In this episode, Maryam Al Ansari, the Founder & CEO of Itifaq, shares her journey in blending finance with entrepreneurship, particularly in the AI finance sector in the UAE. She discusses her early education in entrepreneurship and finance, highlighting how an intensive diploma program provided her with foundational skills that proved more applicable than her bachelor's degree. Maryam emphasizes the importance of having the freedom to fail as a student entrepreneur, allowing for growth and learning without the harsh judgments of more established individuals in the business world.

Maryam also addresses the challenges she faced in seeking support from her university, particularly when she was disqualified from a competition due to being perceived as "at another level." This experience fueled her determination to advocate for herself and her hard work. Her vision includes integrating AI to enhance accessibility and efficiency in legal services.

Looking ahead, Maryam outlines her plans for Itifaq, including launching the platform by the end of the year and expanding into various legal domains. She emphasizes the importance of mentorship and networking in her entrepreneurial journey, sharing her experiences of reaching out to seasoned professionals for guidance. The episode concludes with Maryam expressing her belief in the transformative potential of legal tech, not just as a business venture but as a means to positively impact lives, particularly in critical legal situations.

Meet the Team:

A dynamic mix of personalities and expertise, each bringing unique energy to the table. Abubakr Sajith, the unofficial leader (even if he didn’t ask for it), keeps things running smoothly with his finance, IT, and entrepreneurial background. Gazala Parkar, the PR pro, is the team’s caring yet no-nonsense mother figure, while Guhaesh Subramanian, the ever-networking master's student, plays the carefree uncle. Anas Memon is the resident numbers guy deep in finance, M&A, and private equity. At the same time, Aditya Poddar, with his love-hate relationship with his 9-to-5, embraces his role as the team’s laid-back producer. Eiman Ansari, the cybersecurity expert, provides comedic relief when she shows up alongside Liz Ann D’Souza, the creative force with a film and content creation background. And then there’s Zainab Netterwala, the IT and computer science whiz, who takes on the role of the little sister in this eclectic, ever-evolving crew.

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