What I Did Next

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154

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Aug 2026

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About the show

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!

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August 25, 2026Episode 13119 min

Looking back, looking forward

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 One: your one app for investing in more than 35 stock markets. Start investing today ! Azza Fahmy Jewellery Chapters: 0:00 Coming up... 1:44 WIDN goes international 4:30 Reclaiming our narrative 13:25 An updated lightning round 18:12 What's next for Malak Music ID: 5ROQ12DERYHSUUVQ

August 18, 2026Episode 13028 min

Karim Mekhtigian & Mohamed Fares on building a brand that became a movement

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 years shaping the architectural landscape in Egypt, setting new standards of quality, style and craftsmanship. On our previous episode, we talked about how they joined forces to create a partnership that spans two decades. This episode is brought to you by EFG Hermes One , your one app for investing in more than 35 stock markets. Start investing today ! (00:00) - Coming up (03:43) - Local aesthetics, global influence (14:57) - Building the Alchemy ecosystem (18:00) - Tamara Haus Music ID: 5ROQ12DERYHSUUVQ

August 11, 2026Episode 12932 min

Karim Mekhtigian & Mohamed Fares

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 design, and then joined forces to create a partnership that spans two decades. On part two next week, Karim & Fares tell me about their design philosophy, and how they built a brand that became a movement. Our conversation took place at Tamara Haus , a new destination by Alchemy Experience, in the heart of Downtown Cairo. This episode is brought to you by EFG Hermes One , your one app for investing in more than 35 stock markets. Start investing today ! (00:00) - On this episode (01:41) - Karim’s cosmopolitan childhood (03:46) - Fares’ sporting upbringing (12:01) - Meeting of minds (17:14) - Drawing by hand vs AI (22:34) - Building Alchemy (27:38) - Lightning Round Music ID: 5ROQ12DERYHSUUVQ

July 28, 2026Episode 12845 min

Encore: Ramy Adeeb

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 segment with more of the show’s alumni, so stay tuned. (00:00) - Coming up... (08:10) - Who captures value? (15:47) - AI, wars and regulation (27:15) - Guiding the Next Generation (30:26) - Small companies taking on Big Tech (34:38) - Ramy's mentor (40:49) - Lightning Round

July 21, 2026Episode 12729 min

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 be back next week with an Encore episode with founder of 1984 Ventures, Ramy Adeeb on everything he’s been up to since 2023. This episode is brought to you by: EFG Hermes One: your one app for investing in more than 35 stock markets. Start investing today ! Azza Fahmy Jewellery On the episode, Malak is wearing Azza Fahmy’s Lotus Choker , Lotus Bouquet Cuff , Love Tribal Ring and the Lotus Bouquet Earrings . Dina is wearing Nizar Qabbani Necklace , Bouquet of Blessings Earrings and the Filigree Kaf Ring . (00:00) - Coming up (01:16) - From aid to agency (11:17) - The importance of entrepreneurship (14:35) - The sovereignty question of AI (23:08) - The Case for Regional Unity Music ID: 5ROQ12DERYHSUUVQ

July 14, 2026Episode 12636 min

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 from aid to agency, AI and entrepreneurship as a national competitiveness strategy. This episode is brought to you by: EFG Hermes One: your one app for investing in more than 35 stock markets. Start investing today ! Azza Fahmy Jewellery On the episode, Malak is wearing Azza Fahmy’s Lotus Choker , Lotus Bouquet Cuff , Love Tribal Ring and the Lotus Bouquet Earrings . Dina is wearing Nizar Qabbani Necklace , Bouquet of Blessings Earrings and the Filigree Kaf Ring . (00:00) - Coming up (10:03) - Focus on growth markets (12:32) - Egypt’s entrepreneurial future (16:07) - Dina’s entrepreneurial journey (23:25) - Adult Bullying at Harvard (26:48) - Dealing with loss & illness (34:22) - The Lightning Round Music ID: 5ROQ12DERYHSUUVQ

June 30, 2026Episode 12537 min

‘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, MNT Halan) and Karima El-Hakim (Partner for Africa, Plug and Play Tech Center), and Head of Cloud Software and Services for Ericsson North Middle East, Amer Sakkijha. This panel was part of our partnership with The Shift by e&, powered by The Narrative Summit. The event was a prelude to the annual Narrative Summit's gathering in Soma Bay in October. Chapters: 0:06 Summit AI Introduction 3:30 Ahmed Alfi on investment criteria 7:40 Mounir Neamatalla Fintech meets AI 12:58 Amy Mowafi on creativity in the age of AI 22:55 Amer Sakkijha on the role of telecom in AI adoption 27:00 Karim El-Hakim on private sector success Music ID: 5ROQ12DERYHSUUVQ

June 24, 2026Episode 12440 min

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 to you by EFG Hermes One , your one app for investing in more than 35 stock markets. Start investing today ! I’ll be back with a new guest in a couple of weeks. But before that, we’ll be airing the panel discussion on how AI will continue to impact Egypt and the region that I moderated in May. The panel was part of The Shift by e&, organised by the fantastic team at The Narrative Summit. Chapters: 0:00 On this episode... 2:12 Hustling in Berlin 6:48 First Steps in Deutsche Bank 9:23 A detour to Dubai 11:29 Moving into Private Equity 17:46 Building Vortex Energy 24:01 Egypt’s renewables potential 26:56 Investing in education 35:00 Lightning Round Music ID: 5ROQ12DERYHSUUVQ

June 16, 2026Episode 12320 min

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 of production. You can also watch the first part of our conversation where we talk about his personal and professional pivots in your podcast app or our website . This episode is brought to you by EFG Hermes One , your one app for investing in more than 35 stock markets. Start investing today ! (00:00) - Coming up... (05:06) - War and energy security (09:30) - Crisis management (12:27) - Building impact (14:16) - Can we integrate the Middle East (15:43) - Podcasting on faith and finance Music ID: 5ROQ12DERYHSUUVQ

June 9, 2026Episode 12238 min

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 about his personal and professional pivots that brought him to where he is today, and the impact of the recent war on the UAE in particular. We’ll continue the conversation next week on Part 2, where we talk about the oil & gas sector specifically, and how companies like ADNOC handle crisis management in times like these. This episode is brought to you by EFG Hermes One , your one app for investing in more than 35 stock markets. Start investing today ! (00:00) - Coming up (09:00) - Unity and resilience (14:51) - Getting married at twenty (19:15) - From finance to the startup world (21:30) - The importance of saying ‘yes’ (24:58) - No more FOMO (30:25) - The Lightning Round Music ID: 5ROQ12DERYHSUUVQ