Faiza Bouguessa is joined by Salman Khawaja, advisor to entrepreneurs and corporates, for a clear and grounded conversation on the business foundations creatives need in order to scale with confidence.

From understanding financial fundamentals and building the right structures early, to developing the mindset investors look for in founders, Salman breaks down what is often overlooked when creatives focus only on product and storytelling. He explains why numbers are not the enemy, they are the dashboard, and how clarity around finances, teams, and decision-making can prevent growth from turning into chaos.

Together, Faiza and Salman explore what makes a founder truly ready for the next stage, how to think about long-term vision without getting trapped in rigid business plans, and why the most successful founders evolve alongside their companies. It’s a practical episode about clarity, maturity, and building something that lasts.

Faiza Bouguessa is joined by Nahid Kermali, Buying Manager at Ounass, for an honest conversation about the business behind fashion, precision in creativity, and the discipline it takes to build longevity in an ever-evolving industry.With over fifteen years shaping the region’s luxury landscape, Nahid reflects on her journey from Bloomingdale’s New York to Dubai’s retail scene, and what it means to curate brands that truly resonate. She opens up about balancing intuition with data, creativity with structure, and motherhood with a demanding career, all while staying anchored in purpose and integrity.Together, they explore the delicate relationship between designers and buyers, the unseen rigor behind every collection, and why trust, clarity, and consistency remain at the heart of every enduring partnership.LISTEN TO THE BOUQUESSA VOICE🎧 https://youtu.be/ThAD4DvQLl8ABOUT THE BOUQUESSA VOICEA podcast by designer Faiza Bouguessa, The Bouguessa Voice spotlights visionary minds shaping culture, creativity, and business from the Middle East to the world. Each episode explores purpose-driven leadership, craftsmanship, and the stories behind meaningful success.ABOUT FAIZA BOUGUESSAFounder and Creative Director of Bouguessa, Faiza is known for her refined vision of quiet luxury rooted in culture and craftsmanship. Through The Bouguessa Voice, she opens honest conversations with leaders redefining what it means to build with purpose.

Faiza Bouguessa is joined by Myrna Ayad, writer, editor, cultural strategist, and devoted storyteller, for an intimate conversation about culture as identity, belonging, and the power of narrative.

Born in Beirut and raised in the UAE, Myrna reflects on how a multicultural childhood, Arab pride, and motherhood shaped her mission: to document, platform, and protect the stories of our region. From confronting stereotypes and “being the other” abroad to feeling profoundly at home in the UAE, she shares how place, language, and memory form who we are.

Myrna opens up about her work across publishing and programming, her forthcoming children’s book series Noor’s Heroes spotlighting Arab greats, and why supporting creatives, with visibility, residencies, education, and resources—is essential to preserving heritage while innovating. Together, they explore how design, art, and craft can carry history into contemporary life without falling into cliché; how to raise children with pride in their roots; and why stories are our most enduring archives.

It’s a thoughtful exchange on identity, legacy, and the responsibility to tell our own stories—beautifully, honestly, and on our own terms.

ABOUT THE BOUQUESSA VOICE

A podcast by designer Faiza Bouguessa, The Bouguessa Voice spotlights visionary minds shaping culture, creativity, and business from the Middle East to the world. Each episode explores purpose-driven leadership, craftsmanship, and the stories behind meaningful success.

ABOUT FAIZA BOUGUESSA

Founder and Creative Director of Bouguessa, Faiza is known for her refined vision of quiet luxury rooted in culture and craftsmanship. Through The Bouguessa Voice, she opens honest conversations with leaders redefining what it means to build with purpose.