We recently had the opportunity to speak with Hashmat Pereira, Founder of Mahjong Success. Bringing over 25 years of experience, she is a strong advocate for constant learning, community building, and strategic thinking. With senior leadership roles across Mastercard, Citibank, Mashreq Bank, and more, Hashmat has always delivered excellence.
Through Mahjong Success, she aims to make Mahjong accessible to all. This platform by Hashmat Pereira makes learning enjoyable and easy, offering players of all ages a perfect way to master the board game.
Journey over the Years
We started the interview by asking, “You have spent more than 25 years in leadership roles across major financial institutions, including Mastercard, Citibank, Mashreq Bank and Samba Financial Group. How has this professional journey shaped the person and entrepreneur you are today?”
Hashmat shared, “My professional journey has been an important learning experience, both personally and professionally. Working with leading financial institutions gave me exposure to different business environments, leadership styles, cultures, and customer expectations. Over the years, I developed a strong appreciation for strategic thinking, relationship-building, decision-making, and the importance of bringing people together around a common purpose.
One of the most valuable lessons I have learned is that success is not determined by technical expertise alone. It also depends on how effectively we communicate, collaborate, adapt and respond to challenges. These experiences continue to influence the way I approach Mahjong Success, particularly in creating meaningful experiences that combine learning, engagement, and personal interaction.”
Vision behind Mahjong Success
We then asked, “What inspired you to establish Mahjong Success, and how did the idea take shape?”
She mentioned, “I have always been interested in activities that bring people together while also challenging the mind. Mahjong offers a particularly interesting combination of strategy, observation, memory, patience and social interaction.
What makes the game special is that it is much more than a pastime. It encourages players to think ahead, assess changing situations, make decisions with incomplete information, and adapt their strategies as the game progresses. At the same time, it creates opportunities for conversation, friendship and connection.
I saw an opportunity to introduce a more structured and accessible approach to learning and experiencing Mahjong in Dubai. This became the foundation of Mahjong Success. The idea was to create a platform where beginners could learn with confidence, experienced players could continue developing their skills, and people could come together through a shared interest in the game.”
Connecting Players across Ages
Mahjong has a long cultural history, but it is increasingly attracting interest among new audiences around the world. So, we asked Hashmat Pereira, “What do you think makes the game relevant today?”
She said, “I believe Mahjong’s appeal lies in its ability to combine traditional gameplay with skills that remain relevant in modern life. In an increasingly digital and fast-paced world, people are looking for activities that encourage concentration, meaningful interaction and a sense of community.
Mahjong requires players to observe, analyse, remember, calculate possibilities and make decisions. It also teaches patience and adaptability because the game is constantly evolving. No two games are exactly alike, and players must continually reassess their options.”
“There is also growing academic interest in the potential cognitive and psychological benefits of playing Mahjong. A 2024 scoping review of 53 studies published in The Journal of Prevention of Alzheimer’s Disease reported associations between Mahjong participation and better cognitive outcomes. Similarly, a 2020 intervention study published in Frontiers in Neurology reported improvements in executive-function measures among older adults with mild cognitive impairment following a 12-week Mahjong programme.
While these findings should not be interpreted as evidence that Mahjong prevents or treats cognitive conditions, they highlight the potential value of activities that combine strategic thinking, concentration, decision-making and social interaction.
Beyond the intellectual aspect, there is a strong social dimension. Sitting around a Mahjong table creates an opportunity to disconnect from everyday distractions and engage with others. That combination of mental stimulation and human connection is particularly relevant today,” Hashmat added.
A Platform Beyond Gaming
Mahjong Success describes itself as more than a platform for learning a game. Interested to learn what makes its approach different, we asked Hashmat Pereira to share the same.
She explained, “Our approach is built around making Mahjong accessible, structured and enjoyable. We recognise that people come to the game with different levels of experience and different expectations. Some are complete beginners, while others want to improve their strategy or simply enjoy playing in a welcoming environment.
Through Mahjong Success, we bring together learning, guided play, and community engagement. We offer training, guided games, Play Days, and customised sessions, creating opportunities for people to progress at their own pace.
We also introduce different Mahjong formats, including Classic Chinese, Taiwanese, American Mahjong and Western Mahjong. This allows participants to explore the variations and discover the style that interests them most.
Our focus is not simply on teaching people which tiles to play. It is about helping them understand the game, develop confidence, and enjoy the experience.”
Innovative Ideas at Mahjong Success
We were curious to learn more about the unique concepts at the platform. So, we asked Hashmat Pereira, “One of the distinctive initiatives at Mahjong Success is The Thinking Table, which connects Mahjong with corporate learning. How does this concept work?”
“The Thinking Table is based on the idea that Mahjong can provide an engaging environment for exploring important professional skills.
The game involves analysing information, recognising patterns, assessing risks, making decisions and adapting to changing circumstances. These are also essential capabilities in business and leadership.
For example, players must make decisions based on the tiles available to them while anticipating possible developments and considering alternative strategies. They must also balance individual objectives with an awareness of what other players are doing.
Through The Thinking Table, we use these elements to create interactive corporate learning experiences around critical thinking, decision-making, risk management, and collaboration. It offers an alternative to conventional learning formats by allowing participants to engage with these concepts through an enjoyable and practical activity,” Hashmat stated.
A Welcoming Space for All
We requested Hashmat Pereira to share a glimpse of how she makes Mahjong approachable for someone who has never played before.
She explained, “The first step is to remove the misconception that Mahjong is too complicated to learn. Like any new skill, it takes time and practice, but the learning process can be enjoyable when it is introduced in a structured way.
We focus on breaking down the fundamentals, helping beginners understand the tiles, basic rules, combinations and flow of the game. Guided practice is particularly important because it allows participants to learn by playing, ask questions, and gradually build confidence.
We also believe that the learning environment matters. People should feel comfortable making mistakes and asking questions without feeling intimidated. Our aim is to make the experience welcoming, interactive and enjoyable, regardless of someone’s previous exposure to the game.”
Growing as a Community
We also asked, “Beyond training, Mahjong Success also focuses on community building. Why is this an important part of the business?”
Hashmat added, “Community is central to the experience we want to create. Mahjong is inherently social, and some of its greatest rewards come from the relationships and connections that develop around the table.
Our Mahjong Success Circle is intended to bring people together through a shared interest, creating opportunities to meet, play, learn and develop friendships. Through guided games, Play Days and other activities, we want participants to feel that they are becoming part of a community rather than simply attending a class.
To make Mahjong more accessible and create additional opportunities for people to learn and play in informal social settings, Mahjong Success is building associations with a network of board-game cafés across Dubai. These include Hive Boardgame Cafe in The Greens, THE SIX Board Game Cafe in Downtown Dubai and Emaar Beachfront, Tile Board Game Cafe in Jumeirah Heights, Hashtag café in Al Barsha, and Dishtrict Cafe in Al Wasl.
These collaborations provide opportunities to introduce Mahjong to new audiences and bring people together in relaxed, welcoming environments. In a city as international and diverse as Dubai, activities that connect people from different backgrounds have considerable value. We want Mahjong Success to contribute to that growing culture of social interaction and community engagement.”
Addressing Challenges in Dubai
With its rich history and growing international appeal, Mahjong offers exciting opportunities in a diverse city like Dubai. We asked Hashmat Pereira about her journey of introducing the game to new audiences, the challenges along the way, and how Mahjong Success is helping build a growing community of players
She mentioned, “Although Mahjong has a long history and a substantial following in several parts of the world, there can also be some hesitation among beginners who assume that the rules are too difficult or that the game is intended only for people who have played it for years.
We address this through education, demonstrations, and accessible learning experiences. It is important to show people that Mahjong can be learned step by step and enjoyed by different age groups and experience levels.
Another challenge is accommodating the different formats and rules associated with Mahjong. This is why structured instruction and clear guidance are important to what we do.”
Looking Ahead
To learn how Hashmat Pereira envisions the future of Mahjong Success, particularly in Dubai and the wider region, we asked her to share the same.
Hashmat shared, “I see considerable potential for Mahjong to become a more familiar part of the social and recreational landscape in Dubai and, over time, across the wider region.
Our immediate focus is on strengthening the Mahjong Success community, expanding awareness of the game and creating more opportunities for people to learn and play. We also see scope to develop our corporate learning concept and work with organisations interested in more interactive approaches to professional development.
As the community grows, we would like to explore additional partnerships, collaborations and experiences that bring Mahjong to new audiences. The objective is to build a sustainable platform that combines education, social engagement and corporate learning.”
Message to Beginners
Lastly, we asked, “What advice would you give to women and professionals considering a new entrepreneurial venture later in their careers?”
Hashmat Pereira, “I would encourage them not to see experience as a limitation. The knowledge, relationships and perspective gained over years of professional life can become valuable assets when starting something new.
Entrepreneurship requires courage, but it also requires curiosity, patience and a willingness to learn. It is important to identify a genuine opportunity; understand the audience you want to serve and be prepared to adapt as the business develops.
For me, Mahjong Success represents an opportunity to bring together professional experience, a passion for learning and the desire to create meaningful connections. I believe it is never too late to explore a new direction, provided you approach it with commitment, clarity and an open mind.”
Connect with Hashmat Pereira on LinkedIn for insights.
Explore Mahjong Success at mahjongsuccess.com.
Follow Mahjong Success on Instagram, YouTube and Facebook.
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