CBE Hosts Espresso Lab Founders for Entrepreneur in Residence Serie

The College of Business and Economics welcomed brothers Essa and Yousef Al-Mezaiel—co-owners of Espresso Lab Kuwait—as guest speakers in the university’s long-running Entrepreneur in Residence series, which has been hosted since 2017 by Professor Salime Smadi, professor of organizational behavior.

The event drew business and engineering students eager to hear the inspiring story of two siblings who transitioned from the construction industry to the world of specialty coffee franchising. Essa Al-Mezaiel, an AUK alumnus, and his brother Yousef recounted their unexpected entrepreneurial pivot, sparked by a chance visit to a café in Amman, Jordan. That visit led them on an international journey through Jordan and Turkey in pursuit of the Espresso Lab franchise—a journey fuelled by passion, persistence, and faith. 

Despite having no background in the food and beverage sector, the brothers trusted their instincts—and their palate. With support from family, they became the first Espresso Lab franchisees in Kuwait. Finding a suitable flagship location was a major hurdle, but their prior experience in construction proved invaluable when they secured and transformed a space in Marina Mall, Salmiya. With hands-on support from the franchise’s Turkish founder, they successfully launched the brand locally. 

The session concluded with an engaging Q&A, group photo, and presentation of certificates of appreciation. Reflecting on the event, Professor Smadi said, “It is always an extremely proud moment when former students return to inspire the next generation of AUK entrepreneurs. This is the spirit of the Wolf Pack.” 

Images from the event