1872491718 Amazon music https://music.amazon.co.uk/podcasts/8864be9e-558a-4632-94b2-6b121a5d7ebf/level-up-with-hakim

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  Episode #42

  WHY most corporate EVENTS are FORGOTTEN with David Moore CEO of Moore Events #42

  Sep 4, 202653 minS1

  How David Moore designs events people actually remember In this episode, Hakim speaks with David Moore, CEO and director of fun at Moore Style Events, about what separates a smooth event from a memorable one. David brings more than 20 years of experience designing executive meetings, leadership summits, conferences, product launches, and customer events around the world.We discuss how guest experience starts long before attendees arrive, why relationships with hotel teams matter so much, and how AI may streamline event planning without replacing the human touch. Timestamps (00:00) Why most events are forgotten quickly (00:36) Meet David Moore, director of fun (01:38) How the director of fun title came to be (03:30) Why smaller, more personal events stand out (05:17) What separates smooth events from memorable ones (07:29) David’s five Ws framework for planning (09:15) Why event budgets often surprise first timers (12:22) Guest experience starts before the event begins (13:40) Personalization that makes guests feel known (16:10) The hardest part of international event planning (21:36) What makes a hotel team trustworthy (24:41) First impressions during a site visit (29:29) The most misunderstood part of hotel collaboration (35:44) What makes a strong hotel proposal stand out (39:12) Relationship first, delivery second (40:51) When promises about internet and space fall apart (43:51) The future of events and AI (52:49) Virtual events versus in person experiences (54:54) Rapid fire: underrated registration, communication, and welcome (56:14) What leveling up means in events Connect with David via Linedin https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidlmoore/ Website http://www.moorestyleevents.com Also watch and listen on: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/0nOZlxK9K5yK7max9lWvPF?si=2IbMNGISQym_5ATJM3iMug Apple Podcast https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/level-up-with-hakim/id1872491718 Amazon music https://music.amazon.co.uk/podcasts/8864be9e-558a-4632-94b2-6b121a5d7ebf/level-up-with-hakim

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  Episode #41

  Why Hotels Get Ignored in the Nordics with @Regitze Cecilie Founder of ROSE #41

  Aug 27, 202639 minS1

  EPISODE DESCRIPTION - Ready to publish Most hotel brands don’t fail on product - they fail on relevance. Regitze, founder of Rose Nordic Hospitality PR and positioning agency, reveals why the Nordics reward cultural intelligence, not copy-paste luxury. If you’re a hotel, retreat, or travel brand trying to break into Scandinavia, this conversation shows why visibility starts long before publicity. Regitze has spent more than a decade working across hospitality, storytelling, strategic communication, and market positioning, and she explains what international brands consistently miss when they try to “enter the Nordics.” You’ll discover why authenticity in this market is not a marketing word but a test of whether the guest experience, brand promise, people, and place actually align. We break down why positioning has to come before PR, why “Nordic-looking” is not the same as being Nordic-relevant, and why concepts like wellness, sustainability, and quiet luxury only work when they are built into the entire operation - not just added to the pitch deck.Regitze also shares what Nordic travelers really respond to, from simplicity and sense of place to human connection, architectural integrity, and genuine hospitality. Suggested YouTube chapters: 00:00 Why hotel visibility starts with relevance 02:23 What international brands get wrong in the Nordics 03:42 Positioning before PR 05:07 What Nordic travelers really want 07:37 Why “Nordic-looking” is not enough 09:52 Why entering the market takes years 12:21 Why publicity without positioning fails 16:21 Storytelling that actually works 21:43 Wellness as a philosophy, not a label 27:11 Hotels becoming destinations 28:42 Where Nordic hospitality is headed 33:37 What hospitality should never automate 36:48 AI, sameness, and brand identity 39:14 Rapid fire: trends, brands, and what level up means Connect with Regitze https://www.linkedin.com/in/regitze-cecilie-rosenvinge-4b375b39/ Rose Hospitality advisory https://www.linkedin.com/company/rosenordic/ Also watch on: https://open.spotify.com/episode/344CtyJKq4LXbaBK82h71z?si=gdlORkq-RauuKuEa-EbUpQ Apple Podcast https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/level-up-with-hakim/id1872491718 Amazon music https://music.amazon.co.uk/podcasts/8864be9e-558a-4632-94b2-6b121a5d7ebf/level-up-with-hakim

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  Episode #40

  Can VR Fix Hospitality’s Retention Crisis? with Alison Barker Founder of Immersive XP #40

  Aug 13, 202642 minS1

  Hospitality training is broken, and VR may be the fix This episode explores why traditional hospitality training often fails under real pressure and what needs to change. Hakim speaks with Alison Magee-Barker F.I.H, founder and CEO of AG Lakes Consultancy and Immersive XP, about building scenario-based VR training that helps teams practice guest complaints, service recovery, leadership moments, and decision-making before those moments happen on the floor.Alison also explains how Immersive XP uses short modules, analytics, eye-contact assessment, and replay feedback to improve confidence, consistency, and retention in hospitality teams. Timestamps (00:00) Hospitality does not have a motivation problem (01:44) Why current training feels irrelevant and repetitive (04:00) Promoting great staff without teaching leadership (06:08) How AG Lakes Training Academy began during the pandemic (08:10) A Roblox moment that sparked Immersive XP (10:48) The real signs that a training system is failing (13:22) What a VR hospitality scenario feels like in practice (15:03) Eye-contact scoring and guest connection (16:16) Short scenarios, game over, and instant retries (17:09) Management portal, analytics, and leaderboard features (18:54) Core modules in the MVP and founder partner opportunities (23:10) Why service recovery creates guest ambassadors (25:51) Training, retention, and the cost of poor culture (30:10) How technology can make hospitality more human (40:45) Measuring ROI from training and reduced turnover (42:59) How onboarding and licensing work with hotels (45:54) The next five years of hospitality and immersive learning (47:57) What Alison would remove from current training structures (52:18) What “level up” means to Alison (54:43) VR retention rates compared with other training formats (55:36) Free trial and closing thoughts

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  Episode #39

  Why Great Sales People Can't Be Managed with Iggy Fisher VP Club Quarters Hotels #39

  Aug 6, 202645 minS1

  Unlock the Secrets of Building Long-Lasting Client Relationships and Sales Mastery with Iggy Fisher What does it truly take to develop resilience, trust, and long-term success in sales and hospitality? Iggy Fisher, Vice President of Club Quarters Hotels, shares his transformative journey from a Bosnian refugee to a hospitality sales leader. Discover how genuine connections, a people-centric culture, and intuitive listening elevate sales beyond mere transactions plus, how AI is shaping the future of customer engagement without replacing the human touch. In this episode, Iggy reveals the pivotal moments that shifted his career from early front desk roles to leading global sales highlighting why talent, authenticity, and a future-focused mindset are non-negotiable. You'll learn his unique approach to sales excellence, emphasizing talent over process, and how asking questions and active listening unlock customer needs often hidden beneath the surface. He emphasizes that great salespeople don’t just manage relationships they build trust that lasts decades Timestamps: 00:00 - Introduction and episode overview 00:25 - Iggy's early career and transition into sales 01:37 - The influence of mentorship and relationship-building in hospitality 02:24 - How hospitality culture and innovation define Club Quarters' success 03:46 - The significance of asking questions and understanding client needs 04:39 - The distinction between good and great salespeople: future mindset and relationship focus 06:20 - Shifting from front office to sales for stability and growth 07:44 - Leadership insights: Building a strong sales culture and coaching 09:02 - Explaining Club Quarters’ brand and membership model 11:49 - Post-COVID evolution of corporate travel and booking technology 13:11 - The human connection as a core element of customer loyalty 15:40 - What sales excellence looks like: talent, support, and culture 18:48 - The role of leadership in enabling sales success 20:19 - The influence of AI: automating mundane tasks versus maintaining emotional connection 31:29 - How AI is transforming travel booking and data management 38:18 - Industry changes post-pandemic and the future of business travel 44:30 - Navigating industry challenges and innovations with technology 46:53 - Building motivated, accountable, and confident sales teams 50:36 - The importance of setting ambitious goals and continuous learning 55:03 - Valuable advice for aspiring sales professionals 56:01 - What does leveling up mean to Iggy? 57:50 - Final thoughts and closing notes Connect with Iggy https://www.linkedin.com/in/iggy-fisher-52346051/ Spotify https://open.spotify.com/episode/1Pt1j3SobW8Rd5FueKeskV?si=SDqBEKOJTzGEEAitYOTKPA Apple Podcast https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/level-up-with-hakim/id1872491718 Amazon music https://music.amazon.co.uk/podcasts/8864be9e-558a-4632-94b2-6b121a5d7ebf/level-up-with-hakim

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