Dr. Ahmed Heikal is today’s guest on the show. As chairman and CEO of Qalaa Holdings, Ahmed is well known to many in the business community across the Middle East. Prior to founding Qalaa Holdings, Ahmed was an integral part of the rise and dominance of EFG-Hermes bank. To some, Ahmed is a polarizing figure. We talk candidly about the trajectory of his caree ... Show More
Jul 21
Dina H. Sherif on entrepreneurship as a national competitiveness strategy
We’re continuing my conversation with Dina H. Sherif, talking about the shift from aid to agency, AI and regulation, and entrepreneurship as a national competitiveness strategy.Dina has served as the Executive Director of the MIT Kuo Sharper Center for Prosperity and Entrepreneur ... Show More
29m 53s
Feb 2024
Ahmed Galal Ismail on transparency, vulnerability, and self-care
CEO of Majid Al Futtaim Holding and Strategy alum Ahmed Galal Ismail reveals his personal and professional highs and lows in the first of our new ‘unscripted’ series, brought to you by the Strategy Middle East alumni team. Listen to this exclusive interview and uncover the import ... Show More
43m 49s
Mar 2024
Ep 71: The dynamic relationship between fintech and banks with Raheel Ahmed
<p>Welcome back to Couchonomics! In line with the theme of rearchitecting the global financial system, this week we explored the banking sector in the UAE and the wider GCC: regulatory focus, financial crime regulation, innovation, and in general, what the banking sector could do ... Show More
48m 59s
Dec 2023
INJAZ Al Arab: Forsati- Voices of Visionaries with Akef Aqrabawi
<p>This episode is committed to inspiring and educating the MENA region. In this episode, host and entrepreneur Othman Boodai is joined by Akef Aqrabawi, CEO of INJAZ Al Arab, to explore the journeys of impactful leaders, educators, and innovators. Othman shares how his experienc ... Show More
37m 26s
Apr 2025
“I saw a massive gap in institutionalizing the real estate process. And I wanted to take a crack at it.“ Abdullah Alajaji on identifying market gaps in real estate and playing the long game
This week on The Lighthouse Conversations, Hashem sits down with Abdullah Alajaji, Founder of Driven Properties, to discuss his meteoric journey in real estate. Tune in as they discuss taking personal risks, how he spotted a gap in the UAE real-estate market, and how Driven Prope ... Show More
1h 7m