'People told me it couldn’t be done in this market' artwork
CEO: Behind the Scenes

'People told me it couldn’t be done in this market'

  • S1E10
  • 1:03:39
  • June 26th 2025

What does it take to prove the skeptics wrong? For Nasser Obeid, it meant uprooting his life, taking a bet on an untested business model and diving headfirst into one of the most complex and ambitious markets in the world.

In this episode, the CEO of PureGym Arabia shares what it really took to launch a global fitness brand in Saudi Arabia – from navigating cultural nuance to rebuilding strategy from the ground up. He reflects on the personal sacrifices behind the move, the pressure to deliver fast results and the leadership lessons that came with it.

This episode is a must-listen for anyone leading growth in high-pressure, high-potential markets.


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Follow Nasser Obeid and PureGym Arabia:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nasserthefitnessauthority

Website: https://uae.puregymarabia.com/

CEO: Behind the Scenes

It's easy to forget that behind the title of CEO lies a human. In CEO Behind the Scenes, a podcast from The CEO Magazine, we want to explore the human behind the company and the figure behind the figurehead role as CEOs share their journeys with us.

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