Marwa Soudi, an EdTech pioneer empowering people through technology

January 26, 2025 Melanie Hawken

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Ideasgym, a multifaceted business dedicated to fostering innovation and STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) education in Egypt

Marwa Soudi is the co-founder of IdeasGym, leading initiatives to enhance STEM education across Egypt. She is a dedicated researcher and social entrepreneur with over 15 years of experience in the EdTech industry. Currently a doctoral student at Tallinn University, she specializes in Digital Transformation and Responsible AI, focusing on creating tools to help SMEs comply with international AI standards. Marwa is passionate about empowering women in technology and has received numerous awards for her contributions, including the InspiringFifty Africa, IEEE Entrepreneurship Impact Award, Women in Business Innovation Award, "ICT for Women" award and the Tony Elumelu grant for entrepreneurship in Africa. She actively engages in various professional organizations, promoting ethical AI practices and fostering innovation in education. Her business was launched in 2011.

Dalia Ibrahim, a serial entrepreneur and education innovator in Egypt

April 30, 2023 Melanie Hawken

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Nahdet Misr Publishing House, EdVentures, Ta'heal for VET Skills Excellence, a group of businesses empowering through learning

Dalia Ibrahim is an accomplished business leader, angel investor, mentor, and mother of three children. She is the CEO of Nahdet Misr Publishing House, a prominent learning company in Egypt; the founder and CEO of EdVentures, MENA's first CVC specializing in Edtech; and the founder of Ta'heal, which offers vocational education solutions. Dalia began her career at Nahdet Misr in 1994, a family business founded by her grandfather as a small publishing house in 1938. Over the past 28 years, she has transformed Nahdet Misr into one of MENA’s leading learning and capacity-building companies. Dalia has received recognition for her entrepreneurial journey several times, including being a finalist in the "Leadership" category of the AMBA & BGA Excellence Award, a finalist in the "Lifetime Achievement" category of the AWIEF Awards, acknowledgment as one of the "Top 50" most influential women in Egypt, and receiving the "Corporate Social Responsibility Award" for Arab Women.

Mona Al Adawy, a pioneer of energy data management in Egypt

February 12, 2023 Melanie Hawken

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GeoEnergy Petroleum Services, a business providing data management and digitalization for the exploration data assets of Egypt’s petroleum companies

Mona is the founding owner and ceo of GeoEnergy, a company specializing in providing data management services and digitalization solutions for the exploration data assets of the petroleum companies. Bootstrapping it from a $1,000 investment, it is now a firm that generates $1M+ in revenue, with over 65 clients, 25+ employees, and 40+ project-based consultants. Mona is IFC Nominee Director & Advisory Committee Member. In 2020, she acquired her MBA in Strategic Management - School of Business and Society, from South Wales University in the UK. She is a certified corporate director from IFC, World Bank, and was awarded a certificate in women’s entrepreneurship from Cornell University in the USA. She has a Certificate in Applied Management from Global Enterprise Center, Babson College in the USA, and graduated from the Geology/Chemistry Departments, Faculty of Science in Cairo University, 2002.

Nadine Farrag, an Egyptian entrepreneur transforming the country’s wedding industry

November 6, 2022 Melanie Hawken

Nadine Farrag, CEO & Founder, Farahy (Egypt)

Startup Story

Nadine Farrag is the CEO & Founder of Farahy, the first and largest one-stop-hub for everything wedding related in Egypt. Since 2020, Nadine and the team have been utilizing technology to transform the Egyptian wedding industry from a very fragmented market to a one-stop service and product marketplace. During the process, they haven't only been helping out couples achieve their stress-free dream day, they've also been empowering women all over the industry by bridging the gap between them and their clients. Internally, they're very proud to have a 100% female team.

Khadija Elbedweihy, a tech pioneer championing equal opportunities in STEM

January 16, 2022 Melanie Hawken

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PraxiLabs, an award-winning business in Egypt providing STEM education through 3D interactive virtual science lab simulations.

Khadija Elbedweihy is the founder of PraxiLabs in Egypt, an award-winning tech business founded in 2016 and which now employs 30 people. She graduated top of her class four years in a row, and went on to receive her PhD from the University of Sheffield to be the youngest lecturer in her faculty, with a PhD focused on human-computer interaction and user experience. Together with her belief in adopting technology for improving education and enabling equal opportunities, Khadija founded and is currently managing PraxiLabs with an amazing team who have the same vision as she does. This is her true passion and daily quest. PraxiLabs aims to provide equal opportunity for an enhanced STEM education for students everywhere by providing 3D interactive virtual simulations of science labs that are accessible, usable, and affordable for educational institutions and students alike. PraxiLabs not only provides an immersive virtual lab experience, but adds enriched content that provides students with more understanding and knowledge according to their own pace and learning style.

Dr. Hend El Sherbini, a leader in the provision of best-in-class diagnostic services

October 11, 2020 Melanie Hawken

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Meet IDH Integrated Diagnostics Holdings, a leading consumer diagnostic healthcare company in Africa and the Middle East

Dr. Hend El Sherbini holds the position of CEO of IDH-Integrated Diagnostics Holdings, a leading consumer diagnostic healthcare company in Africa and the Middle East with operations in Egypt, Jordan, Sudan and Nigeria. Dr. El Sherbini's experience is not only limited to her position as CEO, but she is also a professor of clinical pathology at the Faculty of Medicine, Cairo University and currently sits on the board of American Society of Clinical Pathology (Egypt) and consults on the international certification process. She received her MBBCh, Masters in Clinical and Chemical Pathology, PhD in Immunology from BBC by Cairo University, and an Executive MBA from London Business School.

Hend Riad and Mariam Hazem, eco-innovators reviving Egypt’s weaving industry

March 1, 2020 Melanie Hawken

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Reform Studio was founded by Hend Riad and Mariam Hazem, an internationally awarded lifestyle brand based in Cairo, Egypt. Directly after the 2011 revolution in Egypt, they were excited to be part of the great change around them, eager to make a stand and to make a difference, and this is how Reform Studio was born.

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