WIDN with Malak Fouad

It’s already been an exciting 2025 for What I Did Next . So this week, my producer, Chirag, and I decided to do a check-in and recap the last six months.  We talk about the inspiring conversations, guests and events that have made up the year so far, as well as a look at what’s coming up. I also share a sneak peek into our next guest episode, so listen in to find out! This episode is brought to yo...

I’m often asked how I got started with the podcast. On a special solo episode this week, I’m taking you behind the scenes to tell you how and why I started What I Did Next , and how it came together.

Ayman Tamer is the Chairman of the Tamer Group, a third-generation business with a 100-year history in Saudi Arabia. Ayman tells me how his grandfather opened the first pharmacy in the Arab peninsula in 1922 and its evolution to one of the largest healthcare companies in the region today, with over $2.5 billion in revenue.  It was clear from our conversation that family is everything for Ayman, an...

A few weeks ago, What I Did Next partnered with the 2025 edition of The Narrative Summit which was held at the breathtaking Soma Bay. Today, I’m delighted to share my panel discussion where we explored perceptions of Egypt through a historical and cultural lens, a subject that is close to my heart. I was joined on the panel by historian Mahmoud Sabit, award-winning historian and broadcaster Bethan...

Welcome again to What I Did Next Encore , where I check-in with some of your favourite alumni guests. Today, I’m re-connecting with one of the guests from our first-ever season, advertising director Ali Ali. He catches me up on what he’s been up to since we last spoke, his short film, Smokey Eyes, and exploring production in Saudi Arabia. 

On this week’s bonus episode, Fatenn Mostafa Kanafani tells me about her work in documenting, codifying, and cataloging her research in art. She’s contributed a chapter in Daughters of the Nile , authored Modern Art in Egypt , and is now working on a third book. Chapters  0:00 Introduction  4:35 The Importance of Modern Egyptian Art  6:59 Exploring the Egyptian Avant-Garde This episode is brought...

Fatenn Mostafa Kanafani has led a life full of twists and turns. Her career trajectory has seen her go from being a successful marketer with Procter & Gamble to being instrumental in the success of the relaunch of Ahram Beverages, leading to its eventual sale to Heineken in 2002.  Fatenn then turned her attention to modern Egyptian art and launched Art Talks, a gallery as well as a forum for d...

On today’s episode, I’m reconnecting with pioneering Arab designer, Nadine Kanso, founder of jewellery brand BilArabi. Nadine tells me what’s been happening since our last conversation two years ago, including her partnership with Berluti, and staying authentic in an influencer-dominated world online.  This episode is part of our special series, What I Did Next Encore , where I check-in with some...

We’re continuing my conversation with award-winning ad director and filmmaker Omar Hilal. This week, he tells me about three key projects: the hilarious Aqua Mangos ad, the ground-breaking Royal Jordanian Ad and a sneak-peek into his upcoming film. You can listen to my full episode with Omar Hilal where he tells me about his life’s pivots, starting out as a photojournalist to award-winning ad dire...

I’m delighted to be joined by award-winning ad director & filmmaker Omar Hilal as this month’s guest. Omar is one of those people who discovered that he wanted to become a director very early in life. He started out as a photo-journalist and went on to become an accomplished ad director, with stand-out ads such as the Aqua Mangos ad for Nestle and the ground-breaking Royal Jordanian Ad in his...

This week, I’m joined by Rawya Mansour, Chairwoman of RAMSCO Egypt and Oasis Technologies Monaco, for a special episode as part of our collaboration with The Narrative Summit 2025. Rawya is a pioneer of sustainable development and regenerative agriculture, including shifting away from chemical polymer fertilisers towards green charcoal. We’ll get into the pivotal moments that led her on this journ...

I’m excited to share a special episode from the podcast, Gems of Arabia about Arab Representation in Media. The episode, hosted by WIDN alum Hatem Al Akeel, was recorded a few weeks ago at the CNN Academy in Abu Dhabi in front of a live audience of the Academy’s latest cohort of budding journalists. We were joined by another WIDN alum Becky Anderson, Managed Editor of CNN Abu Dhabi and Arab News’...

We’re continuing my conversation with interior architect Nouf Al Moneef, Director of the Noor Riyadh festival. On today’s episode, Nouf tells me about the evolution of Noor Riyadh, why they chose light as a theme in addition to art, as well as about her own design aesthetic. You can find the first part of my conversation with Nouf in your podcast app as well as on YouTube. This episode is brought...

Nouf Al Moneef is an interior architect and the Director of the Noor Riyadh festival, which falls under the larger umbrella of the Riyadh Art Project. Noor Riyadh has now welcomed more than 3 million visitors and hosted artworks by hundreds of Saudi, regional and international artists.  Nouf also continues to help grow the conversation about art and design on social media, although she is not a fa...

We’re continuing my conversation with actor Khalid Abdalla this week, going behind the curtain into his solo play, Nowhere. I saw the play when I was in the UK last October and was personally moved by his performance.  On this episode, Khalid tells me about the journey that led to him writing Nowhere, and the impact of his work.  On a bonus episode for members out next week, we’ll dig into his pro...

Khalid Abdalla first became known to many of us with his incredible role in The Kite Runner . More recently, he was on our screens as Dodi Fayed on The Crown . But beyond all his subtle and challenging roles, I was personally moved by his stage performance in his solo play, Nowhere , which I saw last October. We covered so many topics during our conversation that we’re bringing this to you as a tw...

I’m excited to welcome Farida Osman as the first athlete on the show! She’s a 3-time Olympian, 3-times world bronze medalist and holds senior national records for butterfly, freestyle and backstroke events. Farida is such a natural, positive person who is authentic and passionate about her sport. She’s a wonderful ambassador for swimming and an incredible role model for young sportspeople who can...

I’m super excited to kick-off 2025 with one of our new segments called WIDN Encore , where I’ll be checking in with some of your favourite What I Did Next alumni. My first guest is adventurer, entrepreneur, and podcaster Omar Samra. I first spoke to Omar in 2021 about his company, Wild Guanabana, and his epic maritime challenge with Omar Nour which they parlayed into an award-winning documentary,...

A quick teaser on what’s coming up on in 2025, including a new line-up, schedule and offerings! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Thank you for joining me for an incredible year of What I Did Next . This week, I’m joined by the show’s producer, Chirag Desai, to look back at how quickly the year has gone by, and what is to come in 2025. This episode is brought to you by EFG Holding . For 40 years, EFG Holding has been realising more, for clients, investors, businesses, communities and individuals. See the world differently, a...

Omar Elsahy is General Manager for Amazon in Egypt, overseeing 2,500 employees in the country as well as after-market services across the region. He told me about his early years in the US and Egypt, starting a number of businesses with his brother before pivoting to e-commerce with Souq.com. I enjoyed getting to know Omar through this conversation, and also got some great insights into the way he...

A quick note: we recorded this conversation before the conflict began in Lebanon earlier this year. Sarah Beydoun is the founder of Sarah’s Bag, a social enterprise that produces bespoke luxury accessories and clothing. She tells me how her company was born out of a University thesis and how they continue to empower women in spite of the never-ending turmoil afflicting Lebanon, as well as her son’...

Louis Barthélemy is a multidisciplinary artist and designer based between Marrakech and Paris. He went on to work for Dior after studying fashion design at Central Saint Martins, before pivoting away from the fashion world after the public departure of designer John Galliano.  Louis designs beautiful works of art, from tapestry to rugs to stained glass and works on paper. He is a passionate expone...

Yasmine and Farida Khamis are continuing the legacy left by their father, Mohammed Farid Khamis. He launched Oriental Weavers in 1979, which grew to become one of the world’s largest carpet manufacturers. Yasmine took over as Chair of its Board since his passing in 2020, while her two siblings joined her as board members. Farida chairs the Petrochemical business and looks after the British Univers...

On our members-only bonus episode, Haitham Mattar, Managing Director for India, Middle East and Africa at the Intercontinental Hotel Group tells me about his work as Senior Advisor to the Saudi Ministry of Tourism. This episode is brought to you by EFG Hermes One , your one app for investing in more than 35 stock markets. Start investing today !