Straight answers for hard decisions at work.
Real situations from Arab workplaces, and a clear view on each: what is really happening, and what to do. On careers, leadership, strategy, family business, entrepreneurship and postgraduate study. A new piece every two weeks.
Commentary, argued in full.
Written for the person who has to make the call.
Why strategy fails in execution: the problem is in the middle
Why does strategy stay on paper after it is announced? Where it stalls in Arab companies, the role of middle managers, and the three things that must change for a strategy to become daily work.
Read the piece →Ask a middle manager “what has changed in your work since the strategy was announced?” Their answer is the real assessment of your strategy.From the article
An employee made a costly mistake. Should the manager deduct it from their pay?
Can a company deduct an employee’s mistake from their salary? What labour law says in Egypt, Saudi Arabia and the UAE, why deductions often create a bigger problem, and how to hold people accountable without teaching the team to hide errors.
CareersA promotion with only an 8% raise: accept it or turn it down?
Offered a promotion with bigger responsibilities and a small pay rise? How to work out what the promotion is really worth, why 8% means different things in Egypt and the Gulf, and the exact sentences to negotiate before you say yes or no.
Leadership & teamsA new manager changed everything in week one. How do you deal with them?
A new manager takes over the team and starts changing reports, meetings and responsibilities, even what was working. Why they do it, the mistake most teams make, and how to handle it without losing your place.
Family businessFamily businesses in the Arab world: how to pass to the next generation without falling apart
Why do so many Arab family businesses struggle as they move to the second and third generation? The three-circle model, where roles get mixed up, and practical steps on governance and succession before it becomes a crisis.
EntrepreneurshipWhat is an MVP (minimum viable product) in entrepreneurship?
An MVP is the smallest product that lets you test your idea with real customers. What it means, how to build one in Arab markets, practical examples, and the common mistakes founders in the region make.
Postgraduate studyMBA vs MSc vs postgraduate diploma: what is the difference?
MBA, specialist MSc or postgraduate diploma? The difference in purpose, admission, content and length, who each one suits, and what to know about accreditation and degree recognition in Egypt and Saudi Arabia before you enrol.
Postgraduate studyDBA vs PhD: which doctorate is right for you?
Doctor of Business Administration or Doctor of Philosophy? The difference in purpose, type of research, who studies each and where they lead, and what to know about recognition and academic jobs in the Arab world.
Why this work, and why here.
I’ve come to believe that the Arab world’s next chapter will be written by its entrepreneurs and family businesses, and that too many good ones stall not for lack of ambition, but for lack of clear strategy and disciplined execution. Closing that gap is the work.
My doctoral research examined how institutions shape social entrepreneurship in the Middle East: what actually lets ventures grow here, and what quietly holds them back. It keeps my advice grounded in how business really works in this region, not in imported templates.