Bayt Cast: Big Ideas, Bigger Opportunities!
Bayt Cast is a podcast hosted by Bayt.com CEO Rabea Ataya. It features candid conversations with founders, visionaries, athletes, and cultural leaders from across the MENA region. The show explores real career stories, unexpected strategies, and insights that shape successful careers. It aims to highlight big ideas and opportunities in the Middle East and North Africa.
Episodes
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 a
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
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
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 conv
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
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 entrepreneu
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 rec
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,
رحلة إيمان بدأت بحروف عربية (مع طارق بوجسيم)
هل جرّبت يومًا أن تبدأ من الصفر؟ طارق بوجسيم لم يكن يعرف كلمة عربية واحدة، نشأ في مدارس بريطانية، وتخرّج من جامعة ستانفورد في أمريكا. لكن رحلة بسيطة لتعلّم العربية تحوّلت إلى نقطة تغيّر حياته بالكامل!في هذه الحلقة، يحكي طارق قصته من البداية: من عالم التقنية إلى طريق الإيمان. كيف بدأ من الصفر ليتقن الفصحى ولهجات عربية متعددة، وكيف قادته اللغة إلى التعمق في الدين، فصار شيخًا وعضوًا في دائرة الفتوى و
He Lost Everything Twice, and Still Won (with Mohan Valrani)
Discover the incredible life story of Mohan Valrani, the visionary co-founder of the Al Shirawi Group. In this powerful episode, Valrani shares his remarkable journey from an 8-year-old refugee who lost everything during the partition of India and Pakistan, to building a multi-billion dollar empire from scratch—not once, but twice.Learn about the importance of radical transparency, the art of reve
Finding My "Why" on Top of the World (with Nelly Attar)
In this BaytCast episode, Nelly Attar, extreme athlete, entrepreneur, and the first Arab woman to summit K2, joins Rabea Ataya to share the lessons that shaped her journey from psychology graduate to Guinness World Record holder!From launching Saudi Arabia’s first dance studio to scaling some of the world’s toughest mountains, Nelly reveals how to act before you “know your why,” why risk is a skil
Will AI Replace Universities? (with Alan Shihadeh)
In this BaytCast episode, Dean of Engineering and Architecture Alan Shihadeh joins Rabea Ataya to share how AUB “punches above its weight” and why it has produced more wealth and talent in the region than almost any other institution.From AUB’s bold push into entrepreneurship and real-world innovation to tackling Lebanon’s toughest job market challenges, Dean Shihadeh shares candid insights on gri
How Saying No Saved My Startup (with Roger Zaccar)
How do you challenge an industry that hasn’t changed in a century, and still come out stronger after every setback? In this episode of BaytCast, Rabea Ataya sits down in Beirut with Roger Zaccar, a third-generation insurance entrepreneur. From turning down early investors and building a team of dreamers, to expanding into Egypt and Europe, navigating Lebanon’s financial freefall, and now harnessin
Happiness Or Success? Why Not Both! (with Navin Valrani)
What does it take to set someone up for lifelong success? In this episode of BaytCast, Rabea Ataya sits down with Navin Valrani—entrepreneur, educator, and lifelong learner— to answer that very question. Together, they journey through every stage of learning, from nursery playrooms to corporate boardrooms, unpacking how to make smarter school choices, the value of happiness in education, building
Ever “Heard” Justice? Sound Is An Instrument Of Truth (with Lawrence Abu Hamdan)
This special episode of BaytCast features a thought-provoking conversation with Lawrence Abu Hamdan, a pioneering artist, researcher, and activist often described as a “private ear” for his groundbreaking work in acoustic investigation.Join Rabea Ataya as he explores how Lawrence’s interdisciplinary practice, merging audio forensics and the subtle nuances of earwitness testimony, has helped surfac
Apply Smart Not Hard! How To Hack ATS (with Filip Rideau)
Salary myths, CV overcrowding, and an AI takeover! In this episode, Rabea Ataya sits down with Filip Rideau for an unfiltered deep dive into the Middle East job market’s hottest and most misunderstood trends. Discover why the “tax-free miracle” packages aren’t what they used to be, learn proven strategies for mid-career professionals eyeing a move to the GCC, and pick up insider hacks for cutting
Don’t Focus On Salary — Focus On This (with Ahmad Rajab)
Join Ahmed Rajab on a captivating journey through his career evolution, from a budding engineer to a visionary HR leader in some of Kuwait’s top brands. In this episode, he shares his valuable insights on making bold career pivots, the realities of working in Kuwait’s private and public sectors, and how AI is transforming the HR landscape. This conversation is a must-listen for anyone navigating c
Most Candidates Fail In The First 60 Seconds — This Is Why (with Paul Bassil)
From launching ventures in Lebanon to leading talent and education initiatives across the GCC, Paul Bassil’s journey is one of bold pivots and lasting impact. In this episode, he shares hard-won lessons on career growth, resilience, and the power of continuous learning. Hear his take on what today’s job market demands, how nationalization is reshaping opportunities in Saudi Arabia and Kuwait, and
Specialize In A Niche, And Opportunities Will Find You (with Helene Gaubert)
Discover how Helene Gaubert transformed a London apprenticeship into a powerhouse HR career—now leading talent acquisition for one of Saudi Arabia’s top hospital networks. In this episode, she shares why emotional intelligence and agility outshine academic credentials, how her healthcare focus became her career superpower, and the secrets to thriving when you take your ambitions global.🔔 Never mis
Self-awareness Is Your Career GPS (with Magdolin Boukhary)
Dive into a values-driven journey with one of Saudi Arabia’s most influential HR leaders, Magdolin Boukhary. From her early sparks of self-awareness to coaching CEOs through career pivots, learn how to lead a career—and a life—rooted in clarity, growth, and authenticity.🔔 Never miss an episode! We’ve got fresh, unfiltered conversations dropping every other week with the HR innovators and career ch
One Question I Ask Every Candidate (with Hani Alahdal)
Meet Hani Alahdal, who turned a PhD-track dream of academia into a powerhouse HR career—starting as an industrial engineer at SABIC, automating a 20,000-applicant scholarship program, and even negotiating service contracts with hospital CEOs. In this episode, he shows why saying “yes” to unexpected challenges, doubling down on continuous learning, and hiring for potential are the real drivers of l
97% of CVs Are Irrelevant – Here’s Why (with Tiago Costa)
Meet Tiago Costa—the Lisbon psychologist who swapped the therapy couch for boardroom breakthroughs in Dubai’s talent arena. From landing his first role at Hays and weathering the collapse of his own startup, to spearheading Parisima Talent within the Deko Group, he reveals the grit, savvy strategies, and genuine human connections that have driven his remarkable rise.
