Beyond the Ad: The Vision and Drive of VICI’s Founder, Ali Hasbini

In today’s fast-evolving digital landscape, innovation and vision are paramount. Few embody this spirit better than Ali Hasbini, the Founder of GlobMobi, a diverse investment group that has created VICI Adtech Solutions Mena. Ali has not only brought to life an avant-garde digital ad format with VICI but has also forged a path as an influential motivational speaker. Combining video and chat features, VICI offers an immersive and interactive experience, pushing the boundaries of what advertising can achieve. Born from a dream and nurtured in the dynamic environment of Dubai, VICI is a testament to Ali’s tenacity and foresight. In this candid conversation, Ali opens up about his journey, the ups and downs of entrepreneurship, and the future he envisions for both GlobMobi and VICI in the broader Adtech industry and beyond.

Can you share key milestones and turning points in your journey as an industry leader or entrepreneur? 

Throughout the early stages, every achievement felt like a milestone. Each new venture with a client or partner was particularly rewarding, especially since I was handling most of the work by myself and learning as I went along. The real turning point for both me and the company came when we chose to develop our own ad technology, VICI-Mena.io. That’s when the dynamic shifted – it felt as if everything we had learned previously became suddenly irrelevant. We had to start from scratch, but now with something far more thrilling and intriguing than our initial beginnings in 2019. By 2022, we had officially embarked on our exhilarating journey to bring VICI to life. 

What inspired you to start your own company or venture in this industry? 

At first, to be completely honest, my primary goal was to fulfill my life-long dream of starting and operating my own business — and that was just the beginning. Given my extensive experience in the media industry, I believed launching a business in this domain was the perfect opportunity. And rightly so, as we’ve excelled in our endeavors. However, as time progressed, I came to understand the importance of creating value, not just a business. Now, more than ever, I believe that GlobMobi has taken on a life of its own, and VICI is poised to do the same. It will soon be spun off from the group to become its own independent entity. 

What we’ve achieved with the development of VICI is undeniably at the forefront of Adtech. Feedback from industry authorities like the IAB highlights the unique solutions VICI can offer. With the upcoming integration of AI, we are set to distinguish ourselves, ensuring that in the coming year, we truly are in a league of our own. 

How do you foster innovation within your company? 

Innovation is at the heart of GlobMobi, especially now, more than ever, after our success with our first local innovative initiative in Adtech. VICI-mena.io is a proud initiative that was born in Dubai, UAE. It is fostered under the vision of the great leader of the UAE, embodying the future, innovation, and an unwavering drive towards success. 

Can you provide an example of a successful innovation initiative? 

Check out http://vici-mena.io/, and you’ll clearly see our success stories from its initial stages, all achieved in less than 2 years. 

How do you attract and retain top talent in your organization? 

Attracting top talent is crucial. To be honest, I don’t have a concrete formula to share on how to do this. However, I can tell you that my intuition plays a significant role. Many of the top talents working with me were chosen based on my gut feeling, and over time, I’ve learned to trust it even more.  

My philosophy in attracting top talent focuses on the energy and enthusiasm candidates bring. It’s not just about their skills but the passion they can share with me and the team they will work with. Talent is valuable, but it’s only as good as our ability to nurture it. Our core values emphasize the importance of genuine connections with people, loyalty, hard work, and an unwavering passion to shape the future together. After all, we are all humans seeking the best environment to deliver our finest work. If our setting doesn’t allow our talented team to flourish, we aren’t being fair to them or to ourselves. 

How important has mentorship and networking been in your professional journey? 

At the center of it all has been not only mentorship and networking, but more importantly, the communities we are embedded in; those have been the real game changers for us. 

How do you assess and mitigate risks in your business? 

We don’t. At this stage, we learn as we go along, drawing from past experiences and lessons. While we strive to mitigate risks as much as possible, we’re more comfortable betting on ourselves. We believe that learning truly happens when we take chances. After all, risk is an inherent by-product of any venture, whether new or old. 

How do you adapt your business strategy to capitalize on emerging opportunities and industry shifts? 

Our motto is to keep our “Eyes on the Conversation” that’s unfolding at the forefront. As we surpass industry standards, we are, to a certain extent, trailblazing on our own. We believe that leading the way isn’t so much about following trends, but about the determination to push forward with your plans, driven by a belief in a goal that others might not yet have the vision to see. 

What advice would you give aspiring entrepreneurs in this industry? 

Don’t wait until it’s too late. Success is straightforward: the formula is Analysis + Capital + Execution. If you can grasp that, you shouldn’t have a problem achieving anything. 

What key lessons have you learned along the way? 

Failure is your best friend; the sooner you fail, the sooner you succeed. 

What are your long-term goals for your company? we asked Ali Hasbini

Today, GlobMobi is on its way to becoming a conglomerate with investments across various industries. We are preparing to expand into multiple markets and geographies. 

How do you plan to remain competitive in the evolving business landscape?

My team would be the best to answer that, as they are the incredible giants I rely on to make all of this happen! 😊 

Connect with Ali Hasbini on LinkedIn.  

Find VICI on LinkedIn, Facebook, & Instagram. 

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