In early April 2025, Hussein Hakim, general manager of Al Abdalla Restaurants, a popular Lebanese fast-food chain renowned for its charcoal-grilled chicken, was confronted with an unexpected challenge after launching a humorous advertising campaign. The campaign capitalized on Lebanese sarcasm to position the brand as the authentic and superior choice in a crowded market. Then a new competitor emerged, publicly embracing the advertising campaign to .....more

Jad Nasr founded Kids Airline Pediatric Clinic, an airline-themed pediatric dental clinic in Lebanon. In August 2025, he faced a pivotal growth decision. After navigating years of economic and political turbulence, the clinic had grown into a thriving, experience-led dental brand with three branches in Lebanon. But Nasr now had to choose a strategic path forward: grow clinical presence in Lebanon, expand internationally, or scale his brand into a .....more

Al Rifai Nuts (Rifai) was a firm headquartered in Lebanon and engaged in the production and retailing of mixed nuts. It had sustained its market presence since 1948 and achieved recognition as a brand with considerable equity deeply rooted in local cultural traditions. In response to the economic challenges and instabilities that characterized Lebanon from 2017 to 2020, Rifai was acquired in 2021 by MERIT Invest. After the acquisition, the new management .....more

In 2024, the co-founders of Plastc Lab were strategically planning the company’s entrepreneurial journey. Plastc Lab was a Lebanese purpose-driven business established in 2019 to address the country’s waste crisis by recycling plastic into valuable products. With an innovative approach and commitment to sustainability, Plastc Lab faced significant growth challenges due to Lebanon’s economic crisis, institutional instability, and lack of governmental .....more

In response to the waste-management crisis in Lebanon, Nadeera Technologies Ltd. (Nadeera) was founded in Beirut, Lebanon, in 2020 as a social enterprise. Its co-founder wanted to ensure Nadeera’s business model would be financially sustainable and scalable across the region. Despite the firm’s success in capitalizing on opportunities in Lebanon and the United Arab Emirates (UAE), in late 2024, Nadeera's co-founder faced difficult decisions related .....more

Dr. Fadia Kiwan, a Lebanese political-science professor at Saint-Joseph University and the director general of the Arab Women Organization, had observed through her work that Lebanon's socio-political landscape presented both opportunities and challenges for women's empowerment. Thus, in February 2022, she faced a significant career dilemma: she could run for Lebanon’s upcoming parliamentary elections or continue her impactful roles in academia .....more

Mariam Assi was the founder of Marazal—a small business dedicated to repurposing empty bottles, primarily empty liquor, wine, and beer bottles. In August 2023, Marazal’s Facebook account, the primary platform she used for marketing, sales, and engaging with her 2,500 followers, was blocked because it had been reported by the manufacturer of Belvedere Vodka. She was in a state of disbelief as she had never intended to misuse the brand; instead, she .....more

On a day in early June 2017, Fadi Kanaan, a member of the organizing committee of the Beirut International Model United Nations (BEYMUN) conference at the American University of Beirut (AUB), sat in front of college hall feeling very excited yet worried. He had just received an email informing him that he would be the secretary-general of the annual Model United Nations conference at AUB in the spring of 2018. BEYMUN invited students from universities .....more

A 19-year-old student had just started university studies and was confronted by the financial challenges that many young adults faced as they embarked on their own life away from home. Her parents provided for her education and many basic living expenses, but there were still many unexpected costs and social life expenses to plan for. After an interesting conversation about personal finances with her friends, the student decided to start her own financial .....more

After five years abroad, Soumaya Merhi, a Lebanese German entrepreneur, returned to Lebanon in 2013 with the goal of introducing superfoods to the Middle East. Despite limited resources, she launched TAQA Snacks (TAQA) in 2017, prioritizing sustainability alongside financial growth. By 2018, TAQA had seen remarkable 400 per cent growth, established a dedicated team, and ingrained its socio-environmental values. However, Lebanon’s severe economic crisis .....more