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PODCAST

WIDN

Connecting the dots across the Middle East through storytelling. Join host Malak Fouad, as she brings you the most inspiring people and unpacks their life journeys — successes, failures and everything in between! You can connect with us on Instagram, on LinkedIn, and watch extended clips from our interviews on our YouTube channel.

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All Episodes

32:40

Encore: Mo Hefzy

WIDN ·

2026/02/14

I'm re-connecting today with award-winning film producer Mo Hefzy. Since I first spoke to him in 2022, Mo has had a series of successful releases, including 'Flight 404', 'Seeking Haven for Mr. Rambo', 'Darwish', and many more. You can listen to that first conversation here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KH9tNi21eZo 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. Chapters 0:00

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33:33

Abdel Wahed El Wakil on the evolution of architecture

WIDN ·

2026/02/10

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.You can watch the first part of our conversation here: This episode

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45:01

Abdel Wahed El Wakil

WIDN ·

2026/02/03

I‘m joined today by a legend of from the world of architecture, Abdel Wahed El Wakil. I sat down with him a couple of weeks ago in Doha, where he now lives, to document his incredible journey, his vision for architecture as an industry, and Islamic architecture in particular.Abdel Wahed has designed buildings around the world, including in Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Paris and London. He also studied and worked under his mentor, Hassan Fathy, an architecture legend in his own right. We’ll be continuing

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28:34

Encore: Bobby Chinn

WIDN ·

2026/01/27

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: https://www.at-media-group.com/what-i-did-next/bobby-chinn/ This episode is part of Encore, where I check-in with some of your favourite WIDN alumni

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26:43

Maria Shollenbarger on why destinations trend, and...

WIDN ·

2026/01/20

We’re continuing my conversation with luxury travel journalist and editor Maria Shollenbarger. Today, we’re delving into the travel industry—how and why certain destinations trend over others, how preferences have changed since COVID, and the future of travel in the age of AI. In case you missed Part 1 of our conversation, you can watch it here: I’ll be back next week with a new Encore episode with all-round rockstar Bobby Chinn. This episode is brought to you by:⁠ EFG Hermes One⁠, your one

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37:12

Maria Shollenbarger

WIDN ·

2026/01/13

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

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2:02

Welcome to our 6th year!

WIDN ·

2026/01/09

We all know the value of looking back to understand our path. But as the world becomes increasingly uncertain, I wanted to open a new chapter on the show.In 2026, in addition to reflecting on the past, we’re also tackling the big questions about our future. I’ll be asking my guests how they're navigating the same anxieties and opportunities we all face, from AI to climate change to the changing world around us.Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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36:54

My conversation with EFG Holding’s Mohamed Abdel Khabir

WIDN ·

2025/12/23

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

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9:17

Bonus: Mounir Nakhla on MNT Halan's high-RPM...

WIDN ·

2025/12/16

Last week, Mounir Nakhla told me about his entrepreneurial journey with MNT Halan, and how the company has risen to become of the Africa’s fastest growing start-ups. On this bonus episode, Mounir talks to me about the strategy behind their recent expansion into 3 new territories — Turkey, the UAE & Pakistan.Watch my full conversation with Mounir here: This episode is brought to you by EFG Hermes One, your one app for investing in more than 35 stock markets worldwide. ⁠Start Investing Today⁠:

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36:10

Mounir Nakhla

WIDN ·

2025/12/09

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

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34:01

Encore: Dr. Nadine Hachach-Haram

WIDN ·

2025/12/02

I'm re-connecting today with Dr. Nadine Hachach-Haram. Dr. Nadine is the founder & CEO of Proximie ⁨and a practicing NHS surgeon with a specialty in plastic surgery. I first spoke to Dr. Nadine three years ago, when she told me how she wanted to help operating rooms function more effectively with Proximie. You can catch that episode here: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, including

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29:23

Diving into the VC world with Karima El Hakim

WIDN ·

2025/11/18

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: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uwjEtGnYxRs&feature=youtu.be This episode is brought to you by EFG Hermes One, your one app for investing in more than 35 stock markets worldwide. ⁠Start investing today⁠:

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43:33

Karima El Hakim

WIDN ·

2025/11/11

I’m joined today by Karima El Hakim, Country Director at Plug & Play Egypt, and co-director for the company’s operations in the rest of Africa. Just as importantly, for me she’s one of the show’s biggest fans! On Part 1 of my conversation with Karima, we’re criss-crossing through both her personal and professional journey, from growing up in Egypt in a Francophone home to her pivot to technology and the investment world. Coming up next week on part 2, Karima tells me about her work with the

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35:28

Hanaa Helmy

WIDN ·

2025/11/04

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

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45:54

Celebrating 100 episodes!

WIDN ·

2025/10/21

We’re celebrating 100 episodes! So this week I’m sitting down with our producer Chirag Desai to celebrate this milestone and unpack some of the learnings.Chapters 0:00 Episode 100! 1:11 Evolution of Podcasting 3:11 Reflections 13:53 Destiny vs Agency 24:08 The Impact of Our Work 24:28 A big thanks to @EFGHolding 25:35 Malak takes on the Lightning Round Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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23:50

Azzam Fakhreddin on getting started in hospitality &...

WIDN ·

2025/10/14

We’re continuing my conversation with Azzam Fakhreddin this week, where he tells me about his decision to shift focus to economics under the mentorship of Dr. Galal Amin and getting starting in the family hospitality business. Azzam also tells me about his involvement with the Jordan football team, which just qualified for its first FIFA World Cup in 2026.I’m also excited to share that What I Did Next just completed 100 episodes! Next week, I’m sitting down with our producer Chirag Desai to

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39:08

Azzam Fakhreddin

WIDN ·

2025/10/07

I’m joined today by Azzam Fakhreddin, a name familiar to many across the Middle East as a notable figure in the hospitality industry. On Part 1 of our conversation, Azzam tells me about his involvement in two significant projects, the book ‘Palestine, Memories of 1948’ and the feature film ‘Palestine36’, which is Palestine’s official entry to the 2026 Oscars. It stars iconic actors Jeremy Irons and Liam Cunningham and will be premiering in London later this month.Chapters 0:00 Introduction 5:41

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33:32

Our AI future, with Mo Gawdat, Tarek Nour, Omar...

WIDN ·

2025/09/23

AI is a topic that has come up many times over the years on the show, so today I’m sharing a special episode of Double-Take where I’m connecting the dots from some of our previous episodes on the philosophical, ethical and practical implications of our future AI world.You’ll hear from author & AI expert Mo Gawdat on how we all need to be better role models for this nascent technology, actor Ramy Youssef on some of the implications for creators and filmmakers, Amazon’s Omar El Sahy talks about some

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29:47

Mona Hamdy unpacks the role of Artificial...

WIDN ·

2025/09/16

Continuing my conversation with Dr. Mona Hamdy to unpack the role of AI, and how the emerging world should prioritise its adoption. We talk about the ethical implications of technological advancements, and the need to close the gap between profit-driven AI development and our needs as a society. She also tells me about her work with Anomaly, the ‘Bitcoins and Birkins’ club, and upcoming launch of iConnections Middle East.This episode is brought to you by EFG Hermes One, your one app for investing

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39:50

Dr. Mona Hamdy

WIDN ·

2025/09/09

The word AI gets bandied about by everyone in everything today, and I’ve been wanting to unpack the opportunities and challenges our future world holds for us. So I’m delighted to welcome technology ethicist Dr. Mona Hamdy to the show this week.On Part 1 of our conversation this week, we talk about her pivots, and how she found herself at this unique intersection of technology and human dignity. Coming up next week on Part 2, I pick Mona’s brain on some of my questions on the future world of AI:

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135 results

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