From Corporate Success to Building His Own Luxury Business

Success often begins with a simple question. For Lebanese entrepreneur Zahy El Kassis, that question was about creating something of his own after years of building a successful corporate career.

Today, Zahy is the founder of Source My Watch, also known as SMW, a Dubai based luxury sourcing business helping clients find highly sought after watches and designer bags.

His business challenges the traditional way people shop for luxury watches. Instead of asking customers to choose from available inventory, Zahy focuses on finding the exact pieces they want.

From Rolex and Patek Philippe to Audemars Piguet, his approach combines personal service, market knowledge and an extensive sourcing network.

According to Zahy, his business has handled more than 960 watches since 2021, with watch sourcing requests fulfilled in under four hours.

But behind this ambitious venture is a journey shaped by education, international experience, professional recognition and the courage to pursue an independent vision.

A Lebanese Entrepreneur With an International Mindset

Before entering the luxury industry, Zahy was building his future through education and professional development.

After completing his master’s degree in France, he moved to Dublin, Ireland, where he joined LinkedIn.

Working for a major global technology company gave him the opportunity to understand international business, develop relationships and learn how successful sales professionals approach complex customer needs.

His responsibilities involved selling to some of the world’s largest companies, an experience that strengthened his communication, negotiation and relationship management skills.

Over time, his dedication brought professional recognition.

Zahy received recognition from LinkedIn’s former CEO Jeff Weiner for his performance in the company’s Super Club programme.

The achievement reflected his ability to deliver results in a competitive environment.

More importantly, those years helped him develop a business philosophy that would later become central to Source My Watch.

He learned that customers value professionals who understand their needs, communicate clearly and deliver on their promises.

Dubai Became the Next Chapter of His Success

In 2021, Zahy moved to Dubai, a city known for its international business environment, luxury lifestyle and entrepreneurial opportunities.

He joined Gartner, where he continued developing his corporate career and eventually took responsibility for major strategic accounts across the Gulf region.

Managing relationships with important business clients required discipline, market understanding and the ability to deliver consistent results.

His performance earned him Gartner’s Winner Circle recognition for three consecutive years.

For Zahy, these achievements represented years of dedication and professional growth.

Yet, despite his success, he began thinking about a different future.

He wanted to know whether the skills that had helped him succeed inside global companies could also help him build something independently.

That curiosity eventually led him toward entrepreneurship.

The Frustration That Inspired Source My Watch

The inspiration behind Source My Watch came from a problem familiar to many luxury watch enthusiasts.

Finding a particular watch can be surprisingly difficult, even for customers willing to invest significant amounts of money.

Some buyers face long waiting lists at authorised boutiques. Others spend hours contacting dealers, comparing prices and trying to determine whether a watch is authentic.

For rare models, the search can become even more complicated.

Zahy saw an opportunity to simplify this experience.

Rather than opening a traditional watch dealership, he developed a sourcing service designed around the customer’s exact requirements.

The concept was straightforward.

A customer identifies the watch they want, and Zahy uses his network and market connections to locate suitable options.

This approach became the foundation of Source My Watch.

Why Zahy Chose Sourcing Over Traditional Dealerships

One of the most interesting aspects of Zahy’s business is that he does not operate as a conventional inventory based watch dealer.

Traditional dealers generally sell watches they already own or have available.

Zahy takes a different approach.

His business begins with the customer’s request rather than existing stock.

Whether someone wants a particular Rolex model, a Patek Philippe timepiece or an Audemars Piguet watch, the objective is to identify the desired piece through available market connections.

Zahy also emphasises competitive pricing, authenticity and transparency as important parts of the service.

This customer focused model reflects lessons from his corporate career.

Understanding what someone wants is only the beginning. Delivering a reliable solution is what creates lasting relationships.

As a guiding philosophy for his business, Zahy’s approach can be expressed through one simple message.

“The true meaning of luxury is not just owning something rare. It is having the confidence that the right person can find it for you.”

Building a Reputation Around Speed and Trust

In the luxury market, time can be just as valuable as the product itself.

Customers searching for rare watches may spend weeks contacting different sellers without finding a satisfactory option.

Zahy has positioned speed as one of Source My Watch’s main advantages.

According to the entrepreneur, he has bought, sold and sourced more than 960 watches since 2021, while fulfilling sourcing requests within four hours.

These figures illustrate the scale and service standards he aims to maintain.

However, Zahy understands that speed alone cannot sustain a luxury business.

Customers purchasing expensive timepieces also expect discretion, clear communication, reliable sourcing and confidence in the transaction.

His professional background in strategic account management has helped shape these priorities.

For Zahy, each successful request represents more than another transaction. It is an opportunity to strengthen a relationship and build trust.

Expanding Beyond Watches Into Luxury Designer Bags

As Source My Watch developed, Zahy recognised that the same sourcing challenges existed in other luxury categories.

Designer handbags, particularly rare and highly sought after pieces, can also be difficult to obtain through conventional retail channels.

This created an opportunity to expand the business beyond watches.

Source My Watch now offers sourcing services for luxury bags, applying the same principles of speed, market access and personalised assistance.

The expansion represents an important stage in Zahy’s entrepreneurial journey.

Rather than limiting his business to a single product category, he is developing a broader luxury sourcing platform.

His long term ambition is to make Source My Watch a trusted destination for clients searching for exceptional pieces that are difficult to find.

Zahy El Kassis Shows Why Experience Matters in Entrepreneurship

Zahy’s journey offers an interesting lesson for aspiring entrepreneurs.

He did not begin his professional life as a luxury watch dealer.

Instead, he built his experience in international technology and business advisory companies, learning how to manage customers, develop networks and achieve demanding targets.

Those skills eventually became valuable foundations for his own company.

His story also highlights the importance of recognising opportunities within everyday frustrations.

What began as a desire to make luxury watch sourcing easier has grown into a business with ambitions extending across the luxury market.

Today, Zahy continues building Source My Watch while pursuing his vision of making rare luxury products more accessible through trusted sourcing.

His journey demonstrates that entrepreneurship does not always require following a traditional path.

Sometimes, the most promising business idea comes from combining existing skills with a problem that others have overlooked.

For Zahy, the next chapter is about expanding that vision and showing that meaningful success comes from creating value for others.

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