Hashem catches up with the renowned art collector and CEO of Vivium Holding, his newly established family office. Elie, a self-made man who grew up during Beirut's civil war has had a fascinating career journey, pivoting to advertising early in his career and then building & leading Omnicom Media Group MENA for 18 years. In 2017, he established Vivium Holding, a family office focused on all things Elie, a portfolio that includes real estate, tech and hospitality.  This wide-ranging...

Hashem catches up with Hamad Al Awar, the founder of the home-grown burger brand, High Joint, a police officer and a creative artist. Having met at a shawarma place in a very interesting coincidence, Hashem decided to bring their conversation to The Lighthouse Podcast room and explore the man with multiple hats. Hamad walks us through how he is able to balance between all of his roles while being a father of four.

Catch our brand new episode this Thursday with Hamad Al Awar, the founder of the beloved home-grown burger brand 'High Joint'.

Hashem catches up with Mohamed Maktabi, the CEO of Iwan Maktabi, the go-to address for rare carpets and textile art in the MENA region. They go back in time as Mohamed reveals the captivating tale of his family's heritage: from his grandfather's migration from Iran to Lebanon, fueled by a passion for collecting the most exquisite carpets, to the present-day business in Beirut and Dubai. Mohamed shares his passion for storytelling through the intricate artistry of carpets and how the business...

We're back this week with a brand new episode with Mohamed Maktabi, the man behind the carpet dynasty, Iwan Maktabi. Find it in your podcast player this Thursday.

In our 2023 review episode, our producer Chirag Desai catches up with Hashem to discuss the milestones from this past year such as coping with fear of failure, the allure of leaving a legacy behind and the loneliness of being an entrepreneur. Plus, Hashem talks about his soft spot for the late Queen Elizabeth – and we finally find out why!

Hashem and his producer Chirag look back on 2023, sharing who makes a good podcast host, why fear of failure keeps popping up, and how to make a business outlast its founder.  Catch the new episode, out this Friday!

In this throwback episode from 2023: Our conversation with Ayman Fakkousa, co-founder of The Qode. 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 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,...

Hashem catches up with Mariana Wehbe, the creative force behind MWPR. Renowned for crafting extraordinary events and transformative projects, Mariana shares her journey from surviving the Beirut blast in 2020 to embracing Abu Dhabi as her newfound haven. Stumbling into PR 'by accident', and ending up becoming the PR Queen in the Middle East, Mariana attributes it all to her talent for being an excellent waitress!

Tom Arnel talks about the concept behind The Guild, their ambitious 20,000 sq. ft. space in the Heart of Dubai. You can listen to our full episode with Tom in your podcast player or on our website.

Coming this week, Mariana Wehbe, founder of MWPR, on The Lighthouse Conversations with Hashem Montasser

Hashem catches up with Tom Arnel, founder of EatX and the man behind some of the most successful dining concepts in Dubai, including The Sum of Us, Common Grounds, Harvest & Co, Byron Bather’s Club, HawkerBoi, and The Guild at DIFC. Known for constantly trying to push the envelope in the F&B industry, Tom candidly discusses his journey as an entrepreneur and how he now manages its day-to-day operations whilst balancing being present for his family. Tom provides a glimpse of the early,...

Coming this Thursday, Hashem catches up with Tom Arnel, founder of EatX and the man behind some of the most successful dining concepts in Dubai, including The Sum of Us, Common Grounds, Harvest & Co, Byron Bather’s Club, HawkerBoi, and The Guild at DIFC.

Hashem catches up with Pakistani couturier Hassan Sheheryar Yassin, or HSY. In one of our rawest episodes yet, HSY gets candid about his past as the child of a single mother and the effects of poverty and living in a women’s shelter. HSY and Hashem then delve deeper into his experience as a medical guinea pig when a bout of blindness led to a series of experimental surgeries. Shaped by early traumatic life events, HSY also shares how his journey led him to move to the US and temporarily...

Hashem catches up with the Nakkash family: patriarch Wajih Nakkash, his daughter Aya, and son Omar. To celebrate their 40th business anniversary, Wajih recounts how the Nakkash journey started with a showroom in Sharjah in 1983 and an avant-garde Emirati couple that approached him to design the interiors of their home. Wajih also shares how the Nakkash name evolved from a single showroom to a family-run business that includes interiors, has an online presence, and collaborations with his son...

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...

In this throwback episode to our live episode at The Lighthouse: HE Minister of State Zaki Nusseibeh shares personal anecdotes from his childhood in Jerusalem, the early days of the UAE when he worked as a translator for HH Sheikh Zayed and the development of its arts and culture scene. While sharing snapshots from his various life experiences with the arts, Zaki weaves a thread between his passion for the arts, storytelling and their impact on not just our imagination but also our identity....

In this throwback episode from 2022: Hashem invited Ahmad Al Marri, Founder of Dubai-based ice cream brand Canvas Gelato to the hot seat. Launched in 2017, Canvas Gelato’s raison d'être is to produce ice cream that is made exclusively with “real” ingredients and delivered at negative 70 degrees celsius. Ahmad’s ice cream delivery concept proved successful and was soon supplied to major outlets including local chocolate maker darling Mirzam and featured by international media such as Monocle...

In this throwback to our first episode from 2019: Hashem talks to Mryna Ayad, the former Editor-in-Chief of art magazine Canvas and now an independent art consultant who continues to shape the way art & artists from the Middle East are represented internationally. In addition to her professional journey that took her from Canvas to Director of Art Dubai, Mryna shares her perspective as a working mother and her mission to shape the perspective of external audiences when it comes to Middle...

Our guest is up-and-coming designer Meshary AlNassar. Hailing from Kuwait, Meshary’s journey into interior design started during childhood with American TV pop culture influences The Oprah Winfrey Show and Extreme Makeover: Home Edition. Hashem and Meshary discuss his “design education” surrounded by an all-female cohort and how he managed to navigate societal disapproval as a Khaleeji designer. Meshary shares how he balances aesthetics vs. technical know-how, maximalism vs. minimalism,...

Cairo, mon amour! This week Hashem catches up with Sotheby’s veteran Mai Eldib, whose recent book release ‘Cairo Eternal’ was instantly sought after even by the iconic Fifi Abdou. Hashem and Mai bond over their experiences in Cairo—from overbearing doormen to the perpetual noise factor. Leaving giddiness aside, they agree that what makes Cairo magical, beyond its vast history and layered complexity, is the communal mindset of its people.  Links Mohamed Elshahed on tracing Cairo’s human...

We're throwing it back to our 2022 conversation with Anoud Alzaben. Anoud is a multidisciplinary designer rooted in the practice of architecture. She shared snippets from her childhood growing up in a family steeped in tradition, and how this upbringing has influenced her passions and, ultimately, her career trajectory.  We were delighted to see Anoud’s work at one of the main events of this summer—the royal wedding of Jordan’s Crown Prince Hussain and Saudi architect Rajwa Al Saif—last week...

Hashem catches up with Natasha Sideris after a two-year scheduling ping-pong. He instantly bonds with the iconic restaurateur and founder of Tashas, Avli, and Flamingo Room, over their quest for work-life balance and sustaining a timeless brand with menu classics and sleek interior design. Natasha shares her most cherished metrics for success and what keeps her motivated despite a career spanning over three decades. They also discuss her plans for expansion in Saudi Arabia and the UK, the...

Hashem catches up with publisher Yasmina Jraissati, who manages content strategy and acquisition at Storytel MENA. They explore the commonalities of growing up in Arab homes with a French-speaking parent, and the implications of language on societal participation in the Middle East. Hashem and Yasmina also discuss the lack of Arabic content and attainability—specifically for young adults—and the potential for valuing critical thought and social sciences in Arabic university curriculums....