Hashem catches up with Ayman Baky, fellow Cairene and Founder of Baky Hospitality. Baky Hospitality is the group behind the award winning restaurants Sachi and Kazoku, as well as Reif Kushiyaki (Cairo) which have reshaped the dining scene in Egypt. Successful, gritty and what many would call “Type A personality,” Ayman is no stranger to risks and learning fr ... Show More
Sep 8
El Primo’s Jonathan Colin on trading 10 years in fine dining for a taco place & the supper club that paid for it
“I could have opened Mediterranean. Japanese. Anything I already knew how to run. But my heart wasn’t going to be in it.”Jonathan Colin, founder of El Primo, spent seven years at LPM Dubai and two at Zuma Abu Dhabi — long enough to know exactly how to open another one of those. H ... Show More
47m 41s
Jun 4
“I observe. I document. And more recently, I speak my mind.” Hani AlMalki on Dubai’s F&B reset, credibility over clout, and a restaurant career built without a restaurant.
Hani AlMalki — aka Bedouinfoodie — returns to podcast for a second sit-down, and it lands nothing like the first. When war hit the region, he started writing: a daily diary on his Instagram Stories that became required reading for Dubai’s food community, built on the one thing m ... Show More
56m 43s
Apr 2026
“If you tell me we're not going to build, then probably replace me. There is no need for having me.” Karim Awad on leading EFG Hermes mid-revolution, a decade of building, and why legacy is measured by what remains after you leave
Karim Awad walked into EFG Hermes at one of the most turbulent moments in Egypt's recent history — a company caught mid-revolution, a bruised brand, and a region that wasn't sure it wanted to stabilise. What he did next is what this conversation is about. Karim and Hashem talke ... Show More
53m 4s
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
May 2020
E5: Samer Hamadeh on building F&B brands that people love
My guest Samer Hamadeh is a serial entrepreneur in the entertainment and Food & Beverage space having built some great concepts such as Republique, Stereo Arcade, Akiba Dori and more. I met Samer way before his food and beverage days when he was at Impact BBDO, where 7 months in, ... Show More
46m 2s
Aug 2024
Fares Akkad on media, startups, and the future of AI
Motivated by curiosity, creativity, communication, and good food, Fares Akkad’s career has taken him on an exciting journey — from consulting, to makeup, to one of the biggest media and tech companies in the world. The common theme through it all? Making a positive impact on othe ... Show More
44m 41s
Oct 2025
Meet Rizwan Kassim: Designing Culinary Experiences That Go Beyond the Plate
Welcome to Season 2 of The Design Pod. In Episode 8, we sit down with Rizwan Kassim, CEO Rikas and Paris Society International, the creative force behind some of the Middle East’s most exceptional dining destinations. From La Cantine du Faubourg to Mimi Kakushi, Ninive, and Lana ... Show More
1 h
Nov 2023
Rizwan Kassim, CEO and Owner Of Rikas Hospitality Group
RIKAS Hospitality Group is a collection of award-winning restaurants and cafes primarily based in Dubai.Founded seven years ago by Parisian visionary Rizwan Kassim, along with Pierre Pirajean and Helena Paraboschi.The group emphasizes culinary innovation, authentic hospitality, a ... Show More
48m 48s
Feb 2025
EP17 How to transfer your passion to your permanent job with Chef Salam Dakkak with Nadine Samra
What does it take to turn a passion into a Michelin-starred success? 🌟
In the latest episode of The CEO Diaries Podcast, I had the pleasure of sitting down with Chef Salam Dakkak, the visionary behind Bait Maryam, one of the region’s most celebrated restaurants. From a humble d ... Show More
1h 21m