Breaking Bread, Building Bridges: How EO Brings Cultures Together

Contributed by Suzy Ginsburg, an EO Houston member and CEO of Global Communication Works.

Recently, my husband, Alan, and I had the privilege of attending an extraordinary Ramadan Iftar hosted by our friend and fellow EO Houston member, Dr. Hoda Sana, CEO of Skin Cancer Specialists. It was an evening that beautifully illustrated the spirit of community that lies at the heart of EO.

Iftar is the meal that breaks the daily fast during Ramadan, when Muslims abstain from food and drink from dawn to sunset to focus on self-discipline, gratitude, and devotion.

From Childhood Obligation to Purposeful Hospitality

“Growing up in small-town Iowa, my mom would make me stand up in front of my school each year during Ramadan to explain why I wasn’t eating lunch and why Muslims fast. At the time, I hated it, but that experience planted something in me,” said Hoda Sana. “Years later, at Creighton University (a Jesuit university), I began to recognize how deeply aligned my values were with those of other faith traditions. That realization shifted everything. What once felt isolating became something that connected me to others. I started hosting Iftar dinners in college.”

In March 2026, Hoda invited 20 EO members and business owners to an Iftar dinner to share not just a meal but the deeper meaning of Ramadan, focusing on universal themes that unite all faiths: discipline, gratitude, compassion, and service. She thoughtfully chose “love” as the evening’s theme, and that spirit was felt in every detail and every conversation.

"EO opens doors to experiences that stretch our thinking, deepen empathy, and remind us that leadership is as much about understanding people as it is about building companies."

— Suzy Ginsburg, EO Houston

“I chose the theme of love because the world feels more divided, more reactive, and more disconnected than ever, yet at the core of every faith, every culture, and every human experience is the same principle: love,” Hoda explained. “Ramadan, at its heart, is about returning to that foundation. It asks you to look inward with honesty and compassion, to extend grace to others, and to live by a simple but powerful idea: To want for others what you want for yourself.”

Hoda’s Iftar dinner is one example of the extraordinary ways in which EO expands its members’ horizons—by giving members opportunities to step into traditions and experiences we might never encounter on our own.

An Evening Designed with Intention

The dinner took place in the elegant private room at Bar Moon, a stunning Houston venue owned by EO member Vu Nguyen. His chef and servers made the experience extraordinary from start to finish. It was clear that every detail had been thoughtfully curated. The room glowed with magnificent white roses in full bloom, perfectly set tables with gleaming silverware, and an atmosphere that felt both intimate and celebratory.

“One of my favorite aspects of the dinner was the sincerity and care Hoda showed to the group,” noted Ali Nasser an EO Houston member. “She told stories of her early childhood, and shared how she was encouraged by her parents to invite her friends over for Iftar and explain to them the meaning and purpose of fasting. She did the same with EO.”

The dinner itself was exceptional and beautifully presented. There were custom, engraved caviar tins (which were then washed and filled with decadent chocolates for attendees to take home) and tomahawk steaks lit on fire, tableside. It was a rare evening where the care behind every element was unmistakable.

“It was a heartfelt event with attention to each detail,” Ali added.

The Power of Gathering Across Cultures

But the most remarkable part of the evening was the people gathered around the table.

There were friends from across the globe and from many different faiths and cultures—guests with roots in Italy, Mexico, El Salvador, Greece, and the United States. Around that table sat Jewish, Sikh, Muslim, and Christian friends sharing the experience of breaking the Ramadan fast together. It was a powerful reminder that when people gather with openness and respect, cultural traditions become bridges rather than barriers.

"In a world that often amplifies what separates us, choosing love — intentionally, actively — is one of the most powerful things we can do."

— Hoda Sana, EO Houston

“Love starts within. If you don’t have compassion for yourself, your imperfections, your growth, your humanity, it is almost impossible to extend it outward in a meaningful way,” Hoda shared.  “But when you do, it naturally expands into how you treat people, how you show up in relationships, and how you move through the world — that is what I wanted people to take with them, love as a tangible! I wanted to create a space where love wasn’t just a concept but something that was felt in that room for the evening: Love for yourself, love for the person sitting next to you, and love expressed through shared experience.”

“Because in a world that often amplifies what separates us, choosing love — intentionally, actively — is one of the most powerful things we can do.”

How EO Expands Our World View

Experiences like this are a hallmark of EO—reminding members that expanding our worldview is just as valuable as expanding our businesses.

People like Hoda and moments like this are exactly what make EO so extraordinary.

EO’s magic lies not only in business insights exchanged in Forums or educational programs, but in the authentic human connections that form across cities, countries, and cultures. The organization is built on the idea that entrepreneurs grow best when they learn from one another and build deep relationships that extend far beyond business.

Through experiences like Hoda’s Iftar, EO inspires members to see the world through new lenses, deepening understanding and strengthening relationships that last a lifetime.

A Table that Became a Bridge

In one room in Houston, entrepreneurs and friends from different backgrounds shared stories, learned about one another’s traditions, and celebrated a moment of reflection and gratitude—guided by Hoda’s simple but powerful theme of love. It was a reminder that while we may come from different industries, countries, or beliefs, we share something fundamental: the entrepreneurial spirit and a desire to build meaningful lives and communities.

“What I once resisted as a child — sharing the experience of Ramadan — became something that brought me peace and a sense of purpose. It made me believe that understanding each other can make the world feel a little more connected,” Hoda said. “EO embodies that same spirit of bringing together people from different backgrounds to learn from one another with curiosity and respect. Hosting an Iftar including EO members felt like a natural extension of that belief: Creating a space where culture, conversation, and shared humanity could come together at one table!”

Where Business and Humanity Intersect

As entrepreneurs, we spend a great deal of time building companies. EO reminds us that we are also building something even more valuable—a global community of trust and friendship.

Sometimes the most powerful connections happen around a beautifully set table, breaking bread together.

“I hope people walked away feeling that, at our core, we are far more alike than we are different. That beyond rituals or labels, we all seek meaning, connection, and belonging. And that something as simple as sharing a meal, listening with openness, and choosing empathy can dissolve barriers faster than any explanation ever could,” Hoda shared.

Without EO, I would never have known any of the incredible people who sat around the table with me and Alan that evening. EO continually opens doors to experiences that stretch our thinking, deepen empathy, and remind us that leadership is as much about understanding people as it is about building companies.

And that is EO at its very best.