Against All Odds: Roar Founder Pallavi Dean On Blazing Her Own Trail In The MENA Region's Design Landscape Pallavi Dean offered her perspective on what it takes to build a successful career in the sector that she operates in the MENA region.

By Tamara Pupic

You're reading Entrepreneur Middle East, an international franchise of Entrepreneur Media.

Pallavi Dean, founder of Dubai-based architecture and interior design studio, Roar, appeared on the Entrepreneur Middle East Live webinar series, Against All Odds, to offer her perspective on what it takes to build a successful career in the sector that she operates in the MENA region.

Against All Odds is an Entrepreneur Middle East Live webinar series that features enterprising women who have risen above personal and professional challenges to develop solutions, launch businesses, and lead global initiatives that make them inspirational role models around the world.

Dean, who founded Roar in 2013, is the recipient of several industry awards, including the Designer of the Year 2021 by Interior Design Magazine in the small corporate office category for Roar's work with the Early Childhood Authority. She was also included in the 2021 Power List Creative 30 by Design Middle East. But her rise to the top didn't come easy, she shared on Against All Odds.

"When I first started my career, it was at a big international firm here in the UAE, and it is sad that we don't talk about these stuff much, but I have to say that racism and sexism were big issues in my career," Dean revealed. "I am a brown woman in construction. I was never part of the construction boys' club, and I still am a bit of an outcast, but I celebrate that. So, I have never focused on either my gender or my race, because I was born with it, there's nothing I can do about it. Honestly, I just honed my craft, and my mantra has always been, 'Be so good that they cannot ignore you.'"

For more highlights from our conversation with Dean, check out the video!

Tamara Pupic

Entrepreneur Staff

Managing Editor, Entrepreneur Middle East

Tamara Pupic is the Managing Editor of Entrepreneur Middle East.

Growing a Business

7 AI Tools That Help You Build a One-Person Business — and Make Money While You Sleep

Who needs a team? These seven AI tools let you automate everything, scale like a beast and reclaim your time.

Money & Finance

Make Money on Autopilot With These 5 Smart Passive Income Ideas

Five innovative ways to earn money even when you're sleeping.

Business Ideas

70 Small Business Ideas to Start in 2025

We put together a list of the best, most profitable small business ideas for entrepreneurs to pursue in 2025.

Innovation

How to Make AI a Core Part of Your Business Strategy

Here's how to transform organizations through thoughtful AI implementation.

Lifestyle

The Executive Selection: Repossi Holiday Collection

Each of the pieces in the line showcases meticulous craftsmanship that's certain to help you make a style statement this festive season.