Tarek Al Ariss

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.

“The creative itch kept itching.”

Tarek Al Ariss, MD always loved theater and film, but with traditional parents, the arts weren’t an option.

He became a doctor.

Yet storytelling remained his escape.

“The creative itch kept itching,” he says, recalling how he wrote short scripts inspired by his patients, using humor to process his experiences. He entered the medical field but soon pivoted to healthcare consulting, hoping for a better fit. Yet, the creative pull remained.

Then COVID changed everything. “I had just bought a camera, had a few short film scripts, and skit ideas,” he says.

With his brother and his girlfriend as actors, he started filming, learning production techniques through YouTube. His videos gained traction, leading to his first paid projects with brands and influencers. Seeing potential, his brother took over operations while he focused on creative work.

A major deal forced a choice. “I couldn’t be a consultant and a filmmaker at the same time,” he says.

Tarek quit his job and launched Ariss Brothers, later rebranding as The Fifth Kind, a nod to wacky, otherworldly communication.

“Leaving medicine was a huge shock for my family, but it was necessary,” he says, adding, “Rather than memorizing diagnoses or fulfilling consulting frameworks, I was creating ideas from scratch. And people actually liked them.”

That confidence helped him scale his business.

As he and his brother built the creative production house, they defined their brand, honed their strengths, and developed structured processes. His biggest lesson? “Saying no to projects is good. If you try to do everything, you’re doing yourself and your brand a disservice.”

Now running a thriving production house, he blends humor with strategic messaging, working with major brands like L’OrĂŠal Paris and Nissan. He also pursues stand up comedy, a passion that sharpens his comedic craft.

Originally from Lebanon, he moved to Dubai in 2017 for a consulting job before fully embracing filmmaking. He says, “I needed to build a life that I’ll look back and say, ‘I did it for me’.”

For those considering a career shift, his advice: “Dabble in the field while keeping your job. If you can’t, put in a solid few months of work into your passion and see if it picks up.”