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11/4/25, 8:10 AM Inside Forbes Middle East Women’s Summit 2025: Highlights You Don’t Want To Miss
story in an increasingly competitive world. Khoury reflected on the challenges she faced early on:
“There were many responsibilities, and my brand carries my name, which means there’s no room

for mistakes. When we first launched our website, it crashed immediately. It was a real test, but it

gave me even more determination to prove myself and show my team that nothing is impossible
with persistence.”

Image by Forbes Middle East.

On the importance of mental wellness, Maisa Al Qalla, Senior Presenter at CNBC Arabic, opened
by noting that challenges such as anxiety, stress, and depression are on the rise, yet budget

allocations for mental health remain limited across many Arab countries. This gap, she explained,

not only affects individuals but also has far-reaching economic consequences, leading to
productivity losses and absenteeism. “Investing in mental health yields one of the highest returns for

societies and economies,” she said, emphasizing the need to integrate mental health into public

health systems and to normalize seeking help as an essential part of overall well-being. Building on
this, Rima Maalouf, Head of Corporate Affairs MENA EURASIA at Viatris, pointed out that

mental health realities vary across the region, shaped by cultural and economic contexts. “It is

neither fair nor accurate to evaluate Middle Eastern countries through a single lens when it comes to
mental health,” she said.

https://www.forbesmiddleeast.com/leadership/women-leaders/limitless-inspiration-key-moments-from-day-one-of-forbes-middle-easts-womens-summit… 6/7