EO MEPA TRIBE Newsletter | January 2025

JANUARY 2025

Happy 2025 from EO MEPA EO MEPA wishes all its members, board members, and staff an amazing year ahead! May this year bring new opportunities for growth, collaboration, and success.

We are excited to continue working together to achieve great things and make a positive impact - enjoy the latest Tribe newsletter as we reflect on 2024 highlights!

Ganesh Iyer & Olivier Magenck

Announcing the MEPA Regional Council FY 25/26

Abdullah Alarji

Regional Chair

Faeq Alolaiwat

Member Experience Director

Bruce Rowe

Area Director

Kim Whitaker

Leadership Director

Sassan Dieter Khatib-Shahidi

Amna Zaidi

Arshad Bholim

Growth Director

Growth Director

Finance Director

Asher Khan

Basel Abdulkarim

Julia Finnis Bedford

Area Director

Zeid Oweis

Member Products Director

Area Director

Emir Karamagi

Governance Director

Area Director

Bhavya Kalsi

Member Engagement Director (Ad-hoc Director)

Dave Parker Visits EO MEPA In an exciting showcase of our region’s potential, EO Global CEO Dave Parker visited four of our MEPA chapters in 2024: Dubai, Kuwait, Cairo, and Cape Town. This visit marked an incredible opportunity to highlight each chapter’s dynamic growth, diversity, and vision and connect with the influential EO members driving this success.

During his time with us, Dave met with chapter boards, past presidents, alums, and members to discuss our region’s strategic priorities, challenges, and exciting future. From insights shared by long-standing members to forward-looking strategies for growth, these sessions were designed to deepen EO’s alignment with local needs and strengthen the support available to all MEPA members. The visits also included a perfect mix of cultural experiences, such as sunset boat rides, historic city tours, and culinary adventures—each reflecting the unique spirit of our chapters.

The MEPA visit celebrated our achievements, but more importantly, it underscored EO Global’s commitment to enhancing the value and impact of membership in our region. With strong partnerships and impactful initiatives on the horizon, we look forward to even greater opportunities for connection, growth, and leadership development across MEPA. Stay tuned for more exciting EO Global and MEPA updates in 2025!

Flash back to MLS and Unleashed EO is grounded in simple, powerful values that resonate within every chapter, and attending events outside your chapter only deepens this experience.

At events like MLS and Unleashed, you’ll have the chance to meet people from diverse cultures, religions, and mindsets, but those core values will always remain constant. Every interaction is an opportunity to build fantastic stories, lasting friendships, and valuable connections that will stay with you throughout your journey with EO. Let’s make the most of 2025 by embracing the connections and experiences that the MEPA region—and EO Global—have in store for us!

“A particularly impactful moment from EO MEPA Unleashed was when a friend from another country, also on the POL, confided in me about something he hadn’t even shared with his Forum. Talk about scalable trust!” - Anton Gillis, EO Cape Town President FY 25/26 & MEPA Learning Expert

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Events & Programmes To Look Forward To REGIONAL EVENTS

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GLOBAL EVENTS

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SUB-REGIONAL

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What Have The Chapters Been Up To? EO CAPE TOWN EO Cape Town’s Spring Family Day was Undoubtedly the Chapter’s Highlight of 2024 It was an incredible gathering of members and their families, all coming together to celebrate the season. Leopard’s Leap in Franschhoek went above and beyond, offering a delectable harvest table, delicious local wines, and exceptional service.

The children had a blast with DIY pizza stations, homemade ice cream, and bicycle pump tracks, while the adults enjoyed the wine-tasting stations and connection time. A huge thanks to @bazinga_parties for ensuring the day was memorable for the little ones, with tug-of-war games, party games, and face painting. The next-gen guests were equally creative, helping to craft beautiful flower crowns to celebrate spring’s arrival. The day ended on a high note with a stunning music performance by the talented Zolani Mahola, Aron Halevi and Skye Dladla.

“A strong sense of community and connection was evident throughout our EO Family Day. It was wonderful to see everyone as part of a larger EO family. The shared laughter, conversations, and experiences truly underscored the bonds that make our chapter so special.” - Gaynor MacArthur, President FY 24/25

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EO DUBAI Building Invincible Companies with Dr Alex Osterwalder EO Dubai is kickstarting the year with an exclusive two-day workshop on building invincible companies!

Led by renowned expert Dr Alex Osterwalder, the inventor of the Business Model Canvas, this workshop promises to provide participants with practical tools to innovate faster, minimise risk, and fuel business growth.

If you missed the registration deadline, don’t worry—connect with the chapter to stay informed about other exciting upcoming events. For inquiries, contact Leilani at admin@eodubai.com or WhatsApp at +971 50 355 0885.

Building Invincible Companies with Alex Osterwalder 23-24 January 2025 8:30 AM - 5:00 PM Venue: SO/Uptown Dubai Fee: AED 2500 ($680) REGISTER

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EO ISLAMABAD Exciting Leadership Announcement from EO Islamabad EO Islamabad is thrilled to announce that Shafique Ur Rehman, CEO of RMI, has been officially elected as the chapter’s President for FY 2025-26. This milestone marks a significant moment for the chapter, and warm congratulations are extended to Shafique on his new role. With his extensive experience and EO Global’s visionary mindset, he is expected to lead innovative initiatives and deliver immense value to all members. The MEPA community is invited to celebrate this new chapter and support Shafique as he assumes this vital leadership role. Here’s to a successful year ahead for EO Islamabad under his leadership!

EO JEDDAH What Makes Jeddah Unique? It’s Incredible People!

Being a Jidawi EO member takes it to a whole new level. At a recent event, the chapter combined inspiration and entertainment with mentalist and illusionist Wayne Hoffman, exploring the power and potential of the human mind. EO Jeddah continually seeks opportunities to create unforgettable moments that elevate your business and personal growth. Stay tuned for more exciting events designed to fuel your passion and success!

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EO JOHANNESBURG Welcoming New Members, Building a Thriving Community EO Johannesburg is committed to creating an exceptional experience for every new member right from the start. At their recent New Member Event, they went above and beyond, welcoming a group of brilliant minds with a delightful dinner at Sebule. The food was outstanding, but the atmosphere was even more remarkable.

At EO Johannesburg, the belief “We are because you are” is at the core of everything they do. Each new member brings unique energy, fresh ideas, and inspiration, strengthening the community.

Here’s to the incredible entrepreneurs who joined in 2024 – the journey ahead is filled with growth and success!

If you have a colleague or partner in Johannesburg, invite them to check out EO Johannesburg on social media and discover the great community they’ve created!

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EO JORDAN Unleash Your Mind with Wayne Hoffman EO Jordan’s recent event, Unleash Your Mind with Wayne Hoffman, exceeded all expectations, leaving attendees feeling inspired and energised for the 2025 year.

A special thank you goes to the amazing EO members, distinguished guests, and generous s ponsors, Bank al Etihad and Markazia Group, for their invaluable support in making the event a success. Their energy and enthusiasm helped create a dynamic atmosphere of learning and connection.

This event marks the beginning of many more to come, offering valuable opportunities for learning, networking, and unforgettable experiences. The best is yet to come!

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EO KARACHI EO Karachi Reaches 100 Members Milestone with 9.5+ Rated Events!

EO Karachi has grown from strength to strength under Yasmin Dadabhoy’s leadership.

With 100+ members in Q1, it delivered remarkable learning events with Sarah Al Madni and Wayne Hoffman. It also has 7 value-adding strategic alliances, from banks to legal support to salons and restaurants. The chapter’s average rating for all events is above 9.5, with some events scoring a 10/10!

EO KENYA Missed out on a game-changing leadership workshop?

This high-impact leadership workshop, led by renowned expert Jean Meeks-Koch, delivered a deep dive into mastering Vision, Alignment, and Execution, essential for today’s entrepreneurial leaders. Our EO Members gained tailored insights through Everything DiSC™ assessments, revealing personal leadership strengths and challenges. They explored dynamic strategies, from structuring vision meetings to fostering healthy conflict, and learned techniques to drive behavioural change for sustainable growth. They all left with actionable steps, a refined understanding of effective communication, and tools to inspire their teams. Missing this event meant missing a unique opportunity to build a strategic leadership blueprint and cultivate high-performing, adaptable teams.

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EO SAUDI EAST EO Saudi East Supports Breast Cancer Awareness Marathon EO Saudi East was honoured to sponsor the Saudi Cancer Foundation’s annual marathon, which raises awareness about breast cancer. Several chapter members and their families participated in the marathon, held in the Eastern Province on 1st November 2024.

EO Saudi East is Launching Accelerator Programme For the first time in the Eastern Region, EO Saudi East is gearing up to launch an EO Accelerator Programme. Our EO Accelerator program fuels the entrepreneurial spirit of startup founders and new business owners in countries worldwide. For nearly two decades, this structured learning experience has been helping budding entrepreneurs and solopreneurs scale their companies from promising startups to businesses generating more than US$1 million in annual revenue.

EO RIYADH Celebrating Growth with Dynamic Retreats and Expert Training EO Riyadh is happy to spotlight one of their amazing forums, Forum “nEOrs”. During their visit to the regional MEPA Unleash event, they led a dynamic retreat in Bahrain and enhanced their forum efforts by bringing in a forum trainer for an intensive full-day deep-dive focused on strengthening the forum and achieving even better outcomes. The chapter is excited to keep this momentum going!

Discover AlUla: A Journey Through Time AlUla, a jewel along the ancient frankincense route, offers a mesmerising blend of history and natural beauty. From its sculpted rock formations and golden sands to Nabatean tombs and ancient inscriptions, AlUla holds stories of the past within its awe-inspiring landscapes.

Renowned for its lush dates, vibrant culture, and starlit skies, this retreat promises an unforgettable exploration of UNESCO treasures and the rich traditions of its people. If you missed this event, contact the EO Riyadh chapter manager to inquire about future retreats and opportunities to experience AlUla.

EO TANZANIA EOX Tanzania Talk In 2024, Five EO Tanzania members took their public speaking and storytelling skills to new heights through an intensive 25-hour coaching experience with Global Speakers Academy graduate and EO Tanzania member Tehsin Takim.

The outcome? Five inspiring EO speakers took the stage in an EOX-style TED talk, sharing powerful stories that resonated with us all. It was a privilege to listen, support, and witness the incredible growth of our members. Here’s to raising our voices and telling our stories!

EO UGANDA EO Uganda’s AI First Mindset Workshop On 2nd December, EO Uganda hosted the “AI First Mentality Workshop” at the Fairway Hotel, featuring an inspiring session led by renowned expert Raj Goodman. The workshop empowered entrepreneurs with cutting-edge AI strategies, equipping them with practical knowledge and tools to drive business innovation. Chapter members had the unique opportunity to gain hands-on experience with AI tools and methodologies, creating a deeper understanding of how AI could revolutionise their operations and decision-making processes.

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TAKE NOTE: Chapter leaders in EO are responsible for locally enforcing EO’s Code of Conduct. Today, members decide which local entrepreneurs are the right fit to join your chapter, handle conduct issues if they arise, and pass the most egregious complaints to EO’s Global Governance Committee to handle. That is not changing. What is changing is that EO is equipping chapters with more authority and tools to address these local conduct issues. If you have a concern regarding behaviour you have experienced or witnessed, please reach out to your local Governance chair, as every Chapter now has one. You can find out more information here.

www.eomepa.com