What I Did Next

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

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

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 Introduction3:30 Ahmed Alfi on investment criteria 7:40 Mounir Neamatalla Fintech meets AI12:58 Amy Mowafi on creativity in the age of AI22:55 Amer Sakkijha on the role of telecom in AI adoption27:00 Karim El-Hakim on private sector successMusic ID: 5ROQ12DERYHSUUVQ

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

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 you by:EFG Hermes One: your one app for investing in more than 35 stock markets. Start investing today!Azza Fahmy JewelleryOn this episode, Nabila is wearing Azza Fahmy’s:Lotus Bouquet EarringsBlossom Lotus RingWinged Scarab CuffMalak is wearing Azza Fahmy’s:T-Lock Love NecklaceGold Floral Tribal EarringsGold Roman Chain BangleMusic ID: 5ROQ12DERYHSUUVQ

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 talk about her curatorial work, in particular her focus on transnational and transcultural approaches to art history and the importance of better institutional support for parents. On Part 2 of our conversation coming out next week, Nabila and I talk about the evolution of the museum-artist dynamic and drill down into something that is especially interesting to me—the idea of repatriating art to its country of origin.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 JewelleryOn this episode, Nabila is wearing Azza Fahmy’s:Lotus Bouquet EarringsBlossom Lotus RingWinged Scarab CuffMalak is wearing Azza Fahmy’s:T-Lock Love NecklaceGold Floral Tribal EarringsGold Roman Chain BangleChapters:0:00 Coming up11:17 Her pivot into the art world14:28 Being an only child17:39 Institutional support for motherhood21:09 What’s next for Nabila at the Tate27:30 The Lightning Round

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 ongoing war in the Middle East. More on that in Part 2 which comes out next week. Watch Tim's talk at Intelligence Squared.Chapters:0:00 Coming up...4:12 All the world‘s a stage11:54 From the Royal Air Force to Sky News correspondnt28:10 Reassessing after danger 32:42 Tim‘s writing process37:46 The Lightning RoundThis episode is brought to you by EFG Hermes One, your one app for investing in more than 35 stock markets worldwide. Start investing today! 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’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 203014:14 Supporting youth through arts16:13 Expanding Mentor Arabia 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

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 week.I’m really impressed with Thuraya’s work, and I was happy to sit down and get a real in-depth look at her personal journey, including losing her father last year, and her work to mentor the youth of our region.Chapters0:00 Coming up...7:36 Career Beginnings at UNDP 13:53 Love for youth development18:40 Transition to Mentor Arabia21:52 Personal loss29:00 Lightning Round 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 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 brought to you by Azza Fahmy Jewellery⁠ 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'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. Chapters0:00 Welcome to a new Encore0:44 Growth of Saudi cinema2:50 Challenges in Egyptian cinema8:00 The impact of streaming23:34 The Lightning Round

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 with nature and our experience as humans.Chapters 0:00 Coming up 0:35 The masters of modern architecture 10:43 The essence of traditional art 13:02 The shift to individualism 19:20 The significance of courtyards 20:31 The importance of brick 27:16 Timeless Truths 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

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 studied and worked under his mentor, Hassan Fathy, an architecture legend in his own right.Chapters:0:00 Coming up10:42 Architecture's Purpose19:10 Materialism vs Spirituality23:21 Cultural Revolution26:34 Designing for the Oxford Centre for Islamic Studies37:58 Reviving Community Spaces41:40 Lightning Round 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

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 check-in with some of your favourite WIDN alumni. We’ll continue this segment with more of the show’s alumni next month, so stay tuned.Chapters 0:00 Coming up... 2:03 Bobby's dream project 4:00 Sustainable seafood 10:11 Crying on TV 15:21 Climate Change and Food Systems 24:43 Lightning Round

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...2:30 Travel in a post-COVID world5:56 The Impact of Social Media7:22 The role of Airbnb9:03 Life as a Travel Journalist11:47 The evolution of luxury travel16:37 Travel in the age of AI 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

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 living around the world. Maria has a sophisticated eye, an instinct for what travellers need and want, and we’ll her industry in a lot of depth on Part 2 next week, so stay tuned.Chapters:0:00 Coming up3:53 Early Career in Magazines14:56 Moving to Europe21:37 Life in Singapore25:22 Reflections on an itinerant life 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

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 changing world around us.Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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 been actively involved in EFG Holding’s transformation from a MENA-based investment bank to its current avatar—a leading financial institution with a universal bank in Egypt and a leading investment bank in MENA. We’ll be back in the New Year with a bit of a refresh, new episodes with some amazing guests from across the region. In the meantime, you can catch up on episodes you might have missed here: Chapters 0:00 Coming up... 2:54 EFG Holding’s transformation 3:53 Regional strategy and global footprint 10:00 Lessons learnt from acquisitions 17:34 Leadership and fostering talent 23:04 Investor relations 25:51 ‘Resilience is not a choice’ 29:21 The Lightning Round This episode is brought to you by EFG Hermes One, your one app for investing in more than 35 stock markets. Start investing today!

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 impact of geopolitical factors  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'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 in 2021 with Ahmed Mohsen.Mounir is an old friend and I've always known him to be incredible disciplined and routine-based. So I wasn't surprised to see this translate into his role as a founder and CEO. He tells me how he pivoted to technology and fintech, and how he's grown as a leader as well.Chapters0:00 Coming up...1:59 Early Influences and Education9:46 Mentorship and Guidance17:00 Embracing Technology20:12 From micromanager to delegator29:03 Personal Goals and Values30:50 Well-being and Self-Care32:52 The Lightning Round 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'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 WIDN alumni. We’ll continue this segment with more of the show’s alumni, including Chef Bobby Chinn, film producer Mo Hefzy, and more. Chapters0:00 Coming up...7:24 Driving Transformation in Healthcare15:26 Expanding into the U.S. Market17:12 Innovations in the Middle East19:58 Personal Achievements and Reflections27:13 Lightning Round!

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 Changing World19:55 Karima’s work with Plug and Play26:48 Addressing the Forum for President Macron 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’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 technology and the investment world.Coming up next week on part 2, Karima tells me about her work with the private sector in Egypt and across Africa, as well as her role serving on the Economic Committee of Egypt’s National Council for women.Chapters0:00 Coming up…2:00 Early years in Cairo9:24 Getting into market research16:09 Return to Egypt19:06 Personal loss & navigating grief23:38 The impact of B_URN29:17 The transition to tech33:25 Life outside of work40:42 Lightning Round! This episode is brought to you by EFG Hermes One, your one app for investing in more than 35 stock markets. Start investing today!

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 involved with the Foundatoin right from its launch in 2006. She has also been recognised by Forbes Middle East as one the region’s Top Sustainability Leaders in both 2024 and 2025. This episode is brought to you by EFG Hermes One, your one app for investing in more than 35 stock markets. Start investing today!

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 EFG Hermes One, your one app for investing in more than 35 stock markets. Start investing today!

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 What I Did Next just completed 100 episodes! Next week, I’m sitting down with our producer Chirag Desai to celebrate this milestone and unpack some of the learnings. Chapters 0:00 Introduction 4:03 Meeting Dr. Galal Amin @AUC 9:23 The Family Business Unfolds 14:32 Fakhreddin Restaurant Legacy 19:26 Football! 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’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 Irons and Liam Cunningham and will be premiering in London later this month.Chapters0:00 Introduction5:41 Family Legacy and Early Life14:10 Palestine, Memories of 194821:24 Life After 5022:25 The making of Palestine 3633:11 Lightning Round This episode is brought to you by EFG Hermes One, your one app for investing in more than 35 stock markets. Start investing today!

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, actor Ramy Youssef on some of the implications for creators and filmmakers, Amazon’s Omar El Sahy talks about some of its practical applications and ad legend Tarek Nour asks some philosophical questions about our AI future.Chapters0:00 Coming up1:10 Tarek Nour: The age of acceleration7:18 Mo Gawdat: The scary-smart world of AI20:45 Mona Hamdy: What do we want AI to do?21:27 Ramy Youssef: The manipulation of soundbites23:59 Omar Elsahy: The future of the workforce

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 launch of iConnections Middle East.Chapters0:00 Where tech and humanity intersect5:51 Navigating AI's Future Responsibly9:23 Defining the Ethical Framework for Technology15:15 The Global Race for AI Resources20:07 The Bitcoins and Birkins Club27:25 Launching Middle East Operations This episode is brought to you by EFG Hermes One, your one app for investing in more than 35 stock markets. Start investing today!

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 dignity.Coming up next week on Part 2, I pick Mona’s brain on some of my questions on the future world of AI: have we unleashed something we don’t really understand? How does the emerging world prioritise its technology adoption? Links:iConnections AiXplainChapters0:00 Introduction4:37 Childhood Experiences in Egypt11:07 Philosophical Foundations of Technology17:26 Early Career and Social Development24:33 Balancing Family and Education29:00 Her mother’s impact 37:56 The Future of AI and Its ImplicationsLearn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices This episode is brought to you by EFG Hermes One, your one app for investing in more than 35 stock markets. Start investing today!

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 between some of our best conversations.When I spoke to Fares in late 2023, he had just come back from visiting the Za’atari Refugee Camp, where Meta has established a digital literacy program.And while Professor Yacoub already had a distinguished career as a cardiothoracic surgeon, he’s leaving behind an even bigger legacy through his charity, Chain of Hope, building long-term impact on the lives of the children in developing communities.Chapters0:00 The theme of ‘Giving Back’ to the Community0:50 Fares Akkad’s work with Za’atari Refugee Camp5:03 Sir Magdi Yacoub’s legacy with Chain of Hope8:24 Establishing Sustainable Hospitals12:54 Community-Centric Healthcare13:46 Rwanda: A New Hope

Today I’m sharing the answer to another question I’m asked quite often: “how do you prepare for your interviews?”

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 his own questions of identity as a result of his experiences as an Arab writer in the West. Our conversation was powerful, intense and thought-provoking. Chapters:0:00 Introduction to Omar El Akkad02:10 Exploring identity and belonging18:15 What opened Omar’s eyes to this?24:20 The power of language and of social media31:35 The role of individuals to effect change36:15 The Lightning Round This episode is brought to you by EFG Hermes One, your one app for investing in more than 35 stock markets. Start investing today!

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 and Nadine Kanso, and entrepreneur Ahmed Alfi in your podcast apps, or on our website.I’ll be back with a new guest next week, see you then!

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.

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 roles.You can listen to Part 1 of our conversation here. This episode is brought to you by EFG Hermes One, your one app for investing in more than 35 stock markets. Start investing today!

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 for Prince Abbas Hilmi’s museum festival.  She has a powerful voice and an incredible presence on stage. Farrah is dedicated and disciplined as only a performance singer or athlete can be. We also spoke of the nuances of being an opera singer and the challenges and joys her career brings her. This episode is brought to you by EFG Hermes One, your one app for investing in more than 35 stock markets. Start investing today!

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 brought to you by EFG Hermes One, your one app for investing in more than 35 stock markets. Start investing today!

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 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 Ayman, and it weaves through the company’s heart and soul.Chapters0:24 Going to boarding school7:17 Family Values in Business12:43 The Reorganization of Tamer Group16:11 Taking charge of the business21:00 Involving the next generation23:15 Family dynamics28:57 Future plans This episode is brought to you by EFG Hermes One, your one app for investing in more than 35 stock markets. Start investing today!

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 broadcaster Bethany Hughes, multidisciplinary artist & deisner Louis Barthelemy, creative director Zach Sherif, and Maria Shollenbarger, travel editor at the Financial Times’ ‘How to Spend it’ magazine.From reclaiming our narrative beyond the pharaohs, to celebrating craftsmanship, beauty, and global collaborations — this panel was a powerful reminder that culture is not just heritage, it’s our future.

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. 

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 brought to you by EFG Hermes One, your one app for investing in more than 35 stock markets. Start investing today!

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 forum for discussion on all aspects of art. She is now working on a third book in a trilogy looking at Egyptian modern art and artists. She talks to me in great detail about the threads connecting art, politics, and her identity in shaping who she is today. On a bonus episode out next week, I talk to Fatenn about her work in documenting, codifying, and cataloging her research in art. She's contributed a chapter in the book Daughters of the Nile, authored Modern Art in Egypt, and is now working on a third book. You can find out all about this on the bonus episode, so stay tuned. Chapters: 0:00 On this episode… 2:01 Childhood Experiences Abroad 5:21 Cultural Identity and Challenges 7:29 Transition to Marketing Career 10:36 Journey with Procter & Gamble 13:17 Moving Back to Cairo 18:11 Ahram Beverages 21:56 The Ahram Beverages Success Story 24:08 Personal Life and Marriage 28:34 The Role of Art 29:38 Founding Art Talks 35:50 Focus on Modern Egyptian Art 39:01 Lightening Round This episode is brought to you by EFG Hermes One, your one app for investing in more than 35 stock markets. Start investing today!

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 with some of your favourite alumni guests. We’ll continue this series each month with more of the show’s alumni, so stay tuned. And if you haven’t already done so, you can also listen to my Encore conversations with Omar Samra, Nada Debs and Ahmed Alfi.

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 ad director to filmmaker in your podcast app. 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’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 Ad in his portfolio. The ads he’s worked on have won more than 50 awards, including 5 Grand Prix.In 2023, he switched gears to release his directorial debut, Voy! Voy! Voy!, which went on to win 16 awards globally and was Egypt’s official selection to the Oscars.Listen in as he tells me about his life’s twists and turns from ad-man to film director and everything in between. This episode is brought to you by EFG Hermes One, your one app for investing in more than 35 stock markets. Start investing today!

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 this journey as well as her involvement with The Narrative Summit. The theme for the 2025 edition of The Narrative Summit is Egypt reset – to redefine Egypt’s global standing by showcasing its economic resilience, investment potential and cultural dynamism. The summit will focus on three key pillars—Financial accessibility, Tourism and hospitality, and the sports ecosystem. The Narrative summit will take place from April 7 to 9 against the breathtaking backdrop of Somabay on the Red Sea coast. You can follow me on Instagram for coverage from the event, and I’ll also be moderating a panel on the 8th of April.I’ll be back with a new guest next week, see you then!

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 Arab News’ Editor-in-Chief Faisal Abbas.This was a great conversation about breaking stereotypes, how Arab voices are represented, and the importance of re-shaping and owning our narrative on the world stage. I hope you find the conversation as insightful as I did.

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 brought to you by EFG Hermes One, your one app for investing in more than 35 stock markets. Start investing today!