In this episode of The Edge of Influence, host Iman Issa, Co-Founder and Managing Partner of North SeventyFive is joined by Elizabeth Anne, Regional Managing Director of Imagination and Sally Henderson, Founder, High-stakes leadership mentor & Author of "The How of High Performance", for an honest conversation about women and leadership.

Together they explore how the regional conversation has shifted from representation to genuine influence, who controls budgets, shapes strategy, and wins the major mandates. They also discuss the art of saying no without guilt, knowing your role, setting consistent boundaries and separating being liked from being respected.

They also dig into the double standards women still navigate, why trust, not popularity, is the foundation of leadership, and the underrated role of recovery and energy in high performance. It's a warm, candid episode with an emphatic call to action for women to be authentic and find moments to laugh, but also be brave, set boundaries fearlessly and put yourself first.

Production Credits:

Presented by: Iman Issa
Editor: Ian Carless
Executive Producers: Iman Issa & Ian Carless
Produced by: North Seventy Five & Poddworx Dubai

In this episode of The Edge of Influence, host Iman Issa, Co-Founder & Managing Partner of North Seventy-Five, is joined by Richard Bonner-Davis, Co-Founder & CEO Gabriel Worldwid and Arne Mosselman, Founder, CEO & Gen AI Strategist @ Ainigma, an AI transformation consultancy in Amsterdam.

Together they unpack what AI really means for agencies, talent and leaders, and make the case for moving past a fear-based, cost-cutting mindset, toward AI as an investment in the future building it into your people and processes rather than treating it as a side tool.

The conversation covers two questions every leader should ask - what will no longer be valuable, and what impossible things can we now? They also discuss how AI shifts an agency's value toward judgement and advice, the rise of new roles and skill sets, and the practical case for a dedicated AI line item and "playground" budget. They close on why human creativity, the tension behind ideas like "reassuringly expensive", remains something AI can't replicate.

Production Credits:

Presented by: Iman Issa
Editor: Ian Carless
Executive Producers: Iman Issa & Ian Carless
Produced by: North Seventy Five & Poddworx Dubai

In this week's episode of The Edge of Influence, host Iman Issa, Co-Founder & Managing Partner of North Seventy Five, is joined by Roy Aftimos, CEO of C2 Communications, and David Fox, Senior Advisor and former CEO of Ogilvy in the region, to explore how work really gets done in MENA - through trust, deep client relationships and great craft.

The conversation moves from navigating procurement and aligning on shared objectives, to shifting the conversation from "hours and deliverables" to genuine value, to what builds rich, lasting client partnerships.

David and Roy also make a passionate case for agencies to own their distinct point of view, rediscover the art of selling big ideas, and above all, be proud enough to put their work out there.

Production Credits:

Presented by: Iman Issa
Editor: Ian Carless
Executive Producers: Iman Issa & Ian Carless
Produced by: North Seventy Five & Poddworx Dubai

The Edge of Influence is a new podcast from the Alliance of Independent Agencies (MENA) and North Seventy Five, bringing together different voices and perspectives to surface the real challenges and opportunities facing the region's agency industry and to advocate for positive change and real dialogue.

In this first episode, host Iman Issa, Co-Founder & Managing Partner of North Seventy Five, is joined by Clive Michon, Founder Director at Alliance of Independent Agencies and Nick Walsh, CEO Migrate & Founding Regional Partner, Alliance of Independent Agencies Middle East, to explore the rise of independent agencies and "the missing middle.”

Together they discuss why independents are gaining ground, how collaborative agency ecosystems are winning integrated pitches, what network mergers mean for talent, and the case for industry standards. A conversation about giving independents visibility, a voice, and collective momentum so talent, clients and agencies can all thrive.

Production Credits:

Presented by: Iman Issa
Editor: Ian Carless
Executive Producers: Iman Issa & Ian Carless
Produced by: North Seventy Five & Poddworx Dubai