The Lighthouse Conversations with Hashem Montasser

The Lighthouse
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  • SOCIETY & CULTURE
  • UPDATED BIWEEKLY

Hashem Montasser, Founder of the The Lighthouse Restaurant & Concept Store in the UAE, is a raconteur who avidly follows the work of arts, culture, technology and, of course, food. In a series of conversations aimed at introducing its audience to the Middle East’s entrepreneurial landscape, Hashem asks his guests about their life journeys, inspirations, successes and failures and everything in-between.

  1. OCT 17

    “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 entrepreneurship. Lynn talks candidly about the challenges she faced funding the business and how she was determined to create a concept that felt true to herself. She shares how Middle Child in essence became the physical expression of her curiosity and creative restlessness.

    43 min

  2. SEP 10

    “It’s not enough to just have good taste.” Rajat Malhotra on building the last major independent festival in the GCC

    Raj Malhotra, co-founder of Sole DXB, shares the story behind building one of the GCC’s last major independent festivals — a cultural platform born from minimal capital yet lots of passion and grit. The episode traces his journey to meeting co-founders Hussain Moloobhoy and Joshua Cox, and how their shared love for fashion, music, food, and design helped shape the DNA of Sole DXB. Raj reflects on the drive for excellence that fuels the festival each year, their commitment to empowering homegrown businesses in the UAE, and what it means to create a cultural space that can fuel the region’s growth.

    39 min

  3. 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 like to bring on a co-founder and her mission to make quality design accessible to everyone. Chapters 0:01 Coming up… 2:36 The Efreshli journey 3:11 Building a business online vs offline 7:21 The Challenges of Entrepreneurship 8:53 First Customers and Social Media Success 14:15 Navigating VC Funding 19:31 Men vs Women Entrepreneurs 25:21 Bringing in a co-founder 35:16 Scaling and expanding Efreshli 38:47 The Impact of AI 47:42 ‘Good design companies sell taste’ 53:26 Expanding Efreshli to the UAE & Saudi Arabia 57:13 Creating keeps you young

    1h 2m

  4. 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 Properties successfully navigates an ever-evolving business landscape.

    1h 7m

  5. MAR 7

    "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 also explores the evolution that led to her starting Sufret Maryam, the sister of her original brand and the many lessons learned thus far.

    47 min

  6. JAN 30

    “The region is going through a renaissance within the creative industry that we very much want to be part of.” Sultan Al Darmaki on bridging silos in the creative ecosystem, and finding that right balance to keep being inspired.

    Hashem Montasser sits down with Sultan Al Darmaki, founder of 1833, an exclusive members’ club redefining community spaces and activations. Sultan shares his journey so far—from his unorthodox approach to fashion, how he felt working in London to the creation of 1833, a space that bridges the worlds of entrepreneurship and creativity. Don’t miss this inside look at the vision behind 1833 and the moments that shaped Sultan’s career thus far.

    47 min

  7. 12/24/2024

    “The Middle East is the best market for all luxury brands worldwide” Rami Al Ali on bridging cultural divides, redefining Arab luxury, and the evolution of modern identity through couture.

    Hashem is back this month with the ever-inspiring Rami Al Ali. Together, they explore the evolution of Arab couture, from breaking stereotypes to redefining luxury on a global stage. Listen in as they swap stories about navigating tradition and modernity, and that unforgettable moment Rami realized the world was ready for a new wave of Arab designers.

    1 hr

  8. EPISODE 88 TRAILER

    Teaser: Rami Al-Ali

    Hashem sits down with acclaimed Syrian fashion designer Rami Al-Ali. Tune in this week to hear about Rami’s journey from Damascus to the global fashion stage.

    1 min
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Trailers

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About

Hashem Montasser, Founder of the The Lighthouse Restaurant & Concept Store in the UAE, is a raconteur who avidly follows the work of arts, culture, technology and, of course, food. In a series of conversations aimed at introducing its audience to the Middle East’s entrepreneurial landscape, Hashem asks his guests about their life journeys, inspirations, successes and failures and everything in-between.

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