What Fatherhood Taught These Three MENA Entrepreneurs

In a region where entrepreneurship is often synonymous with relentless hustle, three MENA founders have found that becoming fathers has helped them focus on what matters most—both at home and at work.

With the world celebrating Father's Day on June 21, Inc. Arabia spoke to Mark Chahwan, co-founder and CEO of Sarwa, Karim Helal, co-founder and CEO of ProTenders, and Badr Ward, founder and CEO of Lamsa, who told us that the qualities that make them better fathers—like patience, intentionality, and emotional presence—also make them better entrepreneurs.

From redefining productivity and presence, to fostering work cultures rooted in empathy, flexibility, and well-being, these entrepreneurs' stories—and their willingness to share them—signal a larger cultural shift in the region, which is reimagining leadership as both deeply human and defined by presence.  

Mark Chahwan, co-founder and CEO, Sarwa

Mark Chahwan, co-founder and CEO of the Abu Dhabi-based wealthtech and personal finance startup Sarwa, tells Inc. Arabia that, in many ways, fatherhood challenged his beliefs and evolved his definition of success. Once wary of parenthood, the father of one says that he now draws energy and focus from it in ways that he never expected.

“I was afraid of having kids; I thought I needed life figured out first," he shares. "Like many millennials, I treated it as a project for later. But we said kids by 32, and it was time. What I once dreaded became the most wonderful part of my life."

“When my son was born, it felt like another battery got installed," Chahwan continues. "I became more organized, stripped distractions, and shifted from more hours to better decisions. Every late hour at work now means one less with family. Today, I can easily say, nothing has brought me more happiness than becoming a parent.” 

So, how has Chahwan adjusted his schedule to fully show up as a father? “Early deep work, less meetings, laptop shut by 6," he replies. "I don’t stretch the day anymore, and focus more. After bedtime, I will sometimes catch up on work, but in general, it's made me more focused. I think the team play with my wife here is critical, and we constantly rely on each other for travel schedules, workouts, and communicate a lot to make it all work.” 

Chahwan stresses that paramount to making room for fatherhood was making a decision to draw clear lines between his personal life and his professional one, going all the way back to the basics of just why he founded a startup to begin with. “The idea of building a business is to have freedom, and for it to work for us, not the other way around," he points out. "So, the boundaries have been set early on. Having a diverse, mature team with parents at all levels has also built this early on. Some periods are more intense, that's for sure, but they are sprints typically, and we get back to a healthy cadence."

But Chahwan is not alone, and he tells us that he’s increasingly seeing that pattern emerging among other new fathers. “Almost every new dad I speak to is extremely hands-on," he says. "Changing diapers, cooking, spending a lot of time and everything in between is common now. Maybe it always was, but I definitely didn't expect to be this hands-on personally and for my friends to also embrace it that much."

This is especially true today, with modern lifestyles making it common for couples not to have family around to support, and making it key for fathers to be partners rather than just providers. As for the times when he’s not present, he reports feeling more FOMO (fear of missing out), than guilt. “I'm not sure it's guilt, but there is a lot FOMO that's for sure, and it typically starts to kick in late afternoons [when] I feel the pressure to finish off work to go spend the evening at home or at the park. The adjustment is a lot about prioritizing work that makes it worth being away, and luckily, I feel like I'm doing work that matters and where I can contribute a lot,” he says.

Becoming a father has also affected how Chahwan views success, driving him to better prioritize his time and focus fully when at work. “Time spent and moments with family are more important," he says. "I could waste an evening before and work through it, but now, I am much more intentional about my work to get back home on time. I'm more focused on what I'm working on. I say 'no' more often.” 

Critically, he tells us, it has reinforced his thoughts on flexible working cultures as being integral to the current age. “We never valued hustle culture," Chahwan says. "We’ve always embraced remote and async work, and becoming a dad only reinforced how right that felt. It made me appreciate the flexibility even more.”

Chahwan also reveals that a true moment of reflection came when he became a parent and began to contemplate questions like parental leave, and thus reflect on the intentionality of what it truly takes to build a family.

“I used to think parental leave was about managing a transition," he says. "Is three months enough? Or six? Everyone debates the length,  but the real question is whether your company actually supports building a family. If you're planning to have two or three kids, you're looking at multiple cycles, and most of us are starting later. My grandparents had kids in their teens. My parents, in their twenties. We had our first in our thirties. That compression adds pressure on women, and it can’t be ignored. Which is why it has to be done by design. ”

"For dads, it’s often a few weeks," Chahwan continues. "I took a full month, then eased back in. But the big shift is in mindset, and it applies across the board. How we hire, how we build, how we lead. We look for depth, not just variety. In tech, five years of compounding beats five one-year stints. Same goes for how we build teams. You can’t build a great company if people can’t build lives inside it. That’s the long game. Not just maternity or paternity leave—family leave. If venture capitalists and limited partners are betting on founders for 10+ years, what’s stopping founders from doing the same for their team?"

Karim Helal, co-founder and CEO, ProTenders

Karim Helal, who is the co-founder and CEO of the Abu Dhabi-based construction intelligence and e-tendering platform ProTenders, tells Inc. Arabia that fatherhood, above all, has “tempered his intensity” and taught him “the profound power of patience.”

“In the startup world, you're constantly pushing, iterating, and seeking immediate results," Helal explains. "Fatherhood taught me that some of the most significant developments, both in my children and in my business, require a patient approach."

The father of two tells us that, over the past decade, this paradigm shift required him to recalibrate his priorities as time became more constrained and his responsibilities grew. Critically, being a father has recentered his approach to success, placing family well-being on par with business growth. “My definition of success broadened considerably, as it's no longer measured just by financial milestones or business growth, but now also includes well-being and development of my kids," he shares. "Building a thriving business becomes a means to an end, not a final goal.” 

But the changes were not just reflected on the home front. In fact, Helal says that becoming a father has influenced how he approaches building both products and teams. 

“It's influenced changes in my product development, as I now consider how solutions can benefit families or create more flexible work environments," he says. "My team culture has also evolved; I emphasize empathy, flexibility, and work-life integration more, understanding that my team members also have lives and families outside of work. It's reinforced my mission to build businesses that are not only profitable but also contribute positively to society and family well-being." 

And rather than setting boundaries to separate work and personal life, he believes that building systems to account for both can help keep priorities straight. For him, that means setting rules like not using electronics when he’s around his children to ensure that his focus remains on them, or avoiding burnout by working out regularly, eating whole meals, and getting enough sleep.

It also means building a daily routine that “is rigorously planned to integrate both roles,” Helal adds. That means waking up early and dropping his kids off at school, and then preparing for intense workdays, which are typically followed by time spent with his children at their activities and family dinners, playtime, and bedtime routines. Urgent tasks and next-day planning are often done late at night, with weekends reserved exclusively for sports and family activities.

However, Helal admits that things don't always go according to plan. “Yes, I have definitely experienced ‘dad guilt,’" Helal admits. "It often triggers when I miss a significant school event, a bedtime story, or a family outing due to an unavoidable business commitment. This guilt prompted me to make significant adjustments, such as declining non-essential travel, scheduling all important family events on my calendar first, and consciously choosing where to invest my limited time and energy."

But the key takeaway Helal has had from his time being a father and an entrepreneur is that quality matters more than quantity.

“The most valuable lesson I've gained is that quality over quantity applies equally to time with your children as it does to your business efforts," he says. "You don't need to be physically present every minute; what matters is being fully engaged and present when you are with them. Focus on creating meaningful moments, listening actively, and truly connecting. This mindset also translates to entrepreneurship: focus on high-impact activities rather than just busy work. Prioritize ruthless efficiency in your business, so you can create the space to be the father you want to be.”

Badr Ward, founder and CEO, Lamsa
 

For Badr Ward, founder and CEO of the Abu Dhabi-based Lamsa, fatherhood did more than just define his leadership style; it sparked the idea for his startup—an early childhood edtech that has built a unified education framework that integrates technology, interactive learning, and artificial intelligence (AI)-driven personalization to support children, parents, and educators.

“In those early days with my daughter, I searched for Arabic-language stories and digital content that I could proudly share with her, something joyful, educational, and rooted in our culture," Ward recalls. "What I found was…almost nothing. The absence was loud. I realized that if I couldn’t find meaningful content for my own child, then millions of other parents across the Arab world were likely facing the same frustration.” 

“That moment planted the seed," Ward continues. "I set out to build what I wished existed, a safe, inspiring, beautifully crafted digital world in Arabic where children could explore, learn, and grow while feeling connected to their cultural identity. What started as a love letter to my daughter has grown into a mission to empower children, educators, and families across the region."

But beyond just inspiring his startup idea, Ward says that fatherhood “transformed the lens” through which he views everything, shifting his priorities and redefining his outlook on life.

“Before parenthood, success was defined by external milestones: growth metrics, funding rounds, pitch decks," the father-of-two shares. "But the moment I held my daughter in my arms, something profound changed. Suddenly, success became both more intimate and more expansive. It was no longer about how fast I could scale a company or how many users I could onboard. It became: What kind of world am I building for her?”  

According to Ward, his children serve as a constant reminder that being anything less than mindfully present is falling short. “One of the most unexpected, and transformative, lessons I’ve learned as a father is that children don’t need perfection," he says. "They need presence. I’ll never forget the moment. I was half-listening, distracted by emails on my phone, when I overheard my son quietly say to his sister, 'Baba’s always on his phone.' In that instant, I realized that attention, undivided, intentional attention, is one of the most valuable currencies we have. And I wasn’t offering it."

In addition to his experience, he also draws on the lessons that he learned from his own father while growing up to build both his family and his company. “It took me back to my own childhood, to my father, who had a way of making me feel like the most important person in the world, simply by being fully present," he recalls. "He didn’t need to say much. He didn’t need to prove anything. Just his presence was enough. And that consistent, grounded presence gave me a sense of security that shaped who I became.” 

“That moment with my son became a turning point," he continues. "A reminder that presence is not just something we offer, it’s something our children remember. And it's often the smallest, simplest moments that leave the deepest impact. Since then, I’ve made presence a guiding principle in both my parenting and my leadership. Whether I’m in a meeting, a one-on-one with a team member, or hanging out with my children, I remind myself: be fully here.” 

And today, that lesson is reflected not just in how he manages his daily routine at home, but at work as well. “I used to say yes to everything," he says. "But fatherhood taught me that saying no, gracefully and intentionally, is often an act of love… I’ve come to believe that boundaries aren’t restrictions, they’re expressions of intention. They’re not about building walls; they’re about creating the space to be fully present with the people and work that deserve our best.” 

But that’s not to say that he gets it right every time. In fact, he tells us that he’s not immune to "dad guilt," which often “creeps in during the quiet moments” when he’s physically at home but mentally somewhere else. These, he’s learned, often guide his internal compass, helping him to realign and pushing him to make meaningful adjustments to be more present every day.

For instance, Ward has designed his daily routine to have clear distinctions between family and work. “My work day begins with clear priorities," he says. "I block focused time for strategic thinking, deep work, and meaningful meetings. I try to protect my energy by saying 'no' to distractions, and 'yes' to what matters most. Evenings are sacred. I shut everything down to be fully present with my family, for dinner, laughter, stories, and the quiet moments that build a life. If needed, late nights are reserved for creative or strategic work... To me, the goal isn’t balance, it’s alignment, living a life where your values, actions, and presence are all telling the same story.” 

Ward explains that it is through relishing “micro-moments” throughout the day that he avoids burning out while remaining present. He describes making time for small rituals such as prayer, walks, calls with his daughter, or simply ten minutes of silence as the key to helping him avoid burnout. “These micro-moments are not indulgences, they’re fuel. They reset my energy and restore clarity. I stay close to the people who ground me. I stay connected to the purpose that drives me. And I allow myself to pause, not as a break from the work, but as a way to return to it, stronger and more whole.”

Looking at the broader ecosystem, Ward believes that expectations around fatherhood are changing in the region, describing it as an identity shift, and “one of the most powerful and inspiring transformations” he’s seen. “Across the region, fathers are redefining what it means to show up," he says. "The old narrative of the distant provider is gradually giving way to something more meaningful: the engaged, emotionally present, nurturing father. I see it everywhere, in school drop-offs, parent-teacher meetings, doctor visits. Fathers are no longer seen as ‘helpers’ in parenting; they are partners. This isn’t just a shift in behavior, it’s a shift in identity."

And that shift from helpers to partners, he believes, is also shortening the distance between fathers and their children. “We’re moving away from the idea that strong fatherhood is about authority or distance, and toward a model that values presence, empathy, integrity, and love," Ward points out. "A father can be a provider and a storyteller. A leader and a listener. A protector and a nurturer, all at once.” 

Ward believes that this transformation is carrying over into the business world, informing how present fathers show up at work as well. “This evolution is not only reshaping families, it’s influencing how we lead teams, build communities, and raise the next generation," he says. "And in that shift, I see hope. I see healing. I see a future where our children, sons and daughters, grow up expecting emotional presence from fathers as something natural, not exceptional.” 

For Ward, one of his biggest takeaways he's had from his time being an entrepreneur and a father is that building with ambition alone is not sufficient—the most valuable things are built with love. And to achieve that, he believes that entrepreneurs must build mindful presence, alignment, and balance into their lives.

“Don’t wait for balance, design it," Ward declares. "Don’t aim for perfection, aim for presence. Because our children are not just watching what we build, they’re watching how we build it. The energy we lead with will shape their expectations of love, leadership, and life itself. My father showed me that belief, trust, and presence can change the trajectory of a life. That kind of leadership doesn’t need a title. It needs consistency, humility, and heart.” 

For other dads-cum-entrepreneurs, Ward offers this advice: “Lead like you parent, and parent like you lead. The qualities that make us great fathers, listening deeply, showing up consistently, nurturing growth, creating safe spaces, are the very same qualities that make us great founders. Leadership at home and leadership at work are not separate identities. When rooted in intention, they reinforce and elevate each other.” 

“In a world that celebrates hustle and hyper-productivity, it’s easy to forget that stillness is also a form of strength." Ward continues. "That single moment with my son didn’t just change how I parent, it transformed how I lead. Presence, I’ve learned, is the highest form of love, and the most underrated form of leadership,” he concludes.  

Images courtesy Sarwa, Protenders, and Lamsa.