In Lebanon, crisis is not episodic. It is continuous.

In this episode, Marilyn Zakhour speaks with Maya Ibrahimchah, Founder of Beit el Baraka and Beit Kanz, about what it takes to build systems that endure in the face of ongoing economic, social, and political instability.

The conversation begins with a single moment. An encounter that revealed a hidden crisis affecting hundreds of thousands of retirees living without support or visibility. What followed was not a traditional charitable response, but the creation of a multi-layered ecosystem designed to restore dignity, agency, and long-term sustainability.

Maya shares how her work evolved across overlapping crises, from the Lebanese revolution to COVID-19, the Beirut explosion, and continued instability. Together, they unpack what it means to rethink aid as an economic model, design for resilience, and lead when certainty is not an option.

This episode is part of the Cosmic Conference series by Cosmic Centaurs, exploring how leaders navigate complexity and build systems that last.

About the Speaker

Maya Ibrahimchah is the Founder of Beit el Baraka and Beit Kanz, organizations redefining social support in Lebanon through sustainable, system-driven approaches.

About the Host

Marilyn Zakhour is the CEO & Founder of Cosmic Centaurs, a leadership and organizational development consultancy supporting leaders across the GCC.

Markets are shifting. Pipelines are slowing. Decisions are taking longer.

In this episode, Marilyn Zakhour speaks with Emad Odeh about what it takes to grow a business when the ground is less stable.

Rather than stepping back, the conversation explores how leaders can adapt the way they show up. From changing how they approach selling, to strengthening relationships, to recognizing opportunities that are less obvious but still very real.

Emad brings a grounded perspective shaped by decades of navigating cycles, crises, and complex markets.

This is a conversation about staying present, staying relevant, and continuing to build momentum when conditions are uncertain.

If you’re leading growth, business development, or client relationships right now, this episode offers a clear and practical lens on what to do differently.

In this Manager Mailbag session, Marilyn Zakhour and Tala Odeh explored the lived experience of middle managers leading through uncertainty.

Drawing on anonymized questions from managers across the GCC, the conversation focused on the tensions leaders are holding every day.

Balancing performance with people.
Providing direction without full visibility.
Knowing when to take control and when to empower.
Navigating influence in systems where decisions sit elsewhere.

Rather than offering one-size-fits-all answers, this session unpacked how to navigate these tensions with more awareness, range, and intention.

It’s a practical, honest look at what it means to lead in the middle when the path forward is not always clear.