Karen Wazen started a very personal, fashion and lifestyle blog in 2016 — and has since grown to become one of the most influential people on the Middle East’s social media landscape today, with a global audience of over 13 million. Her most notable achievements include being the first Middle Eastern ambassador for Italian luxury brand Roberto Cavalli, as well as the first regional ambassador for French beauty house Guerlain. Passionate about making a difference with her work, she also uses her reach to highlight humanitarian issues on behalf of the UNHCR. Karen Wazen Eyewear, founded in 2018, became an overnight iconic sensation, and is now an internationally (A-lister) coveted, luxury fashion brand.

With a touch of her enigmatic charm and vibrant magnetism - but mostly, a meticulous and intentional approach to crafting dynamic, multifaceted digital strategies - she’s turned starting, marketing, adapting, and growing a global consumer brand (fast) into a veritable artform. And with KE Partners, she’s sharing her creative spark of genius and the full force of her resources, to really become a key part of what catapults these ventures to new heights.

“We named the company KE Partners, not just because Elias and I are partners in life and business, but because we really see ourselves as becoming key partners with each of the founders we invest in. That’s why it’s so important that we also believe in what they stand for, and that their dreams resonate with us too.” — Karen

Karen

Elias Bakhazi started out as an Economic Analyst for the United Nations, and a Financial Analyst for leading global textile, apparel and fashion services company, Canaren Inc. Next, he cut his teeth as the Assistant Vice President of SHUAA Capital, building a robust acumen for asset management and investment banking, working on a global, multi-market platform that supports burgeoning companies in raising funding. What followed was just shy of 13 years as Director at HSBC for MENA and Frontier Equity Sales and Trading.

After over 18 years’ experience in Global Markets - and having worked on the most highly profiled and economically significant Global IPOs, such as Aramco - Elias made the switch from corporate life to entrepreneurship in 2020. He joined his co-founder Karen Wazen, as an active Managing Partner of Karen Wazen Eyewear in Dubai. Not only has the brand rocketed to fame, having become an instant, global fashion obsession, but the business itself is an international phenomenon in its own right, currently stocked with some of the industry’s biggest names and largest retailers, across the world.

“What’s important is that we believe in the people behind the investment. We have to feel their passion, and that they’re courageous enough to embrace the toughest challenges, to boldly take the risks that matter, and to keep thinking bigger, enthusiastic about exploring the future.” — Elias

Elias