About Beyond Cubicles
📢 #BeyondCubicles is a weekly LinkedIn series created by Carolina D’Souza, 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 industries—ranging from tech and education to wellness and adventure—who 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.
When two students from different parts of the world met in Madrid, little did they know they would one day become co-founders of a start-up in Dubai.
What began as discussions between Adam Kassab, a Dubai-based engineer, and Alejandro PĂ©rez, a data science student from Costa Rica, became the foundation for Influency, a platform launched in July 2025 to redefine how creators and brands connect.
“I never expected a kid from Costa Rica would go all the way to Madrid, meet a friend from Dubai, visit him, and launch a company,” says Alejandro. “It’s been an incredible journey.”
Adam focused on “pitching investors instead of CVs. It wasn’t glamorous but felt right,” adding, “While everyone was getting jobs and promotions, Alejandro and I were building.”
Though their career started differently, their paths converged over the frustration around inefficiencies in influencer marketing.
Adam says, “Like Uber changed mobility, we’re changing how people work together. We simplify collaboration, remove friction, and build clarity and trust.”
Turning an idea promising “use your phone, find a match, protect your work, get paid without gatekeepers” into a company was hard. “I learned finance, software architecture, and color psychology,” says Alejandro.
For Adam, entrepreneurship was transformative. “There’s no one guiding you or setting your pace,” he says. “I needed to become patient, strategic, and disciplined. Each risk makes me more capable.”
Mentors, family, and a team refined their vision. They had over 20 mentors and 600 minutes of guidance in three months to refine product direction and navigate building.
Their personal brands evolved too. Adam’s has shifted from “student and engineer” to “builder and operator”, reflected in how he communicates. Alejandro focuses on “being a thought leader within the ecosystem”, continuously learning and sharing insights to build credibility.
Alejandro’s advice is: “Go for it. Don’t be afraid to look foolish, because you will. Those moments bring the biggest lessons, and they help you build something that succeeds.”
Now in Dubai, where the idea began, they are growing Influency into a global platform. For Adam, born and raised in Dubai with roots in Palestine, and Alejandro, who lived in Honduras, Ecuador, and El Salvador, what matters is showing up, learning, and building something lasting.