#366: The Man Who Redefined Resilience By Winning Gold After Two Kidney Transplants - Omar Tom

This week’s guest is Omar “OT” Tom, a double kidney transplant recipient and inspirational athlete who won gold in the 200m sprint for Team UAE at the World Transplant Games

Despite being born with serious kidney conditions, he has used sport as a way to celebrate life, defy expectations and show that organ recipients can not only survive but thrive.

In this powerful episode, Omar shares his journey from the first signs of kidney problems to life after two transplants. He reflects on the symptoms that changed his childhood, the realities of surgery and recovery and what it meant to accept that life might never be “normal.”

Omar opens up about his close bond with his father, the painful experience of kidney rejection and the emotional weight of feeling like a failure. Yet his story takes a transformative turn as he discovers strength through fitness, ultimately competing and winning gold at the World Transplant Games. With honesty and hope, Omar delivers a message that organ recipients can thrive, inspiring listeners with his resilience, gratitude and determination to celebrate life after transplantation.

4:02 – Omar’s early symptoms and diagnosis

15:00 – The journey to finding a donor

24:30 – The donor and their relationship

29:05 – Facing kidney rejection

48:00 – Staying healthy after transplantation

1:12:24 – Lessons from being a gold medalist

Show Sponsors:

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This week’s guest is Elie Khouri, a Lebanese-French businessman, entrepreneur, art patron and media leader. Best known as the founder and chairman of Vivium, a Dubai-based single-family office. A driving force in the communications industry, he has served as chairman of Omnicom Media Group for the Middle East and North Africa since 2019, following a successful 13-year tenure as CEO.

Beyond his corporate achievements, Khouri is widely recognized for his support of contemporary art and entrepreneurship and has gained further visibility as an investor on Shark Tank, where he backs innovative ideas and emerging businesses. Today, his focus is on growing his family office, generating long-term wealth and driving a transition toward alternative investing.

In this episode, we explore Elie’s journey as an entrepreneur and investor, with his experience on Shark Tank Dubai and his approach to evaluating businesses. The discussion covers the skill of sales, the role of social media, and lessons from his time at Omnicom, as well as the challenges of leading across cultures, finding talent and the values shaped by his upbringing.

Elie also shares perspectives on inspiration, mental health and AI as a growth enabler, before reflecting on building a family office, investing in start-ups and the qualities that define true entrepreneurship.

Please welcome to the show, Elie Khouri.

1:26 – Elie on Shark Tank Dubai and evaluating the quality of businesses

9:15 – The role of social media in sales

12:00 – Elie on Omnicom

16:29 – The challenge of running a successful business across different cultures

23:24 – Elie’s inspiration

28:40 – The rise of mental health issues

32:45 – The role of AI as an enabler

38:51 Investing in start-ups (some hugely successful, others failures)

53:45 – What success means to Elie

1:01:01 – Failure as a driver of growth

Show Sponsors:

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This week’s guest is a leader in Dubai’s property market and an entrepreneur who turned ambition into one of the region’s greatest real estate success stories.

Seventeen years ago Carl Allsopp, CEO of Allsopp & Allsopp, arrived in Dubai with little more than a dream and an unshakable drive to succeed. What started as a bold move to launch a real estate brokerage grew into the largest in the region - an achievement built on relentless hard work, smart strategy and a deep understanding of what it takes to win in one of the world’s most competitive markets.

But Carl’s story isn’t just about numbers. It’s about truth. In an era of online hype and quick wins, he shares the realities behind the headlines on why so many newcomers fail to make it in Dubai, the patience required to build a lasting career and the mindset young people need to truly succeed.

In this episode, Carl opens up about the lessons learned from nearly two decades of growth, the values that built his empire and the opportunities still waiting for those willing to put in the work.

Please welcome to the show, Carl Allsopp.

4:00 – Carl’s journey - His background and path into real estate.

09:32 – People & culture - Finding the right talent and overcoming growth challenges.

29:33 – AI in real estate: Speed, efficiency, and lead generation. Why people still buy from people.

37:41 – Smart strategies: Carl’s personal approach to buying property.

46:26 – Investment pitfalls: Tips for avoiding poor decisions in Dubai’s market.

52:49 – UK property market: Insights and comparisons to Dubai.

54:07 – Retirement in the UAE: Opportunities and considerations.

1:00:12 – First-time buyers: Guidance on purchasing your first property in the UAE.

Show Sponsors:

AYS Developers: A design-focused company dedicated to crafting exceptional homes, vibrant communities, and inspiring lifestyle experiences.

https://bit.ly/AYS-Developers

Allsopp & Allsopp: Redefining real estate, through cutting-edge technology and setting new standards for seamless, elevated customer experience. Keep moving with Allsopp & Allsopp.

https://bit.ly/Allsopp-and-Allsopp

Socials:

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