Mary Nazzal-Batayneh is a barrister, social entrepreneur, and activist. She is recognised by Forbes as one of the “Most Powerful Arab Women” for her work at the intersection of law, hospitality, and impact-driven ventures. She is the Chairperson of 17 Ventures and the Founder of Landmark Hotels, Jordan’s leading hospitality business.
We spoke to Mary not long after her involvement with the ‘Together for Palestine’ event in Wembley, bringing together some of the world’s biggest artists. Here’s what she had to say about impact, activism and the state of global development…
You’ve got a lot going on! What do you consider your mission to be?
At its core, my mission is to contribute to a more just and conscious world — one where people and communities can truly thrive. Whether through legal activism, creative projects, or business, I’m drawn to work that reconnects us with our humanity and restores a sense of balance. Right now, that means relaunching Landmark with a renewed focus on local collaboration and supporting homegrown talent, while continuing to advocate for Palestinian rights and more equitable global systems. I see my role as both learner and bridge-builder — helping reimagine what progress can look like when it’s rooted in dignity, not dominance.
When you're deciding who to work with and what to work on, what do you look for?
I choose people and projects that feel aligned — not just in purpose, but in energy. With nafsuna, our conscious-living brand focused on games, I partnered with Sara and Dareen because we share similar values and a desire to make an impact without losing authenticity. At Landmark, as we enter a new phase, I’m focused on collaborating with local brands that share our vision of community-rooted hospitality. I look for people who bring creative energy but are also grounded in the political realities of our region — people who don’t operate blind to injustice or detached from the world around them. Ultimately, I’m drawn to collaborators who care, who question, and who are willing to do the inner work required to create meaningful change.
In terms of making progress towards your mission, what have you seen that really works, and what doesn’t?
What works is slowing down — taking the time to listen, to connect, and to act from integrity rather than urgency. Real change happens when people are present and willing to unlearn. What doesn’t work is performative impact — the endless panels, pledges, and branding exercises that still centre the same power structures. Progress requires humility and consistency, not saviourism dressed up as strategy. I’ve learned that healing and justice are intertwined: you can’t build liberated systems with colonised hearts. So much of what we call “development” fails because it tries to fix symptoms instead of confronting roots. The work that lasts is the work that transforms both the outer world and our inner one.
With all that in mind, what are you reading, listening to or watching that you think others should too?
I co-launched Watermelon Books, so I’m reading a lot about Palestine and the authors we’ll be featuring on the Watermelon Books Podcast. I just finished The Stone House by Dr. Yara Hawari before interviewing her — a powerful piece of historical fiction that captures our collective memory with tenderness and rage. I’m also taking a six-month course on somatics and decolonization, which is shaping how I integrate the body into this broader liberation work. And I’m reading The Presence Process, a practice that helps cultivate awareness and emotional integration. These readings remind me that transformation isn’t just political — it’s deeply personal.
