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  <title>The Edge Of Influence</title>

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  <copyright>© 2026 The Edge Of Influence</copyright>
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  <itunes:author>The Alliance of Independent Agencies Middle East &amp; North Seventy Five</itunes:author>
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  <description><![CDATA[<p>The Edge of Influence is a 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.</p>]]></description>
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    <itunes:title>AI &amp; the Independent Playbook</itunes:title>
    <title>AI &amp; the Independent Playbook</title>
    <itunes:summary><![CDATA[In this episode of The Edge of Influence, host Iman Issa, Co-Founder &amp; Managing Partner of North Seventy-Five, is joined by Richard Bonner-Davis, Co-Founder &amp; CEO Gabriel Worldwid and Arne Mosselman, Founder, CEO &amp; 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 b...]]></itunes:summary>
    <description><![CDATA[<p>In this episode of <b>The Edge of Influence</b>, host <b>Iman Issa, </b>Co-Founder &amp; Managing Partner of North Seventy-Five, is joined by <b>Richard Bonner-Davis</b>, Co-Founder &amp; CEO Gabriel Worldwid and <b>Arne Mosselman</b>, Founder, CEO &amp; Gen AI Strategist @ Ainigma, an AI transformation consultancy in Amsterdam. </p><p>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. </p><p>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&apos;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 &quot;playground&quot; budget. They close on why human creativity, the tension behind ideas like &quot;reassuringly expensive&quot;, remains something AI can&apos;t replicate.</p><p><b>Production</b> <b>Credits:</b></p><p>Presented by: Iman Issa<br/>Editor: Ian Carless<br/>Executive Producers: Iman Issa &amp; Ian Carless<br/>Produced by: North Seventy Five &amp; Poddworx Dubai</p>]]></description>
    <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>In this episode of <b>The Edge of Influence</b>, host <b>Iman Issa, </b>Co-Founder &amp; Managing Partner of North Seventy-Five, is joined by <b>Richard Bonner-Davis</b>, Co-Founder &amp; CEO Gabriel Worldwid and <b>Arne Mosselman</b>, Founder, CEO &amp; Gen AI Strategist @ Ainigma, an AI transformation consultancy in Amsterdam. </p><p>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. </p><p>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&apos;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 &quot;playground&quot; budget. They close on why human creativity, the tension behind ideas like &quot;reassuringly expensive&quot;, remains something AI can&apos;t replicate.</p><p><b>Production</b> <b>Credits:</b></p><p>Presented by: Iman Issa<br/>Editor: Ian Carless<br/>Executive Producers: Iman Issa &amp; Ian Carless<br/>Produced by: North Seventy Five &amp; Poddworx Dubai</p>]]></content:encoded>
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    <pubDate>Tue, 30 Jun 2026 02:00:00 +0400</pubDate>
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  <psc:chapter start="0:00" title="Welcome And Guest Introductions" />
  <psc:chapter start="1:05" title="What An AI Agency Really Does" />
  <psc:chapter start="2:50" title="What Good AI Adoption Looks Like" />
  <psc:chapter start="5:52" title="Beyond Cost Cutting Toward Transformation" />
  <psc:chapter start="9:35" title="Agency Value In A Gen AI World" />
  <psc:chapter start="11:59" title="AI Content Systems Plus Human Judgement" />
  <psc:chapter start="15:09" title="New Skills Risk Bias And Governance" />
  <psc:chapter start="18:09" title="Budgeting For Tools Training And Play" />
  <psc:chapter start="22:50" title="Why Creativity Still Needs Humans" />
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    <itunes:duration>1515</itunes:duration>
    <itunes:keywords></itunes:keywords>
    <itunes:season>1</itunes:season>
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    <itunes:title>Client Relationships, Trust &amp; How Work Really Gets Done in MENA</itunes:title>
    <title>Client Relationships, Trust &amp; How Work Really Gets Done in MENA</title>
    <itunes:summary><![CDATA[In this week's episode of The Edge of Influence, host Iman Issa, Co-Founder &amp; 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 deliverable...]]></itunes:summary>
    <description><![CDATA[<p>In this week&apos;s episode of <b>The Edge of Influence</b>, host <b>Iman Issa</b>, Co-Founder &amp; Managing Partner of North Seventy Five, is joined by <b>Roy Aftimos</b>, CEO of C2 Communications, and <b>David Fox</b>, 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. </p><p>The conversation moves from navigating procurement and aligning on shared objectives, to shifting the conversation from &quot;hours and deliverables&quot; to genuine value, to what builds rich, lasting client partnerships. </p><p>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.</p><p><b>Production</b> <b>Credits:</b></p><p>Presented by: Iman Issa<br/>Editor: Ian Carless<br/>Executive Producers: Iman Issa &amp; Ian Carless<br/>Produced by: North Seventy Five &amp; Poddworx Dubai</p>]]></description>
    <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>In this week&apos;s episode of <b>The Edge of Influence</b>, host <b>Iman Issa</b>, Co-Founder &amp; Managing Partner of North Seventy Five, is joined by <b>Roy Aftimos</b>, CEO of C2 Communications, and <b>David Fox</b>, 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. </p><p>The conversation moves from navigating procurement and aligning on shared objectives, to shifting the conversation from &quot;hours and deliverables&quot; to genuine value, to what builds rich, lasting client partnerships. </p><p>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.</p><p><b>Production</b> <b>Credits:</b></p><p>Presented by: Iman Issa<br/>Editor: Ian Carless<br/>Executive Producers: Iman Issa &amp; Ian Carless<br/>Produced by: North Seventy Five &amp; Poddworx Dubai</p>]]></content:encoded>
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    <link>https://allindependentagenciesme.org/</link>
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    <pubDate>Mon, 22 Jun 2026 09:00:00 +0400</pubDate>
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  <psc:chapter start="1:04" title="Relationships Built On Trust" />
  <psc:chapter start="5:38" title="Procurement Alignment And Shared KPIs" />
  <psc:chapter start="10:40" title="Fixing The Pitch Process" />
  <psc:chapter start="13:45" title="Transparency And Accountability In Practice" />
  <psc:chapter start="20:10" title="Independents Versus Networks Reality Check" />
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  <psc:chapter start="31:15" title="Share The Work And Closing Thoughts" />
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    <itunes:duration>2087</itunes:duration>
    <itunes:keywords>media, pr, advertising, marketing</itunes:keywords>
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    <itunes:title>From Fragmented to Formed: Building the Independent Alliance</itunes:title>
    <title>From Fragmented to Formed: Building the Independent Alliance</title>
    <itunes:summary><![CDATA[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 &amp; Managing Partner of North Seventy Five, is joined by Clive Michon, Founder Director at Alliance of Independent Agencies and Nick Walsh, C...]]></itunes:summary>
    <description><![CDATA[<p>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&apos;s agency industry and to advocate for positive change and real dialogue.</p><p>In this first episode, host <b>Iman Issa</b>, Co-Founder &amp; Managing Partner of North Seventy Five, is joined by <b>Clive Michon</b>, Founder Director at Alliance of Independent Agencies and <b>Nick Walsh</b>, CEO Migrate &amp; Founding Regional Partner, Alliance of Independent Agencies Middle East, to explore the rise of independent agencies and &quot;the missing middle.” </p><p>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.</p><p><b>Production</b> <b>Credits:</b></p><p>Presented by: Iman Issa<br/>Editor: Ian Carless<br/>Executive Producers: Iman Issa &amp; Ian Carless<br/>Produced by: North Seventy Five &amp; Poddworx Dubai</p>]]></description>
    <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>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&apos;s agency industry and to advocate for positive change and real dialogue.</p><p>In this first episode, host <b>Iman Issa</b>, Co-Founder &amp; Managing Partner of North Seventy Five, is joined by <b>Clive Michon</b>, Founder Director at Alliance of Independent Agencies and <b>Nick Walsh</b>, CEO Migrate &amp; Founding Regional Partner, Alliance of Independent Agencies Middle East, to explore the rise of independent agencies and &quot;the missing middle.” </p><p>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.</p><p><b>Production</b> <b>Credits:</b></p><p>Presented by: Iman Issa<br/>Editor: Ian Carless<br/>Executive Producers: Iman Issa &amp; Ian Carless<br/>Produced by: North Seventy Five &amp; Poddworx Dubai</p>]]></content:encoded>
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    <link>https://allindependentagenciesme.org/</link>
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    <pubDate>Mon, 22 Jun 2026 09:00:00 +0400</pubDate>
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  <psc:chapter start="1:07" title="Why The Alliance Launches In MENA" />
  <psc:chapter start="3:15" title="COVID, Isolation, And The Power Of Community" />
  <psc:chapter start="9:16" title="Ecosystems That Help Indies Win" />
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    <itunes:duration>1926</itunes:duration>
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