WE Global Business & Leadership Mixer Connects SMEs and Corporates

 WE Global Network hosted its Business & Leadership Mixer on Saturday evening at the Hardon Founders Club, Al Quoz, bringing together a curated room of business owners, founders, senior professionals, and corporate decision-makers for an evening of purposeful dialogue and connection.

Designed as a conversation-led networking experience rather than a traditional event, the mixer focused on one central theme: how businesses are built, sustained, and strengthened through meaningful collaboration and real-world insight.

Bridging the Gap Between SMEs and Corporates

The evening opened with a corporate panel discussion titled “Bridging the Gap Between SMEs and Corporates,” addressing one of the most common challenges faced by growing businesses — understanding how to effectively work with large organisations.

The panel featured:

• Nousheer Khan, Operations Manager, CARS Shipping LLC
• Amjad Abou Said, Associate Director – Business Development, Dubai Residential
• Ashraf Hassan, Head of Marketing, Filli Café

Moderated by Anul Mundra, TEDx Speaker and Founder & CEO of Xpatzhub, the discussion explored practical realities from the corporate side — including expectations around partnerships, procurement processes, long-term vendor relationships, and alignment beyond pricing.

Panelists shared candid perspectives on what corporates look for when engaging SMEs, common misconceptions founders have about corporate engagement, and how trust, consistency, and communication often outweigh scale in building sustainable B2B relationships.

From Zero to Stability: Founders Share Real Growth Journeys

The second panel, “From Zero to Stability: Building Businesses from Scratch,” shifted the focus to the founder journey — beyond theory and into lived experience.

The panel brought together:

• Muhammad Shafeek, Founder & CEO, Finanshels
• Timur Kudratov, Co-Founder & Board Member, Enlightened Minds Investments
• Ashwin Nayyar, Co-Founder, VOCCA Chocolatier

Moderated by Krishna Nair, Commercial Manager at Arada, the conversation highlighted the often unspoken side of entrepreneurship — early uncertainty, underestimated challenges, financial discipline, and the mindset shifts required to move from survival to stability.

Rather than focusing on rapid growth narratives, speakers emphasised sustainability, decision-making maturity, and the importance of systems, clarity, and resilience in building businesses that last.

 A Room Designed for Meaningful Connection

Beyond the panels, the mixer was intentionally curated to encourage genuine interaction rather than transactional networking. Attendees included entrepreneurs, SME founders, professionals from procurement, commercial, marketing, and leadership roles, as well as invited VIP guests from across industries.

The evening concluded with open networking, where conversations continued organically reflecting WE Global Network’s approach of creating spaces where connections form naturally through shared insight and dialogue.

 Looking Ahead

The Business & Leadership Mixer marks another milestone for WE Global Network as it continues to build a community focused on leadership, collaboration, and long-term business growth across borders and sectors.

With conversations that resonated equally with founders and professionals, the event reinforced the value of bringing diverse perspectives into one room  not to pitch, but to listen, learn, and connect.