Our Female entrepreneurs podcast - Houda's Majlis
A female entrepreneurs podcast felt like a gentle next step in the way I’ve always connected with the women around thowby. Over the years, the quiet, honest conversations I’ve had with clients and founders have shown me how powerful shared experiences can be. That understanding is what led to the creation of Houda’s Majlis a space shaped by sincerity, mentorship, and community, where stories can unfold naturally and the values behind thowby continue to live in a more open, personal way.
When I look at the journey of thowby as a first-time entrepreneur, I often return to the vision and values that guided me from the beginning. I always wanted this abaya brand in the UAE to feel human and grounded. Every decision was shaped by the belief that a brand grows stronger when it grows with its people. Over the years, I met clients whose stories stayed with me. Many were women building ideas with courage. Their spirit reminded me why I chose to build thowby as more than an abaya boutique in the UAE. It became a place where community shaped the direction of the brand and where relationships mattered as much as the craft itself. These moments influenced the way my team and I work, how we listen, how we support one another, and how we honor the trust people put in us. They also echoed the quiet but constant values that guide our work, the ones built on collaboration, humility, and shared purpose.
As thowby expanded and more global clients began ordering our abayas through international shipping, I felt a deeper sense of responsibility to stay connected to the stories around me. This connection is what led to the birth of Houda’s Majlis - a female entrepreneurs podcast, because it is truly an extension of thowby’s vision and values. The name comes from a cultural space familiar across the Arab world, where conversations unfold with sincerity and where dialogue becomes a bridge between people. I wanted the podcast to carry that same rhythm, a place where ideas flow without pressure and where people feel safe to speak about their path. I envisioned it as a natural extension of the values behind thowby, a female entrepreneurs podcast that continues our belief in mentorship, openness, personal connection, and the heart of community-driven business.
For the first season of the female entrepreneurs podcast, I chose the name Founder’s Seat to highlight women entrepreneurs from the UAE. Each guest sits with me to share her story in her own voice. Some built their ventures slowly; some grew them with bold steps. Each one shows what persistence looks like in real life. These conversations are not scripted; they are shaped by honesty and experience. My hope is that someone listening, maybe a young woman thinking about her first idea, will feel encouraged to take her next step. I want the majlis to be a circle where inspiration feels accessible, not distant.
The spirit of collaboration has always guided thowby. It is why we value meaningful partnerships and listings with platforms that support modest fashion and help independent designers reach wider audiences, like thowby abayas at Boksha and thowby abayas at Hera Closet. These collaborations allow more people to discover thowby abayas and understand the care behind each piece. I believe that when a brand grows with community at its center, it stays authentic no matter how far it reaches.
The Female entrepreneurs Podcast, Houda’s Majlis, is my way of continuing this path. It is not a project created for marketing. It is an invitation to connect, to listen, to learn, and to shine a light on voices that deserve to be heard. It feels like the natural next chapter in the story of thowby, one that honors where we began and encourages others to begin too.
Watch Full Episodes here - Houda's Majlis Podcast
