Part two of our two-episode series. Fadi Ghandour co-founded Aramex in 1982 fresh out of studying Political Science in college, an education to which he attributes much of his dialectic thinking. It took tenacity and hard work, but Fadi says that plunging into the complexities of starting a logistics company in the Middle East from the bottom up also require ... Show More
Feb 16
Nicolas Bellavance-Lecompte on the Soul of Space and Collectible Design
“I really wanted to slow things down… to create an experience where people take their time, build relationships, and connect with design in a more human way.” Nicolas Bellavance-Lecompte has spent fifteen years living out of a suitcase, experiencing the quiet palazzos of Venice ... Show More
50m 46s
Jan 12
“Going into a new market requires humility. You don’t know the market well, and you have to accept that.”
In this year-in-review episode, Hashem looks back on 2025 and what it actually took to open two restaurants in Riyadh in one year. It’s a conversation about going up the learning curve fast, staying humble, and why consistency always outlasts hype. Chapters: 0:00 Coming up... ... Show More
44m 43s
Oct 2025
“The day I stopped being a ‘Googler in Dubai’ and started being ‘Lynn, who happens to work at Google,’ everything changed.”
Lynn Hazim, founder of Middle Child and creator of popular food blog @nosoupforyou, shares her journey from corporate life at Google to building her own restaurant in Dubai. The episode explores her early love for food, the roots of her inspiration, and her bold pivot to entrepre ... Show More
42m 47s
Mar 2024
The Retail Philosopher Creating Waves in Egypt and Beyond
<p>Amir Fayo, the founder of 69 Group, marries brand architecture and art direction to create retail and hospitality concepts rooted in culture and connection. Best known for operating Egyptian stores Maison69 and Villa Baboushka, Fayo breaks with conventions to create immersive ... Show More
39m 43s
Mar 2024
981: Bridging Continents: A Finance Leader’s Journey | Jakson Peters, CFO, TourRadar
Jakson Peters's journey from humble beginnings to becoming a global CFO is a tale adaptability, and continuous learning. Born in Brazil, he had initial career expectations far removed from the finance world that had their roots in the start of his working life as part of the fami ... Show More
49m 47s
Feb 2024
Made In Arabia: From Dreams to Destinations, Majid Al Futtaim's Visionary Empire
Majid Al Futtaim's journey is a story of visionary leadership, relentless innovation and a deep commitment to enhancing the quality of life in the Middle East His legacy is not just in the skyscrapers, malls, and leisure facilities that bear his name but in the vibrant communitie ... Show More
2m 26s