Snippet from Episode 2 with Olive Oil Sommelier Mazen Assaf.

This week’s Muse is Francesca Inglima, who spent eight years at top tier U.S. investment banks before stepping into the Art world. After studying at Sotheby’s she founded Bianca Arte, a cultural salon for the next generation of art collectors.

In this episode, we explore the leap from finance to art, the skills that translate across both worlds, how she found the courage to leave, and how her definition of success evolved from corporate life to entrepreneurship. Francesca also shares a few artists she loves and what a new client can expect at Bianca Arte: beginning by discovering artists together through exhibitions and studio visits, and developing a shared eye.

This episode invites you to take ownership of your path, choose meaning over certainty, and do the work you love.

LINKS:

Follow Bianca Arte here: https://www.instagram.com/bianca_arte_/?hl=enExplore Bianca Arte and become a client here: https://www.biancarte.com/

Follow Seat of the Muse socials here:

https://www.instagram.com/seatofthemuse/

https://www.tiktok.com/@yourhostcarine

This week's Muse is Hady, the owner of 16mm, a bar in the heart of Beirut's liveliest district Gemmayzeh.

In this raw conversation, Hady takes us through his incredible journey of resilience, navigating some of Lebanon's most difficult challenges. From the upheaval of revolution and the global COVID pandemic to surviving the devastating 2020 Beirut blast, Hady shares how these events shaped both his business and personal life.

But it’s not just about surviving, it's about thriving. Hady opens up about the importance of community, the hurdles of building a business in such a volatile environment, and the unbreakable spirit that has kept him moving forward.

This is a powerful testament to the determination required to keep a vision alive in a city that constantly challenges you.

LINKS:

Follow 16mm bar here: https://www.instagram.com/16mm.beirut/?hl=en

Follow Seat of the Muse socials here:

https://www.instagram.com/seatofthemuse/

https://www.tiktok.com/@yourhostcarine

This week's Muse is Farah Dagher, co-founder of Origin Circle, Beirut's first social wellness club.

What started as a conversation between two best friends on holiday quickly became a sanctuary for movement, recovery, and human connection. In this episode, Farah shares the full behind-the-scenes of launching Origin Circle with her co-founder Michelle - from diving in headfirst with no team, to navigating the unexpected realities of building a business in Lebanon.

Origin Circle has since become the most talked-about wellness club in Beirut, with a regional spotlight that grew even brighter after a collaboration with Alo Yoga ahead of the brand’s store opening. Farah reflects on the lessons, surprises, and intentional choices that brought the space to life.

LINKS:

Follow Origin Circle here: https://www.instagram.com/origincircle/

Explore the space and classes here: https://www.origincircle.org/

Follow Seat of the Muse socials here:

https://www.instagram.com/seatofthemuse/ https://www.tiktok.com/@yourhostcarine

This week’s Muse is Yasmin Khalil, the founder of KŌDŌ - a clean fragrance brand where scent becomes ritual, and perfume smells like your favorite indulgence.

Trained in interior design, Yasmin shifted from shaping physical spaces to curating invisible ones - through smell. Her journey began in Florence, where she signed up for an Airbnb perfume workshop just for fun - and left knowing she wanted to build a life in fragrance. KŌDŌ is built on the belief that perfume can be more than floral or musky - it can be gourmand. Think espresso, matcha lattes, chocolate and cardamom - comforting, familiar, and crave-worthy notes that blur the line between food and feeling. Each scent is clean, non-toxic, and rooted in wellness.

In this episode, we explore her creative and entrepreneurial path: the early scrappy days of being a founder, the behind-the-scenes of scent formulation, and how she’s tapping into scent marketing to create deeper emotional connections between people and their spaces.

This is a story of where entrepreneurship meets emotion, and where perfume smells like something you’d actually want to eat.

LINKS:

Follow the journey here: https://www.instagram.com/kodo.london/

Indulge in KŌDŌ here: https://kodolondon.com?sca_ref=9115597.8emQiJ7wuGJ8UMLO

Use code "MUSE" at checkout for special discount

Follow Seat of the Muse socials here:

https://www.instagram.com/seatofthemuse/

https://www.tiktok.com/@yourhostcarine

This week’s Muse is Mazen Assaf - the mind behind The Olive Oil Guy, a brand on a mission to elevate olive oil from everyday ingredient to craft product.

What began as a personal passion soon became a lifelong pursuit of excellence: Mazen has since judged at international olive oil competitions, taught at the world-renowned Le Cordon Bleu culinary institute, and worked with some of the top Michelin-starred chefs. Today, his products are stocked in iconic destinations like Harrods, Selfridges, and Zapp.

In this episode, we dive into the making of The Olive Oil Guy - from the craftsmanship behind great olive oil, to the business of building a niche brand, and the quiet confidence it takes to carve out your own space in a traditional industry.

It’s not just olive oil. It’s a masterclass in craft, serendipity, and building something unforgettable.

Filmed in London.

This week's Muse is Katia Nounou Boueiz, Deputy Chairman of Sotheby's Middle East.

After joining Sotheby’s London in 2008 to grow its Middle Eastern client base, Katia moved to the UAE in 2015 to establish the auction house’s first office in the region. Since then, she’s helped cement Dubai’s position on the global art map - leading strategy, exhibitions, and regional engagement for one of the world’s most prestigious institutions.

In this episode, we talk about Katia’s journey into the art world, what it means to lead with intention in a global institution, and how she’s navigated that path while raising a family.

It’s a conversation about leadership, art, and building something lasting - both professionally and personally.

This is my first solo episode as I close out what has been an incredible Season 1.

Thank you to all the guests who came on to share their stories and agreed to be part of my journey in hosting this podcast.

Thank you to all the listeners who were here every other Tuesday waiting for the drops.

Thank you for your feedbacks, follows, ratings and for just being here. SO thankful for you all and for making this first season such a fun experience.

Stay tuned for Season 2 where I already have exciting guests lined up for you. Until then, stay curious!

This week's Muse is Andrea Kazan, founder of clean baking mix brand Good Mess.

In this episode, Andrea opens up about her health journey, and how almost 5 years ago, her life turned upside down when she fell seriously ill and had to rethink everything she ate, which led her to create a baking mix free from refined sugars and processed ingredients.

We dive into her story - how she turned a challenge into a business, the truth about food labels and ingredients in store-bought mixes, and the early struggles of launching a food brand as an outsider to the industry.

Shop Good Mess mixeshereand follow the journey on Instagram here.

Seat of the Muse IG:⁠ @seatofthemuse⁠  

Music produced by⁠ Yossif Mahmoud

This week's Muse is Wael Al Qadi is a Jordanian football executive and the president of English football club Bristol Rovers. 

Since becoming owner in 2016, his leadership has been marked by incredible milestones, including two promotions: one in May 2016, with a dramatic last-minute winner on the final day of the season, and another in 2022 with an unforgettable 7-0 victory over Scunthorpe United.

In this episode, Wael takes us behind the scenes of his journey, from the pivotal moment he decided to buy a football club to his emotional farewell as he announced the sale of his remaining stake. We dive into the business side of football, exploring how clubs are valued, how player transfers work, and what it takes to manage a team with diverse personalities.

Seat of the Muse IG: ⁠@seatofthemuse⁠  

Music produced by ⁠Yossif Mahmoud