Rihab Abouzaki, creative director at This and That Communications, cuts through the noise on international advertising. Her approach ignores flashy social media metrics and focuses on what actually converts: streaming TV and strategic podcasting.

American consumers demand credibility. That means partnering with tax-paying U.S. agents who unlock access to 300+ streaming platforms reaching massive audiences weekly. Entry costs start at just $5,000 monthly—far more accessible than most Gulf brands realize.

Podcasts offer something digital ads can't: intimate connection. When brand leaders share authentic stories on industry-relevant shows, they build authority and trust that drives real action.

If you've written off red wine as "too bitter" or "too strong," Michael Fors has news for you—the wine isn't the problem. Proper aeration is.

As founder of Liquid Jazz, Fors developed a nature-inspired solution after observing waves rolling over coastal rocks. His innovative decanter mimics this natural process, using stepped ridges to dramatically increase wine's surface area exposure.

The result? A four-minute rocking motion unlocks flavors and aromas that remain trapped in traditional bottles and glasses. What seemed harsh becomes approachable; what tasted one-dimensional reveals unexpected complexity.

The same technology works for spirits too—bourbon and scotch enthusiasts report smoother, more nuanced experiences with Liquid Jazz's ridged glassware.

Transform your next bottle at Liquid Jazz Experience.

Interview with Alexis Sikorsky, Strategic Advisor

Most founders hit a wall at $5 million in revenue. Alexis Sikorsky, who led a nine-figure private equity exit, shares the proven framework for breaking through.

Start by auditing your time. List every task you handle, then delegate everything that doesn't absolutely require the founder's touch. Stop attending meetings where you add minimal value.

Next, build financial clarity. Track 10-20 metrics monthly—not quarterly. Focus on cash flow, margins, customer lifetime value, and capital efficiency.

Upgrade leadership strategically. Fractional executives deliver senior expertise without the full-time price tag, but hire cohesive teams rather than disconnected contractors.

For exit planning, understand that PE firms evaluate three-year potential, not just current performance. Clean your EBITDA and learn their language early.

Most sales leaders hire wrong. They prioritize industry experience over buyer understanding, rush to fill empty seats, and sell the role before qualifying candidates. Walter Crosby flips this approach entirely.

His counterintuitive strategy? Write job ads that repel weak candidates. Interview like you're qualifying a prospect—with tough questions and genuine discovery. Forget the "industry retread" myth; product knowledge is trainable, but understanding buyers isn't.

Crosby emphasizes assessing cultural fit early and identifying coachability as the ultimate predictor of success. The biggest mistake? Fear-based hiring. An empty territory hurts less than a bad hire who drains resources and damages team morale.

The lesson is clear: treat hiring as strategically as you treat closing deals. Patience and process beat panic every time.

Serial entrepreneur Daniel Hindi joined Sales POP! to discuss what most companies get wrong about AI in customer service. His message: stop worrying about job loss and start focusing on business transformation.

Hindi's company, Noem AI, builds chatbots that act like your best sales rep—qualifying leads naturally, understanding context, and adapting mid-conversation. The results speak volumes: companies resolve 80-90% of support tickets automatically while boosting lead conversions by over 34%.

Cold email works—if you protect your domain first. Adam Rosen of EOC Works reveals the critical mistake killing most campaigns: sending from your primary business domain. "You're gambling with your entire email reputation," he tells Sales Pop host John Golden.

Rosen's fix: Create dedicated domains for outreach. Use companymail.com instead of company.com. Set up multiple inboxes to distribute volume and authenticate everything with SPF, DKIM, and DMARC records.

But infrastructure is just the start. "Cold email connects people who should know each other," Rosen explains. Skip the gimmicks and fake urgency. Research recipients, offer genuine value, and be transparent about who you are and what you want.

For startups, his advice is surgical: master one channel before expanding. Let real market feedback—not assumptions—guide your targeting. Combined with authenticity and solid technical setup, cold email remains a powerful sales tool in 2026.

Equipment financing scams target busy entrepreneurs who need tools and machinery to grow. The most dangerous scheme? Companies advertising impossibly low rates, then demanding upfront fees before securing actual approval. Contracts contain hidden clauses making these payments "non-refundable" when real terms arrive much worse, or never materialize.

Other red flags include automatic lease renewals requiring cancellation within narrow windows (miss it and pay another full year), deposit schemes where companies simply disappear, and interim rent manipulation, adding phantom months to your bill.

Protect yourself: Never pay significant fees before final approval. Verify companies through BBB ratings and complaint searches. Read every contract clause about renewals and refunds. Ask when the lender gets paid—legitimate companies earn commissions only upon successful financing delivery.

Work with lenders who have dealer referrals and established reputations. If rates seem unbelievable or pressure tactics emerge, walk away. Your business deserves transparent financing partners, not predatory traps.

Robert Misheloff

Traditional employee engagement is broken. Your remote workers aren't seeing celebrations, and generic recognition programs fall flat because everyone's motivated differently.

Workplace culture specialists are seeing success with three core strategies: First, use digital platforms like Teams and Slack to make recognition consistent across locations. Second, gamify behaviors that matter—not just sales numbers, but collaboration, innovation, and effort. Third, personalize everything. Let people choose their preferred style of rewards and recognition.

Sales teams especially need this. Commission-only motivation leads straight to burnout. Recognize the grind: most calls made, best customer relationships, skills improvement. Celebrate progress, not just closed deals.

The leadership shift? Treat recognition as strategic retention, not a nice-to-have perk. Build simple, consistent habits first. Your retention rates will prove it's working.

Alex Grande