Q1) Tell us about yourself & what you studied?:
My journey in comedy started when I was in high school and it stuck by me till now. I performed in high school talent shows, small events during college, and then once ‘adulting’ came into play, I sort of let that part of me go to pursue a stable career that is socially acceptable (among parents of prospective suitors).
I attended American University of Beirut (AUB) for three years and earned my Business Administration BA with a concentration in in finance. After that, I naturally worked in my field of study and slowly built my way into earning a senior title at a boutique investment bank in Jordan. When asked what I’d want to have as a career if money wasn’t an obstacle, my answer has always been stand-up comedy; it’s my favorite type of live show entertainment and making people laugh has always been a passion of mine. My professional journey in comedy sort of happened, I can’t even pinpoint when it started but as cliché as this may sound, it was like a puzzle that finally fit together. I can’t lie it’s a strange puzzle, it sort of feels like I put together 5,000 pieces to end up with a picture of a rabbit in a sombrero holding a beer.
Q2) How did you decide to be an investment banker & comedian?
I don’t think that this was an active decision to be completely honest, I pursued my passion and maintained my day job and ended up being a mixed breed between a husky and a horse. Comedy is one of those things I didn’t decide on and was something I’ve always loved (I feel like I mentioned this 57 times already).
I grew up watching Axis of Evil religiously. I also watched various comedians on YouTube and DVD. I found I had a talent for telling stories under a funny narrative; like that one time I tripped and fell on a hill and was left to die after my friend decided to leave without me. He claims that he thought I was in the car, more on that later. So I decided to take this strange and frankly useless talent to the stage and tell jokes that an audience could relate to, and it’s been going well so far (at least that’s what my mom thinks).
As far as investment banking goes – you can say that I’ve always aspired to be an investment banker. The Wall Street life appealed to me – before it like, ruined world economies. I’m good at math and I find valuation compelling, and I decided on this field because I think it is the pinnacle of finance and the best I could do with my degree. Also, when deciding on my major I found out that I share a birthday with Warren Buffet and concluded that it’s Google’s way of telling me that it’s meant to be. Awww. Did I mention that I’m impulsive? There’s also that.
Q3) What is your secret sauce to getting to where you are (please tell us the steps)?
Step 1: Mix Tabasco with hot water
Step 2: Add salt
Step 3: Boil until you can see your great grandfather’s face in the steam
Step 4: Rip out 2 hair follicles, perform a dance, mix it all up and power it down.
Don’t try this as home kids.
I was lucky enough to get a head start at knowing what I truly love. It takes people many years to find out what that is. I think we’re all born with passion and each person has their own calling in life; ‘finding’ your passion pretty much means being more in touch with yourself. To be honest, I lost that part of myself for some time when I was figuring out my professional life, which is never easy. That brought a lot of chaos and sadness because I didn’t feel like I was moving towards my calling. Comedy then became something that was more inherent to my character and I never really thought that I could pursue it as a second career.
After a few years, I decided to take some bold steps and put myself ‘out there’ in a comedy scene that wasn’t really flourishing, I basically had no one to look up to thinking that if they could make it then why can’t I. I started performing at open mics and soon enough gained traction to be noticed by people in the entertainment industry, which was when I was asked to open for some accomplished names in the global industry and started building my entertainment CV.
Q4) What would you advise people that want to be investment banking comedians?
First of all, I really don’t think those people exist. But if that certain niche market is out there, I’d tell them to stay true to themselves and to not cave into what society thinks to be acceptable. In short, ‘do you’.
This choice needs you to put in the time and the effort, and you must choose education over entertainment for at least one hour per day. Research your idols, learn more about their technique and educate yourself on how they ended up where they are. Even when I watch comedy shows, I don’t just watch for entertainment, I study it as research.
Q5) Who is your biggest inspiration?
A hybrid combination of Kathy Griffin-Tina Fey and Amy Schumer Ahmad Ahmad-Maz Jobrani. The list goes on but those are the names that stuck with me throughout my life. I’ve recently performed alongside Nemr Abou Nassar, whom I’ve always admired and now see as one of my biggest inspirations.
Q6) Could you tell us what skills people need to have to be where you are?
Believe in yourself and be confident in your abilities. You’ll figure out what you need to do once you decide to whole heartedly pursue what you love – it’s life’s way of helping you. Remember that self-doubt is the biggest enemy you may ever encounter. People can laugh at you or with you; if this is truly your passion then you’ll say ‘hey, at least they’re laughing’.
……..But, like work on your jokes and make sure they’re funny.
Q7) If you would go back to high school & college today what would you do differently that would help you in your career right now?
Honestly, nothing. I don’t believe in living in the past; what happened, happened. What I do know is that in order to move forward you have to be constructive with yourself, own your mistakes and try not to repeat them again. But if you do, don’t beat yourself over it. We’re all learning here.
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