What I Did Next

I'm joined on the show this week by Fares Akkad. Fares is currently Regional Director for Meta and has a long track record with the company formerly known as Facebook. Over the course of his career, Fares has had stints at KPMG, Booz Allen and media giant MBC, as well as going it alone as an entrepreneur. As a son of a Syrian diplomat, Fares grew up in South America and Europe, before moving to the US for university. We talk about how being exposed to so many different cultures has solidified his sense of self. We also dig into the future of technology, the metaverse, and where Meta sees itself in that equation. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mounaz and Aya Abdel Raouf are the sisters behind the global luxury brand, Okhtein. They have always had a love for fashion and accessories, and day-dreamed about working in the industry from when they were children. In 2014, they turned their fantasy into a reality, launching Okhtein. Since then, they’ve had celebrities like Beyoncé, Emma Watson, Cardi B and Gigi Hadid photographed with their accessories. Their brother, Mohamed Abdel Raouf, joined the company as CEO in 2018.Today, Okhtein continues to expand its retail footprint, widening their distribution network to new markets, and exploring new product ranges, including a collaboration with Balmain which was unveiled during Paris Fashion Week in October last year. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ramy started out as a stand-up comedian, and is the star of 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 other big wigs of the industry.I binged watched all 3 seasons of Ramy and am so happy we are finally seeing a show that potrays the Arab immigrant experience as more than a 2D cliché. The show is part comedy, part drama and part spiritual quest, raising questions and making you keel over laughing at the same time. As writer, actor, director and producer of the show, Ramy brings nuance and subtlety to what are, on the surface, extremely difficult issues to broach on US TV and he does so with the one tool that always breaks down prejudices—humour.We talk about growing up in New Jersey, the show, and whether his life has changed before and after the show's global success.This episode is brought to you by EFG Hermes One: Your one-stop gateway to investment Egypt Fashion Week, May 12-15, 2023: The past, present & future Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This season we've partnered with the Egypt Fashion & Design Council, which is launching the first edition of Egypt Fashion Week from May 12 to May 15. I’m joined on this bonus episode by two of the Council’s co-founders, Paul Antaki & Susan Sabet. We talk about the mission behind the EFDC and what they’re hoping to achieve with the first Egypt Fashion Week.You can find out more on their website, and also follow Egypt Fashion Week on Instagram and on TikTok. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Omniya is an architect and a specialist in cultural heritage conservation, working between Cairo and London. She has worked on some landmark projects in the region, and now divides her time between the Egyptian Heritage Rescue Foundation (EHRF) in Cairo and the Victoria and Albert Museum (V&A) in London. Omniya was also one of four co-curators of the Islamic Art Biennale in Jeddah. Omniya talks about the effort that goes into maintaining our historical sites, including raising funds from across the region’s benefactors and institutions. My conversation with Omniya is a reminder that cultural heritage is as important to a nation’s foundation and economy as tangible industries like manufacturing or oil.As always, we'll have a bonus episode with a few more details about her projects and what's in her cultural inbox. That'll be out for members next week. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

I'm joined on this episode by Ali Shihabi. Ali is a businessman, an investor, a scholar, a writer, and a pundit. A few years ago, Ali left the management of his company, Rasmala Investment Bank, to focus on his passion for writing and commentary. Ali has published two books — Arabian War Games and The Saudi Kingdom — and also writes for outlets like The New York Times, The Atlantic and Foreign Policy.We dig into his life's pivots, from being at the center of one of the biggest reshuffles in the Saudi banking sector, to becoming an entrepreneur, and how he views the region against the world at large.We'll have a bonus episode with Ali for our members out next week. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Welcome to Season 6!We're kicking off with a powerhouse broadcaster and journalist, Hala Gorani. Over a career spanning 25 years, Hala has covered natural disasters, wars, elections and interview key global leaders. Last year, Hala took a sabbatical from CNN and is currently working on her first book—a memoir that explores the subject of identity—which will be out in Spring 2024.We dig into her life’s pivotal moments, growing up in the US and France, how and why she chose to become a journalist, and how she’s working to better understand her multicultural identity in a increasingly complex world.LinksVogue Arabia: Ex-CNN News Anchor Hala Gorani on Taking a Sabbatical Year, and Why the Risk Has Been More Than Worth It Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What I Did Next is back with a new season beginning March 6.On the show, we delve into people’s life journeys from the point of view of twists and turns, shifts and pivots. We’ve all had these moments in our lives that make us stop in our tracks, and course correct. Often we realize the importance of these moments only with hindsight, and this is what forms the underlying current of What I Did Next.We’ll also have a bonus episode with each guest exclusively for our members. You can subscribe on our website with a free trial, as well as on Apple Podcasts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

I hope you’ve enjoyed listening to Season 4 of What I Did Next! It’s been an incredible season and we want to thank each of you for listening in and sending in your feedback and reviews.As always, we end the season with our wrap-up episode where I’m joined by our producer Chirag Desai to chat about some highlights from the season, and a special interview with Magued Sherif, Managing Director at our season partner, SODIC.We’ll be back with new episodes in early March. Until then, follow us on Instagram, Twitter and LinkedIn for updates, video clips of our guests and more. You can also catch all our bonus episodes from the season by becoming a member in Apple Podcasts. You’ll also get early access to episodes when our new season begins!This episode is brought to you by: Sodic, celebrating 25 years of creating timeless places EFG Hermes One, your one-stop gateway to investment Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On our final episode of the season, I’m joined by a powerhouse business woman and role model, Neveen El Tahri. Neveen is the first woman to sit on the board of both the Egyptian Stock Exchange and the Egyptian Financial Supervisory Authority. More recently, she’s been associated with the world of entrepreneurship. As Chairperson of Delta Shield, Neveen is enhancing growth and employment with a focus on youth, entrepreneurship & SME activities. Our conversation though did not just focus on her career; we chatted about marriage, religion and health.We also have more from Neveen in a bonus episode exclusively for our members coming out next week. You can subscribe in Apple Podcasts to get this bonus episode, and early access to future episodes of the season as well!This episode is brought to you by: Sodic, celebrating 25 years of creating timeless places Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices