WIDN with Malak Fouad
Connecting the dots across the Middle East through storytelling. Join host Malak Fouad, as she brings you the most inspiring people and unpacks their life journeys — successes, failures and everything in between!
Episodes
Dina H. Sherif on entrepreneurship as a national competitiveness strategy
We’re continuing my conversation with Dina H. Sherif, talking about the shift from aid to agency, AI and regulation, and entrepreneurship as a national competitiveness strategy.Dina has served as the Executive Director of the MIT Kuo Sharper Center for Prosperity and Entrepreneurship since 2019. You can catch the first part of our conversation in your podcast app or on our website. I’ll b
Dina H. Sherif
I’m joined by Dina H. Sherif about entrepreneurship and ecosystem building in growth markets. Dina has served as the Executive Director of the MIT Kuo Sharper Center for Prosperity and Entrepreneurship since 2019. She also talks about her own entrepreneurship journey with Ahead of the Curve, and her personal experiences with loss.We’ll continue the conversation in Part 2 about the shift f
‘What’s Next?’: my panel from The Shift 2026 (from e& and The Narrative Summit)
I recently moderated a panel about how AI is being applied across different sectors like media and finance, how investors are looking at AI companies and the role of telecom in enabling AI adoption. My panelists was made up of a number of the show's alumni including Ahmed Alfi (Chairman, Sawari Ventures), Amy Mowafi (Co-founder & CEO, MO4 Network), Mounir Neamatalla (Founder & CEO
Karim Moussa
Today I’m bringing you a special episode with our sponsor EFG Holding. I recently interviewed Karim Moussa, Co-CEO of EFG Hermes Buy-Side, Head of Private Equity & Asset Management & CEO of Vortex Energy. Karim tells me how he got started in private equity, and how the thesis of investing with purpose led EFG to expand renewables, education and healthcare.This episode is brought t
Youssef Salem on AI and the future of the region
On the second part of my conversation with Youssef Salem, we’re talking about AI, energy security and the future of the region. Youssef also tells me why the younger generation needs to prepare for greater competition in the AI age and how he's working to inspire them.Youssef Salem is the CFO of ADNOC Drilling. ADNOC is the UAE’s primary oil company and 12th largest in the world in terms
Youssef Salem
I‘m delighted to be joined by Youssef Salem, CFO for ADNOC Drilling. ADNOC is the UAE’s primary oil company and 12th largest in the world in terms of production.I’ve followed Youssef for quite some time now and in addition to his many professional accomplishments, he’s a wonderful role model for the younger generation entering the corporate world.On this first of two episodes, we talk abo
Nabila Abdel Nabi on the future of museums
We’re continuing my conversation with Nabila Abdel Nabi, Senior Curator of International Art at Tate Modern and Lead of the Hyundai Tate Research Centre: Transnational. On this episode, we talk about what those specialisations really mean, the paradigm shifts happening in the art world, and how a curator like Nabila collects feedback from the Museum’s audience.This episode is brought to y
Nabila Abdel Nabi
I’m joined today by Nabila Abdel Nabi, Senior Curator for International Art at Tate Modern and Lead of the Hyundai Tate Research Center: Transnational. When Nabila and I first met a few years ago I was immediately impressed by her sincerity and depth. She is thoughtful and intentional in how she interacts with the world and those qualities make for deep and interesting conversations. We t
Encore: Jalal Abu-Gazaleh & Dalia Sultan
I’m re-connecting again with one of my first guests, Jalal Abu-Gazaleh & Dalia Sultan, co-founders of Gourmet Egypt. The headline news since we first spoke in 2021 is that the company went public earlier this year! Tune in for the inside story of their expansion and IPO.This episode is part of Encore, where I check-in with some of your favourite WIDN alumni. We’ll continue this segmen
Tim Marshall on the importance of geography
We're continuing my conversation with journalist & best-selling author of Prisoners of Geography, Tim Marshall. On this episode, Tim tells me how the journalism landscape has changed, and the importance of geographical context in understanding current affairs and geopolitics.I’ll be back again next week with a special Encore episode with two of my earliest guests—Jalal Abu Ghazaleh an
Tim Marshall
Tim Marshall joins me on the show this week to talk about his journey from starting out with the British Royal Air Force to his three-decade career in journalism and now best-selling author of ‘Prisoners of Geography’.We also talk about the importance of understanding geography and how that intersects with current affairs and geopolitics. This is particularly relevant considering the ongo
Empowering the arab youth, with Thuraya Ismail
I’m continuing my conversation with Thuraya Ismail, CEO of Mentor Arabia, an organisation dedicated to improving the well-being of the Arab youth. On this episode, Thuraya shares her insights on drug prevention, overcoming stigma and how this work intersects with her other passion for arts & film.Chapters:0:00 Coming up3:27 Tackling drug prevention12:12 Impact of Saudi Vision 203014:1
Thuraya Ismail
I’m delighted to welcome Thuraya Ismail. She's the CEO of Mentor Arabia, an organisation dedicated to improving the well-being of young Arabs in general, and towards drug prevention in particular. Since its launch in 2006, the organisation has reached more than 1.5 million beneficiaries and now operates across 12 countries. Stay tuned for more on that in Part 2 of our conversation next we
Double-Take: Art & Heritage with Nada Debs, Louis Barthelemy, Omniya Abdel Barr & Sarah Beydoun
On this episode, you'll hear about the incredible message through art with designer Nada Debs and entrepreneur Sarah Beydoun, and the importance of preservation from Omniya Abdel Barr and artist Louis Barthelemy. This episode is part of our new segment, Double-Take, where I take a deep-dive into a single topic and connect the dots between some of our best conversations.This episode is bro
Encore: Mo Hefzy
I'm re-connecting today with award-winning film producer Mo Hefzy. Since I first spoke to him in 2022, Mo has had a series of successful releases, including 'Flight 404', 'Seeking Haven for Mr. Rambo', 'Darwish', and many more. This episode is part of Encore, where I check-in with some of your favourite WIDN alumni. We’ll continue this segment with more of the show’s alumni, so stay tuned
Abdel Wahed El Wakil on the evolution of architecture
We’re continuing my conversation with legendary architecture Abdel Wahed El Wakil. Today, we’re diving deep into the world of architecture and materials. This episode is a crash-course whether you're in the field, an enthusiast like me, or just want a better understanding of the world around us. Abdel Wahed also tells me about the spiritual connection that traditional architecture fosters
Abdel Wahed El Wakil
I‘m joined today by a legend of from the world of architecture, Abdel Wahed El Wakil. I sat down with him a couple of weeks ago in Doha, where he now lives, to document his incredible journey, his vision for architecture as an industry, and Islamic architecture in particular.Abdel Wahed has designed buildings around the world, including in Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Paris and London. He also st
Encore: Bobby Chinn
I'm re-connecting today with celebrity chef & author Bobby Chinn. I first spoke to Bobby during the summer of 2021 in preparation for Season 2. That feels like such a long time ago, we were just 8 episodes in at the time, and we're now in our 6th year with more than a 100 episodes!You can listen to that episode in your podcast app or our website.This episode is part of Encore, where I
Maria Shollenbarger on why destinations trend, and the future of travel
We’re continuing my conversation with luxury travel journalist and editor Maria Shollenbarger. Today, we’re delving into the travel industry—how and why certain destinations trend over others, how preferences have changed since COVID, and the future of travel in the age of AI. I’ll be back next week with a new Encore episode with all-round rockstar Bobby Chinn.Chapters0:00 Coming up...2:3
Maria Shollenbarger
I’m excited to be kicking off the year with Maria Shollenbarger, travel editor at the Financial Times’ HTSI magazine. I got to know Maria last year at The Narrative Summit, where she was on a panel that I moderated. Maria has been with the FT now for 17 years and had always dreamed about working as a travel journalist. On Part 1 of our conversation, we unpack her journey traveling and liv
Welcome to our 6th year!
We all know the value of looking back to understand our path. But as the world becomes increasingly uncertain, I wanted to open a new chapter on the show.In 2026, in addition to reflecting on the past, we’re also tackling the big questions about our future. I’ll be asking my guests how they're navigating the same anxieties and opportunities we all face, from AI to climate change to the ch
My conversation with EFG Holding’s Mohamed Abdel Khabir
We’re closing out the year with a special episode with EFG Holding, and I’m joined today by the Group’s Chief Finance & Operations Officer, Mohamed Abdel Khabir. Mohamed joined the investment bank in 2008 and took on the CFO role in 2016. Earlier this year, he took on the additional responsibility of Operations, which includes Marketing, Technology & Administration. Mohamed has be
Bonus: Mounir Nakhla on MNT Halan's high-RPM expansion into Turkey, the UAE & Pakistan
Last week, Mounir Nakhla told me about his entrepreneurial journey with MNT Halan, and how the company has risen to become of the Africa’s fastest growing start-ups. On this bonus episode, Mounir talks to me about the strategy behind their recent expansion into 3 new territories — Turkey, the UAE & Pakistan. Chapters:0:00 On this episode...5:12 Consolidation vs. Expansion8:36 The impa
Mounir Nakhla
I'm joined today by entrepreneur Mounir Nakhla. Mounir is the co-founder & CEO of MNT-Halan, Egypt's fintech unicorn that has now served more than 8 million customers and recently expanded into the UAE, Turkey & Pakistan.Mounir launched his first company in 2010, which showed him the true potential of micro-financing to unlock economic potential. This led him to co-found MNT-Halan
Encore: Dr. Nadine Hachach-Haram
I'm re-connecting today with Dr. Nadine Hachach-Haram. Dr. Nadine is the founder & CEO of Proximie and a practicing NHS surgeon with a specialty in plastic surgery. I first spoke to Dr. Nadine three years ago, when she told me how she wanted to help operating rooms function more effectively with Proximie. This episode is part of Encore, where I check-in with some of your favourite W
Diving into the VC world with Karima El Hakim
We’re continuing my conversation with Karima Hakim on this episode, talking about the evolution of the private sector in Egypt and Africa, and her work specifically with Plug & Play.You can also catch the first part my conversation with Karima in your podcast app or on YouTube. Chapters0:00 Introduction0:45 The Private Sector Evolution11:39 Women Supporting Women16:23 Leadership in a
Karima El Hakim
I’m joined today by Karima El Hakim, Country Director at Plug & Play Egypt, and co-director for the company’s operations in the rest of Africa. Just as importantly, for me she’s one of the show’s biggest fans! On Part 1 of my conversation with Karima, we’re criss-crossing through both her personal and professional journey, from growing up in Egypt in a Francophone home to her pivot to
Hanaa Helmy
Today’s episode is a deep-dive with our sponsor, EFG Holding. As a long-time sponsor of the show, EFG have been with us from our single digit episode count all the way through to 100! I’m joined on this special episode by Hanaa Helmy, Chief Corporate Sustainability and Impact Officer at EFG Holding and CEO of the EFG Foundation. Hanaa has been with the company 19 years, and has been invol
Celebrating 100 episodes!
We’re celebrating 100 episodes! So this week I’m sitting down with our producer Chirag Desai to celebrate this milestone and unpack some of the learnings. Chapters 0:00 Episode 100! 1:11 Evolution of Podcasting 3:11 Reflections 13:53 Destiny vs Agency 24:08 The Impact of Our Work 24:28 A big thanks to EFG Holding 25:35 Malak takes on the Lightning Round
This episode is brought to you by E
Azzam Fakhreddin on getting started in hospitality & his love for football
We’re continuing my conversation with Azzam Fakhreddin this week, where he tells me about his decision to shift focus to economics under the mentorship of Dr. Galal Amin and getting starting in the family hospitality business. Azzam also tells me about his involvement with the Jordan football team, which just qualified for its first FIFA World Cup in 2026.I’m also excited to share that Wh
Azzam Fakhreddin
I’m joined today by Azzam Fakhreddin, a name familiar to many across the Middle East as a notable figure in the hospitality industry. On Part 1 of our conversation, Azzam tells me about his involvement in two significant projects, the book ‘Palestine, Memories of 1948’ and the feature film ‘Palestine36’, which is Palestine’s official entry to the 2026 Oscars. It stars iconic actors Jeremy
Our AI future, with Mo Gawdat, Tarek Nour, Omar Elsahy & Ramy Youssef
AI is a topic that has come up many times over the years on the show, so today I’m sharing a special episode of Double-Take where I’m connecting the dots from some of our previous episodes on the philosophical, ethical and practical implications of our future AI world.You’ll hear from author & AI expert Mo Gawdat on how we all need to be better role models for this nascent technology,
Mona Hamdy unpacks the role of Artificial intelligence and its ethical implications
Continuing my conversation with Dr. Mona Hamdy to unpack the role of AI, and how the emerging world should prioritise its adoption. We talk about the ethical implications of technological advancements, and the need to close the gap between profit-driven AI development and our needs as a society. She also tells me about her work with Anomaly, the ‘Bitcoins and Birkins’ club, and upcoming l
Dr. Mona Hamdy
The word AI gets bandied about by everyone in everything today, and I’ve been wanting to unpack the opportunities and challenges our future world holds for us. So I’m delighted to welcome technology ethicist Dr. Mona Hamdy to the show this week.On Part 1 of our conversation this week, we talk about her pivots, and how she found herself at this unique intersection of technology and human d
Double-Take: Giving Back, with Sir Magdi Yacoub and Meta’s Fares Akkad
One of the themes that often comes up on the show is giving back to the community. Today I wanted to highlight two guests who instantly come to mind when talking about giving back—the incredible heart surgeon, Sir Magdi Yacoub and META’s Regional Director, Fares Akkad. This episode is part of our new segment, Double-Take, where I take a deep-dive into a single topic and connect the dots b
How I prepare for guest interviews
Today I’m sharing the answer to another question I’m asked quite often: “how do you prepare for your interviews?”
Omar El Akkad
Author and commentator Omar El Akkad joins me this week to talk about his latest book “One day, Everyone Will Have Always Been Against This”. This is perhaps the most important book I’ve read in the last couple of years as it brought together all that I have been thinking, and feeling, about Western Liberalism. I talk to Omar about the larger themes that led to him writing the book, and h
Encore: Amy Mowafi
Media powerhouse Amy Mowafi returns to the show for Encore, where I check-in with your favourite alumni guests. Since we last spoke, Amy has been leading and participating in various must-attend events across Egypt. She’s also been returning to her first love, writing, with her Substack.You can also catch my previous Encore conversations with adventurer Omar Samra, designers Nada Debs a
How I choose my guests
Another question I get asked often is “how do you select your guests?”Join me for a look behind-the-scenes at how I select my guests and some of the criteria involved.
Farrah El Dibany on her transformative journey playing Carmen
We’re continuing my conversation with the talented mezzo-soprano Farrah Al Dibany, exploring the world of opera. Farrah tells me about her experiences and challenges of her work, including her transformative journey playing Carmen, and her commitment to introducing classical music to broader audiences. She also tells me about her artistic choices on stage, and how she prepares for her rol
Farrah El Dibany
Mezzo-soprano Farrah El Dibany joins me on the show this week. We cover her journey from discovering her passion for singing at 14, to her incredible performances, including the FIFA World Cup Final in Qatar and the celebration of the re-election of French President Emmanuel Macron in 2022. I had the opportunity to see Farrah perform in-person a couple of years ago, at the Manial Palace f
2025 so far…
It’s already been an exciting 2025 for What I Did Next. So this week, my producer, Chirag, and I decided to do a check-in and recap the last six months. We talk about the inspiring conversations, guests and events that have made up the year so far, as well as a look at what’s coming up. I also share a sneak peek into our next guest episode, so listen in to find out!
This episode is brough
How I started ‘What I Did Next’
I’m often asked how I got started with the podcast. On a special solo episode this week, I’m taking you behind the scenes to tell you how and why I started What I Did Next, and how it came together.
Ayman Tamer
Ayman Tamer is the Chairman of the Tamer Group, a third-generation business with a 100-year history in Saudi Arabia.Ayman tells me how his grandfather opened the first pharmacy in the Arab peninsula in 1922 and its evolution to one of the largest healthcare companies in the region today, with over $2.5 billion in revenue. It was clear from our conversation that family is everything for Ay
History and Culture: Perceptions of Egypt (The Narrative Summit 2025)
A few weeks ago, What I Did Next partnered with the 2025 edition of The Narrative Summit which was held at the breathtaking Soma Bay. Today, I’m delighted to share my panel discussion where we explored perceptions of Egypt through a historical and cultural lens, a subject that is close to my heart.I was joined on the panel by historian Mahmoud Sabit, award-winning historian and broadcaste
Encore: Ali Ali
Welcome again to What I Did Next Encore, where I check-in with some of your favourite alumni guests.Today, I’m re-connecting with one of the guests from our first-ever season, advertising director Ali Ali. He catches me up on what he’s been up to since we last spoke, his short film, Smokey Eyes, and exploring production in Saudi Arabia.
“Reclaim our narrative,” Fatenn Mostafa Kanafani on her work to document modern Egyptian artists
On this week’s bonus episode, Fatenn Mostafa Kanafani tells me about her work in documenting, codifying, and cataloging her research in art. She’s contributed a chapter in Daughters of the Nile, authored Modern Art in Egypt, and is now working on a third book.Chapters 0:00 Introduction 4:35 The Importance of Modern Egyptian Art 6:59 Exploring the Egyptian Avant-Garde
This episode is broug
Fatenn Mostafa Kanafani
Fatenn Mostafa Kanafani has led a life full of twists and turns. Her career trajectory has seen her go from being a successful marketer with Procter & Gamble to being instrumental in the success of the relaunch of Ahram Beverages, leading to its eventual sale to Heineken in 2002. Fatenn then turned her attention to modern Egyptian art and launched Art Talks, a gallery as well as a for
Encore: Nadine Kanso
On today’s episode, I’m reconnecting with pioneering Arab designer, Nadine Kanso, founder of jewellery brand BilArabi. Nadine tells me what’s been happening since our last conversation two years ago, including her partnership with Berluti, and staying authentic in an influencer-dominated world online. This episode is part of our special series, What I Did Next Encore, where I check-in wit
“Catch the (aqua) mango!” Omar Hilal on his award-winning ads and his upcoming movie
We’re continuing my conversation with award-winning ad director and filmmaker Omar Hilal. This week, he tells me about three key projects: the hilarious Aqua Mangos ad, the ground-breaking Royal Jordanian Ad and a sneak-peek into his upcoming film.You can listen to my full episode with Omar Hilal where he tells me about his life’s pivots, starting out as a photojournalist to award-winning
Omar Hilal
I’m delighted to be joined by award-winning ad director & filmmaker Omar Hilal as this month’s guest. Omar is one of those people who discovered that he wanted to become a director very early in life. He started out as a photo-journalist and went on to become an accomplished ad director, with stand-out ads such as the Aqua Mangos ad for Nestle and the ground-breaking Royal Jordanian A
Rawya Mansour
This week, I’m joined by Rawya Mansour, Chairwoman of RAMSCO Egypt and Oasis Technologies Monaco, for a special episode as part of our collaboration with The Narrative Summit 2025.Rawya is a pioneer of sustainable development and regenerative agriculture, including shifting away from chemical polymer fertilisers towards green charcoal. We’ll get into the pivotal moments that led her on th
My guest appearance on ‘Gems of Arabia’ about Arab Representation in Media with Becky Anderson, Faisal Abbas & host Hatem AlAkeel
I’m excited to share a special episode from the podcast, Gems of Arabia about Arab Representation in Media. The episode, hosted by WIDN alum Hatem Al Akeel, was recorded a few weeks ago at the CNN Academy in Abu Dhabi in front of a live audience of the Academy’s latest cohort of budding journalists.We were joined by another WIDN alum Becky Anderson, Managed Editor of CNN Abu Dhabi and Ara
Bonus: Nouf Al Moneef on the evolution of the Noor Riyadh Festival
We’re continuing my conversation with interior architect Nouf Al Moneef, Director of the Noor Riyadh festival. On today’s episode, Nouf tells me about the evolution of Noor Riyadh, why they chose light as a theme in addition to art, as well as about her own design aesthetic.You can find the first part of my conversation with Nouf in your podcast app as well as on YouTube.
This episode is
Nouf Al Moneef
Nouf Al Moneef is an interior architect and the Director of the Noor Riyadh festival, which falls under the larger umbrella of the Riyadh Art Project. Noor Riyadh has now welcomed more than 3 million visitors and hosted artworks by hundreds of Saudi, regional and international artists. Nouf also continues to help grow the conversation about art and design on social media, although she is
Khalid Abdalla on the four year journey that led to ‘Nowhere’
We’re continuing my conversation with actor Khalid Abdalla this week, going behind the curtain into his solo play, Nowhere. I saw the play when I was in the UK last October and was personally moved by his performance. On this episode, Khalid tells me about the journey that led to him writing Nowhere, and the impact of his work. On a bonus episode for members out next week, we’ll dig into
Khalid Abdalla
Khalid Abdalla first became known to many of us with his incredible role in The Kite Runner. More recently, he was on our screens as Dodi Fayed on The Crown. But beyond all his subtle and challenging roles, I was personally moved by his stage performance in his solo play, Nowhere, which I saw last October.We covered so many topics during our conversation that we’re bringing this to you as
Farida Osman
I’m excited to welcome Farida Osman as the first athlete on the show! She’s a 3-time Olympian, 3-times world bronze medalist and holds senior national records for butterfly, freestyle and backstroke events.Farida is such a natural, positive person who is authentic and passionate about her sport. She’s a wonderful ambassador for swimming and an incredible role model for young sportspeople
Encore: Omar Samra
I’m super excited to kick-off 2025 with one of our new segments called WIDN Encore, where I’ll be checking in with some of your favourite What I Did Next alumni.My first guest is adventurer, entrepreneur, and podcaster Omar Samra. I first spoke to Omar in 2021 about his company, Wild Guanabana, and his epic maritime challenge with Omar Nour which they parlayed into an award-winning docume
Coming up in 2025
A quick teaser on what’s coming up on in 2025, including a new line-up, schedule and offerings!Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Wrapping up 2024
Thank you for joining me for an incredible year of What I Did Next. This week, I’m joined by the show’s producer, Chirag Desai, to look back at how quickly the year has gone by, and what is to come in 2025.This episode is brought to you by EFG Holding. For 40 years, EFG Holding has been realising more, for clients, investors, businesses, communities and individuals. See the world differen
Omar Elsahy
Omar Elsahy is General Manager for Amazon in Egypt, overseeing 2,500 employees in the country as well as after-market services across the region. He told me about his early years in the US and Egypt, starting a number of businesses with his brother before pivoting to e-commerce with Souq.com.I enjoyed getting to know Omar through this conversation, and also got some great insights into th
Sarah Beydoun
A quick note: we recorded this conversation before the conflict began in Lebanon earlier this year.Sarah Beydoun is the founder of Sarah’s Bag, a social enterprise that produces bespoke luxury accessories and clothing. She tells me how her company was born out of a University thesis and how they continue to empower women in spite of the never-ending turmoil afflicting Lebanon, as well as
Louis Barthélemy
Louis Barthélemy is a multidisciplinary artist and designer based between Marrakech and Paris. He went on to work for Dior after studying fashion design at Central Saint Martins, before pivoting away from the fashion world after the public departure of designer John Galliano. Louis designs beautiful works of art, from tapestry to rugs to stained glass and works on paper. He is a passionat
Yasmine & Farida Khamis
Yasmine and Farida Khamis are continuing the legacy left by their father, Mohammed Farid Khamis. He launched Oriental Weavers in 1979, which grew to become one of the world’s largest carpet manufacturers. Yasmine took over as Chair of its Board since his passing in 2020, while her two siblings joined her as board members. Farida chairs the Petrochemical business and looks after the Britis
Haitham Mattar
Haitham Mattar is the Managing Director of the Intercontinental Hotel Group for India, Middle East & Africa. Haitham has had a distinguished career working for global hotel giants as well as leading tourism for the Governments of Ras Al Khaimah and Saudi Arabia. His story is one of individual will, grit and resilience starting from his first job at 17. He tells me about the importance
HRH Nourah Al Faisal
I’m excited to welcome Her Royal Highness Nourah Al Faisal as this season’s inaugural guest. She’s the founder of bespoke jewellery brand Nuun, and the founder of design and research consultancy Ahdlal for Design. She’s also the great-granddaughter of King Faisal of Saudi Arabia.As someone who grew up in Saudi, I continue to be impressed by the transformation taking place across the count
Season 8 begins September 24
I’m excited to bring you a new season of What I Did Next, where I talk to people about their pivotal moments and life journeys. Season 8 begins September 24, with new episodes every second Tuesday.This season, we’re also adding new benefits to our members’ club. You’ll be getting early access to our episodes—in fact, members can listen to the first THREE episodes of our season on Tuesday—
From the archive: Mo Gawdat (2022)
Hope you’re having a great summer so far. We’ll be back with new episodes in September. In the meantime, here’s another one from our archive: my conversation with author, entrepreneur & tech giant, Mo Gawdat. Mo was Chief Business Officer at Google X, and is now the popular author of Solve for Happy, Scary Smart, and more recently, That Little Voice in Your Head, with more books to co
From the archive: Ramy Youssef
We’ll be back with new episodes in September. In the meantime, here’s one from our archive–actor and comedian Ramy Youssef. Ramy is the starof the eponymous hit show, Ramy, which has won Golden Globes and Peabodies, as well as Emmy nominations. He's also the co-creator of Mo with Mo Amer, and can be seen later this year in Poor Things with Emma Stone, William Dafoe and Mark Ruffalo among
Wrapping up Season 7
I’m joined by the show’s producer, Chirag Desai, to look back at some of the season’s highlights & themes from our latest line-up of incredible guests.You’ll also hear from Mostafa Gad, Global Head of Investment Banking at EFG Hermes, an EFG Holding Company. EFG Holding has been an incredible partner for the show & I talk to Mostafa about his life's trajectory and his stellar care
Ghada Amer
As a multidisciplinary artist, Ghada is as comfortable working with a needle and thread as she is with a paintbrush, or forging steel for sculptures or working on one-of-a-kind garden installations. She began exhibiting her work in the 90s, and her art continues to focus on women equality and female sexuality. Ghada’s work has been shown at the world's finest fairs and exhibition spaces,
Mohamed Al Fayed
Mohamed Al Fayed is the co-founder & CEO of Grubtech, he's a digital advisor as well as a mentor, and he calls himself a tech disruptor. Even if you may not have heard of him directly, you’ll have come across some of his work. Beginning his career with Macy’s, one of the largest retailers in the U.S., Moe led the launch of Mamas & Papas and Gap in the GCC as well as the region’s l
Becky Anderson
Becky Anderson is the Managing Editor at CNN Abu Dhabi, and one of the channel’s most visible international anchors. From being the first team to broadcast from Riyadh after the ban on women driving was lifted to Tunisia during the Arab Spring, she has spearheaded special shows from Tehran, Jerusalem, Istanbul, Beirut and many more region capitals.I was excited to indulge my love for all
Dr. Mounir Neamatallah
Dr. Mounir Neamatalla is the founder of Environment Quality International, EQI, which he founded in 1981. EQI started out as the first environment-focused advisory in Egypt and went on to become a pioneer in the world of micro-finance. Then in 1996, Dr. Mounir’s visit to the remote oasis of Siwa led to the launch of the pathbreaking Siwa Sustainable Development Initiative.My conversation
Malak El Baba
I’m joined this week by Malak El Baba, Egypt Country Manager for Visa, and a leader and role model for so many in her industry. We had a wonderful conversation that spanned different countries and phases of her life.Although she has spent nearly two decades in banking and finance, she actually started out wanting to become a diplomat. But destiny had other plans, shaping not just her care
Hatem Al Akeel
Hatem Alakeel is an award-winning Saudi designer, fashion entrepreneur and podcast host. He has designed for global icons including Mattel’s Barbie, Evian, Lexus, Fairmont, Raffles, and the Ritz Carlton among others, and he was among the first regional artists to create and celebrate Saudi traditions.With his first company, Toby Hatem Alakeel, Hatem brought the traditional thobe into the
Janan Shihadeh
Janan Shihadeh has made her mark creating bespoke pieces for clients all around the world—from murals in Washington D.C., to furniture and candles in Cairo, to transforming old handbags into little arm-candy jewels in Dubai. To say that Janan is versatile is an understatement. She brings passion, imagination and dynamism to whatever art medium she is working on and her eye for detail and
Amr Moussa
His Excellency Amr Moussa has had a distinguished career in the world of international diplomacy and cooperation. He served as the Ambassador of Egypt to India for 3 years in 1983, he was the Permanent Representative of Egypt to the UN in 1990, he was the Foreign Minister of Egypt for 10 years until 2001, when he became Secretary-General of the League of Arab States. He continues to leave
Season 7 begins March 5
A new season of What I Did Next begins March 5. I’ll be welcoming a new guest from our region every other Tuesday, and we’ll take a deep-dive into their lives’ pivotal moments. We’ll cross-cross the region and cut across a variety of industries to bring you conversations of success, failure, and everything in-between. This season, I’ll be talking to pioneers from the worlds of art, fashio
