Fahad Shehadat

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. 

✨ Note: All features in this series are unpaid and shared as a way to honor and amplify real stories of transformation.

Three things are addictive, says Fahad Shehadat, quoting Lebanese-American essayist Nassim Taleb: “Drugs, carbs, and a monthly salary.”

“I still cannot believe people call a 9–5 job steady. It is far from it,” he says.

Having been let go multiple times, whether due to a global financial crisis, cost-cutting, or disagreements with his line director, he no longer sees employment as safe.

From his first role as a designer at M&C Saatchi in the UK to leadership positions in Dubai, Fahad learned how thin the line is between security and uncertainty, a lesson that shaped his approach to entrepreneurship.

He describes his leap as “sans filet”, French for ‘without a net’.

“I wasn’t expecting a smooth transition,” he says, recalling how, with the right measures, he launched smoll in 2024, a pet wellness platform to improve pet care across the MENA region.

“We offer pet parents quick access to certified vets. We also offer wellness plans that help keep pets healthy year-round. And an AI component is being developed for release next year.”

The turning point came with the first paid sign-up on the app. “That moment made everything I had been working toward make sense.”

Support, he explains, has been the cornerstone of his journey. “My wife has been my co-pilot. And of course, our advisors.”

Building smoll also reshaped how he views himself. “I became a listener rather than a talker, and I started acting rather than criticizing,” he says. “Anyone who truly wants to grow needs to read history, not fiction or personal development, but history, which is the only thing that has been tried, tested, and documented for us to learn from.”

That growth, however, came with its own set of challenges that tested his resolve as a founder. “Building a business is not for the faint-hearted,” he says, advising, “If anyone wants to take this step, get your priorities right before you do.”

For Fahad, fulfilment looks like “doing what I believe makes life easier or better, especially when it involves reducing pain for animals.”

Born in Syria, Fahad moved to the UAE in 2002 after his brother told him, “Dubai is where things happen.”