What I Did Next

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 Berlin6:48 First Steps in Deutsche Bank9:23 A detour to Dubai11:29 Moving into Private Equity17:46 Building Vortex Energy24:01 Egypt’s renewables potential26:56 Investing in education35:00 Lightning RoundMusic ID: 5ROQ12DERYHSUUVQ

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 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

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’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!

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!

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!

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!