Women of Egypt Network

HR Leader Lubna Ismail Opens New Horizons for Women in Heavy Industries Lubna Ismail is a dedicated wife and mother, as well as a seasoned HR professional, showcasing the heights women can reach in fields often dominated by men. With 18 years of experience in Talent Management, Learning and Development, Organizational Development, and Performance Management, she has made her mark in key roles at top companies such as ExxonMobil and Pfizer. As the HR Development and Talent Acquisition Director at Arabian Cement Company, Lubna is a strong advocate for women’s roles in heavy industries. She shows that female leadership not only flourishes in this sector but also plays a crucial part in driving significant change. Lubna holds an MBA from the Maastricht School of Management and is a certified career coach recognized by the International Coaching Federation (ICF). She is also a certified employer branding expert from Universum University in Sweden. Through her coaching, she has significantly impacted the careers of more than 500 individuals from various backgrounds. Lubna’s journey shows that women can not only succeed but also lead in heavy industries, inspiring future generations to break barriers and follow their dreams. In her role, she orchestrates HR strategies with remarkable skill, creating positive impacts that reach beyond the boardroom and paves the way for a more inclusive workforce.   Lubna Ismail

Chef Amira Elhamy, founder of Bongoyo Restaurant , brings her love of fusion and a passion for exploring flavors beyond the traditional to her culinary craft. She is especially inspired by the rich, undiscovered flavors of sub-Saharan African cuisine, particularly South African. Through Bongoyo, her first restaurant, which opened in October 2020 in El Gouna, Amira creates a unique culinary experience that honors tradition while elevating it to a modern dining experience. | Read full story 👇 Amira Elhamy https://lnkd.in/g7jfS8Xw

Cairo Medical Syndicate Honors Dr. Fadia Abdel Gawad on Doctor’s Day, October 25, for Her Dedication and Excellence Dr. Fadia Abdel Gawad: The First Person in the World with Hearing Impairment to Join and Graduate from Medical School In 1973, Fadia lost her hearing due to a severe case of meningitis infection that damaged the hearing nerves in both ears. She was 11-years-old and in her final year of grade school. But in spite of that she sat for her year-end exams and passed with honors. She went to prep school while she was still learning lip reading. She finished high school with honors and ranked at a level of 97.5%. She came top of her school. By then she had perfected lip reading. She also taught herself French and English with the help of her siblings. Her decision to join medical school was harder than she expected. It was a daily challenge for her, but never gave up, even though she wasn’t good at lip reading in English, the language in which medicine is taught. Also, her professors weren’t very helpful to her. Dr. Fadia married while still a student in medical school and graduated in 1986. After a fulfilling professional and family life, having 4 kids (2boys and 2 girls), and working in Egypt and abroad as a dermatologist, she now practices and manages her clinic and medical center In 2006, 33 years after losing her hearing, she went for her first cochlear implant, and she heard her kids voices for the first time. In 2014, she went for her second cochlear plant, and finally left the world of silence she lived in for 41 years. In 2022, Dr. Fadia Abdel Gawad published her autobiography in a book titled "The Moan of Silence... A Deaf Woman Who Made the World Hear." In the book, Dr. Fadia talks about her journey of struggle and challenge, overcoming the impossible. She hopes her story will be a message of inspiration and hope for people, especially those with hearing impairments, to achieve their dreams and conquer the impossible. #womenofegypt

Dalia Khorshid, CEO & Managing Director, Beltone Holding Group In August 2024, Beltone Securities Brokerage, a subsidiary of Beltone Holding, acted as the sole executor of Egypt’s first carbon credit trade between the Egyptian Biodynamic Association and Isis for Food Manufacturing. In September 2024, Beltone Venture Capital made an equity investment in VelyVelo, an optimized e-bike fleet management provider that offers green, efficient, and affordable mobility solutions in France and Morocco, with upcoming launches in Spain and Belgium. In 2023, Beltone measured total emissions at 2,190 mtCO₂e, with an aim to reduce Scope 1 and 2 emissions by 42% by 2030. In the same year, Beltone partnered with Bekia Waste Management to recycle paper and plastics, with profits donated to charity. #womenofegypt Dalia Khorshid

Rotary Club of Tahrir has launched the “Unite to End Cervical Cancer in Egypt” initiative, led by Dr. Amal El-Sisi, in collaboration with Rotary Clubs of Egypt, the Ministry of Health and Population (represented by the Presidential Initiative for Women’s Health), and the Ministry of Social Solidarity. The initiative, which will run for four consecutive years, aims to raise awareness about cervical cancer, eliminate HPV (the primary cause of cervical cancer), and promote prevention. This will be achieved by offering free HPV vaccinations for girls aged 12 to 15 and providing free early detection screenings for women, in line with the World Health Organization’s guidelines. The initiative will contribute to improving women’s health in Egypt by increasing awareness of prevention methods, facilitating treatment for cervical cancer through free Pap smears, and improving recovery rates, all in support of the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals, Egypt’s Vision 2030, and the National Strategy for Motherhood and Childhood. Awareness campaigns and ongoing seminars will be held to educate about cervical cancer and provide early detection services, including Pap smears and vaccinations, across Cairo, Giza, and Qalyubia governorates. #womenofegypt

Heba El Kholy: Member of Supervisory Governance Council at The Mukwege Foundation The Mukwege Foundation is an international rights-based, survivor-centred organisation working to change the global response to conflict-related sexual violence. Prior to that, Heba El Kholy was Director of Lutfia Rabbani Foundation, a private, non-profit organisation which seeks to promote Euro – Arab dialogue through education, dialogue and cultural exchange. Heba El Kholy is an independent advisor on International Development and Peacebuilding with 20 years of leadership experience. Born and raised in Egypt, lived and worked in 7 countries, from Afghanistan to Norway. In Egypt, she pioneered an initiative to provide credit and identity cards to poor women, co-founded Egypt's first organization focused on women headed households, and served as the Ford Foundation’s Middle East and North Africa Officer for urban poverty. She joined UNDP as Policy Advisor in NY in 1998, and then became its first woman Country Director. She worked in Sudan (2003-2006), led and launched development and conflict transformation initiatives and negotiated with governments, rebels, and civil society in what was then the largest, most complex conflict and humanitarian context in the world. In 2006, she became the United Nations first female Resident Coordinator in Tunisia (‘UN Ambassador’), and in 2012, the first woman Director of UNDP's Global Governance Center in Oslo. Heba El Kholy holds PhD in Social Anthropology from the University of London. She is the author of Defiance and Compliance, Negotiating Gender In Low-Income Cairo #womenofegypt Heba El-Kholy

Hanaa Helmy, Chief Sustainability Officer at EFG Holding & CEO of the EFG Foundation In 2023, EFG’s energy transition investment platform, Vortex Energy, invested $80 million in electric vehicle charging solutions company, EO Charging, with Zouk Capital. Its banking arm, Bank NXT formerly known as aiBANK, also launched a campaign that enables clients to secure financing of up to $82,000 to purchase eco-friendly electric or hybrid cars, and EFG Holding’s financial technology company, Valu partnered with solar energy suppliers to offer buy now, pay later solutions for solar panels. #womenofegypt Hanaa Helmy

Yasmine Fouad, Egypt Minister of Environment Yasmine Fouad was appointed as Egypt’s Minister of Environment in 2018 to lead a transformational change by creating a more business-oriented enabling environment. Fouad led the presidential initiative “Live Green” between 2020-2023. In September 2024, Egypt’s Ministry of Environment, the Global Fund for Coral Reefs, USAID, and UNDP partnered to launch the Egyptian Red Sea Initiative aiming to protect 99,899 hectares of coral reefs. #womenofegypt

Manal Hassan, Chief Sustainability Officer، Elsewedy Electric In 2023, Elsewedy Electric achieved a 44% decrease in scope 1 and 2 carbon emissions intensity compared to 2022. The company’s 21 facilities reported a 44% reduction in water intensity and a 32% reduction in energy intensity. Iskraemeco Slovenia, a subsidiary of Elsewedy Electric, began using solar PV panels with a capacity of 870 kW. During its first month, the plant generated 1,500 kWh. The company has integrated a climate risk assessment into its decision-making process, with product design and raw material sourcing guided by life cycle assessment results and optimization. #womenofegypt Manal Hassan

Emmy Winner: Saga Elmohtaseb's Journey in Film, Education, and Cultural Preservation Saga Elmohtaseb is an Emmy-winning producer with over 20 years of experience in the film and television industry. Based in California, she is also a professor at Chapman University, home to the #4 highest-ranked film school in the U.S. She holds a Master of Fine Arts. She also earned a Bachelor of Arts in Visual and Performing Arts from California State University, San Marcos. Elmohtaseb moved to the U.S. at the age of ten. Despite living in California for over 40 years, she still enjoys celebrating many of the cultural traditions from her homeland, especially Ramadan and Eid. She believes in the importance of preserving culture and traditions, which is reflected in her culinary pursuits. She enjoys cooking a variety of traditional Middle Eastern dishes and runs a YouTube channel dedicated to showcasing Middle Eastern cuisine. Elmohtaseb moderated a panel at the Hollywood Arab Film Festival, a moment that filled her with pride. As the only woman on stage among several Egyptian men, she made a powerful impact. She felt she was able to plant seeds for future women in her industry to engage openly, ask questions, and get involved. Among her many accomplishments, she is most proud of the Emmy Award that had received for producing the TV docuseries 10 Days in Watts. Elmohtaseb believes it is very important for new immigrants to integrate into a society where they can find a platform to express their creative process. To women who are considering moving to the US, she highly recommends they research the state and town they wish to move to. Here's the revised version: Elmohtaseb emphasizes the importance of perseverance for those who want to thrive in the U.S. She encourages them to believe in themselves, surround themselves with like-minded individuals, and maintain a strong work ethic. Read full article here: https://bit.ly/3Y5bkOu #womenofegypt Saga Elmohtaseb