WCGA Connect: Cultivating Success and Community in the UAE F&B Industry
On the 22nd of July, WCGA hit another milestone. We had our first industry-specific event, bringing in experts from the F&B industry to come together and share their experiences, successes, and challenges. This was also our first event open to everyone, not just women.
The day was filled with moments of empowerment, knowledge sharing, and meaningful connections, as we brought together a diverse community of women and men from different walks of life, all involved in F&B in some way. We all like to eat, don’t we? :)
From discussing industry trends to unveiling marketing strategies, the event was a true treasure trove of knowledge. We were fortunate to hear from remarkable professionals who have navigated their own unique paths to success. Their candid discussions shed light on the highs and lows of their journeys, and the power of resilience and determination in achieving their goals. Everyone took something away from the talk, regardless of their industry.
Here is our amazing lineup of speakers and what they brought to the panel:
Metwaly Magdy is a Digital & Performance Marketing expert with 9 years of experience. Having managed over 5M USD in advertising budgets, Metwaly helped over 50 businesses increase their revenue and profit through customer acquisition and retention. He talked us through the strategies business owners can take when it comes to performance marketing and how to use data and analytics to know your customers. Metwaly also educated the group on the differences between digital marketing and social media and presented an excellent talk on the common pitfalls businesses face when marketing their products.
Mr. Taster (Hubert Sepidnam) is a renowned food blogger and digital marketing expert with over 15 years of experience. With a massive following of 1.88 million on Instagram, 186K on Facebook, 403K on TikTok, and 76K on YouTube, he provides authentic food reviews and collaborates with top brands in Dubai. He shared with us, several golden nuggets on how to use different channels to your strengths and explained how not one size fits all when it comes to creating and posting content. Mr. Taster talked us through his own journey as a food blogger and how he has created his personal brand along the way. Everyone absolutely loved his glasses :)
Chang Sup Shin is the CEO of 1004 Gourmet, an Asian specialty marketplace, that, besides distributing to some of the UAE's top restaurants and retail chains like Nobu, Zuma, Carrefour, and others, also boasts a fan following among many of the country's residents, with its location having hosted everything from specialty coffee tastings to Asian cooking classes. Chang was kind to share his family’s story of how they started in the UAE and walked us through the milestones, that got him to where he is now. His authenticity and openness in sharing his experience were a breath of fresh air for the audience.
Michelle Harrison is a highly accomplished F&B consultant with a proven track record in franchise development and F&B operations. With expertise in building successful brands like Costa Coffee and Jones The Grocer, Michelle brings extensive experience in start-ups and large corporations. During the event, Michelle shared her experience with different brands and products in the food industry and advised several F&B owners on how to scale their business.
Beyond the captivating talks, what truly made the event exceptional was the vibrant networking atmosphere. Attendees connected, shared ideas, and formed bonds that extended beyond the event. It was heartwarming to witness the support and camaraderie within the WCGA community.
If you haven't already, be sure to subscribe to our newsletter and follow us on social media, so you won't miss any updates about our upcoming events. Together, we'll continue to elevate each other and embrace growth in our professional journeys.
Thank you for being a part of my journey.
Love,
Anum
