“You can’t lead with arrogance.” Natasha Sideris on taming ambition, striving for balance as a restaurateur, and why there’s no way she’ll open in Greece.

The Lighthouse Conversations with Hashem Montasser

Hashem catches up with Natasha Sideris after a two-year scheduling ping-pong. He instantly bonds with the iconic restaurateur and founder of Tashas, Avli, and Flamingo Room, over their quest for work-life balance and sustaining a timeless brand with menu classics and sleek interior design. Natasha shares her most cherished metrics for success and what keeps her motivated despite a career spanning over three decades. They also discuss her plans for expansion in Saudi Arabia and the UK, the biggest threats to a restaurant’s growth, and why she will invariably decline a Hellenic expansion.

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• Dubai Tourism CEO Issam Kazim on what lies ahead for Dubai’s culinary scene