Source: YouTube blogger Bill Qian
Content organized by: Peter_Techub News
In this episode of "Build It Up," we are honored to invite Farah Zafar, co-founder and CEO of Lyvely, as well as Chief Legal Officer and Managing Director of Phoenix Group. Farah is not only a seasoned expert in managing billion-dollar projects in the legal and financial sectors but also a tech entrepreneur who leads her team with faith, resilience, and vision. She shares her inspiring story of transitioning from a law firm in London to Dubai, and how she built Lyvely with a "human-centered" mission to challenge the monopoly of Big Tech and empower creators worldwide. Below are the key points from the interview, organized around the conversation between host Bill Qian and Farah Zafar.
From London to Dubai: A Faith-Driven Adventure
Farah was born in the UK to immigrant parents and faced the setback of being rejected 532 times in her early career before landing her first legal job at a law firm in Mayfair, London. Twenty-five years ago, a call from a headhunter changed the trajectory of her life. At that time, she knew nothing about Dubai, but her father encouraged her to seize the opportunity and take the leap. She moved to Dubai, serving as a senior advisor to Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, the ruler of Dubai, participating in the transformation of Dubai from a desert town to a global economic hub.
Farah recalls that Dubai in 2000 had only a few landmark buildings like the World Trade Center and the Burj Al Arab. She witnessed the grand vision of Dubai turn from blueprint to reality, including the establishment of free zones, the improvement of the real estate regulatory system, and the rise of Emirates Airlines. She reflects, "When you dare to take risks, your life trajectory can change completely." The success of Dubai made her deeply realize that while vision is important, execution is key.
From Corporate Lawyer to Tech Founder: Breaking the Ceiling
As one of the first female corporate lawyers in the Middle East, Farah achieved great success in the legal field, providing strategic advice to governments and top companies in the Gulf region and managing billion-dollar projects. However, the peak of her career also made her feel limited. During the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, while working in Riyadh, she began to reflect on the meaning of her career: "I have been a corporate executive for 30 years; is this all there is?"
The pandemic accelerated the global digital transformation and exposed Big Tech's monopoly over data, identity, and monetization. Farah realized that ordinary creators—especially those in emerging markets like Africa, Pakistan, or Vietnam—struggled to gain fair monetization opportunities on existing social media platforms. She was determined to create a "human-centered" platform, which led to the origin of Lyvely.
Lyvely's Mission: Challenging Big Tech and Empowering Creators
Lyvely is a creator-centric social and e-commerce platform aimed at breaking the monopoly of Big Tech and providing a "belonging and trustworthy" ecosystem for global users. Farah's vision is "for the people, by the people," allowing every creator to connect directly with users through content and achieve monetization. She specifically mentioned that Lyvely enables creators to benefit from the platform's advertising revenue through user-generated ads and token mechanisms, creating a fairer ecosystem.
Farah shared a touching story: a Nigerian creator self-funded the production of Lyvely-branded T-shirts and shared content on the platform. She was deeply moved by this passion and decided to send 20 pieces of official merchandise in support. She said, "These moments make me feel that 20 hours of work are worth it." Lyvely chooses to "build in public," inviting early users to provide feedback and shape the platform together. This human-centered philosophy makes Farah believe that Lyvely's success depends on user recognition and participation.
Balance and Sacrifice: The Real Cost of Entrepreneurship
As the founder of Lyvely and Chief Legal Officer of Phoenix Group, Farah's life lacks "balance." She works 18 to 20 hours a day, wakes up at 5:30 AM to exercise, uses her commute to handle Lyvely matters, and continues working until midnight. She admits, "I sacrificed family, friends, and personal time; my life is completely consumed by work." She once confided to her friends and family, "I love you all, but I am fighting for my dream." Fortunately, they supported her choice.
Farah's motivation comes from her belief in her vision and her love for her work. She said, "Without passion, I cannot persist." Although she desires more efficient time management, she believes that sacrifice is inevitable in the early stages of entrepreneurship. She humorously stated, "I haven't turned into an AI robot yet, but maybe in the future, there will be an AI avatar to help me."
Faith and Failure: The Driving Force of Innovation
Farah views failure and setbacks as "God's way of guiding you to the right path." She recalls her humble beginnings, where her parents worked tirelessly to support three children through school. She said, "Failure is not an option, but when it happens, faith keeps me going." From being rejected 532 times in job applications to becoming a top lawyer in the Middle East and now challenging Big Tech as an entrepreneur, every step she took stemmed from her belief in a higher power—whether it be God, the universe, or inner energy.
She shared an example: she posted a photo of her pet dog Rocky on Lyvely and received 30 warm comments, while on Instagram, it went unnoticed. This genuine community interaction reassured her that Lyvely is heading in the right direction. She said, "Success is not in my hands; it is in the hands of the people. We build the platform for them, and their embrace determines everything."
Advice for the Next Generation of Leaders: Faith, Effort, and Embracing AI
Farah's advice to young people is divided into four aspects:
Enjoy the Journey: She admits that she was too focused on striving and neglected to enjoy the process. She hopes young people can learn to find joy in their efforts, as time flies by.
Believe in a Greater Power: Whether it is faith in God, the universe, or inner energy, believing in a power beyond oneself can unlock infinite possibilities. She said, "If I only relied on my background, I wouldn't be who I am today."
Effort and Excellence: She emphasizes that success requires extraordinary effort. Her father once taught her, "Be the hardest worker in the room and pursue excellence." Even at the peak of her career, she still prepares meticulously for everything.
Embrace AI: AI is an important tool for the future, and young people should leverage technology to enhance efficiency while maintaining inner faith, as "AI cannot give you a strong heart."
Looking Ahead: Lyvely's Global Vision
Farah anticipates that in the next three to five years, Lyvely will compete with top global platforms in emerging markets. She emphasizes that Lyvely's success relies on user support: "We build for the people, and the people will determine our success or failure." She hopes Lyvely can become a truly democratized social platform, allowing global creators to benefit and breaking the monopoly of Big Tech.
Conclusion
Farah Zafar's story is an inspiration about faith, resilience, and mission. From a challenging start in an immigrant family, she grew into a leading figure in the Middle Eastern business world and now challenges tech giants as an entrepreneur. Her leadership is reflected not only in her strategic vision and execution but also in her commitment to humanity and fairness. Lyvely is not just her dream; it is her promise for the future—a platform where everyone can voice, create, and succeed.
As Farah said, "If it were easy, everyone would do it." Her story inspires us to bravely pursue our dreams and rewrite our own narratives with faith and effort.
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