Egyptian Entrepreneurs, Five to watch for 2021

By Ahmed Ibrahim.

Egypt is considered one of the developing economies in MENA region, it offers a lot of opportunities for investors, youth to start their own businesses, and to be entrepreneurs as countless agents have built a reputation for themselves as entrepreneurial wizards both at home and internationally.

There are famous figures who have the most effectual and impactful roles in business, technology, and startup scenes in Egypt during the last decade.

As such these 5 Egyptian Entrepreneurs are launching creative concepts and hand-crafting their own business plans.

1- Omar Samra ”Founder & Chief wild Guanabana”

Samra is an adventurer, entrepreneur, and speaker considered as the first Egyptian and youngest Arab to climb Mount Everest, the 7 Summits, and ski to both the Geographic South and North Pole and one of 40 known people to accomplish the “Explorers Grand Slam” challenge.

He founded Wild Guanabana Company that is specialized in designing and creating authentic and ethical adventure travel experiences in bespoke and beautiful destinations around the world in a manner that is professional and adhering to the highest levels of safety guidelines.

2- DAME Nemat Shafik “The Director of the London School of Economics and Political science”

Nemat is the director of the London School of Economics and Political science since 2017, she is called out as the most powerful woman in London.

She became the youngest Vice President of the World Bank, where she was in charge of reinvigorating the bank’s infrastructure business.

She served as Permanent Secretary of the Department for International Development (DFID) from 2008 to 2011, where she oversaw the UK’s development activities and a bilateral aid programme in over 100 countries, then

served as the International Monetary Fund’s Deputy Managing Director from 2011 until 2014.
Proudly, she became the first-ever deputy governor of the Bank of England overseeing the bank’s international surveillance, monetary framework, and risk management practices with one goal being to stabilize the UK’s dropping inflation levels. In 2009, she was named “Woman of the Year” for Global Leadership and Global

Diversity and ten years later, a Recipient of 100 Women in Finance’s 2018 European Industry Leadership Award and in 2015, she was made a Dame Commander of the British Empire in the Queen’s New Year’s Honours list.

3- Naguib Sawiris “Financial magnate and billionaire”

Sawiris is one of Egypt’s famous businessmen, considered as the most effective active businessmen on Twitter with a presence of 7 million followers.

The largest part of his fortune comes from the multibillion-dollar transaction which saw the sale of Orascom Telecom to the Russian telecom company Veon (formerly VimpelCom) in 2011.

Currently, he works as a chairman of Orascom Telecom Media and Technology Holding S.A.E and Italian internet company Italiaonline and has the largest share of ownership over Lyon-based television news networks Euronews.

As a part of developing luxury resorts, Naguib established ‘Silversands’ resort in Grenada Island, near the Caribbean Sea.

4- Mohamed El-Erian “Businessman, Economist and analyst”

El-Erian is one of the most famous businessmen, economists and analysts served as CEO and co-CIO of global investment management firm PIMCO between 2007 and 2014 and was selected in 2012 as Chair of former President Barack Obama’s Global Development Council.

During this period he was selected for four years in a row among Foreign Policy’s ‘Top 100 Global Thinkers’. Currently, he is a Financial Times contributing editor, a Bloomberg Opinion columnist, a part-time Practice Professor at Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, and a New York Times best-selling author.

5- Rana El-kaliouby “Co-founder and CEO of Affectiva”

Rana is an Egyptian-American computer scientist and entrepreneur in the field of expression recognition research and technology development holds a Ph.D. from the University of Cambridge and a Post Doctorate at MIT.

She is co-founder and CEO of the 11-year old startup specializing in emotional artificial intelligence and now is a pioneering Human Perception AI: technology that can understand all things human. A passionate advocate for innovation, ethics in AI, and diversity.

In recognition of her efforts, she has been recognized on Fortune’s 40 under 40, Forbes America’s Top 50 Women in Tech and serves as a World Economic Forum Young Global Leader.

Prepared by Patrick O’Brien.

About the author

Ahmed Ibrahim is a technology geek, writes about technology trends, technological companies, new products, new technology like artificial intelligence, the Internet of things, and big data. Get in touch with Ahmed via the following account:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/ahmedibrahimmohammed

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