5 TEDx Talks You Should Watch to Understand Today’s Egypt

Understanding the changing face of Egypt calls for a look beyond the headlines into a demographic sector that is rapidly transforming the way things are done. Masters of survival and alchemists of change, Egyptian youth today make up half the country’s population, and a propelling source of inspiration. Barakabits got some insights from Creative Industry Summit founder and TEDxAUC Communications Manager Hamza Sarawy, who suggests us five high-impact talks to get inspired.

1) Nada Chatila: A Life Worth Living: An optimist, a fighter, a hoper, Nada tells “one of the most amazing survival stories one can hear about in a lifetime,” says Sarawy.

2) Wael Fakhrany: The Discomfort of Our Comfort Zone: Google Egypt’s regional manager and experienced business leader Wael Fakhrany unveils the key to his success in a thought-provoking talk: migrating from the comfort zones into the mysteriously unknown.

3) Amira Makhlouf: Please Don’t Accept Me!: A provocative and unforgettable take on the concepts of tolerance and acceptance, Amira addresses the Western stereotypes of an Egyptian veiled Muslim girl and its correlation with her fashion choices.

4) Rana El Kalioby: Improving Lives with Emotionally Intelligent Technology: A research scientist at MIT, Rana represents the vigorous, energetic young inventors who strive for social change. She has done magic with computer science to create a software that can help autistic people express their emotions.

5) Amr El-Fass: Your true DNA: Prominent entrepreneur and chief executive officer of ZAD group, El-Fass talks frankly about the importance risk-taking when making career choices and introduces our favorite metaphor: “As opposed to waiting to climb the career ladder, create your very own ladder and follow your passion.”