#851 From Quitting Law to Selling Singapore’s First Olive Oil

#851 From Quitting Law to Selling Singapore’s First Olive Oil

From Plan B by News Beat

May 1, 2026 · 32 min

About this episode

Alia Ballout discusses her transition from law to launching Singapore's first olive oil brand amidst various challenges.

Law is one of Singapore’s most prestigious professions, so walking away to launch a start-up is bound to turn heads, especially when it’s the country’s first olive oil brand. That’s the path Alia Ballout took, drawing on her Lebanese roots to bring her family’s olive oil to Singapore. But with her family farm affected by the Middle East conflict, rising costs and supply challenges are now part of the journey. Can the business hold up long-term, and does she have a backup plan?

People in this episode

Guest: Alia Ballout

Topics covered

  • entrepreneurship
  • olive oil
  • start-up journey
  • Lebanese roots
  • supply chain challenges

Keywords

  • olive oil
  • Singapore
  • entrepreneurship
  • Lebanese
  • start-up
  • supply chain
  • Middle East conflict

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Singapore’s First Olive Oil

Places: Singapore, Middle East

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