WIDN with Malak Fouad

Hazem Barakat Oct 13, 2026 1781 Hazem Barakat, co-founder and Chairman of B Investments, joins me on the show to talk about the personal turning points that shape how he leads and lives, and the realities of private equity in Egypt. On Part 1, we talk about moving to the US at 16, returning to work with his father in the family firm and the importance of ethics and hard work.On Part 2 coming up next week, we’ll dive int

Encore: Hala Gorani Oct 6, 2026 2382 Award-winning anchor, journalist and author Hala Gorani returns to the show to talk about returning to field reporting and the future of journalism & independent media. Hala also catches me up on what she’s been up to since I first spoke to her in 2023, right after she had finished writing her book But You Don’t Look Arab.This episode is part of Encore, where I check-in with your favo

Suzanne Zeidy & Rawah Badrawi on their life’s pivots Sep 22, 2026 1785 We’re continuing my conversation with Suzanne Zeidy and Rawah Badrawi, he co-authors of a new book Egypt: Recipes and Stories from an Ancient Land.On this episode, Suzanne and Rawah tell me about their life’s pivots, marriage, children and friendship. We also talk about being the sandwich generation, and whether we can really have it all.This episode is brought to you by:EFG Hermes One: y

Suzanne Zeidy & Rawah Badrawi Sep 15, 2026 1561 I’m joined today by Suzanne Zeidy and Rawah Badrawi, the co-authors of a new book Egypt: Recipes and Stories from an Ancient Land, which is part travelogue and part culinary journey. They also happen to be two of my closest friends!On Part 1 of our conversation, Suzanne and Rawah tell me how they came together to write this incredible book, and how they peeled away the fears and uncertain

Looking back, looking forward Aug 25, 2026 1199 This week, I'm sitting down with my producer Chirag Desai to reflect on a whirlwind first half of the year—from interviewing iconic figures and taking the show international to the importance of reclaiming our narrative. We talk about what drives the show, the magic of the MENA region, and what it truly means to create space for our own stories.This episode is brought to you by:EFG Hermes

Karim Mekhtigian & Mohamed Fares on building a brand that became a movement Aug 18, 2026 1732 This week, we're continuing the conversation with Karim Mekhtigian and Mohamed Fares, where they tell me about their design philosophy, and their new destination in Downtown Cairo, Tamara Haus, which is where we recorded the episode.Karim & Fares, alongside Emy Hussein, are the visionary architects behind Cairo's premier design firm, Alchemy Architecture. Together, they have spent yea

Karim Mekhtigian & Mohamed Fares Aug 11, 2026 1956 This week, I’m sitting down with Karim Mekhtigian and Mohamed Fares, two of the visionary architects behind Cairo’s premier design firm, Alchemy alongside Emy Hussein. Together, they have spent years shaping the architectural landscape in Egypt, setting new standards of quality, style and craftsmanship.In the first of two episodes, we talk about how they each came to architecture and desi

Encore: Ramy Adeeb Jul 28, 2026 2701 Ramy Adeeb, founder & managing partner of 1984 Ventures, is back for an Encore episode to talk about what he’s been upto since 2023. He talks about why he’s excited about AI in legacy sectors but worried about unemployment. He also takes on our signature lightning round.This episode is part of Encore, where I check-in with some of your favourite WIDN alumni. We’ll continue this segmen

Dina H. Sherif on entrepreneurship as a national competitiveness strategy Jul 21, 2026 1793 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 Jul 14, 2026 2213 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) Jun 30, 2026 2228 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 Jun 24, 2026 2430 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 Jun 16, 2026 1217 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 Jun 9, 2026 2311 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 May 26, 2026 1666 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 May 20, 2026 1960 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 Apr 21, 2026 2457 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 Apr 14, 2026 1245 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 Apr 7, 2026 2475 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 Mar 31, 2026 1095 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 Mar 24, 2026 2282 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 Mar 13, 2026 1540 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 Feb 14, 2026 1961 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 Feb 10, 2026 2014 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 Feb 3, 2026 2702 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 Jan 27, 2026 1715 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 Jan 20, 2026 1604 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 Jan 13, 2026 2233 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! Jan 9, 2026 129 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 Dec 23, 2025 2215 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 Dec 16, 2025 551 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 Dec 9, 2025 2171 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 Dec 2, 2025 2042 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 Nov 18, 2025 1764 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 Nov 11, 2025 2614 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 Nov 4, 2025 2129 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! Oct 21, 2025 2755 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 Oct 14, 2025 1383 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 Oct 7, 2025 2256 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 Sep 23, 2025 2013 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 Sep 16, 2025 1739 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 Sep 9, 2025 2357 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 Sep 2, 2025 1042 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 Aug 19, 2025 147 Today I’m sharing the answer to another question I’m asked quite often: “how do you prepare for your interviews?”

Omar El Akkad Aug 5, 2025 2487 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 Jul 29, 2025 1797 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 Jul 22, 2025 301 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 Jul 15, 2025 1514 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 Jul 8, 2025 2373 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… Jul 1, 2025 1818 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’ Jun 24, 2025 214 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 Jun 10, 2025 1936 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) Jun 4, 2025 1879 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 May 27, 2025 1161 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 May 13, 2025 465 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 May 6, 2025 2676 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 Apr 29, 2025 1303 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 Apr 15, 2025 945 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 Apr 8, 2025 2049 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 Apr 1, 2025 2513 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 Mar 18, 2025 4449 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 Mar 11, 2025 854 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 Mar 4, 2025 2475 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’ Feb 11, 2025 1238 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 Feb 4, 2025 2441 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 Jan 14, 2025 2287 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 Jan 7, 2025 2276 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 Jan 4, 2025 327 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 Dec 17, 2024 1739 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 Dec 3, 2024 2005 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 Nov 19, 2024 1881 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 Nov 5, 2024 2566 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 Oct 22, 2024 2381 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 Oct 8, 2024 2191 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 Sep 24, 2024 1860 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 Sep 21, 2024 95 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) Aug 20, 2024 2624 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 Aug 6, 2024 2345 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 Jul 2, 2024 2794 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

Bonus: Ghada Amer on her artistic process Jun 18, 2024 848 We’re continuing my conversation with multidisciplinary artist Ghada Amer. On this bonus episode, Ghada tells me about her artistic process, and what’s in her creative inbox. This episode is brought to you by EFG Hermes One, your one app for investing in more than 35 stock markets. Start investing today!

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