We recently had the privilege of interviewing Simon Davies, Founding Partner of DXB Partners. As a seasoned financial services professional, Simon Davies specialises in marketing communications, capital introductions, and market entry for fund managers and founders seeking to do business in the Middle East. With over three decades of expertise in this field, Simon’s resume includes some of the world’s biggest financial brands allied to 20 years of entrepreneurial experience.
Simon is passionate about meeting and empowering fund managers and entrepreneurs, maximising their potential, and introducing them to the UAE and elsewhere in the GCC. In this insightful interview, Simon Davies discusses his career journey, reasons for being in this field, the challenges of creating a positive working environment, and how aspiring fund managers & entrepreneurs should start their ventures.
The Beginning
We started the interview by asking, “Could you start by telling us about your career path?”
Simon responds, “It’s been 33 years since I started in Finance when computer screens still had green numbers. Since then, I’ve worked in Europe, Asia, and North America before settling in the Gulf in 2011. At heart, I’m a marketer and salesman who loves to create FDI for the UAE and GCC by raising capital and solving market entry problems for fund managers and company founders desiring to come to this marvellous region.
My path has been punctuated by plenty of false starts, u-turns, failures, and quite a few wins. After 20 years running my own companies, with an exit included, I must have done something right. I’m blessed to share the DXB Partners journey with my co-founder, James Goodman, who manages to put up with me most of the time!”
Spark Behind The Decision
We were curious about the factors that influenced Simon Davies to start his company. So, we asked, “What inspired you to develop the idea of your company?”
Simon shared, “Back in 2011, when I arrived in UAE, I could see that the region wanted FDI and plenty of it, but the majority of inbound fund managers and company founders coming from Europe or North America were struggling to raise capital, put down roots & adapt to the Middle East. Equipped with local knowledge and an international background, I saw that we could sit between local institutions and international firms, helping connect the dots.”
Changing Priorities
After years of operating in the industry, businesses shift their goals and adapt to the latest trends. So, we asked, “How have your priorities in business evolved since you first started?”
“Our Number 1 priority has never changed – to be the first phone call or LinkedIn message that a fund manager or company founder makes when wanting to do business here in the Gulf.” He replied.
Overcoming The Adversities
Every business faces specific, inevitable challenges. To learn how Simon Davies overcomes these phases, we asked, “What are the most challenging situations your company overcomes?”
He shared, “Our business relies upon our network, and sometimes that network doesn’t match with the needs of a client or takes longer than expected to deliver the results expected.”
“What’s the key strength to overcome it?”
Simon added, “Grit, a never give up attitude, and pulling all-nighters to find solutions for our wonderful clients.”
Setting The Business Apart
We added, “What makes your company stand out from other businesses in your industry?”
“As far as we know, we’re the only market entry and capital introductions firm bringing internationally based fund managers and tech firms into the region, thereby creating FDI for UAE and the GCC region,” Simon added.
Measuring Business Success
To learn about the indicators used by Simon Davies to estimate success, we asked, “What KPIs do you use to measure your business growth?”
He replied, “Client satisfaction, capital raised & employee retention.”
A Glimpse Of Services
We were eager to learn more about the services offered by Simon Davies’ business. So, we inquired, “Tell us something about your services. What are you working on currently?”
He passionately responds, “Actually, in the next 2 weeks, we will launch the first-ever online marketplace in GCC designed for professional investors to meet and match with international fund managers and entrepreneurs. It’s called RAISER, and I invite readers to connect with me on Linkedin to learn more.”
Promoting A Healthy Workspace
To succeed as a business, it is paramount to focus on nurturing a positive work environment and employee satisfaction. So, we asked, “How do you build trust with your employees and boost productivity without causing burnout?”
Simon responds, “We believe in rewarding our team with good salaries and achievable bonuses; we do not offer commission-only structures, which we believe contribute to burnout and can create poor habits and behaviours. Then we hold weekly catch-ups with everyone to discuss worries and concerns openly and quickly.”
Acing The Latest Trends
We were intrigued to learn about the strategies followed by Simon Davies to ensure a competitive edge and adapt to the latest technologies. So, we asked, “How do you stay on top of the latest technologies and trends in your industry?”
“We are enormous advocates of Linkedin as the primary platform to stay enlightened and informed.” He replied.
Words Of Wisdom
Addressing the beginners, we asked, “What advice would you give to starting entrepreneurs?”
Simon concluded, “Create a one-minute video on your iPhone about your new venture and send it to as many people as you can across your social media followers to get feedback. Don’t launch until it’s clear there’s a market for your idea, and listen intently to the pivots people suggest.”
Follow Simon Davies on LinkedIn.
Find DXB Partners on LinkedIn and visit their website https://dxb.partners/.
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