What I Did Next

We’re continuing my conversation with Hazem Barakat, co-founder and Chairman of B Investments. On this episode, Hazem outlines their core formula for backing new ventures and why surviving a young market means being a generalist over a specialist.

You can also catch Part 1 of my conversation with Hazem, where he talks about the personal turning points that shaped his life and his pivot into private equity in Egypt, 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!

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Hazem Barakat, co-founder and Chairman of B Investments, joins me on the show to talk about the personal turning points that shape how he leads and lives, and the realities of private equity in Egypt. On Part 1, we talk about moving to the US at 16, returning to work with his father in the family firm and the importance of ethics and hard work.

On Part 2 coming up next week, we’ll dive into the world of private equity and investor interest in sectors such as education, healthcare and agriculture.

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

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Award-winning anchor, journalist and author Hala Gorani returns to the show to talk about returning to field reporting and the future of journalism & independent media.

Hala also catches me up on what she’s been up to since I first spoke to her in 2023, right after she had finished writing her book But You Don’t Look Arab.

This episode is part of Encore, where I check-in with your favourite WIDN alumni. We’ll continue this segment with more of the show’s alumni, so stay tuned.

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We’re continuing my conversation with Suzanne Zeidy and Rawah Badrawi, he co-authors of a new book Egypt: Recipes and Stories from an Ancient Land.

On this episode, Suzanne and Rawah tell me about their life’s pivots, marriage, children and friendship. We also talk about being the sandwich generation, and whether we can really have it all.

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

Suzanne Zeidy is wearing Azza Fahmy’s T-Lock Necklace and Gold Rosette Necklace, the Joyful Ring and the Endearment Gold Ring

Rawah Badrawi is wearing Azza Fahmy’s Mabrouka Earrings and Filigree Kaf Ring.

Music ID: 5ROQ12DERYHSUUVQ

I’m joined today by Suzanne Zeidy and Rawah Badrawi, the co-authors of a new book Egypt: Recipes and Stories from an Ancient Land, which is part travelogue and part culinary journey. They also happen to be two of my closest friends!

On Part 1 of our conversation, Suzanne and Rawah tell me how they came together to write this incredible book, and how they peeled away the fears and uncertainties of local communities to reveal a vibrant and rich culture not seen before by the outside world. We’ll continue the conversation in Part 2 next week, where Suzanne and Rawah tell me about their life’s trajectories and take on our signature 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

Suzanne Zeidy is wearing Azza Fahmy’s T-Lock Necklace and Gold Rosette Necklace, the Joyful Ring and the Endearment Gold Ring

Rawah Badrawi is wearing Azza Fahmy’s Mabrouka Earrings and Filigree Kaf Ring.

Chapters:
0:00 On this episode...
3:08 Suzanne’s first book: Cairo Kitchen
5:12 Rawah’s first book: Siwa
6:56 Coming together for ‘Egypt’
16:36 The magic of Sinai
20:57 The book’s audience
24:59 AI and the Future of Books

Music ID: 5ROQ12DERYHSUUVQ

This week, I'm sitting down with my producer Chirag Desai to reflect on a whirlwind first half of the year—from interviewing iconic figures and taking the show international to the importance of reclaiming our narrative. 

We talk about what drives the show, the magic of the MENA region, and what it truly means to create space for our own stories.

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

Music ID: 5ROQ12DERYHSUUVQ

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!

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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!

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Ramy Adeeb, founder & managing partner of 1984 Ventures, is back for an Encore episode to talk about what he’s been upto since 2023. He talks about why he’s excited about AI in legacy sectors but worried about unemployment. He also takes on our signature lightning round.

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.

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We’re continuing my conversation with Dina H. Sherif, talking about the shift from aid to agency, AI and regulation, and entrepreneurship as a national competitiveness strategy.

Dina has served as the Executive Director of the MIT Kuo Sharper Center for Prosperity and Entrepreneurship since 2019. You can catch the first part of our conversation in your podcast app or on our website.

I’ll be back next week with an Encore episode with founder of 1984 Ventures, Ramy Adeeb on everything he’s been up to since 2023.

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

Dina is wearing Nizar Qabbani Necklace, Bouquet of Blessings Earrings and the Filigree Kaf Ring.

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