Giovanina Atieh, Cairo

Giovanina Atieh is the woman behind Maison Pyramide, a house of international consultants and creatives. The Holding includes Maison Pyramide The Factory, Maison Pyramide The Showroom and Maison Pyramide The Shop. She received a degree in advertising and fashion communication in Milan and has worked with Vivienne Westwood’s PR and styling teams. She also worked with leading retail groups before setting up house in Cairo in 2014. Would she ever move back to Beirut? “My love and life are now in Cairo, but my heart will always belong to Beirut. And with the new expansion plan and The Showroom headquarters in Beirut, hopefully I’ll be bridging my two lives. It’s only a 50-minute flight, so I’ll hopefully be going back and forth a lot.”

Q: What’s the most challenging thing about your job?

A: Challenges arise all the time, and having your own company means that it’s no longer about work challenges, rather an overall feeling of responsibility. But we definitely face daily challenges that need on-the-spot solutions, so problem-solving skills is what our team is all about.

Q: What’s your favorite thing about Cairo?

A: The vast opportunity that still exists in this city. It is chaotic, which is something I love, because it’s from this chaos that I was lucky to find our anchors that are the foundation of Maison Pyramide.

Q: Who’s your favorite Lebanese celebrity and why?

A: Nadine Labaki. I admire her passion and work that I find truly empowering. I also admire the fact that she’s not out there trying to fit in, but is rather more focused on keeping her aesthetic.

Q: What do you miss most about Beirut?

A: I miss the leisure part of everything in Beirut: the nightlife, the food and the service. I also miss the fact that everything is more or less walkable.

Q: What’s your favorite spot in Beirut?

A: I love Mar Mikhael. It’s always wonderful walking around there. You can basically find everything, and it’s always nicely busy. For me, it’s the heart of Beirut.

PHOTOGRAPHY MENA ASSAD