At the 2025 Forbes 3050 Summit, digital creator and musician Haifa Beseisso (@flywithhaifa) delivered a concise but compelling message about turning rejection into opportunity.
The Dubai-based creator—who rose to fame with her travel and cultural YouTube content—shared her journey from being told “no” in traditional media to building a self-made digital empire.
“My whole career is based on noes,” she told Forbes in a now-viral backstage clip. “But the magic sauce is that I turn noes into creative solutions.”
Beseisso, who was initially denied roles on television as a host, didn’t let that stop her. Instead, she created her own show on YouTube—a decision that paid off exponentially.
“I created my own show on YouTube. And now I have around a million subscribers and more than 50 million views, so you can do it,”she said.
Known for her engaging storytelling and cultural advocacy, Haifa Beseisso has become a global inspiration, especially for young women across the Middle East and beyond who are navigating careers in male-dominated or gatekept industries.
Her presence at the Forbes 3050 Summit in Abu Dhabi held from March 5 to 8—an event connecting influential women across generations—underscored her status as a powerful voice in the creator economy.
Beseisso demonstrates that resilience and innovation are often the most underrated business strategies.
