My first word was “ضوء” or in the Latin alphabet “daw'” which is Lebanese Arabic for light. It’s fitting then that I attended high school at an institution where the motto is “Fiat Lux” or let there be light. The metaphor of light had always been inspiring to me and pushed me explore and understand things better than what was otherwise typically on offer. Naturally, this caused some friction here and there but lead me through the debating team and school leadership structures into my studies in law and economics.
It was in university that I realized my ambitions were cumulative causing any hope of dropping debating and leadership to swiftly vanish. To this end, during studies, I occupied several leadership positions while continuing a career in debating. Those positions offered unique opportunities to test my mettle during the early stages of my development and together with friends, we did some wild things from establishing new residences to shifting policy ideas and even setting up student tribunals. We also created a different take on a beauty pageant but that would require a book to explain.
It was after university that things got more professional, with a sprinkling of gout. Working in corporate law was exciting and validating. I’m still conflicted as to whether on net I enjoyed it or not or whether I may ever go back but it was easily the steepest learning curve where I developed my soft skills. It was a needed humbling experience too, moving to a new, bigger city; an experience my otherwise rarely challenged ego required.
Through the confusion of the corporate law environment, I took a break and went on to briefly practice as a legal strategist in the NPO sphere which lead to even more confusion. I found the space to be disproportionately focused on competing for funding rather than maximizing the efficiency of the good it could collectively be doing. While I may have been left confused by the corporate world, the non-profit confusion was shortly lived and I knew the value I could inject into that environment would go largely unappreciated and ineffective. Knowing what I didn’t want was easy but driving towards what I did want was a drive in the darkness.
It was then that I remembered my basic building blocks of light and realised I needed to focus not on what already existed but rather on what I could create with it.
At the time, I had invested in start up in the realm of media, craft beer and education so I hopped on a train and traveled South Africa with 2 rules; no convenient transport and no sleeping in the same bed more than once. During this time, I formulated a plan that cultivates my broad array of interests and while I’ve since deviated from that original plan over and over, it was the setup for an incredible career…music, film, law, writing, teaching, radio, entrepreneurship…I managed to turn myself into the prism that filters all of it into a career.
Working from the perspective that humour is merely one of many tools a person can apply to all forms of communication, I employ entertainment holistically with an understanding for the context
One does not just tell a story. One should approach story telling from the perspective of what one wants to elicit from an audience and that is how I captivate
Playing in the arena in which one finds themselves is one of the most vital considerations for effective communication. I remain plugged in to contexts so that engagement can ensue
Building and curating an all-encompassing law firm that specializes in media and entertainment from an African context
A weekly column for national newspaper, The Citizen, wherein I write about fringe aspects of the law and different ways of considering them
A weekly chart show featuring South African bands stylized as #HomeOfZARock
Scripting and producing a video series for creators detailing the business aspects and considerations of the arts
Creating and managing a training regime for aspiring broadcasters and later assisting them in gaining introductions into the broader industry
Taking advantage of expired copyrights, I’m taking old content and refreshing it in new mediums.
Director and cofounder of a startup that is a beautiful fusion between tech and music as we automate royalty processes
