Latest Episodes
Alia Ballout | Building Singapore’s First Olive Oil Brand #79
In this episode of The Quinntessential Questions Podcast, Paul Quinn sits down with Alia Ballout, Founder of Beît Ballout, Singapore's first olive oil brand and processing facility. From quitting a career in law to filling olive oil into badly packaged bottles at market fairs, Alia shares her transformation journey and the moment a video call from her mother picking olives in Lebanon changed everything. She discusses entrepreneurial resilience, the fear of being seen, authentic brand building, and why she believes the only protection you have in this world is economic.
Alia also opens up about why her mother became the face of the brand, and the delusional mindset that turned a product nobody wanted to look at into a million dollar vision. Whether you're building a brand from scratch, navigating corporate environments that try to dim your light, or searching for the courage to be seen, this conversation offers hard-won wisdom on entrepreneurship, identity, and turning fear into fuel.
Maurice Gravier | Emirates NBD CIO Reveals What Most Get Wrong #78
In this episode of The Quinntessential Questions Podcast, Paul Quinn sits down with Maurice Gravier, Group Chief Investment Officer for Wealth Management at Emirates NBD, Dubai's largest bank. From breaking a three generation family tradition of doctors in the French Alps, to interning at Paribas Asset Management in Paris because he thought bankers had nice suits, to becoming one of the most respected CIOs in the Middle East.
Maurice shares his full transformation journey and the investment philosophy he has built over 25 years across Paris, Geneva, and Dubai. He discusses short term trading myths, the future of private banking, leadership under pressure, and why intelligence will soon become a commodity. Maurice also opens up about the moment he knew it was time for a reset, what it really means to be accountable as a CIO, and why judgment, trust, and stability will always be worth more than intelligence alone. Whether you are navigating a career in finance, building a business in the Middle East, or simply trying to understand how the world's best investors think, this conversation offers hard won wisdom on long term thinking, investment philosophy, and what it takes to lead at the highest level.
Featured Episodes
