The Creative Hustle

In this special episode, May Barber is joined by two inspiring women entrepreneurs, Kelly Lundberg and Hadil Al-Khatib, for an honest conversation on what it really means to build a business in the UAE.

Kelly arrived in the UAE 23 years ago as a flight attendant, and went on to reinvent herself as a personal brand strategist, author and speaker. Hadil, on the other hand, left her corporate career after a health challenge to build three successful businesses in the health and wellness space.

Together, the three founders share their journeys across career and identity shifts, touching on personal branding, family roles, turning skills into opportunities and the power of community and support.

An episode grounded in gratitude to the UAE, a place that continues to enable bold ideas and entrepreneurial ambition.

في هذه الحلقة المميزة، تستضيف مي بربر رائدتي الأعمال الملهمتين كيلي لوندبرغ وهديل الخطيب، في حوار صريح وعميق حول معنى بناء مسيرة ريادية في دولة الإمارات
بدأت كيلي مشوارها كمضيفة طيران في الإمارات قبل ٢٣ عام، ثم أعادت تشكيل مسيرتها لتصبح خبيرة في بناء الهوية الشخصية، ومتحدثة و كاتبة. أما هديل، فتركت مسيرتها في عالم الشركات بعد تحدٍ صحي لتؤسس ثلاث مشاريع ناجحة في مجال الصحة والتغذية
معاً، تشارك ثلاث رائدات أعمال تجاربهن عبر تحولات مهنية وشخصية مختلفة، في نقاش يتناول مواضيع أساسية مثل بناء الهوية الشخصية، دور العائلة، تحويل المهارات إلى فرص، إلى جانب إبراز قوة المجتمع، والفرص، ودور المنظومة الداعمة. تعكس هذه الحلقة المميزة امتناناً عميقاً لدولة الإمارات: البلد الذي يواصل تمكين الأفكار الجريئة ودعم الطموحات الريادية

Chapters

0:00 Coming up

1:43 Kelly's journey

8:50 Abu Dhabi girls

10:39 Hadil's journey

13:18 Shark Tank!

16:20 Personal brand

24:25 The identity lag

29:53 Quickfire questions

What does it mean to be an artist and live from your art?

Safwan Dahoul* is one of the most important contemporary Syrian artists.. In this episode he tells us about his beginnings at the Faculty of Fine Arts in Damascus.. his relationship with Fateh Moudarres.. his first painting sold and his first exhibition ever.

And how after all these years.. he's still that 18-year-old who left for Damascus searching for himself.

An episode about art as a real profession not a hobby.. and about an artist who chose black and white and created an entire world from them

*Safwan Dahoul was born in Hama in 1961.. He studied at the Faculty of Fine Arts in Damascus and earned his doctorate in Belgium.. He is considered one of the most prominent painters in the Arab world and his career is regarded as a crucial link between modern and contemporary Arab art.. He is known for his "Dream" series which he started in the late 1980s and continues to this day.. He has exhibited at the Institut du Monde Arabe in Paris, Busan Museum of Art in South Korea, and Ayyam Gallery in Dubai, Beirut and London.. His works are held in major international collections including the Institut du Monde Arabe in Paris, the Barjeel Art Foundation in Sharjah, the National Museum in Damascus, and the Arab Fund for Economic and Social Development in Kuwait.. His highest auction price reached $257,000 at Christie's Dubai.. In 2012 he left Damascus for Dubai.

He makes people laugh through Hessa, Ka22oobi, and Kareem.. but who is Mohanad when he takes off the wig?

From his first content creation gig and a full trip to Japan.. to turning down a role in a Ramadan series because he hadn't seen a single word of the script.. to the reality that he panics every time he posts a video even after 15 years in the field.

An episode with laughs, real talk, and important lessons!

Let us know your thoughts in the comments.

Four artists. One storm. One unforgettable conversation.

In this episode in partnership with WUJUD Foundation and The Artists Week, we take you to the first-ever production by WUJUD, a nascent art foundation. The Artists Week, hosted at Ayla Oasis from December 4-7, 2025, brought together artists and creatives from diverse fields.

We sat down with a storyteller who trains sales and marketing teams, a sound artist documenting thousands of sounds in one project, a full-time artist working with heavy metals, and a chef who turned cooking into entrepreneurship.

In partnership with: Wujud Foundation | The Artists Week | Ayla Oasis

◼️ كيف بدآ من فكرة بسيطة إلى علامات تجارية معروفة إقليمياً
◼️ السر وراء الاستمرار في بناء الأعمال رغم الأزمات -كوڤيد والحروب
◼️ لماذا يعمل زيد مع حرفيين من سوريا والأردن ومصر والإمارات
◼️ كيف تصبح الأصالة وسيلة لزيادة المبيعات

تابعوا الضيوف على انستغرام: 
https://instagram.com/7asanal
https://instagram.com/zaidfarouki 
https://instagram.com/mishkah.ae 
The Creative Hustle Show: ◼️انستغرام - https://instagram.com/thecreativehustleshow

How did Zaid Farouki and Hasan Alzeer turn their passion into leading creative brands across the Arab world?
Two entrepreneurs who changed the concept of fashion and heritage in the region reveal their extraordinary journey from a student studying business administration to a global fashion designer, and from a traditional family business owner to the founder of a heritage-driven brand, Mishkah.
In this inspiring episode, they share with us:
◼️ How they went from a simple idea to regionally recognized brands
◼️ The secret behind continuing to build businesses despite crises, COVID and wars.
◼️ Why Zaid works with artisans from Syria, Jordan, Egypt, and UAE
◼️ How authenticity becomes a way to increase sales

Chapters

In partnership with Dubai Culture & Arts Authority and Al Quoz Creative Entrepreneurship Forum, a special episode of The Creative Hustle with Mo Gawdat, Ahmed Nasheet & Dubai's Leading Creative Entrepreneurs! 

Watch brilliant minds share their journeys, challenges, and breakthroughs. 

Featuring: 

• Mo Gawdat - Best Selling Author and former CBO, Google X
• Ahmed Nasheet - TV presenter, Gamer, Producer
• Butheina Kazim - Founder & Managing Director, Cinema Akil
• Kathy Johnston - Chief Chocolate Officer, Mirzam
• Khulood Khoory - Projects & Events Department Director, Dubai Culture
• Mohamed Mishal - World Economic Forum Global Shaper

Our thanks to the team at Dubai Culture and to Oblong Gallery at Al Khayat Avenue for sharing their space with us.

Chapters

0:00 From the Al Quoz Creative Entrepreneurship Forum

2:00 Butheina Kazim: The role of cinema in placemaking

10:08 Mo Gawdat: Creativity in the age of AI

22:08 Khulood Khoory: Dubai Culture’s vision for the creative economy

27:27 Ahmed Nasheet: Building communities

32:44 Kathy Johnston: Being a Chief Chocolate Officer

38:48 Mohamed Mishal: Gamifying networking

In this episode of The Creative Hustle, I sit down with Fatma Al-Mahmoud, Curator, Co-Founder of Hamzat Wasl, and Senior Manager of Programming at the Museum of the Future. We discuss the evolution of her curatorial journey, how she balances multiple roles, and the principles that drive her as both a cultural leader and creative entrepreneur.Dubbed an ambassador for Emirati youth, Fatma’s achievements already surpass her age. She shares candid reflections on determination, lifelong learning and the value of embracing creativity as both a passion and profession. For aspiring and established creative entrepreneurs alike, her story offers grounded advice and powerful inspiration.

In this episode of The Creative Hustle, I sit down with Yasmine Idriss Tannir, the creative force behind Petites Choses. From her beginnings as a graphic designer to becoming a food designer and recipe developer, Yasmine takes us through her inspiring journey of transforming simple cookies into global partnerships. We talk about how food can build community, the delicate balance of flavors and aesthetics, and the creative crossovers between design and the culinary world. Along the way, Yasmine shares personal stories, from baking with her neighbors in Dubai Marina to creating pavlovas and recipes that delight the eye as much as the taste buds. 

In this episode, I sit down with international Syrian-born designer Rami Al Ali, just ahead of his debut show on the official Paris Haute Couture Week calendar as the first Syrian designer to achieve this milestone. We explore his journey from Dubai to international acclaim, including how an early rejection to his avant-garde style unexpectedly set him on an entrepreneurial path that would make him one of the Arab world’s most celebrated designers. He shares insights on staying grounded, building a sustainable brand rooted in creativity, family values, and client trust, and the personal qualities he believes are essential for success in the fashion industry. Rami also tells the story behind Ard Dyar, the philanthropic platform he launched to empower emerging Syrian talent and nurture the next generation of creatives.