Podcast Summary: The Entrepreneurs – "When is the right time to leave your job and start a business?"

Host: Tom Edwards (Monocle Radio)
Guests:

• Frédéric Robles, Co-founder & CEO, Namasté
• Kiran J. Haslam, Chief Marketing Officer, Diriyah Gate Development Authority
  Date: February 4, 2026

Episode Overview

This episode of The Entrepreneurs dives into two distinct but equally ambitious entrepreneurial journeys:

• First, the decision to leave a successful career and launch a disruptive startup in the hospitality tech sector, with Frédéric Robles of Namasté sharing his story and insights on scaling a company globally.
• Second, an exploration of Saudi Arabia’s transformative Diriyah megaproject, blending heritage preservation with new economic frontiers, as described by Kiran J. Haslam.

Part 1: Taking the Leap – Frédéric Robles & Namasté (00:11–17:40)

Recognizing the Need for Change (02:28–04:24)

• Feeling Unfulfilled Despite Success:
  Frédéric Robles discusses his realization that, even though he had achieved many career milestones as a lawyer, he craved new challenges and a more exciting, meaningful path.

  "Even though I was very successful, making a lot of money...I was like, okay, what's next? Am I going to do the same for the next 10 years? I think I want something more exciting."
  (Frédéric, 02:28)

• The Moment of Decision:
  He describes the emotional difficulty of leaving a secure career – the metaphorical "leap of faith" and reliance on his inner voice.

  "It really felt like, yeah, the leap of faith out of a cliff when you're going to nowhere. And it was super scary. But at the same time, I was like, okay, I want to do it."
  (Frédéric, 02:56)

  • Frédéric’s guiding principle: “20 years from now, you won't regret the things you did. You'll regret the things you haven't done.” (Mark Twain quote, 03:34)

Identifying the Problem: Hospitality Payments Friction (04:24–09:27)

• Personal Experience Meets Entrepreneurial Instinct:
  Robles’ background working in hotels and understanding legacy tech systems allowed him to spot pain points overlooked by others. The genesis for Namasté came from frustration with convoluted payment workflows in hotels.

  "Usually you should spend a lot more time on the problem than actually jumping to the solution."
  (Frédéric, 04:48)

• Describing the Legacy Challenge:
  He breaks down the outdated booking and payment process still common in hotels even in 2026—multiple requests for credit card info, lack of modern payment options like Apple Pay/Google Pay, fragmented user experience.

  “You go on the website, you want to book and usually you're redirected to a separate page. It felt like you're being kicked out of the website...you cannot pay with anything else than a credit card usually.”
  (Frédéric, 05:12)

• Namasté's Solution:
  Bridging new payment technology with old booking systems, Namasté allows seamless, direct payments with a focus on beautiful, streamlined user experience.

  "We basically bridge the gap between modern payment technology and legacy booking software...as easy as ordering an Uber with one click checkout.”
  (Frédéric, 07:38)

Hospitality’s Reluctance Toward Tech & Namasté’s Value Proposition (08:12–11:33)

• Cultural Resistance in the Industry:
  Many hotels, prioritizing human touch, have underinvested in tech and see it as threatening or cumbersome.

  “Hospitality traditionally just are a bit allergic to technology because for them it's all about the human connection first.”
  (Frédéric, 08:34)

• Benefits to Hotels:

  • Enhanced guest experience

  • Improved direct bookings and conversion

  • Regulatory compliance on payments

  • “Hotels who really care about the experience...want Apple Pay, Google Pay, Seamless...Others are more on, I would say, performance. They want more direct bookings...The third one, there is a regulation compliance thing...”
    (Frédéric, 09:47)

• Company Status:

  • Launched in 2021
  • 300 customers across 40 countries
  • Over €1 million in annual revenue (as of last year)
  • Clients include luxury brands like Relais & Châteaux and partnerships with Preferred Hotels & Resorts (10:40–11:33)

Geographic Expansion & French DNA (11:33–14:26)

• Expansion Dynamics:

  • 2/3 of customers in France or Europe, rapidly growing in the US and further abroad
  • The product works globally; new customers in Indonesia, Morocco, US (e.g., Greenwich Hotel, Proper Hospitality)

  "I think Americans are more receptive to innovation. For sure they'll give you a try...In Europe...they will take more time to make a decision.”
  (Frédéric, 12:57)

• French and International Identity:
  Robles embraces the brand’s French DNA—attention to design and service excellence—while also being international and pragmatic.

  "The French hospitality excellence culture is something we try to be inspired from...But I feel very international in the way I approach it."
  (Frédéric, 13:45)

Looking Forward: Growth and Company Culture (14:26–17:40)

• Focus on Profitable, Sustainable Growth:
  Rather than hyper-aggressive expansion, Namasté emphasizes trust and lasting client relationships.

  • “For us, the plan is to get as soon as we can to profitability...We know this is an industry where you need to build trust.”
    (Frédéric, 14:45)

• Core Values:

  1. Five-star mindset: Operational excellence, inspired by their hotel clients
  2. Customer/experience obsession: Extending Amazon’s principles, not just for clients but for guests and even colleagues/investors
  3. "Humble fighting spirit": Perseverance and ambition, carefully selected in all hires

  “The first one is a five star mindset mentality...the second one...customer and experience obsession...the last one, probably the most important...is the fighting spirit, which we call humble fighting spirit.”
  (Frédéric, 17:11)

Part 2: Destination Development in Saudi Arabia – Kiran J. Haslam & Diriyah (17:40–29:06)

Reclaiming Heritage and Building the Future (18:39–22:30)

• Deep Historical Context:
  Diriyah’s story stretches back to the 5th century, with its origins as a fertile agricultural oasis; by the 18th century, it became the seat of the first Saudi state and now a UNESCO World Heritage site.

  "A lot of people around the world, when they think Saudi Arabia, they think Bedouin existence...This is a very important location because it's the birthplace story of the Kingdom..."
  (Kiran, 19:32)

• New Urbanism on a Heritage Canvas:
  A $64 billion project to build a new "City of Earth" around this site:

  • 14.5 square kilometers
  • Walkable, biodiverse, connecting urban convenience with traditional Najdi architecture
  • Scheduled for completion by 2030

  "We've created a master plan to deliver a city for the future...to unlock a pedestrian way of life and a quality of life proposition which connects you with biodiversity..."
  (Kiran, 20:47)

Empowering Local Communities (22:30–25:15)

• Inclusive Development:

  • Programs to train Diriyah locals for jobs in hospitality, retail, and tourism
  • Over 14% of project organization staff are local to Diriyah
  • Initiatives for local entrepreneurship and cultural preservation

  "We have over 14% of our organization that is a Dirrea local inhabitant. And so what we'll do is...how can we invest in you?"
  (Kiran, 24:00)

• Tourism Education:

  • Launch of a tourism school to prepare Saudis for careers in the growing local tourism sector

Hospitality Milestones & Upcoming Attractions (25:15–28:05)

• Opening of First On-Site Hotel:

  • Andaz Diriyah, a Luxury Collection hotel, uniquely crafted with local heritage in mind, close to fine dining and art venues

  • Culinary Innovations:
    Collaboration with Michael Mina on “Talid,” a signature, locally-inspired restaurant

  "It's not an off the shelf hotel experience...Even in terms of how the building...was crafted and brought to life..."
  (Kiran, 26:09)

• Events and New Venues:

  • “Diriyah Season” cultural festival (4 months, winter highlight)
  • Upcoming golf tournaments at a new Greg Norman-designed course (Wadi Safa)

• Next Steps:

  • 37 planned hotels; next openings include Oberoi, Capella, Ritz Carlton, with key project milestones through to 2028 and beyond

The Invitation – Why Visit Now? (28:05–29:06)

• Unparalleled Transformation:
  Kiran underscores the historic scale of change in Saudi Arabia and the unique optimism of the Saudi people.

  “The transformation that the kingdom is experiencing is something that I don’t think will be repeated again in the world, at least not in my lifetime...the most intoxicating feeling...is this incredible optimism that the population of Saudis have...”
  (Kiran, 28:44)

Notable Quotes & Moments

• On Taking Risks:

  "Go for the things you try. You know, give it a try, crash and burn, whatever. But at least you've tried something."
  (Frédéric, 04:06)

• On Industry Disruption:

  "You would think it's easy...then you realize actually it doesn't really exist, no one actually does it."
  (Frédéric, 06:31)

• On French Entrepreneurial Spirit:

  "But I think the fact that we had this problem, this sort of attention to detail, to this specific thing. Yes, there is a lot of French DNA behind what we are doing, for sure."
  (Frédéric, 14:07)

• On Legacy and Community:

  "The embodiment of everything that the Najdi Diriyah origins were, we're celebrating again in physical form."
  (Kiran, 22:58)

• On Saudi Arabia’s Rapid Change:

  "For anyone who hasn't been to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, you won't understand it until you're there. It will absolutely surprise you."
  (Kiran, 28:53)

Key Timestamps

• 00:11 — Show opening and setup
• 02:28–04:24 — Frédéric on leaving law for entrepreneurship
• 04:48–07:38 — Explaining Namasté’s solution to hospitality payment friction
• 09:47–11:33 — Namasté’s business metrics and impact
• 12:35–13:20 — US market and international expansion
• 14:45–17:40 — Company culture and growth philosophy at Namasté
• 18:39–20:47 — Kiran on Diriyah’s historical roots and vision
• 22:30–25:15 — Empowering locals through the project
• 25:15–27:55 — Highlights of completed and upcoming milestones in Diriyah
• 28:44–29:06 — Final invitation and reflection on Saudi optimism

Tone & Style Notes

• The episode is candid, optimistic, and inspirational, matching Monocle’s signature style.
• Frédéric’s segments blend personal vulnerability with practical entrepreneurial wisdom.
• Kiran’s narrative is storytelling-rich and enthusiastic, giving listeners a strong sense of place and transformation.

This summary captures both the spirit and substance of the episode, highlighting the personal and structural dynamics of entrepreneurship and transformative development. It offers insights for anyone considering a big leap, or curious about how heritage and innovation can intersect on the global stage.