Scott Ragsdale is the co-founder of the French company Naseba, a business-to-business events organiser focused on emerging markets. The French company launched in Monaco in 2002, opening its Dubai office two years later.
Mr Ragsdale, 44, previously worked as the general manager for a global business information company in Tokyo, Sydney, Shanghai, Hong Kong, Monaco, Barcelona and London. The American has lived in Dubai with his wife and daughter since 2007.
3am
I am a morning person, so I start early. This morning I woke at 3am. I went downstairs, had my fruit salad, made my coffee, then read the newspapers. I read the Financial Times and Bloomberg, then I walked for 90 minutes. Normally I go running or cycling and do three to five hours of training, but I've hurt my leg. I came back, took a shower and got ready for the day. I like endurance challenges.
I’ve completed several Ironman events and swam the English channel. I’ve attempted Race Across America twice; it’s considered the toughest race in the world. When I was training for that, I was training eight to 12 hours a day. In 2013, I quit halfway; I was sleep deprived and failed mentally. I trained for a year and a half to do it again. I got through the toughest part on day four and crashed my bike; I woke up in hospital. I like to train, as it helps me to focus on business.
This year I am doing another challenge: the Deca-Ironman – an Ironman triathlon every day for 10 days. One of the big reasons I do these challenges is to experience life to the fullest and not let it pass me by.
11am
I get my Bateel coffee, sit down at my desk and get on with the day. In our Dubai office we have teams that work Asian, Middle East, European and US hours. I work the European and American markets. I have two companies – Naseba and Naru – that are both part of the Naseba Group.
Naru offers corporate finance investor services. A big portion of our business is in Saudi Arabia, so we have an office in Riyadh. I have conference calls with the team there as well as meetings with the managing director of Naru. As the chairman, I don’t necessarily have a day-to-day role other than overseeing that everything is running to plan. This involves a lot of chasing to make sure my people are doing it right, leaders in our other offices are doing it right and following up on business. I get involved in speaking to our big clients. I will go and meet them, have dinner with them, spend time with them. I travel once or twice a month.
My focus now is acquiring a company in South Africa, so I’m doing a lot more travelling. Last week I was in Monaco. I’m back in Dubai this week, I’m in Nigeria next week, then Cape Town and Saudi Arabia. I go to Saudi Arabia often, sometimes just for the day.
2pm
I have a green juice and a fruit salad at my desk every day. I’m big on fruit. I spend the majority of my time in the afternoon on Chicago. We opened an office there and we are expanding. I am a different kind of chairman – I’m more hands-on to make it happen, to challenge the teams to perform better.
We are always trying to figure out how can we climb higher. A big theme of mine is, “The man at the top of the mountain didn’t fall there”. Everyone wants to get to the top of the mountain, but no one wants to climb anymore. Recruitment is one of the things I am really focused on, and I meet our HR person almost every day.
6pm
I work until 6pm or 7pm, then eat and go to sleep. For dinner I normally have vegetables. My wife is a vegan, my 11-year-old daughter is a vegetarian and I’m an aspiring raw vegan. When I have client dinners, I will go to a restaurant that serves fish.
8pm
I sleep early because I wake up early. During the week I do miss the time with my family. That’s the one negative about training for these challenges. I am able, however, to see my wife and daughter in the morning before my daughter goes to school, and I spend time with them on the weekend.
I am definitely not a mall person, so we go to a nice restaurant, or walk around the new areas in town. We also cycle together when it’s not hot, or go camping. I quit Facebook recently because I realised I don’t read any more.
I noticed my Kindle battery had died and I didn’t even remember the last time I’d used it. I am able to achieve a lot with my time. I am trying to make my life happen.
business@thenational.ae
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MOUNTAINHEAD REVIEW
Starring: Ramy Youssef, Steve Carell, Jason Schwartzman
Director: Jesse Armstrong
Rating: 3.5/5
MATCH INFO
Argentina 47 (Tries: Sanchez, Tuculet (2), Mallia (2), De La Fuente, Bertranou; Cons: Sanchez 5, Urdapilleta)
United States 17 (Tries: Scully (2), Lasike; Cons: MacGinty)
LA LIGA FIXTURES
Friday Valladolid v Osasuna (Kick-off midnight UAE)
Saturday Valencia v Athletic Bilbao (5pm), Getafe v Sevilla (7.15pm), Huesca v Alaves (9.30pm), Real Madrid v Atletico Madrid (midnight)
Sunday Real Sociedad v Eibar (5pm), Real Betis v Villarreal (7.15pm), Elche v Granada (9.30pm), Barcelona v Levante (midnight)
Monday Celta Vigo v Cadiz (midnight)
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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The stats: 2017 Jaguar XJ
Price, base / as tested Dh326,700 / Dh342,700
Engine 3.0L V6
Transmission Eight-speed automatic
Power 340hp @ 6,000pm
Torque 450Nm @ 3,500rpm
Fuel economy, combined 9.1L / 100km
GAC GS8 Specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo
Power: 248hp at 5,200rpm
Torque: 400Nm at 1,750-4,000rpm
Transmission: 8-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 9.1L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh149,900
Teams
Pakistan: Sarfraz Ahmed (captain), Mohammad Hafeez, Sahibzada Farhan, Babar Azam, Shoaib Malik, Asif Ali, Shadab Khan, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Usman Khan Shanwari, Hasan Ali, Imad Wasim, Faheem Ashraf.
New Zealand: Kane Williamson (captain), Corey Anderson, Mark Chapman, Lockie Ferguson, Colin de Grandhomme, Adam Milne, Colin Munro, Ajaz Patel, Glenn Phillips, Seth Rance, Tim Seifert, Ish Sodhi, Tim Southee, Ross Taylor.
How to get there
Emirates (www.emirates.com) flies directly to Hanoi, Vietnam, with fares starting from around Dh2,725 return, while Etihad (www.etihad.com) fares cost about Dh2,213 return with a stop. Chuong is 25 kilometres south of Hanoi.
Ms Yang's top tips for parents new to the UAE
- Join parent networks
- Look beyond school fees
- Keep an open mind
Zayed Sustainability Prize
The five pillars of Islam
Adele: The Stories Behind The Songs
Caroline Sullivan
Carlton Books
THE BIO
Ms Davison came to Dubai from Kerala after her marriage in 1996 when she was 21-years-old
Since 2001, Ms Davison has worked at many affordable schools such as Our Own English High School in Sharjah, and The Apple International School and Amled School in Dubai
Favourite Book: The Alchemist
Favourite quote: Failing to prepare is preparing to fail
Favourite place to Travel to: Vienna
Favourite cuisine: Italian food
Favourite Movie : Scent of a Woman
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Fast%20X
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if you go
The flights
Emirates offer flights to Buenos Aires from Dubai, via Rio De Janeiro from around Dh6,300. emirates.com
Seeing the games
Tangol sell experiences across South America and generally have good access to tickets for most of the big teams in Buenos Aires: Boca Juniors, River Plate, and Independiente. Prices from Dh550 and include pick up and drop off from your hotel in the city. tangol.com
Staying there
Tangol will pick up tourists from any hotel in Buenos Aires, but after the intensity of the game, the Faena makes for tranquil, upmarket accommodation. Doubles from Dh1,110. faena.com
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
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