Nader Rustom's Recent LinkedIn Posts

Nurses don’t get appreciated enough. And giving them a dedicated week still doesn’t do it. How do I know? My wife’s a nurse. And I’m convinced 99% of people wouldn’t be able to go through what they do. I’ve heard stories of: - Physical, mental, and emotional abuse - Doing the impossible for the sake of others - Being overworked, burned out and underappreciated Comforting people as their loved ones pass. Patients throwing medical equipment at nurses. Being called terrible words while they help others. These are all things I’ve heard more times than I can count. So if we want to make sure nurses continue to help us in ways most can’t, we need to do more than wish them a happy nurses week. Nurses don’t need a "Thank You" once a year. They need higher pay, better support, and more respect.

1.5 years ago, my family and I moved to Dubai. This month, we're moving back to Canada. Here's the story: In late 2022, my wife was recruited by one of the UAE's (and one of the world's) best hospitals. So when the call came, she seriously considered it. In January 2023, we flew down to check out the UAE. We loved it... We flew back to Canada to pack our bags and move. A week later, she tells me she's pregnant (movie right?). We agreed that we still wanted to move, and the hospital that hired her agreed to let her join post-maternity leave. So, a few months after my son was born, we sold everything, packed our bags, and flew one way to Dubai. We didn't know when we'd return to Canada — the only place I've ever lived and where I was born and raised. We risked it and jumped outside our comfort zone. And we're so glad we did. Amazing people from all over the world. A lively city filled with world-class experiences. Safety so impressive that you never need to worry. I'd be lying if I told you our lifestyle didn't get pumped. We enjoyed all the things people love about Dubai. So what gives? If life in Dubai is so incredible, why leave? Well, you often learn the hard way that there's more to life than just living it, making money, and having nice things. My son's health concerns became our priority. My wife chose to care for our son over her career. My aging parents missing their only grandson hurt us. You learn the real value of life's intangibles: - Health - Family - Time And our family back in Canada became increasingly worried with each passing day, being so far away. We were alone in Dubai, going through one of life's greatest tests, without the people who matter most to us. This REALLY put life into perspective. You can have all the money in the world and live your best life, and you'll still feel the wrath of life's cruel curveballs. And when they do (and they will), all that will matter is who's around, standing by you as you grow through it. You realize that the most important consideration when choosing a place to live is the proximity of loved ones. Nothing else comes close. And you realize those people are priceless. So, Dubai and UAE, you've been great. Thank you for everything, and we hope to see you again soon. We're grateful for all the memories you gave us. But for now, we're prioritizing what matters most: Family.

My son’s been in and out of the hospitals for 10 months. It taught me what really matters in life: 4 months after his birth, my family and I moved to Dubai from Canada for a new role (a fast-paced city that I love). During his first 6 months, he was doing great. Eating. Growing. Laughing. Playing. For most of his life so far, I was hyper-focused on work. Grinding at all costs. Obsessing if you will. I wanted everything to work out. Work always came first. However, the stress of everything made me frequently ill. Work problems? They came home with me, too. They impacted me in ways I wouldn't share on the internet. TLDR; it led to neglecting my family and their needs. Then he suddenly stopped gaining weight. His body stopped processing nutrients. He started to decline. That led to many episodes of dehydration, vomiting, pain, and many, many sleepless nights. It meant visiting hospital after hospital, clinic after clinic, just to figure things out, and multiple periods where we stayed weeks and nights there, never leaving their walls. It meant waking up in a hospital, grabbing a cab to the airport for work trips, and coming back a week later to that same hospital where I left my family. It meant not being there when he needed scary procedures done like pulling out all his teeth. Which then led to flying him out to other countries for specialized treatments to get to the bottom of it. The awesome money you were prioritizing starts to matter less, and it starts to leave you faster than it came. And here's what I just recently realized (maybe too late): I didn’t cherish those months when things were great. I just thought him being healthy at the time was normal. I just thought my family sticking through was normal. I began to regret those moments when I let my mood impact the love I needed to give my family. I began to regret checking my email on Saturdays when it was our dedicated family time together. And I began to regret when work and “hustle culture” came before the people that matter most — my family. Learning to separate work life and home life is a skill I haven’t yet mastered. I love work, so it’s hard. But eventually, no matter how much you love the grind, you realize none of it matters if your family isn't okay. So here's my easier-said-than-done take: Design your life in a way where your family doesn’t suffer. However that best fits you. It might mean that company you loved isn't right for you. Because in the end, the scary thoughts will hit you... And you don't want it to be too late when it does. You'll never know how much time you have left with them. "We are nothing but a number of days."

My dad was born in a place he could never call home. He was born a refugee. Fate assigned him an ID (passports didn't exist for his kind) that was destined for a life of stuckness. But he was an exception. In the late 70s, Canada opened its doors to him. This wasn't a realistic option for someone like him. It was as if he had won the Golden Willy-Wonka Ticket and the keys to the whole factory — coming as an International Student to pursue a Master's Degree in English was the ultimate jackpot for him. But life after graduation as an immigrant wasn’t easy. He deeply struggled. He was eventually left with 2 options: 1. Drive a cab and give his kids a better life  2. Continue struggling financially as a librarian He chose option 1. And putting his ambition aside was a heavy price to pay. It cost him: - His mental health - His creative talent - His internal fire He lived his career like a bird in a cage. He lost his ability to sing or fly. But he pushed through because he knew his future generations could be better off if he stayed the course. He knew he was altering the destiny of his descendants, betting instead on my brother and me making an impact. And so, when I think about my dad's sacrifices, I find myself reflecting not only on the impact I want to make with my career, but also how I want to do it as a dad. As a dad, I understand why he chose option 1. A father's first priority is to take care of his family. That means doing what's necessary; pausing your passions for the sake of securing stability for your loved ones. But as a son, I understand the importance of mission. To make his sacrifices worthwhile by contributing positively to the world and making a difference. And to solve the problems that you saw growing up. Today, my why is to help people improve, learn, and grow. I look for ways that can best enable that "why". Because solving for that, however little I can, at least could help the people today who were once in his shoes. And having that "why" was only possible after seeing how his sacrifice shaped his own life. Don't underestimate the ripple effect of your parents. We are all sitting on the shoulders of giants.

My mom hid her tears when we told her we're moving. A 13-hour flight over the Atlantic Ocean meant one thing: She'd only see us and her (only) newborn grandson, for just a few weeks per year. Inside, she was hurting and burning. On the outside, she was smiling and happy for me. She'd always supported my ambitions, especially when few did and when even fewer cared. Like in the 4th grade, for example... I won the Public Speaking Competition at our school, so I was invited to compete in another city provincially. You know what she did? She took a day off from her minimum wage job, drove hours with no GPS to a place she's never been, in the middle of a harsh Canadian snowstorm. She could've sent me off with the assigned school bus. Instead, she chose to struggle to support me that day. Her priority was encouraging me, so she sat in the front row. She believed in me and she wanted me to know. When we couldn't afford soccer fees one year, she emptied her savings so I wouldn't miss a season. She didn't want me to miss winning with my teammates. She sacrificed endlessly, and I didn't know for years. She always hid her pain so that I could live a good life. I rarely thought about those moments until recently... It took seeing my wife act similarly for our son to reflect. I saw her, just like my mom, go through endless difficulty, just for the sake of our son's well-being. I guess that's just mothers right? Going through the impossible to make our goals possible. Going through discomfort for the sake of our comfort. Going through sleepless nights so we can dream freely. If you're lucky enough to celebrate Mother's Day, cherish it and express your gratitude to them. They've done more for you than you'll ever know. All because they care for you more than themselves. Happy Mother's Day 💐

Yesterday, I turned 32. Reflecting on 31, I can without a doubt say it was the toughest year of my life (and the 1 I'm most grateful for). It was a year that taught me a decade of lessons in a tenth of the time. You can call it stacked or "pressure-cooker" learning... I experienced some of my career's highest highs and lowest lows in the same year. I experienced some of the most exciting family milestones, as well as some of its scariest moments. I experienced some of life's greatest joys and felt the deep pain of grief more than I ever have before. I guess that's part of the thrill of a rollercoaster, right? And that ride taught me the real secret to handling the twists, turns, dips, and dives that life often serves. It taught me how to stay centred. To remain in a state of calm, despite what's happening around you and in your life — both good and bad. You're just still and at peace. You're no longer chasing the passing car, but instead, you just learn to watch it pass, reflecting but without reaction. Good things happen? Great, this too shall pass. Bad things happen? Great, this too shall pass. Both offer wisdom. Both offer learning. Both make you better. And both need to be appreciated. Both sides of the coin are happening to teach you something you don't yet know, that you're supposed to grow through, and that you're supposed to gain from. Not everything deserves your attention. And very few things should ever be chased. Instead, you learn to appreciate the car for what it is, without questioning where it's going. That process teaches you how to let go of things. It teaches you to relax and release. And in that process, you realize that big events that would've destroyed you in the past, simply come and go. And it doesn't ever stop you from smiling. You're responsible for the outcome that plays out. But you never truly control it. All you control is your actions, intentions, and energy.

About to jump on a 1 way flight back home after a 1.5 year journey in Dubai. Leaving with a heck ton of experiences, professionals I can call friends, and memories I won’t ever forget. If you’ve ever thought of working abroad, or experiencing a new place, here’s my advice: Do it. Jump out of your comfort zone and go. You’ll learn faster than you ever thought you could. You’ll grow quicker than you thought possible. And you’ll improve in ways you never knew how. Not sure what the future holds, but excited and optimistic for what’s to come. Looking forward being back 🇨🇦

The best talent often looks the same. They all have: 1. High Integrity They do the right thing, even when no one’s watching. 2. High Character They act with humility, respect, and long-term principles. 3. High Accountability They own outcomes and don't make excuses. 4. High Agency They don’t wait to be told to start and solve problems. 5. High Standards They care deeply about their work and environment. In other words, they score highly on being human. Let's not overcomplicate it.

I'll die on this hill (and the LinkedIn crowd might throw me to the wolves for saying this). But... Here it goes: If you're in the first 5 years of your career, please avoid a fully remote role at all costs. Double Please. Triple Please. Or at the very least, try out a coworking space. This is the time to go out and explore. To try a different city and meet new people. To get out of the house and find others like you. The relationships you build in these pivotal years are so fundamental that they'll impact the rest of your career. You'll probably meet your mentor in these years. You'll probably find your life partner in these years. You'll probably realize what you love to do in these years. But none of that can happen if you're isolated inside. Leave the nest. Trust your wings to carry you. Your future self will thank you. Sincerely, Someone who's so fortunate and grateful for starting their career at a time when being in the office was the norm and is benefiting tremendously today from remote work only as a result of those first few foundational years.

Around a year ago, I accidentally found a mentor who I didn’t know I needed. I was at a coffee shop with my family on the beach when I overheard Dr. Elie Daher on the table behind me chatting about startups with a friend. It sounded like an exciting convo, so I ordered us some extra coffees and asked to join in. I didn’t know many people in Dubai at the time, and the topic of conversation was one that I couldn’t stick my head out of. That conversation led to a meeting. That meeting led to a hangout. That hangout led to career advice. Then I started getting life help. And before I knew it, it had been months of us meeting almost weekly, and him becoming someone I turned to frequently. I found myself very fortunate… I had a world-class Executive Coach and Bestselling Author in my corner, poring into me for free. But I was even more fortunate to have a kind, generous friend there for me during tough times. What started as a casual encounter turned into one of the most meaningful relationships of my life. He challenged my thinking. He helped me see things I couldn’t see. He pushed me to aim higher while staying humble. Sometimes, the right people serendipitously come into your life for reasons you can’t calculate. And when that happens, all you can do is just be grateful. The right mentors are rarely planned.