It's More Than Grit

In this episode, Mariana speaks with Mothanna Gharaibeh, former Jordanian Minister of Digital Economy and Entrepreneurship with 15 years of experience in the private sector across the Middle East. 

They discuss a story that is being overshadowed by the current war in Iran: a story about human capital, tech adaptation, and the sheer entrepreneurial hustle in the Middle East. 

They also discuss the difference between entrepreneurs in oil-rich versus non-oil-rich countries, the critical need to adopt similar regulations across the region for entrepreneurs to scale, and how Jordan is an exporter of tech talent. 

Lastly, they explore Jordan’s ambitions to position itself as a key player in the new technological revolution: AI.

In this episode, Mariana speaks with Adolfo Babatz, Founder and CEO of Clip, the company that transformed the Mexican streetscape by not only putting a payment terminal into the hands of micro-merchants but also by offering them financial services to help them become more efficient to survive. They discuss the structural issues blocking Mexico’s fintech revolution and digital currency adoption.

They also explore what other countries like Brazil and India have done to reduce the attractiveness of cash, the impact of AI on Clip and Latin America, and which model will  the region follow: the “Super App” model of China, or the fragmented, specialized approach of the U.S.  

Lastly, they touch upon Adolfo’s personal qualities and his mission to bridge the socioeconomic gap between the banked and unbanked merchants.

In this episode, Mariana speaks with David Fialkow, co-founder and managing director of General Catalyst, a venture capital firm, and an Academy Award-winning storyteller. David discusses his life defined by relentless curiosity from his early days as a serial entrepreneur who built and sold four companies to his pivot toward venture capital. David shares his personal “why” behind the creation of General Catalyst. 

Mariana and David also explore the many layers of his identity—not only as a successful investor backing giants like Stripe and AirBnB and an Academy Award-winning filmmaker behind Icarus and Navalny, but also as a dedicated athlete, husband, father and mentor.  David reveals his “red lines” when evaluating founders and the vital roles of storytelling and mentorship. 

Finally, they speak about why the United States has been a fertile ground for entrepreneurship, what is important to protect, and what has changed around the world where “unicorns” (companies valued at one billion dollars) are popping up like never before, signaling a new era of innovation and competition.

In this episode of It’s More Than Grit, Mariana is joined by Jim Hake, the founder and CEO of Spirit of America. Mariana and Jim pay tribute to the show's late co-host Andrew Schwartz, who was a close friend of Jim and Spirit of America. Jim discusses the origin and mission of Spirit of America, how the U.S. is perceived around the world, and his journey from tech entrepreneur to non-profit founder.

In this episode, Mariana speaks with Peggy Yu, founder and Executive Chairwomen of DangDang, the largest e-commerce book seller in China. They speak about how China has changed from a country that had very little to a country filled with competition and ambitious entrepreneurs fighting in a saturated market. They also discuss the challenges she faced while starting DangDang when credit card penetration was very low to the different obstacles she faces today to stay relevant and sustain market share. Peggy describes some of the mistakes she made along the way and how important culture is to create loyalty among employees. They also discuss how she is using AI and how businesses like hers could benefit from the technology.