Bayt Cast: Big Ideas, Bigger Opportunities!

Rabea Ataya - Bayt.com
  • 5.0 (3)
  • Entrepreneurship
  • Updated Semimonthly

Welcome to Bayt Cast, where big ideas spark even bigger opportunities! Join Bayt.com CEO Rabea Ataya for candid conversations with top founders, visionaries, athletes, and cultural leaders from across the MENA region, uncovering the real career stories, unexpected strategies, and game-changing insights that shape successful careers.

  1. Sep 13

    Walid Shihabi: The $500,000 Mistake That Changed Everything (with Rabea Ataya)

    Nearly 200 investor rejections. Deals that disappeared. Personal money on the line. Walid Shihabi’s founder journey wasn’t built on one lucky break. In this episode of Bayt Cast, he joins Rabea Ataya, CEO of Bayt.com, to talk about what entrepreneurship really demands — from raising capital and surviving rejection to challenging an established industry and knowing when a risk is worth taking. They also explore fintech, consumer credit, founder age, resilience, and why failure can sometimes be one of the most valuable parts of building something big. 🎁 Exclusive Bayt Cast offers For new Bayt.com clients - Get 15% off Bayt.com hiring solutions: 👉 https://www.bayt.com/baytcast15 For job seekers - Get 20% off your first month of Bayt.com Premium: 👉 https://www.bayt.com/baytcast20 🎙️ Want to join Rabea Ataya on a future episode of Bayt Cast? Apply here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfyolLkezhgUTLLTv3K5XMOyWJ8QZ55dtCrvdbDQO54wnu7UQ/viewform 🔔 Never miss an episode! We’ve got fresh, unfiltered conversations dropping every other week with innovators and career champions you won’t hear anywhere else.  Subscribe to Bayt Cast and ring the bell so you’re always in the room: https://www.youtube.com/@Baytcom?sub_confirmation=1 🎧 Listen on: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7sTLIVz8cTQBgCqSdxrZLb? Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/4jJu4wm Anghami: https://open.anghami.com/x3F7yekycTb Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/1e9e1eeb-44cb-4521-ae8c-63b26027980a/bayt-cast-big-ideas-bigger-opportunities 00:00 – Intro 10:10 – Creating a new category: rent now, pay monthly 17:03 – Raising $50M in equity and debt 24:33 – Pitching nearly 200 investors 32:45 – What happens after you finally raise the money? 44:00 – Why investors said no to an “obvious” idea 54:24 – Why failure and risk-taking shouldn’t be crimes 56:49 – Is there a right age to become an entrepreneur? 59:30 – Leaving comfort behind to start again 1:00:24 – The personal cost of entrepreneurship #BaytCast #WalidShihabi #Entrepreneurship #Startups #Fintech #PropTech #Fundraising #VentureCapital #Founders #Dubai #UAE #MiddleEast #Leadership #Ri

    Walid Shihabi: The $500,000 Mistake That Changed Everything (with Rabea Ataya)

  2. Aug 4

    Amir Farha: I Left Everything to Be Myself (with Rabea Ataya)

    What separates founders who build billion-dollar companies from those who never get funded? In this episode of BaytCast, Amir Farha, Founder and Managing Partner of COTU Ventures, sits down with Rabea Ataya, CEO of Bayt.com, for a conversation that goes far beyond venture capital. He shares the lessons he's learned after backing some of the region's most promising startups, and explains why the best founders don't need constant advice, why "smart money" is often misunderstood, and why trust matters more than pitch decks. Whether you're building a startup, raising capital, leading a business, or simply trying to build a life that's true to who you are, this episode offers insights that stay with you long after it ends. 🎁 Exclusive Bayt Cast offers For new Bayt.com clients - Get 15% off Bayt.com hiring solutions:👉 https://www.bayt.com/baytcast15 For job seekers - Get 20% off your first month of Bayt.com Premium:👉 https://www.bayt.com/baytcast20 🔔 Never miss an episode! We’ve got fresh, unfiltered conversations dropping every other week with innovators and career champions you won’t hear anywhere else. Subscribe to Bayt Cast and ring the bell so you’re always in the room: https://www.youtube.com/@Baytcom?sub_confirmation=1 🎧 Listen on:Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7sTLIVz8cTQBgCqSdxrZLb?Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/4jJu4wmAnghami: https://open.anghami.com/x3F7yekycTb #BaytCast #AmirFarha #VentureCapital #Startups #Entrepreneurship #Founders #Fundraising #Investment #AI #MiddleEast #SaudiArabia #UAE #Leadership #Business #Baytcom #RabeaAtaya #COTUVentures aYRPBraaxGqvojooqHz4

    Amir Farha: I Left Everything to Be Myself (with Rabea Ataya)

  3. Jul 15

    Isobel Abulhoul: Why Curious People Win (with Rabea Ataya)

    Want to know how reading books can change your life or how to become CEO of a major company? Most people think books are about information, but Isobel Abulhoul believes they're about something far more important.In this episode of BaytCast, Isobel sits down with Rabea Ataya, CEO of Bayt.com, for a talk about leadership, career progression, and how reading shapes who we become. From imagination and empathy to resilience, she argues that the habits formed around books can influence an entire life.Arriving in the UAE decades ago with no formal business training, Isobel went on to build Magrudy's and become a driving force behind the UAE's literary culture. Along the way, she reflects on the side effects of screen time for kids, the impact of reading on the brain, how technology is changing the way we learn, and why curious people always win.🎁 Exclusive Bayt Cast offersFor new Bayt.com clients - Get 15% off Bayt.com hiring solutions:👉 https://www.bayt.com/baytcast15For job seekers - Get 20% off your first month of Bayt.com Premium:👉 https://www.bayt.com/baytcast20🔔 Never miss an episode! We’ve got fresh, unfiltered conversations dropping every other week with innovators and career champions you won’t hear anywhere else. Subscribe to Bayt Cast and ring the bell so you’re always in the room: https://www.youtube.com/@Baytcom?sub_confirmation=1🎧 Listen on:Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7sTLIVz8cTQBgCqSdxrZLb?Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/4jJu4wmAnghami: https://open.anghami.com/x3F7yekycTb#BaytCast #IsobelAbulhoul #Reading #Books #Parenting #Education #Entrepreneurship #Magrudys #UAE #Dubai #Literature #Leadership #LifelongLearning #Baytcom #RabeaAtaya

    Isobel Abulhoul: Why Curious People Win (with Rabea Ataya)

  4. Apr 19

    Ammar Shams: I Quit Corporate to Drive a Taxi (with Rabea Ataya)

    In this episode of Bayt Cast, Ammar Shams shares an extraordinary journey of reinvention—from a long and successful corporate career to driving a taxi as a life experiment, and later pursuing a PhD in his 50s. What began with a simple question—“When was the last time you did something for the first time?” became a turning point that reshaped his outlook on success, purpose, and fulfillment.In conversation with Rabea Ataya, CEO of Bayt.com, Ammar reflects on walking away from comfort and convention to pursue meaning, curiosity, and personal growth. From navigating the streets as a taxi driver to exploring identity, equality, and human connection in the UAE, his story is a compelling exploration of courage, perspective, and living a life rich in experiences rather than titles.🔔 Never miss an episode! We’ve got fresh, unfiltered conversations dropping every other week with innovators and career champions you won’t hear anywhere else. Subscribe to Bayt Cast and ring the bell so you’re always in the room: https://www.youtube.com/@Baytcom?sub_confirmation=1🎧 Listen on:Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7sTLIVz8cTQBgCqSdxrZLb?Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/4jJu4wmAnghami: https://open.anghami.com/x3F7yekycTb 00:00 – Intro01:52 – Starting a PhD at 5408:24 – A deeper look at Islam, justice, and reform20:50 – Possessions vs. experiences: what truly matters23:57 – Running out of money and redefining success29:53 – Breaking free from routine and “Groundhog Day” living34:17 – Reinventing life after corporate work44:20 – The taxi driver experiment: why and how53:27 – Equality, dignity, and life lessons from the road58:35 – Advice for professionals seeking purpose #BaytCast #AmmarShams #CareerChange #LifeReinvention #QuitCorporate #PurposeDrivenLife #CareerGrowth #PersonalDevelopment #UAE #Leadership #MidlifeCareer #PhDJourney #LifeLessons #Inspiration #Baytcom

    Ammar Shams: I Quit Corporate to Drive a Taxi (with Rabea Ataya)

  5. Apr 2

    Safwan Masri: Nothing in Life Is Linear — And That’s the Point (with Rabea Ataya)

    In this episode of BaytCast, Safwan Masri — Dean of Georgetown University in Qatar and former Vice Dean of Columbia Business School — reflects on a life shaped by reinvention, identity, and education. In conversation with Rabea Ataya, CEO of Bayt.com, he traces his journey from Jordan to Purdue and Stanford, and on to leadership roles at Columbia, King’s Academy, and Georgetown. Along the way, he shares candid insights on politicized curricula, shifting global realities after 9/11, and why values matter more than rankings. At its heart, this is a conversation about staying open, leading with conviction, and investing in youth as the only real path to a better future. 🔔 Never miss an episode! We’ve got fresh, unfiltered conversations dropping every other week with innovators and career champions you won’t hear anywhere else. Subscribe to BaytCast and ring the bell so you’re always in the room: https://www.youtube.com/@Baytcom?sub_confirmation=1 🎧 Listen on:Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7sTLIVz8cTQBgCqSdxrZLb?Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/4jJu4wmAnghami: https://open.anghami.com/x3F7yekycTb #BaytCast #SafwanMasri #EducationReform #GeorgetownQatar #LeadershipJourney #ArabIdentity #FutureOfEducation #HigherEducation #MiddleEastLeadership #GlobalEducation

    Safwan Masri: Nothing in Life Is Linear — And That’s the Point (with Rabea Ataya)

  6. Mar 16

    Fadi Ghandour: When War Hits, Leaders Show Up (with Rabea Ataya)

    In conversation with Rabea Ataya, CEO of Bayt.com, Fadi Ghandour — Founder of Aramex and Executive Chairman of Wamda — shares a candid and deeply personal conversation about resilience, responsibility, and why real leaders do not leave when things get difficult. From building Aramex during civil wars and regional instability, to listing on NASDAQ, to investing in the next generation of entrepreneurs, Fadi reflects on what it truly means to “stick around” in times of crisis. He speaks openly about war, cash flow, leadership town halls, going public, activism, and why entrepreneurship in this region is not glamorous — it’s grit. 🔔 Never miss an episode! We’ve got fresh, unfiltered conversations dropping every other week with the HR innovators and career champions you won’t hear anywhere else. Subscribe to BaytCast and ring the bell so you’re always in the room: https://www.youtube.com/@Baytcom?sub_confirmation=1🎧 Listen on:Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7sTLIVz8cTQBgCqSdxrZLb?Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/4jJu4wmAnghami: https://open.anghami.com/x3F7yekycTb #BaytCast #FadiGhandour #Leadership #Entrepreneurship #Aramex #Wamda #MiddleEastBusiness #StartupEcosystem #Resilience #IPOStory #CrisisLeadership #BuildingThroughWar #PurposeDriven

    Fadi Ghandour: When War Hits, Leaders Show Up (with Rabea Ataya)

  7. 12/03/2025

    Comedy as Protest: The Palestinian Voice (with Amer Zahr)

    In this unmissable BaytCast episode, Palestinian-American comedian Amer Zahr takes center stage, blending humor and activism to dismantle power and amplify the Palestinian voice. Joining Rabea Ataya, Amer takes us on a journey from law school to the comedy stage, where his sharp wit and deep-rooted Palestinian identity fuel a unique comedic style that confronts power, challenges injustice, and reclaims narratives through humor.Amer reveals how comedy isn’t just about laughs, it’s about resistance. From challenging systemic injustice to redefining what it means to be Palestinian in America, he shows how humor has become his weapon of choice for speaking uncomfortable truths.🔔 Never miss an episode! We’ve got fresh, unfiltered conversations dropping every other week with the HR innovators and career champions you won’t hear anywhere else. Subscribe to BaytCast and ring the bell so you’re always in the room: https://www.youtube.com/@Baytcom?sub_confirmation=1🎧 Listen on:Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7sTLIVz8cTQBgCqSdxrZLb?Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/4jJu4wmAnghami: https://open.anghami.com/x3F7yekycTb00:00 – Intro02:00 – From law to laughter: the journey of Amer Zahr06:12 – Navigating Palestinian identity through comedy10:50 – Laughter against oppression15:32 – The power of storytelling in comedy21:15 – The price of speaking truth and attempts to silence27:02 – Reflections on 9/11 and October 7th34:45 – Laughing through tragedy41:10 – Palestinians as overachievers: survival and success47:20 – Political and social backlash in America52:55 – A vision for Palestinian liberation and the future#BaytCast #AmerZahr #ComedyAsProtest #PalestinianComedy #ArabAmerican #Palestine #StandUpForPalestine #PoliticalHumor #PalestinianIdentity #ComedyAndResistance #CulturalAdvocacy #StandUpComedy #Storytelling #PalestinianVoices #SocialChange #ComedyWithPurpose

    Comedy as Protest: The Palestinian Voice (with Amer Zahr)

  8. 11/16/2025

    Reclaiming Stories, One Film at a Time (with Butheina Kazim)

    Cinema isn’t just entertainment; it’s an infrastructure for identity. In this BaytCast episode, Butheina Kazim, the visionary behind Cinema Akil and Reel Palestine, joins Rabea Ataya for an unfiltered conversation on the art (and hustle) of building cultural spaces that outlast trends. They dive into memory, identity, and cultural entrepreneurship—from repurposing a single screen into a movement, to shaping policies that could power the next generation of Arab cinema.Learn about designing human-scale spaces in a hyper-modern city, the startup mindset behind art initiatives, why underrepresented films matter “one audience at a time,” and the policy levers (visas, rebates, distribution) needed to unlock a real film ecosystem.🔔 Never miss an episode! We’ve got fresh, unfiltered conversations dropping every other week with the HR innovators and career champions you won’t hear anywhere else. Subscribe to BaytCast and ring the bell so you’re always in the room: https://www.youtube.com/@Baytcom?sub_confirmation=1🎧 Listen on:Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7sTLIVz8cTQBgCqSdxrZLb?Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/4jJu4wmAnghami: https://open.anghami.com/x3F7yekycTb 00:00 – Intro03:00 – Belonging through stories, not artifacts06:06 – Designing a cinema as shelter, not spectacle14:07 – Melting pot, mosaic… or lava lamp?21:05 – Startup mindset for arts: test fast, stay lean26:09 – Storytelling as currency in the age of AI32:06 – Why underrepresented films must be on big screens36:44 – Fighting erasure & reclaiming narratives44:01 – Opening Cinema Akil, and scaling the festival54:01 – What a film ecosystem needs#BaytCast #CinemaAkil #ReelPalestine #DubaiCulture #IndependentCinema #Storytelling #CreativeEconomy #MENA #ArtHouseCinema #Placemaking

    Reclaiming Stories, One Film at a Time (with Butheina Kazim)
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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
3 Ratings

About

Welcome to Bayt Cast, where big ideas spark even bigger opportunities! Join Bayt.com CEO Rabea Ataya for candid conversations with top founders, visionaries, athletes, and cultural leaders from across the MENA region, uncovering the real career stories, unexpected strategies, and game-changing insights that shape successful careers.

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