Why Curious People Win (with Isobel Abulhoul and Rabea Ataya)

Why Curious People Win (with Isobel Abulhoul and 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 empathy to resilience, she argues that the habits formed around books can influence an entire life.Arriving in the UAE decades ago with no formal business training, Isobel went on to build Magrudy's and become a driving force behind the UAE's literary culture. Along the way, she reflects on the side effects of screen time for kids, the impact of reading on the brain, how technology is changing the way we learn, and why curious people always win.🎁 Exclusive Bayt Cast offersFor new Bayt.com clients - Get 15% off Bayt.com hiring solutions:👉 https://www.bayt.com/baytcast15For job seekers - Get 20% off your first month of Bayt.com Premium:👉 https://www.bayt.com/baytcast20🔔 Never miss an episode! We’ve got fresh, unfiltered conversations dropping every other week with innovators and career champions you won’t hear anywhere else. Subscribe to Bayt Cast and ring the bell so you’re always in the room: https://www.youtube.com/@Baytcom?sub_confirmation=1🎧 Listen on:Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7sTLIVz8cTQBgCqSdxrZLb?Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/4jJu4wmAnghami: https://open.anghami.com/x3F7yekycTb#BaytCast #IsobelAbulhoul #Reading #Books #Parenting #Education #Entrepreneurship #Magrudys #UAE #Dubai #Literature #Leadership #LifelongLearning #Baytcom #RabeaAtaya

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 conversation with Rabea Ataya, CEO of Bayt.com, Ammar reflects on walking away from comfort and convention to pursue meaning, curiosity, and personal growth. From navigating the streets as a taxi driver to exploring identity, equality, and human connection in the UAE, his story is a compelling exploration of courage, perspective, and living a life rich in experiences rather than titles.🔔 Never miss an episode! We’ve got fresh, unfiltered conversations dropping every other week with innovators and career champions you won’t hear anywhere else. Subscribe to Bayt Cast and ring the bell so you’re always in the room: https://www.youtube.com/@Baytcom?sub_confirmation=1🎧 Listen on:Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7sTLIVz8cTQBgCqSdxrZLb?Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/4jJu4wmAnghami: https://open.anghami.com/x3F7yekycTb 00:00 – Intro01:52 – Starting a PhD at 5408:24 – A deeper look at Islam, justice, and reform20:50 – Possessions vs. experiences: what truly matters23:57 – Running out of money and redefining success29:53 – Breaking free from routine and “Groundhog Day” living34:17 – Reinventing life after corporate work44:20 – The taxi driver experiment: why and how53:27 – Equality, dignity, and life lessons from the road58:35 – Advice for professionals seeking purpose #BaytCast #AmmarShams #CareerChange #LifeReinvention #QuitCorporate #PurposeDrivenLife #CareerGrowth #PersonalDevelopment #UAE #Leadership #MidlifeCareer #PhDJourney #LifeLessons #Inspiration #Baytcom

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 shares candid insights on politicized curricula, shifting global realities after 9/11, and why values matter more than rankings. At its heart, this is a conversation about staying open, leading with conviction, and investing in youth as the only real path to a better future. 🔔 Never miss an episode! We’ve got fresh, unfiltered conversations dropping every other week with innovators and career champions you won’t hear anywhere else. Subscribe to BaytCast and ring the bell so you’re always in the room: https://www.youtube.com/@Baytcom?sub_confirmation=1 🎧 Listen on:Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7sTLIVz8cTQBgCqSdxrZLb?Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/4jJu4wmAnghami: https://open.anghami.com/x3F7yekycTb #BaytCast #SafwanMasri #EducationReform #GeorgetownQatar #LeadershipJourney #ArabIdentity #FutureOfEducation #HigherEducation #MiddleEastLeadership #GlobalEducation

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 entrepreneurs, Fadi reflects on what it truly means to “stick around” in times of crisis. He speaks openly about war, cash flow, leadership town halls, going public, activism, and why entrepreneurship in this region is not glamorous — it’s grit. 🔔 Never miss an episode! We’ve got fresh, unfiltered conversations dropping every other week with the HR innovators and career champions you won’t hear anywhere else. Subscribe to BaytCast and ring the bell so you’re always in the room: https://www.youtube.com/@Baytcom?sub_confirmation=1🎧 Listen on:Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7sTLIVz8cTQBgCqSdxrZLb?Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/4jJu4wmAnghami: https://open.anghami.com/x3F7yekycTb #BaytCast #FadiGhandour #Leadership #Entrepreneurship #Aramex #Wamda #MiddleEastBusiness #StartupEcosystem #Resilience #IPOStory #CrisisLeadership #BuildingThroughWar #PurposeDriven

Paras Shahdadpuri: From Diplomat to Billion-dollar Brand (with Rabea Ataya)

In this episode of BaytCast, Paras Shahdadpuri, Chairman of Nikai Group of Companies, shares a story that defies convention — walking away from a 17-year diplomatic career to build one of the region’s most recognized electronics brands: Nikai. In conversation with Rabea Ataya, CEO of Bayt.com, Paras reflects on risk, resilience, family legacy, competition, and the power of exceptional service. From splitting a $10M letter of credit when he barely had capital, to building a global brand across markets, this episode is a masterclass in long-term thinking and entrepreneurial courage. At its core, this is a reflection on purpose, grit, and the drive to keep creating impact — even at 80. 🔔 Never miss an episode! We’ve got fresh, unfiltered conversations dropping every other week with the HR innovators and career champions you won’t hear anywhere else. Subscribe to BaytCast and ring the bell so you’re always in the room: https://www.youtube.com/@Baytcom?sub_confirmation=1🎧 Listen on:Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7sTLIVz8cTQBgCqSdxrZLb?Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/4jJu4wmAnghami: https://open.anghami.com/x3F7yekycTb #BaytCast #RabeaAtaya #Baytcom #ParasShahdadpuri #Entrepreneurship #Nikai #Leadership #BusinessMindset #FromDiplomatToEntrepreneur #FamilyBusiness #MiddleEastBusiness #StartupJourney #Resilience #LegacyBuilding