Ambition Builds Ecosystems, But It’s Character That Sustains Them

A couple of years ago, I ran into someone who, at the time at least, was considered one of the most prominent business personalities in the MENA. Back then, his name turned up often in entrepreneurial headlines, and he was consistently applauded on the stages of the region’s big-ticket events. I had come across him after one such forum he had spoken at, and I remember requesting him for an interview, and then asking him for his email address so as to set it up. In response, he smirked at me, and said, “You’re a journalist; you should be able to find it out.” 

His reply caught me off guard; however, I smiled, said “sure,” and walked away. But I’ll admit here that for days and months after this interaction, I kept turning the moment over and over in my head—had I somehow misstepped with this individual? Did asking for a contact make me a lazy reporter? Or was there something about me—or something I did—that made him respond that way? However, after much thought, I came to a conclusion that no, I hadn’t done anything wrong, and that he was simply being obnoxious. It was perhaps a flex of some sort—I imagine that he was trying to remind me of “my place,” so to speak. 

I never really forgot this exchange, but years later, when this particular individual was found to be at the center of a major financial scandal in the region, the memory came back to me with a lot more clarity. That smirk, that absurd performance of power, was an indication of the hubris that eventually brought him down, and it also served as proof that swagger never outlasts substance. It’s a moment I’ve since used to always keep myself in check, wherein I am almost hellbent on never letting the positions I play overshadow the integrity of my actions.

I’m bringing all of this up now, because I think it’s something to keep in mind as we in the region head into what is colloquially called “the season,” when gatherings of all sizes pile up on our calendars, and connections are sought left, right, and center. My advice? Be strategic with your interactions if you must, but don’t be, well, rude. The longer I do this job, the more I am convinced that the people worth knowing in this space are simply the ones who stay humble, stay curious, and stay kind. At the end of the day, ambition builds ecosystems, but it’s character that sustains them. 

This article first appeared in the October 2025 issue of Inc. Arabia. To read the full issue online, click here.