About Beyond Cubicles
đ˘ #BeyondCubicles is a weekly LinkedIn series created by Carolina DâSouza, born out of her own experience transitioning from a corporate career to independent consulting. Since its launch in June 2024, the series has evolved into a platform that showcases the inspiring journeys of several founders who have redefined the traditional 9-to-5.
Through authentic narratives, #BeyondCubicles highlights themes of courage, resilience, and purpose. The stories feature individuals from diverse industriesâranging from tech and education to wellness and adventureâwho share their experiences of stepping away from conventional roles to pursue passion-driven careers.Â
⨠Note: All features in this series are unpaid and shared as a way to honor and amplify real stories of transformation.
Ehsan Pakroo walked into the boardroom of one of the Middle East’s leading supermarket chains straight from his workplace, dressed in a blue suit.
There he presented samples he had made in his kitchen from a project he had kept burning in the background for five years.
A few days later, the phone rang.
âI got the call with the news that RawGrowÂŽ was shortlisted among 100 companies,â he says.
That call revived an idea first shaped while he was working in investment banking in Lisbon and Paris. It had become a âstalled dreamâ. Lockdowns in 2020 paused progress, and life moved him to Dubai in 2021. Even then, RawGrow remained in motion behind the scenes.
Throughout that period, one question stayed with him: âWhy canât snacks be simple?â
Raised in a family involved in the trade and import of dried fruits, he developed a high standard for quality. He knew a unique technique, a âsweet spotâ soft-dried fruit that isn’t a chip and isn’t frozen, but tastes like the real thing.
That sweet spot became his brand that produces 100% natural, soft-dried fruit snacks. âRawâ means it comes directly from the earth and âGrowâ refers to growing naturally without any additives. âIt is pure fruit, nothing else,â he says.
The broader impact became clear during a sampling day at Spinneys. âI remember a mom coming up to me and telling me that because of RawGrow, her kid is now eating fruit,â he says.
Today, he sees entrepreneurship as responsibility. He does not view it as âfreedomâ in the sense of resting, but as nurturing and building a strong foundation for growth. Friends and advisors supported him throughout the journey, especially Erica, who he credits as instrumental.
Born in Iran, raised in Kuala Lumpur for nearly 20 years, and having worked in Europe before moving to the UAE, today he sees himself differently. âI had to grow from a structured investment banker into a versatile, resilient founder,â he says.
His advice to aspiring founders. âDon’t wait for the âperfectâ setup. âIf you have a product that hits that âsweet spot,â trust yourself and take the leap with what you have.â