The conversation around working mothers in the Middle East has evolved, but the reality often tells a different story.

In this episode of Out of Office, Lamisse Muhtaseb, Managing Director, People and Purpose at Deloitte Middle East, shares an honest look at what it means to return to work as a mother in today’s job market.

We reveal:

↳ The hidden challenges mothers face when re-entering the workforce and how companies can genuinely help them succeed.
↳ Why flexibility is not a favour but a business advantage.
↳ How inclusion must go beyond gender and translate into everyday action.

↳ The mindset every returning mother needs before stepping back in.

If you have ever wondered what it really takes to balance ambition, identity, and motherhood in a region that never slows down, this conversation is a must listen.

• 00:00:00 Opening: The Hidden Bias Against Returning Mothers
• 00:01:08 The Middle East Job Market Reality Check
• 00:03:05 When Compromise Becomes Survival
• 00:05:36 Beyond the CV: Rethinking What Matters in Hiring
• 00:06:42 The Maternity Maze: Why New Mothers Struggle to Return
• 00:08:35 Government Support vs Corporate Reality
• 00:10:26 The Career Break Stigma
• 00:11:39 Going to the Source of the Problem
• 00:15:36 The Business Case for Inclusion
• 00:17:17 Tackling Unconscious Bias Head-On
• 00:18:13 The Five-Month Pregnant Candidate Dilemma
• 00:20:29 The Secret Sauce of Work-Life Balance
• 00:22:38 Advice for Returning Mothers: Own Your Story
• 00:25:29 The Success Story: Progress Is Possible

Listen on:
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Connect with Lamisse:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lamisse-muhtaseb-2508522/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lamisse_muhtaseb/

Follow Our Host:
Mark Timms: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marktimmsgrg/

A single mum with relentless drive turned her hustle into a business that went on to win Shark Tank. Now, she’s showing what real success looks like beyond the show, and how she became the brand that made it all possible.

In this episode of The Brand of You, we sit down with Bana Idris, Founder of B Bronzé, to talk about the journey behind the glow, from building confidence to finding stillness in a world that never slows down.

We talk about:
↳ How Bana went from dietician to entrepreneur in the beauty space, and the identity shift that came with it.
↳ What it takes to stay grounded when the spotlight hits.
↳ The power of protecting your energy and learning where to invest it.
↳ How motherhood, meditation, and self-belief shaped her as a woman.

If you’ve ever wondered what happens after the big win, the quiet growth, the self-doubt, and the rediscovery, this one’s for you.

• 00:00:00 Opening: From Shark Tank Winner to Personal Brand Powerhouse
• 00:02:07 The Journey Begins: From Fitness to Instagram Fame
• 00:03:48 Building Confidence: The Gift of Inner Beauty
• 00:05:33 Raising a Confident Son While Staying Humble
• 00:08:06 The Hustler's Mind: When Energy Never Stops
• 00:11:42 Protecting Your Energy in Business and Life
• 00:13:15 Identity Evolution: From Dietician to Entrepreneur
• 00:16:02 Beyond the Shark Tank Title: A Decade of Achievement
• 00:18:31 Living Life as a Playground: The Philosophy of Play
• 00:20:44 B-Bronzed Evolution: From Simple Bottle to Global Dreams

Listen on:
Spotify:
Apple:

Connect with Bana:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bana-idris-b936737a/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/banaidris/
B Bronzé: https://www.b-bronze.com/

Follow Our Host - Robyn Abou Chedid:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/robynabouchedid/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/girlnamedrobyn/

The Middle East job market isn’t what it used to be. Power has shifted, AI is creeping into hiring decisions, and many are realising that the so-called “Promised Land” comes with its own fine print.

In this episode, we sit down with Rooslán Totrov, Global Executive Talent Acquisition Leader, for a brutally honest take on what’s really happening behind closed doors. From companies posting fake jobs just to “see what’s out there” to treating candidates like swipe options, Rooslán calls out the harsh reality shaping today’s hiring scene.

Some hard truths Rooslán shares:
↳ How the job market flipped from candidate-driven to company-led.
↳ The ethical dilemma of employers taking advantage of desperate candidates.
↳ Why AI keeps failing in leadership hiring.

If you’ve ever wondered why landing a job in the Middle East feels more like dating than recruiting, this episode will make you rethink how hiring really works.

• 00:00:00 Opening: The Brutal Reality of Dubai's Job Market
• 00:01:02 The Promised Land Misconception
• 00:02:48 When Hiring Managers Hold All the Cards
• 00:03:27 The Dark Side of Recruitment: Taking Advantage of Desperation
• 00:06:46 Survival Strategies for Job Seekers
• 00:10:18 The 30-40% Pay Cut Reality
• 00:12:10 Leadership Hiring: Why Gut Feeling Still Rules
• 00:14:55 The Assessment Game: Tools or Filters?
• 00:18:22 Hiring Has Turned Into Tinder
• 00:21:07 AI in Executive Search: A Dangerous Marriage
• 00:25:58 Speaking Gen Z While Wearing a Tuxedo
• 00:30:01 Closing: Making Organizations Great Again

Listen on:
Spotify:
Apple:

Connect with Rooslán:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/totrov/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ossetiandoriangray/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/totroff

Follow Our Host:
Mark Timms: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marktimmsgrg/

It's not easy working in male-dominated industries.

And it's even harder when you're figuring out who you are in the middle of it all.

But Emirati women today are showing what's possible: building creative careers, breaking norms and defining empowerment in their own way.

In this episode of The Brand of You, we sit down with Jouhayna AlMheiri, the UAE’s youngest female Air Traffic Controller, who is also a TEDx speaker, stand-up comedian, vlogger, and podcaster, to discuss how she is rewriting the rules of success, authenticity, and self-belief.

Jouhayna speaks about:
↳ What it’s really like being a woman in aviation, and how confidence can change everything.
↳ Her divorce and how comedy was her outlet.
↳ Why balancing faith, therapy, and life coaching became the foundation of her growth.
↳ The truth about financial independence and why self-worth matters more than job titles.

If you’re looking for a story (and a laugh) about reinvention and what it means to stay true to yourself in a world full of labels, this episode is for you.

• 00:00:00 Opening: Breaking Taboos and Finding Identity
• 00:00:41 The Youngest Female Air Traffic Controller
• 00:01:32 Behind the Scenes of Air Traffic Control
• 00:04:14 The Rules of the Sky: Authority and Communication
• 00:05:48 Beyond the Job Title: Finding True Identity
• 00:08:07 From Divorce to Comedy: Finding Humor in Heartbreak
• 00:09:26 Conquering Stage Fright Through Comedy
• 00:11:29 Becoming 'The Sign' for Other Women
• 00:14:06 Mental Health, Therapy, and Breaking Aviation Taboos
• 00:14:54 Navigating Life Transitions and Trusting the Process
• 00:17:41 The 100-Day Transformation Journey
• 00:25:09 From TEDx Dreams to Reality
• 00:27:52 The Real Motivation: Financial Independence and Family
• 00:30:08 Closing: Inspiration to Do Anything

Listen on:

Spotify

Apple

Connect with Jouhayna:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jouhayna-almheiri-3206b71a1/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jouhaynaalmheiri/

YouTube:

https://www.youtube.com/@jouhaynaalmheiri

https://www.youtube.com/@PressPauseWithJo

Follow Our Host - Robyn Abou Chedid:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/robynabouchedid/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/girlnamedrobyn/

Across the Middle East, the way people work and why they work is changing fast. From the rise of AI to a new wave of Gen Z talent entering the workforce, the region is at a turning point where progress, purpose, and people all collide.

In this episode, we sit down with Sherif ElOgeiry, General Manager, HR and General Affairs at Daikin Middle East and Africa, to discuss how AI, cultural shifts, and evolving values are redefining the modern workplace in the region.

We explore:

↳ Why AI won’t replace humans, but those who use it will replace those who don’t.
↳ How Saudi Arabia’s transformation is reshaping jobs, diversity, and opportunity.
↳ What Gen Z truly values in an employer, and why Emotional Intelligence and Spiritual Intelligence matter more than IQ.
↳ Why companies are hiring for skills over degrees, and the one trait Sherif believes every great hire must have.

If you want to understand the future of work in the Middle East and what it really takes to stay relevant, this episode dives into the human side of progress.

Listen on:

Spotify

Apple

Connect with Sherif:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sherif-elogeiry/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sherifssociologyspotlight/

Follow Our Host:

Mark Timms: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marktimmsgrg/

Dubai’s job market is thriving, opportunities are everywhere, competition is fierce, and companies are hiring faster than ever. But here’s the catch: people are no longer just chasing salaries, they’re searching for something that actually matters.

In this episode, we sit down with Melody Sheybani, Group HR Director at Americana Foods, who about how short-term hiring mindsets are shaping careers and company culture.

We explore:

↳ Why companies in the GCC keep hiring for speed, not long-term growth.

↳ The loyalty gap and how it’s reshaping the modern workforce.

↳ What Gen Z really wants from employers (and why most companies still don’t get it).

↳ The myth of plug and play hiring and its hidden cost to culture.If you’ve ever wondered why finding a good job in Dubai is hard, this episode will change how you see work, loyalty, and success in Dubai’s fast-moving market.

Connect with Melody:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/melody-sheybani-1460a22/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/melodydubai/

Follow our Host Mark Timms:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marktimmsgrg/

What does it really mean to be emotionally fit?

In this episode, we sit down with Rahaf Kobeissi to break down the everyday practices that build emotional awareness, resilience, and regulation and why it matters for your career, workplace, and personal life.

We explore:

• The hidden cost of not setting boundaries.

• Why expanding your emotional vocabulary is the first step to real self-awareness and stronger relationships.

• The difference between regulating emotions vs. suppressing them, with tools for staying grounded under pressure.

• The surprising power of asking “what am I feeling?” before making big decisions.

• Clarifying the difference between mental health and emotional fitness and why both are essential but often misunderstood.

  
  

If you’ve ever struggled with boundaries, decision-making under pressure, or feeling stuck in your own emotions, this episode will give you the clarity and tools you need to strengthen your emotional fitness in every part of life.

Connect with Rahaf

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rahafkobeissi/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/raysyourmentalhealth/

Follow the Hosts on Socials:

Robyn Abou Chedid

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/robynabouchedid/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/girlnamedrobyn/

Ali Nasir

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alinasirahmed/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/alinahmeds

This isn’t your typical fitness founder story.

Wajdan Gul didn’t come from a fitness background. Neither did his wife and co-founder, Anam Khalid. They had no industry experience, no connections, and when they first shared their vision for SQUATWOLF, a premium gymwear brand born in the Middle East, even their own families didn’t believe it would work.

But they believed.
And that belief, backed by grit, relentless consistency, and Dubai’s unique spirit of possibility, turned a small bedroom startup into a global fitness brand.

In this episode, Wajdan shares:

• How he and Anam went from zero industry experience to building a performance-led brand

• Why the powerful story of coming from the East is so important

• The emotional toll of chasing a dream when no one else can see it

• The first sale that changed everything

• What it really means to keep going when the world says stop

  
  

This is a story about more than gymwear.
It’s about proving people wrong, building something from nothing, and redefining what’s possible when you lead with purpose, even when no one’s watching.

Follow Wajdan's Journey:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wajdan.gul/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/wajdan/

www.squatwolf.com

Connect with our Hosts:

Robyn Abou Chedid

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/girlnamedrobyn/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/robynabouchedid/

Ahmad Atalla

Instagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/ackieboom/

LinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/ahmad-atalla-b26552/

In this episode, we sit down with financial wellness coach Carol Glynn to talk about one of the most important and often overwhelming areas of adult life: MONEY.
From spending habits to savings goals, Carol shares how to shift your mindset, take control of your finances, and make money feel less stressful. Whether you're just starting your money journey or trying to level up your financial game, this episode gives you simple, empowering advice you can actually use.

Connect with Carol:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/carol-glynn/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/consciousfinancecoaching/
Website: https://www.consciousfinancecoaching.com/

Follow the Hosts on Socials:
Robyn Abou Chedid
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/robynabouchedid/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/girlnamedrobyn/

Ali Nasir
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alinasirahmed/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/alinahmeds