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Lebanon - The Cross Roads Between East and West - Richard Haykel

Taking the Leap
Taking the Leap
Episode • May 8, 2023 • 1h 40m

Richard Haykel is the Chairman of Haykel Hospital S.A.L. in Tripoli, Lebanon and Executive Director of CARA Ventures, LLC.  Richie has a Bachelor of Arts in Economics from Tufts University, a Master’s of Hospital and Health Care Administration and Management from the University of Paris Cite. He is also a Harvard Business School Executive Program graduate and OPM 49. Richie is a member of the Young President’s Organization (YPO) and is home based in Tripoli, Lebanon. 

Show Notes:

  • Lebanon has always been at the crossroads between East and West. "It plays a role much bigger than its geography."
  • A $6 tax for What's App launched the Oct 2019 revolution.
  • (11:30) The financial system collapse has led to 80% of the population in poverty, runs on banks, life savings wiped out for many. Prior to this, the poverty rate was around 20%. Overnight, a majority of the population was plunged into poverty.
  • (20:00) "Morally, we needed to walk the talk with our kids." We came back to make a difference!
  • "Everything rises and falls on leadership." - John Maxwell
  • (22:45) What are the warning signs that this could be coming to your country?
  • (30:00) Why are we starting to see a reverse migration from America?
  • (31:00) Why are tenured professors at Columbia and Princeton afraid of losing their job?
  • (37:00) There is no dollar alternative at the moment.
  • (46:00) Bitcoin, crypto winter, FTX collapse and the future of cryptocurrencies...and real estate?
  • (49:00) How did the pandemic impact the middle east and Lebanon? Lebanon has the ability to adapt.
  • (54:00) How does Hezbollah impact everything in Lebanon today?
  • (56:00) What is the impact of Saudi Arabia and MBS in the middle east?
  • (1:04:00) The pivot to Asia has destroyed the trust of the United States in the middle east.
  • (1:18:00) Why do you invest so much in advanced education and continued education later in your career?
  • (1:24:00) Book Recommendations - Outliers by Malcolm Gladwell, Deep Purpose by Ranjay Gulati, Glass Half Broken by Boris Groysberg Podcast "After Hours"
  • (1:30:00) Leadership insights while leading during a crisis.
  • (1:34:00) What would Richie say to the American people if he was asked to give a State of the Union address?


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