تيم إليوت
مرحباً بك في لوجيكال, the UAE’s first regular legal podcast from HPL Yamalova & Plewka, here high up in Dubai’s Jumeirah Lakes Towers. My name is Tim Elliott, and today’s podcast is a break from the norm. It’s all about leadership, not legal matters. We have two guests today. First, as always, here’s the firm’s managing partner, Ludmila Yamalova. Always good to see you.
لودميلا يامالوفا
Great to see you too, Tim, and happy New Year. This is the first time I’ve seen you since we entered 2021!
تيم إليوت
Back at you! Plus, I’m very pleased to welcome a very special guest to لوجيكال, Krysta Fox. Krysta is a business strategy and leadership expert, and she’s also the founder of Chainjocity, a firm specializing in guiding and advising businesses on their strategy and leadership needs. Krysta, it’s really good to meet you. Thanks for making time to join us.
كريستا فوكس
Thank you so much for inviting me. I’m really excited about today’s conversation.
تيم إليوت
Well, it’s good to have you here. Let me start with Ludmila first. I guess that’s where the history starts. Ludmila, you’ve known Krysta for some time. How did you meet?
لودميلا يامالوفا
We met here at the DMCC, from where we are recording this podcast today. Krysta used to be a director at the DMCC, and from my experience, she was the boss— the big boss. She was the one making things happen. I remember she brought me into the “Friends of the Free Zone” club, where she regularly met with member companies to solicit their feedback on what it was like being licensed by the DMCC. She really wanted to continue improving the services for the companies. I remember thinking that the way she ran things felt more like a corporate culture, rather than the usual bureaucratic government entity. She made things happen and truly cared about the experiences of the people she worked with. That’s what made her such a great leader— she could motivate and empower people to make real change.
كريستا فوكس
It’s really nice to hear that, Ludmila. I think one of the biggest mistakes many leaders make is that they try to play a role that’s not themselves. Early in my career, I realized that it’s far too much effort to try to be somebody else, so I embraced being authentic. Leadership and developing a leadership style is a lifelong journey, and it requires experimentation, reflection, and learning from your experiences with people. That’s what motivates me—helping others tap into their leadership potential and guide them to bring out the best in themselves.
لودميلا يامالوفا
Absolutely, and that’s why I admire you so much, Krysta. It takes a lot to connect with people at different levels, especially in large organizations with all the bureaucracy and politics that come with them. But you managed to do it so well. You were grounded and real, and people respected you for it. You showed that leadership isn’t about playing a role, but about being someone who empowers others, builds relationships, and drives positive change.
كريستا فوكس
Thank you for that. Leadership is definitely about continuous learning, and the real challenge is to stay true to yourself while also being open to feedback and growth. The impact we have on others is significant, and if we can learn to lead in an emotionally intelligent way, it makes all the difference in how we build organizations and relationships.
تيم إليوت
It’s interesting to hear how leadership can evolve over time. Krysta, you mentioned that early on, a lot of your behavior was driven by ego, but over time, you’ve shifted to focus on helping others and experimenting with leadership styles. How did that shift happen for you?
كريستا فوكس
It was a gradual process. Early on, when I was selected for a graduate program at BP, I was driven by the desire to get ahead— promotions, recognition, and so on. But as I took on more leadership roles, I realized that this approach wasn’t effective in the long term. I started leading business transformations, and I saw that success wasn’t just about technical expertise but about how I engaged with people. I began to experiment with different leadership behaviors and observed their impact on the team. It became clear that leadership is about creating an environment where people feel valued and empowered, not just directing them to do tasks.
لودميلا يامالوفا
And that’s what makes you such an inspiring leader, Krysta. You learned to lead with emotional intelligence, and that has a transformative effect on the organizations you work with. It’s about creating trust, fostering collaboration, and helping people realize their potential.
تيم إليوت
It’s clear that leadership is such a crucial factor in both organizational success and individual growth. Krysta, Ludmila, thank you both for sharing these insights with us today.
كريستا فوكس
Thank you, Tim and Ludmila. It’s been a pleasure to discuss these ideas with you both.
لودميلا يامالوفا
Thank you, Krysta. Always great to have these conversations with you.
تيم إليوت
هذه حلقة أخرى من لوجيكال— a break from the norm, focusing on leadership. Thanks again to our special guest, Krysta Fox, founder of Chainjocity. You can find out more at Chainjocity.com. And as always, thank you to Ludmila Yamalova, the managing partner here at Yamalova & Plewka. If you have a legal question or would like to consult with a qualified UAE-experienced legal professional, feel free to reach out to us via WhatsApp or visit LYLawyers.com.
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