It was in a classroom filled with graphs and headlines about global warming and migration, Yasmina Khababi saw that people cared about climate or migration. But rarely about both. Few linked the two.
She did. And she found the simplest way to bridge them: food.
This idea became Freshtable, a platform connecting climate, migration, and dignity through food. Yasmina built it with her own resources and a resilient mindset; treating her mind as a sanctuary, boundaries as protection, and rest as a right.
This episode is about inclusion, leadership, and learning to build systems that work for people. Listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or YouTube, or scroll down for more about the conversation.
3 Lessons From This Conversation
In Yasmina’s family, food was never just food. It was storytelling, connection, and comfort all at once. Every meal carried a memory of where her parents came from and what they wanted to pass on. It is no surprise that she would later build a company around the same idea: food as a bridge between worlds.
Connection begins at the table.
When Yasmina studied climate change and the refugee crisis, she saw how rarely people linked the two. One was treated as an environmental issue, the other as a human one. She saw them as part of the same system. Food became her way to connect those dots, the simplest possible entry point to rebuild empathy between people and planet.
See opportunity where others see limitation.
Many of Freshtable’s team members once had careers as engineers, bookkeepers, or bank directors before fleeing their countries. Their qualifications no longer counted on paper, but their talent remained. Yasmina saw that as an opportunity, not a risk. By matching skills to roles that honour people’s experience, she turned underused potential into shared value for everyone involved.
Build systems that outlast you.
Through Freshtable and the Freshtable Foundation, Yasmina invests in the next generation of impact makers. Her goal is to make her own presence unnecessary, to create structures that keep working when she steps away. That shift from founder-led to founder-designed might be the purest form of sustainable leadership.
Yasmina’s story shows that building a business isn’t only about solving problems. It is about connecting systems that were never meant to be separate.
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Or scroll down for magic moments.
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Or scroll down for magical moments, practical takeaways, and my own observations.
- 3 Lessons From This Conversation
- Highlights and timestamps
- 3 Magic Moments In The Episode
- Practical Takeaways for Founders
- The Quote From The Episode
- 3 Things That Changed The Way I Think
- A Question for You 🤔
- Coming Up On Women Disrupting Tech
- Listen to Episode 126 on Spotify, Apple, or YouTube
- Other ways to amplify the voices of Women Disrupting Tech
- About Yasmina Khababi
- About Freshtable
- Events that Women Disrupting Tech Must-Attend
- What I Want To Leave You With
Highlights and timestamps
| Time | Highlight |
|---|---|
| 03:10 | Introduction to FreshTable and Its Mission |
| 05:58 | Connecting Climate Change and Refugee Issues |
| 09:02 | The FreshTable Business Model and Its Values |
| 12:00 | Empowering Refugees Through Work and Education |
| 15:15 | Geographical Luck and Its Impact on Opportunity |
| 18:06 | Facilitating Change: The Role of FreshTable |
| 21:00 | Accreditation and Career Advancement for Refugees |
| 24:02 | Diversity vs. Inclusion in the Workplace |
| 27:10 | The Vision for a Sustainable Future |
| 30:03 | The Role of the FreshTable Foundation |
| 32:48 | Creating a Safe Space for Feedback |
| 36:34 | Servant leadership and safe spaces |
| 42:24 | Mindset as a Sanctuary |
| 48:36 | The Art of Letting Go |
| 56:15 | Rest as a Right, Not a Reward |
| 58:12 | The Role of Men in Promoting Inclusion |
3 Magic Moments In The Episode
The second part of the conversation turns into a mindset masterclass. Here are three magic nuggets from that part of the episode.
The mind as a sanctuary.
Yasmina describes her mind as a space she protects. A place where she decides what thoughts to let in and which to keep out. It is her way of staying calm and focused when the outside world gets noisy.
The Art of Letting Go.
When something goes wrong, Yasmina looks for what she can do to make it right, then lets it go. She explains that forgiveness does not mean giving people the same access again. It means clearing the emotional space so she can move forward.
Prayer as a reset button.
For Yasmina, prayer is more than faith. It is discipline. Five times a day she pauses to reflect and reset. It reminded me of my own non-negotiable workouts, the moments that keep me balanced and focused.
I’m not religious but I fully understand how the call to prayer can have a grounding effect. It shows that mindset is not something you have or not. It is something you build through rhythm, reflection, and rest.
💬 What was your magic moment from the episode? Let me know in the comments.
Or scroll down for practical tips that will fuel your founder journey.
Practical Takeaways for Founders
Yasmina’s story offers a rare mix of purpose and practicality. Her lessons can help any founder build a business that lasts and a mindset that sustains it.
Let your values shape your business model.
For Yasmina, impact was never an add-on. Freshtable’s entire model is built around three pillars: sustainability, food accessibility, and inclusion in the labor market. The company’s structure reflects its purpose, proving that values and profitability can go hand in hand.
Make rest part of your system.
Rest is not a reward. It is a right. Schedule it with the same intention you bring to your meetings or product launches. Rest is what keeps your business healthy and your ideas sharp.
Find mentors who help you see yourself.
Yasmina credits much of her growth to mentorship. But not the kind that tells you what to do. A good mentor, she says, is someone who helps you see your own potential, asks the right questions, and guides you back to your own intuition.
What I like most about Yasmina’s approach is how she shows that sustainable leadership is not about doing more. It is about designing systems that reflect who you are and what you stand for.
💬 Know a founder who should know about these? Share the episode with them using the buttons below.
Or scroll down to discover an inspiring quote and learn about my own takeaways.
Next, I’ll share the moments from this conversation that shifted how I think about building inclusive companies.
The Quote From The Episode
Yasmina sees inclusion not as a statement, but as a system. This quote captures exactly that.
“My dream is that we create more startups and corporations that see inclusivity, sustainability and food accessibility as no-brainers.”
Yasmina Khababi, CEO and Founder of Freshtable
3 Things That Changed The Way I Think
Yasmina talks about geographical luck, the privilege of being born in a place that offers safety, opportunity, and stability. It is a reminder that much of what shapes our lives is not earned, but given. Listening to her made me think about luck in a broader sense: how it multiplies when shared, and how it can quietly reinforce inequality when ignored.
Luck is something to multiply and share.
Yasmina’s idea of geographical luck made me see privilege in layers. There is also gender luck, the invisible advantage that comes from not being expected to step back for caregiving or family. Recognizing it is not about guilt. It is about awareness and the balance it can create.
What feels normal to me isn’t standard for others.
Her stories reminded me that the freedoms I take for granted are not universal. The hours I can dedicate to work, the safety to speak my mind, the networks I have access to, none of them are standard. Awareness becomes empathy when it leads to inclusion.
Servant leadership starts within.
Yasmina’s definition of safe spaces begins with self-compassion. You cannot create safety for others if you treat yourself with harshness. Leadership built on kindness, rather than pressure, creates room for everyone to grow.
Overall, this episode taught me that men can play a key role in advancing inclusion and sustainability by acknowledging the positions and privileges they hold, what Yasmina would call gender luck, and by using that privilege to share platforms and give space to minoritized voices. Awareness is only the first step. Action is what makes it real.
What changed your thinking? I’d love to hear from you in the comments.
A Question for You 🤔
💬 What’s one action you can take to weave inclusion, sustainability and food accessibility into your company’s DNA?
👇 Share your thoughts in the comments. Let’s keep this conversation going and make inclusion the new normal in tech.
Coming Up On Women Disrupting Tech
Next up is another episode with a founder who sees limitations as opportunities. Settly founder Marieke van Iperen comes on to share how she merged her community-driven “hippie” values with high-growth technology to fulfil her mission of creating a world where everyone feels at home.
Here’s a clip from the episode that reframes our perceived immigration problem.
So stay tuned for more Women Disrupting Tech. And until the next episode, as always, Keep Being Awesome!
Dirkjan
PS If you fear missing out, subscribe to updates or follow the show on Spotify, Apple Podcasts or YouTube.
Listen to Episode 126 on Spotify, Apple, or YouTube
Permissionless Inclusion, One Meal at a Time with Yasmina Khababi | Ep. 126 – Women Disrupting Tech
Other ways to amplify the voices of Women Disrupting Tech
Want to make inclusion in tech the new normal by 2032? Here’s how you can help:
Follow the Women Disrupting Tech Podcast
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It only takes a moment, but it tells others this podcast is worth listening to. And helps the voices of my guests carry further.
Share the stories that move you.
Send this episode to a friend, a colleague, or someone who needs to hear it. Every share helps to build a more inclusive tech future and supports my guests in getting the stage they deserve.
So when you know someone who should hear it, pass it on when you’re done.
About Yasmina Khababi
Yasmina Khababi is a Dutch-Moroccan entrepreneur, change consultant, and keynote speaker who helps organizations and individuals create lasting social impact.
She believes that inclusion starts with connection, between people, systems, and ideas.
As the founder and CEO of Freshtable, she brings that same mindset to the table, literally. Yasmina uses food as a bridge between climate, migration, and human dignity. With every meal, she shows that business can be both profitable and purposeful.
She also serves on the Executive Board of the Freshtable Foundation, where she supports social entrepreneurship in underprivileged areas and leads the #ShareAMeal campaign, aiming to give away 10,000 free meals to people in need.
Learn more by connecting with Yasmina on LinkedIn.
About Freshtable
Freshtable is a social impact catering company based in the Netherlands that connects sustainability, inclusion, and great food. Founded by Yasmina Khababi, Freshtable creates meaningful jobs for highly skilled former refugees by matching their original expertise with new opportunities in the hospitality industry.
Every dish tells a story of connection, between cultures, skills, and shared values. Freshtable caters for companies and events that want more than good food; they want to make a difference, one meal at a time.
Beyond catering, the Freshtable Foundation invests in the next generation of changemakers through its #ShareAMeal campaign and global social entrepreneurship programs.
Together, Freshtable and its Foundation prove that inclusion and sustainability are not add-ons. They are good business.
Discover more on the Freshtable website or follow Freshtable on LinkedIn.
Events that Women Disrupting Tech Must-Attend
The fall is loaded with great events, and I’ve found some cool ones. Below is one event you definitely want to check out. For a full overview of all events, including links to buy tickets, please check the events page.
Featured event: Understanding Women’s Health – 3 December 2025
During this final 3mbrace Health event of 2025, you’re invited to better understand the importance of women’s health and the powerful role it plays in our personal, professional, and societal well-being. Men are expressly invited to join. And yes, I will be there too. So buy your tickets on Luma.
That’s What She Said
Looking for an event to start your new year off right? Well, Impowr and Boom Chicago have got your back. They’re starting on 14 January with an event where networking meets comedy. You can get your early-bird ticket (a €10 discount until 30 November) on the Boom Chicago website.
Diverse Leaders in Tech Events
If you like being in the know about what is happening in the DEI space, Diverse Leaders in Tech is the place to be.
Every last Thursday of the month, they have monthly in-person meetups for tech people, HR leaders and supporters of diversity to exchange insights, tackle challenges, and take action. It’s a vibrant, safe space where diversity is celebrated.
You can register for events on the DLiT website. Did I mention that joining your first event is free?
Equals Events
Equals is on a mission to shape a society where women and men stand on equal footing. At their home base in Amsterdam, they regularly organize events, but you can organize yours there too (like the 3mbrace Health events). You can find the events on Luma.
What I Want To Leave You With
Yasmina reminded me that people are not born as minorities. They are minoritized by systems, policies, and narratives that decide whose voice gets heard. Inclusion begins when we start seeing that difference.
The way to break this is simple. Start by listening. By resting. By creating systems that help others thrive. And most of all, by not waiting for permission to begin.
Listen to the full conversation with Yasmina Khababi on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or YouTube, and discover how inclusion can start with something as simple as a meal.
Women Disrupting Tech | The Podcast 