From Voucher Book To Global Empire

What does it take to spot an untapped market and turn it into a household name? In this episode of Money Moves, host Dania Alshowaikh sits down with Donna Benton, founder of the ENTERTAINER – a brand that transformed how the Middle East dines, shops, and plays. 

With just $3,000 in her pocket and a loan from a new friend, Donna created a voucher book that quickly became a must-have across Dubai, saving consumers millions while driving foot traffic for businesses. She talks about selling a majority share of her company for $150 million, stepping away, and then returning to lead the brand to even greater success. 

Donna reveals the sacrifices it took to succeed and what it meant to break barriers as a female founder in Dubai’s business scene. She also breaks down how she knew when to scale, why timing in business is everything, and what she would do differently if starting over today. 

This candid conversation is a lesson in resilience, creativity, and the power of knowing your market better than anyone else. If you’re an entrepreneur chasing your first big break – or simply curious how one woman built an empire from scratch – this episode is not to be missed