What I Did Next

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 largest luxury online marketplace, Ounass. He also served as Senior Vice President of Omnichannel at Al Tayer Group, where he worked for 12 years before launching his startup, Grubtech.Moe has a great professional story, and a very moving personal story that shapes his outlook today. He shares how much he has changed from the guy starting out 30 years ago in the US, and what failing early in life has taught him.On our bonus episode for members next week, Mohamed tells me about his early years, and how Ounass was launched out of Al Tayer Group.This episode is brought to you by:EFG Holding, a trailblazing financial institution with a Universal Bank in Egypt and the leading investment bank in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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 things news with Becky. We talk about the industry as a whole, her pivot to broadcasting, and her mission to change the perception of this region through her work.On this members’ bonus episode next week, we’ll talk about her role as Managing Editor and how our region fits into the larger CNN programming agenda worldwide. This episode is brought to you by:EFG Holding, a trailblazing financial institution with a Universal Bank in Egypt and the leading investment bank in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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 with Dr. Mounir was special for a number of reasons—he is a family friend, I’ve long-admired his philosophy on life and how he sees the world, and he has all the characteristics of what is fast becoming a bygone era. He is a romantic, a dreamer, a deep thinker, choosing the slower measured approach over today's fast and frenetic pace. He has been on my podcast wish list since the show's inception but he kept resisting my requests to come on and share his story...until now. This episode is brought to you by:EFG Holding, a trailblazing financial institution with a Universal Bank in Egypt and the leading investment bank in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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 career but who she married and where she lives today.Like a true marketer, Malak is very much a people-person, a team builder, and a team player. She’s also an optimist. She truly embodies the traits I find is most successful people. Malak also leads Visa’s Women Leadership Network for MENA, and is the winner of several market leadership awards including four MENA Effies’ awards and 2 Media Efficiency awards.This episode is brought to you by:EFG Holding, a trailblazing financial institution with a Universal Bank in Egypt and the leading investment bank in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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 luxury fashion world, with displays at Harvey Nichols, Saks Fifth Avenue, and Boutique 1. Today, he runs Authenticite, a consulting and creative production agency connecting creators and brands who want to understand Saudi culture. He also continues developing content with his editorial pieces showcasing Saudi artists on his website, and through his podcast, Gems of Arabia. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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 colour is unsurpassed. Janan and I have known each other a long time, we even attended the same high school in Jeddah. As a friend, Janan is fun and mischievous. As a guest, she comes across as passionate, eager to tell her story and driven to make her mark through art.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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 an impact today as an elected member of the Panel of the Wise, a critical pillar of the Peace and Security Architecture of the African Union, and as Chairman of the High-Level Advisory Council to the High Representative for the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations or UNAOC.This episode was brought to you by EFG Holding, a trailblazing financial institution with a Universal Bank in Egypt and the leading investment bank in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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, fashion, business, politics, sustainability, broadcasting and tech. Make sure to hit the follow button so you’ll get an alert for new episodes. You can also subscribe to become a member of the show to get bonus episodes with each guest and all of our previous bonus content as well. Subscribe in Apple Podcasts or visit our website for more.You can also find extended clips from all our episodes on YouTube, and connect with us on Instagram, X and on LinkedIn—just search for What I Did Next. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We’re currently on a season break and will be back with new episodes in March. In the meantime, I wanted to share my conversation legendary ad-man, Tarek Nour. Tarek told me about the trials and tribulations of the advertising world, and how he continued to adapt to the constantly changing industry. Today Tarek is semi-retired, active in some aspects of his business but also able to take a bird’s eye view of the industry, his life and Egypt. Don’t forget to follow us on Instagram, X or on LinkedIn for updates, and you can also find longer video clips from my interviews on YouTube. We’ll be back with new episodes in a couple of weeks! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We’re currently on a season break and will be back with new episodes in March. In the meantime, I wanted to share my conversation with soprano sensation Fatma Said. Fatma talked to me about her incredible achievements, burning out and a lot more. You can find her album, El Nour on various streaming platforms here. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices