Ep 90. Building with Purpose: Motherhood, Entrepreneurship & Life in Saudi Arabia with Lujain Abulfaraj

What does it really look like to build a business, raise a family and dream bigger in Saudi Arabia?

In this episode of Saudi Life Unpacked, Frankie sits down with Lujain, Saudi entrepreneur and founder of Akwan, for a conversation about motherhood, entrepreneurship, identity and being part of Saudi Arabia’s rapidly changing story.

After growing up between Jeddah, Kuwait and Dubai, Lujain returned home to Saudi with a completely new perspective - and a desire for her children to grow up connected to their country, culture and language.She shares how watching her own son struggle with Arabic became the inspiration behind Akwan, a children’s brand designed to make learning Arabic feel creative, playful and fun rather than something children have to do.

But this episode goes far beyond business.We talk about raising children with a strong sense of identity, building a company without having all the answers, the rise of female entrepreneurship in Saudi, learning from failure, protecting your energy, motherhood, growth mindset and why sometimes you simply have to start and figure things out along the way.Lujain’s philosophy is simple: just because you can’t do something now doesn’t mean you can’t do it — you just haven’t learned it yet.

An uplifting conversation about building with purpose, staying curious and raising the next generation in a Saudi Arabia full of possibility.

SHOWNOTES:

• Lujain’s journey from Jeddah to Kuwait, Dubai and back to Saudi
• Why she chose to return home and build in Saudi Arabia
• How motherhood inspired the creation of Akwan
• Helping children connect with Arabic through play
• Raising children with a strong sense of culture and identity
• Building her first branding business by accident
• The realities and lessons of entrepreneurship
• The rise of female entrepreneurship in Saudi Arabia
• Why growth mindset plays such a big role in her life
• Balancing business, motherhood and personal wellbeing
• Protecting your energy and learning when to disconnect
• Raising the next generation to dream bigger
  
  PRODUCT AND RECOMMENDATION:
• Akwan
• Pinterest
• Opal
• Acupuncture mat
  
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