Beyond the Monuments: Women Building Egypt’s Future
When I boarded the plane to Egypt, I thought I was going there to explore big questions about legacy and to answer the question I’ve been carrying around in my back pocket for months:
What are you building, and is it meant to last?
Like I mentioned last week, I thought I’d feel that acutely - and I did - by visiting the temples and tombs. I didn’t expect that question to come alive in the way it did through the women I met along the way.
From entrepreneurs in Cairo to handicraft co-op leaders along the Nile, I met women who are not just talking about impact; they’re living it. Their ideas are bold, imperfect, beautiful, and full of heart, and as I listened to their stories, I saw over and over again how much their challenges, their fears, and their dreams sound exactly like ours.
The Power of Speaking It Out Loud
One of my favorite moments from the trip happened the very first night we boarded our dahabiya, a traditional wooden sail boat, in a small village called El Hegz.
A young woman named Asmaa invited us into her home for mint tea and conversation. She shared all sorts of stories about her family, learning English, life in the village, and her big dream opening a sewing workshop for girls.
As a trained sewing expert, she wanted to create a space where women and girls could learn a trade, earn income, and build confidence. She had the skills and the vision, but didn’t have access to the materials or funding.
She shared her vision with leaders from a local company, and they invested a small amount to get her started. A year later, she had purchased three sewing machines and trained 22 women who are now contributing to their families’ income and futures.
Standing in her tiny studio surrounded by fabric, laughter, and beautiful handmade pieces, I thought, This is what happens when women give their ideas a voice.
We tell ourselves we’ll share our ideas once they’re ready and we have a plan, but readiness isn’t the point. Speaking it out loud and inviting others to be a part of it is what makes it real.
Ordinary Work, Extraordinary Ripples
That same energy showed up everywhere we went.
At Bellies En-Route, Laila Hassaballa and Mia Nezar turned food into a gateway to culture, memory, and connection. Their food tours and cooking classes turn local street food into a storytelling experience that honors Egyptian heritage and invites global visitors to taste the city like a local.
At Al Moudira Hotel, Zeina Aboukheir transformed a patch of desert into an oasis that honors artistry, beauty, and tradition. Her vision employs and uplifts local craftspeople, proving that business can be both beautiful and deeply rooted in purpose.
In Aswan, I met the women of the Productive Association for Handicrafts and Heritage, a cooperative that’s trained over 500 women since 2018. They’re preserving culture and protecting the environment while creating economic independence, weaving both identity and opportunity into everything they make.
None of these women started big.
They started with an idea that wouldn’t let go, gave it a voice, and then took action.
Conversations That Stayed With Me
Back in Cairo, just before heading home, I sat down with several women who are leading and contributing to the rise of female entrepreneurship in Egypt.
Iman Al Amin Dellorusso, founder of Spark Consulting Global, helps organizations align strategy with people and culture so they can lead change effectively. Her work centers on global HR, leadership development, and building strong, competitive teams.
When we talked about women in business, she said something that stuck with me, “Egyptian women don’t lack ideas; they lack access.”
She wasn’t talking about funding or confidence, although those are issues for all of us. She meant market access, the ability for women to take their ideas beyond the local level and compete on a bigger stage.
She and I are already talking about how we can partner together in the future.
Soha Baklawy, founder of Businessita, is redefining what it means to build a business from the inside out. Her company empowers women and social entrepreneurs through a holistic approach that integrates psychology, strategy, and impact.
When we met, we talked about how women everywhere are navigating the same realities… ambition and responsibility, vision and self-doubt. Soha’s mission is to equip women with the self-awareness, tools, and systems they need to turn passion into purpose-driven success.
Her work mirrors so much of my own, helping women build sustainable, socially conscious businesses rooted in clarity and impact.
Nirvana Saied Fayez, co-founder of TransformUs, is redefining what leadership in tech can look like. Her company helps organizations and startups harness technology to grow with purpose, turning digital transformation into a catalyst for sustainable progress.
Her work reminded me that big ideas aren’t always loud. Sometimes, they’re built quietly, line by line in the code, by women who refuse to wait for permission to lead.
The Takeaway
I’ve been home for a little over a week now, and I can’t stop thinking about how important it is to show up, imperfectly but powerfully, and bring our ideas to life.
Your big idea doesn’t have to be perfect to be powerful.
It starts by voicing it out loud… and then taking one small step.
Every woman I met reinforced my deeply held belief that:
Clarity creates momentum.
Our voice fuels our visibility.
Connection with the global sisterhood helps build businesses that make a real impact.
So, as I ask you what I’ve been asking myself — what are you building, and is it meant to last?
Next October, I’ll be bringing a small group of women back to Egypt, not just to see the temples, but to meet women like Asmaa, Iman, Soha, Nirvana, and so many others. We’ll connect across cultures, share ideas, and explore what it means to build something that truly lasts.
