Eslam Mostafa is the founder and CEO of MasterFit and Diesel Gyms. He’s an ex footballer, having played in his youth for Al Ahly Sporting Club. 

He talks about:

🟦 How his football career was derailed due to coaching injustice

🟦 How we should embrace and deal with regret

🟦 What it takes to succeed in the gyms industry

🟦 What being an entrepreneur really means

🟦 How our upbringing can either hold us back or drive us forward

(00:00) Intro

(01:08) His Football Experience & History

(06:16) The Al Ahly Football Incident

(13:13) Regrets on Leaving Football

(16:35) Motivation Behind Entrepreneurship 

(18:23) Why Not Continue The Family Business?

(19:23) How Did You Start The Gym Business?

(26:28) The Closure of The Gyms Business

(35:57) How MasterFit Come To Life

(45:20) Affordability of Building a Home Gym

(46:18) Costs of Opening a Gym

(47:15) Gym Economics

(52:15) In Memory of his Father

(52:34) His Dream

(54:18) Fears

(55:00) Closing

If you’re a gym enthusiast or an aspiring entrepreneur, then this one is for you.

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–

Where to find Eslam

Instagram⁠ | Company

For more from on:becoming

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⁠Watch on YouTube⁠

Nada Zaher is the founder and CEO of GRID, Egypt’s hottest company right now in athlete and sports management. She’s an athlete herself having played tennis from a young age and pursued it further in Columbia University where she was a leading figure on the captain of the team. Along with her passion for sports, she’s an integral part of the entrepreneurship ecosystem in Egypt, co-creating the Egypt Entrepreneur Awards a few years back. She later joined Right to Dream and helped lead FC Masar while also supporting youth achieve their dreams of studying abroad and going pro. Now, she’s going all in on GRID.

She talks about:

🟦 What it takes to get into an Ivy League school

🟦 What really matters in athlete personal branding

🟦 How to land deals as an athlete

🟦 How an athlete can and should protect themselves and their rights

🟦 The struggles of operating in a greed-driven industry

🟦 How lonely being a CEO can be and how to overcome it

🟦 What Egypt and Egyptian athletes need to do to get gold

(00:00) Intro

(01:18) Her Start as an Entrepreneur

(03:49) Her Tennis and Athletic Experience

(06:47) What You Learn From Individual Sports

(10:40) The Loneliness of Being a CEO

(11:42) Social Media as an Advantage

(13:24) Pursuing an Ivy League Education (How She Got In)

(16:31) Her Coach’s Belief In Her and Her Impact

(20:13) Creating a Roster of Players

(21:17) Learnings from Columbia and NYC

(22:55) Do Athletes Have The Same Opportunities Today?

(24:18) The Change in the Mindset of Egyptian Athletes and their Parents

(26:10) The Bill Campbell Award

(28:39) The Power of Networks and Being in Corporate

(31:32) The Return to Egypt and Starting the First Startup

(35:26) Co-creating Egypt Entrepreneur Awards (EEA)

(38:46) Leaving Behind Guaranteed Success to Pursue Passion

(40:00) Biggest Impact Story with Right To Dream

(41:39) What Does GRID Mean?

(43:11) Why Build GRID?

(44:24) What Does GRID Do?

(47:19) Why Doesn’t Egypt Invest in Its Athletes?

(49:13) What is the Minimum Age for an Athlete to Find Representation?

(51:33) What are the Criteria for Being Represented and Getting Sponsored?

(52:34) Do You Invest in “Potential”?

(55:45) Building a Startup Founder Is Harder Second Time Around

(57:54) How Is a Sponsorship Deal Structured and Who Are the Stakeholders?

(01:04:09) Athletic Personal Branding Gap in Egypt

(01:05:06) Athletic Retirement and Post Career Planning

(01:08:18) The Dirty Industry

(01:10:36) Protecting Your Rights as an Athlete

(01:12:08) Advantages in a Male Dominated Industry

(01:13:36) Changes in Culture Norms for Athletes to Thrive

(01:16:06) How She Signed Her First 10 Athletes?

(01:17:52) Being an Athlete Founder

(01:20:49) The Dream

(01:23:44) Fears, Connections and Becoming

If you’re an athlete or an aspiring entrepreneur, then this one is for you.

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–

Where to find Nada

⁠LinkedIn⁠ | ⁠Instagram⁠ | Company

For more from on:becoming

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⁠Go behind the scenes on Substack⁠

⁠Watch on YouTube⁠

Kenzy Omar is as human as they come. She’s a woman who chooses to break out of the boxes society places her in and pushes back against the expectation to only move in the confines of those boxes. She’s a young woman who’s trying everything and finding herself in the process. She’s passionate about healthcare and loves creating value and bringing impact to every person she interacts with. She believes that her calling in life is to help people. And she navigates life with that as a living philosophy.

She talks about:

🟦 Identity and how people perceive themselves and others

🟦 How we confine ourselves to the labels other place on us

🟦 What it’s like being a medical student - the peaks and troughs

🟦 How we are all our Nth project, making our growth a priority

🟦 The contrast life and death does for us

🟦 How life is about the impact you leave, not needing to be remembered

(00:00) Intro

(01:52) Being Put in Boxes By Those Around Us

(04:42) How Being Put in a Box Feels Like

(08:29) Why Do People Hold Themselves Back

(10:28) Everyone Has a Different Timeline

(12:04) Viewing Life In Projects: Her Other Ventures

(13:53) Being A Founder

(15:21) Our Identity: How We Define Ourselves

(18:46) What The World Doesn’t See

(20:57) Her Medical Education Journey

(24:08) Not Being Allowed To Do More Than One Thing

(27:04) Not Conforming To Systems and Dogmas

(29:18) The Nth Project: Treating Yourself as a Project

(30:42) How To Balance Different Priorities

(33:24) Actions Over Words: Shipping Projects Before Talking About Them

(35:53) The Need for External Validation and the Spotlight

(38:19) The Evolution in Healthcare

(40:17) Blessings and Curses of Being a Founder

(42:21) Managing Attachments

(44:03) The Need for Infinite Time

(46:13) Paradoxes of Being Alone and Needing People

(47:43) Authenticity

(49:58) Our Impact: I Don’t Want to be Remembered

(52:28) Life and Death

(54:24) Connecting the Dots

(56:00) Dreams, Fears and Becoming

If you want to being inspired and enjoy deeply human conversations, then this one is for you.

Thanks for listening—please don't forget to follow!

–

Where to find Kenzy

⁠LinkedIn⁠ | ⁠Instagram⁠ | TikTok

For more from on:becoming

⁠Follow on Instagram⁠ 📷

⁠Stay up to date on ꚠ TikTok⁠

⁠Go behind the scenes on Substack⁠

⁠Watch on YouTube⁠

Aly is the founder and CEO of The Artificial Intelligence Company of Cairo (AICC), an applied AI lab building consumer and enterprise products for MENA. AICC's flagship product is Veeza, an AI agent that automates tourist visa applications end-to-end for Egyptians, currently in closed beta. Before AICC, Aly led product and AI at Efreshli, co-founded Dlvvr (a top-rated Shopify delivery app), and started his career as the first intern at Bitaccess (YC S14). He's a Carleton-trained electrical and telecom engineer and sits on the board of Abdel Rahim Koueider, his family's dessert brand established in 1930.

He explains:

🟦 Why Egypt and the Middle East need their own sovereign AI and what it takes to build one

🟦 How Egypt dominated a few industries and was decades ahead of the west

🟦 The differences between AI applied labs and research labs

🟦 The hardships of being a founder regardless of geography

🟦 Where he sees AI in the next 2-5 years

🟦 The shift of weights of ideas, execution and distribution since the introduction of AI

🟦 The mistake the VC and technology industry has made over the past few years

(00:00) Intro

(01:27) Who is Aly Moursy

(03:49) Innovation in Egypt and the Middle East

(07:09) The Family Heritage

(10:25) Moving from Atoms to Bits—Known to Unknown

(12:00) Obsession and the 10,000 Hours Rule

(17:07) You Have to Start Whatever the Situation

(17:44) The Decision to Move to Canada

(19:54) Fighting Google’s Global Dominance and Driving Local

(26:55) Ideas and Distribution and What Really Matters Today

(31:37) Jevon’s Paradox: AI Will Create More Jobs, Not Less

(35:21) Surrounding Self With the Smartest People

(42:56) Egypt’s Delivery Dominance & Replicating the Model in Canada

(50:32) Building A Generational Company

(52:59) What Everyone Should Know About AI

(56:47) What is an AI Agent?

(59:46) The Big Vision Behind Building an AI company in Egypt

(01:04:22) Difference Between AI Labs and Applied AI Labs

(01:07:38) Why Build In Egypt vs UAE or KSA

(01:09:39) Building Sovereign AI for Egypt and the Middle East

(01:12:41) Fears of AI

(01:15:08) AI in the Next 5 Years

(01:21:02) Reflections on being a Startup Founder

(01:24:04) Closing

If you want to learn more about AI and how far we can go with it, and if you’re a founder and a builder, then this conversation is for you.

Thanks for listening—please don't forget to follow!

–

Where to find Aly

⁠LinkedIn⁠ | ⁠Instagram⁠ | ⁠Company Website⁠

For more from on:becoming

⁠Follow on Instagram⁠ 📷

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⁠Go behind the scenes on Substack⁠

⁠Watch on YouTube⁠

Omar Ghanem is a master storyteller. He’s the co-founder and CEO of Blue Planet Production, a storytelling media house, and a university academic. He’s been passionate about photography, videography and storytelling since a young age and has worked on all sorts of projects since.

He explains:

🟦 The difference between videographers and storytellers

🟦 What most filmmakers get wrong

🟦 What it takes to get started as a storyteller

🟦 The challenges you have to overcome to make it in production space in Egypt

🟦 How to create content that lasts beyond you

(00:00) Intro

(01:07) How to Tell a Story from One Single Frame

(04:01) The 3 Cameras: The Story of the 1st Camera

(06:59) National Geographic Passion & Scripted Content

(09:22) The 3 Cameras: The Story of the 2nd Camera

(11:50) Awards, Validation and Signs

(14:26) The Story Behind the Storyteller

(20:43) What is a Mini Documentary and Showcasing Emotions

(22:35) Difference Between Videographers and Storytellers

(25:58) Working for Free

(28:53) What is Storytelling and its Structure?

(30:12) The Favorite Story

(35:36) What Most Filmmakers Get Wrong

(39:13) Challenges in the Field of Media Production

(42:34) The 3 Cameras: Going Back to Analog

(46:20) AI Taking Over Videography

(49:00) Teaching as a Calling

(51:40) Staying 5 Years on 1 Project

(53:38) Your Content is Your Legacy

(56:48) Advice to New Storytellers

(58:57) Closing

If you're an aspiring filmmaker and storyteller; then this episode is for you.

Thanks for listening—please don't forget to follow!

—

Where to find Omar

⁠LinkedIn⁠ | ⁠Instagram⁠ | ⁠Company

For more from on:becoming

⁠Follow on Instagram⁠ 📷

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⁠Go behind the scenes on Substack⁠

⁠Watch on YouTube⁠

Ahmed Sultan is a born-to-be entrepreneur. He started young and failed a few until he found his big break: Airzone. He’s the co-founder of Airzone, a family entertainment business and also Rough Gear for Sportswear.

He explains:

🟦 What highly successful people have in common

🟦 What it takes to make it as an entrepreneur

🟦 The difference between entrepreneurs in the west and the east

🟦 Whether you should have a plan b or be all in

🟦 When to give up or to persist with ideas you believe in

(00:00) Intro

(01:01) A Passion for Entrepreneurship

(05:16 The First Failure & How Everything Started

(09:11 What is Airzone and Its Mission

(15:52 Follow Passion or Money?

(17:20 When to Kill a Project/Company?

(20:33 Going After Innovation Even When The World Disagrees

(25:10 The Mindset of Outliers

(31:02 Faith & Belief That Things Happen for a Reason

(34:09 Should You Have a Plan B or Burn The Ships?

(37:11) 3 Characteristics of Highly Successful People

(40:01) The East from the West, An Egyptian Silicon Valley

(44:56) Learnings from Failure

(49:34) A Reflection on Hard Moments

(54:14) Being All Hands On Deck in a Startup in the Early Days

(56:40) A Take on Money and Savings

(01:03:08) Closing

If you're an entrepreneur or if you’re passionate about an idea; then this episode is for you.

Thanks for listening—please don't forget to follow!

–

Where to find Yehia

⁠LinkedIn⁠ | ⁠Instagram⁠ | ⁠Company Website⁠

For more from on:becoming

⁠Follow on Instagram⁠ 📷

⁠Stay up to date on ꚠ TikTok⁠

⁠Go behind the scenes on Substack⁠

⁠Watch on YouTube⁠

Sandra William is an executive and life coach whose path to her calling took her through some of the world's most prestigious institutions and demanding environments. Saudi-raised and AUC-educated, Sandra built her early career on the belief that top-down change creates the greatest impact—a conviction that led her to consulting at Bain, with stints in Dubai and Los Angeles, where she worked 15-18 hour days before realising something was missing.

After a pivotal period at Columbia Business School, she discovered her true passion: empowering people professionally and personally. She went on to launch a successful mindfulness initiative at Bain before taking the leap to start her own coaching practice in 2024, DAO. Now based in Egypt, Sandra works with B2B SMEs, executives leading scaling businesses, and professionals navigating career transitions—delivering both one-on-one coaching and high-demand workshops that have quickly become her signature offering.

She explains:

🟦 What Are The 3 Core Triggers People Experience When Receiving Feedback

🟦 How to Give Feedback Without Triggering Others

🟦 How Failure Is Necessary to Grow and Become Better

🟦 If People Can Change - And If They Even Should

🟦 What Good Leadership Looks Like

🟦 How to Hire and Fire People Right

🟦 The Difference Between Being Kind and Being Nice

(00:00) Intro

(00:54) A Sense of Belonging and Being A Forever Expat

(04:27) Identity: How We Identify Ourselves

(09:23) The 3 Feedback Triggers

(15:37) How to Give Feedback Without Triggering Others

(20:46) What Makes a Great Manager

(25:00) Can Manager/People Change? And Should They?

(34:00) The Law of Attraction

(35:42) For the Love of Failure

(43:34) Difference Between Corporates and Startups

(48:01) The 3 Components of Hiring (Airplane Test)

(52:51) Hiring for Talent or Culture Fit?

(55:57) Can You (And Should You) Fire People?

(01:00:20) The Difference Between Kindness and Niceness

(01:02:36) Toxic People in Workplaces

(01:05:25) Psychological Safety and Fear of Quitting Bad Jobs

(01:07:32) How to Guarantee The Interview Despite Short Experiences on Your CV?

(01:09:47) Pain & Gain Model: How To Decide To Quit Your Job

(01:12:49) Gratitude

(01:15:13) Closing: Deepest Fears and Aspirations

If you're into everything leadership and growth; then this episode is for you.

Thanks for listening—please don't forget to follow!

–

Where to find Sandra

⁠LinkedIn⁠ | ⁠Instagram⁠ | ⁠Company Website⁠

For more from on:becoming

⁠Follow on Instagram⁠ 📷

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⁠Go behind the scenes on Substack⁠

⁠Watch on YouTube⁠

Yehia is the co-founder and CEO of INVIA. He started in investment banking, corporate finance, and private equity, but found his real passion in supporting small and medium-sized businesses. He’s the ex-CEO and also the co-founder of Beltone SME. Today, he’s building tools that help SMEs survive and grow in a challenging economy.

This is how Yehia describes himself, outside the common titles:

“If I’m not working, you’ll probably find me training, trying something new, or listening to music. I love discovering new artists — music helps me reset and gain perspective. I’m also into surfing and spending time outdoors. Growth is important to me, whether that means pushing my limits or simply becoming better each year.”

He explains:

🟦 Why the SME Market is Underserved and What They Need Today to Make It

🟦 What Revenue Based Financing Really Is

🟦 How He Overcame What The World Expected of Him

🟦 The Mindset of Being an Athlete and a Tennis Player

🟦 How To Embrace One’s Individuality and Be True To Yourself

(00:00) Intro

(01:26) The Human Behind the Title

(04:52) Impact for Small Businesses

(06:24) What is Revenue Based Finance

(09:19) SME Rights & Reality

(15:09) The Personal Why and Driver

(18:20) Retirement Plans

(19:31) Views on Philanthropy

(22:04) Being Oneself

(25:04) Being an Athlete and Tennis Player

(28:58) Reflection on being a CEO

(31:50) Fear + Fear of Failure

(36:03) Risk Appetite Between the East and the West

(37:41) Judgement and Overcoming Depression

(42:49) Perks of Running a Company

(44:17) The One Skill to Hire For

(45:19) Tech and Trends - The WHOOP Effect

(49:01) A Reflection on Life

(53:21) Deepest Fear

(55:30) The Dream & Becoming

If you're anything like me and you’re into personal discovery, becoming a better version of yourself, and you’re looking to better yourself; then this episode is for you.

Thanks for watching—please don't forget to follow!

–

Where to find Yehia

LinkedIn | Instagram | Company Website

For more from on:becoming

Follow on Instagram

Stay up to date on TikTok

Go behind the scenes on Substack

Watch on YouTube

Mostafa Hisham is a marketer and creative by trade, but that's not all that defines him. 10 years ago, together with a couple of friends, he started iVolunteer, an initiative to help people help people. He realised the effect helping others had on him and he wanted to help others feel it too. Ever since, his initiative engages over 4,000 volunteers every year and helps thousands across Egypt along the way.

He explains:

🟦 How volunteering helped him get over hard times in his life

🟦 How to build a low-commitment volunteering model that actually works

🟦 What volunteering adds to people

🟦 The misconceptions people have about volunteering and philanthropy

🟦 How and where to volunteer and donate

🟦 The dark side behind volunteering that no one sees

(00:00) Intro

(01:10) Background and Life Purpose

(06:06) How Community Work Started

(09:15) How Helping Others Helps Oneself

(12:33) Relationships in Volunteer Work

(14:32) Scale and Empathy to the World

(18:21) Showcasing Community Work

(20:46) Community Work & Feeling Safe

(26:11) How to Get into Community Work

(28:04) Volunteer Psychology

(29:40) Creating a Working Volunteering Model

(40:01) Philanthropy, Impact and Scale

(44:27) The Dark Side of Philanthropy 

(50:18) How to Decide Where to Donate

(52:41) The Boring Side of Volunteering

(54:32) The “Becoming” in Philanthropy

(59:22) Closing

If you're anything like me, if you've ever thought about the ins and outs of community work, then this episode is for you.

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Ahmed Samir is an engineer, entrepreneur, and business leader whose career has been defined by building ventures, navigating complex markets, and developing a strong voice on international trade and political affairs. Over time, his practical experience in business and strategy brought him beyond the boardroom and into the public conversation through broadcast and media platforms.

He explains:

🟦 How The Political Landscape Is Changing and Egypt's Role

🟦 Egypt's Contribution and Context During the Past Decade

🟦 How to Handle Imposter Syndrome

🟦 Being a TV Personality and Handling It Together With His Job

🟦 How Negative Things In Life Are Blessings In Disguise

(00:00) Intro

(02:56) Range and Human Differences

(05:47) Imposter Syndrome

(09:11) Judgement

(11:52) Going After Passion or Money

(17:42) Where Egypt Stands

(22:53) Measures of Success in Business and Life

(26:44) Bad Bosses

(33:00) Luck and Getting Into TV

(37:51) Trump Didn’t Leave the World Alone

(40:11) Success is the Perception of Others

(41:01) Where Egypt is Headed

(47:35) Ambitions and Aspirations

(50:36) Company Problems are Human Problems

(55:14) Ego, Its Role, and Its Consequences

(56:35) Fears and How to be Remembered

If you're anything like me, if you're into entrepreneurship and always wonder where the world is headed, then this episode is for you.

Thanks for listening—please don't forget to follow!