🌴 Networking in the Desert: Why Dubai Feels Different

✨ One week in Dubai and already noticing patterns in how people actually do business here.

Networking feels… different.

• Meetings in days, not months
• Full attention, not 25 min with an Apple Watch buzzing
• Invites with no strings attached
• Expats who get it — building new lives, new careers, new networks
• A buoyant economy where expansion (not survival) drives behavior

Of course, there are still the bullshitters, the bait-and-switchers, and the “investment advisors” who really just want to sell you a villa. But the overall vibe? Generous, open, fun.

And my BS radar has never been sharper.

Oh, and the best networking follow-up so far?
 Meeting a new friend at… the Butterfly Garden 🦋

I unpack all of this (and more) in this week’s pod 👇

Peggy Van de Plassche is a value creation strategist and senior advisor with over 20 years of experience in private equity, financial services, healthcare, and technology. She works with investment firms, boards, and C-suite leaders to accelerate portfolio company performance, drive operational transformation, and unlock long-term value. Peggy specializes in the execution of complex value creation plans—spanning capital allocation, digital enablement, transaction advisory, and leadership alignment. Her work consistently bridges strategy and implementation, helping investors and operators maximize EBITDA and enterprise value. A founding board member of Invest in Canada, she also brings deep expertise in public-private partnerships and institutional capital deployment—critical levers for competitive advantage in today’s global landscape. Her clients have included BMO, CI Financial, HOOPP, OMERS, GreenShield Canada, Nicola Wealth, and Power Financial. Learn more at peggyvandeplassche.com.

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