logo
episode-header-image
Sep 2023
50m 13s

“The thrill of the chase has always been...

Amaeya Media
About this episode

Diving into the joy of Guatemalan retreats and the love of Microsoft Excel, Hashem sits with Ayman Fakoussa this week to have a wide-ranging conversation. Hashem and Ayman chat about his experience growing up in Saudi Arabia before eventually moving to Dubai and embarking on a multi-faceted career that culminated in launching his own communications firm, The Qode, at the young age of 30 (with partner Dipesh Depala). Hashem and Ayman also discuss the entrepreneurial energy of Dubai, navigating the pandemic, why The Qode decided to enter the Saudi market, Ayman’s dedication to philanthropy, and…the ubiquity of proverbial buses!

Up next
Jun 11
"I’m competing with white space”: Heba El Gabaly on designing the future
Heba El Gabaly, co-founder and CEO of Efreshli, discusses her journey from corporate to entrepreneurship, scaling a tech-driven design-led business, and the importance of blending online and offline experiences. The episode explores her unique blend of leadership, what it felt li ... Show More
1h 2m
Apr 15
“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
Mar 2025
"People walk in as strangers and leave as family. That is what Bait Maryam is all about." Chef Salam Dakkak on honoring her mother’s legacy through every single dish.
@hashem is back this month with Chef Salam, the Chef-Operator of one of the UAE’s most popular restaurants, Bait Maryam. Chef Salam shares the journey behind her success and how she slowly built up her business from the ground up while honoring the legacy of her late mother. She ... Show More
47m 29s
Recommended Episodes
Apr 2022
22 - Becoming CEO of the Oman Convention + Finding Passion at 42
On today's show, Said Al Shanfari, CEO of the Oman Convention & Exhibition Center, shares a story about an extremely difficult moment when he had to dig deep to gather strength which eventually landed him his CEO position. And Nadia Al Saqri battled with societal expectations aft ... Show More
17m 10s
Apr 2024
Hatem Al Akeel
Hatem Alakeel is an award-winning Saudi designer, fashion entrepreneur and podcast host. He has designed for global icons including Mattel’s Barbie, Evian, Lexus, Fairmont, Raffles, and the Ritz Carlton among others, and he was among the first regional artists to create and celeb ... Show More
41m 37s
May 2023
Buying your first property, personal finance influencer and moving to Dubai - Lamide Elizabeth
Lamide Elizabeth shares her impressive journey from buying her first property at the age of 23 and how she's balancing a full time corporate job in finance with being a content creator! We also talk about her recent move to Dubai and how we navigate female friendships! 
30m 3s
Mar 2024
E70: What is a hybrid kitchen and how to build one, with Jihad El Eit
'I have my termination letter framed in my office’ that is the first thing that Jihad said to me when I first met him. Jihad El Eit, is the Founder & Group CEO at Kaykroo, the region’s creator of home grown brands like Manoushe Street, the Good Bowl, Fern el Balad, the Pasta Cup ... Show More
1h 2m
Apr 2024
Sole DXB: Bringing Street Culture to Dubai | Rajat Malhotra
Rajat Malhotra — partner at Sole DXB: Dubai's annual footwear, music, art and lifestyle festival — comes on the afikra podcast to talk about bringing street culture to his home city. He shares what it was like starting the festival alongside his co-founders, reflects on his favor ... Show More
1h 1m
Jul 2024
Handling Rejection, A.I, Music in Saudi & The Ugly Side of Social Media | Asmaa Naga 117
Asmaa is a tech entrepreneur and the founder of 'STUCK?'. A language support platform that blends AI with Human intelligence to provide content and translation services to businesses and individuals. Seventeen years ago, she moved from Egypt to Saudi Arabia, where she started as ... Show More
1h 15m