The initiative targets women from Greater Cairo and neighboring governorates, offering them intensive training in artificial intelligence and digital marketing—two of the most in-demand skill sets in the global freelance economy. However, Digitelles Misr goes far beyond a skills bootcamp. It’s about building a thriving, connected community of women empowered to chart their career paths, balance personal and professional demands and contribute meaningfully to Egypt’s growing digital economy.

Breaking Barriers and Creating Opportunities

“Empowering women through digital freelancing is a step toward building a more inclusive and innovative workforce,” said Dean Sherif Kamel of the Onsi Sawiris School of Business. “This partnership with Capgemini enables us to provide women with the skills and tools they need to thrive in today’s rapidly evolving digital economy, breaking down barriers and fostering opportunities for leadership and growth.”

 

For many participants, the ability to work remotely is transformative. Freelancing removes logistical hurdles like transportation and offers flexible hours that accommodate family responsibilities—an essential factor for women living far from Egypt’s tech hubs.

“Capgemini is committed to diversity and inclusion and believes in creating a sustainable and inclusive future for all,” said Hossam Seifeldin, CEO of Capgemini Egypt. “By enabling women to work remotely, we empower them economically and give them greater control over their time, location and working hours, allowing them to overcome societal and cultural constraints.”

Tapping into a Growing Digital Economy

The program is not only timely—it’s strategic. With the ICT sector named the fastest-growing in Egypt’s economy (16.3% growth in FY 2021-2022), Digitelles Misr positions women to tap into this momentum, becoming contributors to both the freelance economy and Egypt’s broader digital transformation.

Backed by CEI’s commitment to women’s economic empowerment and Capgemini’s global leadership in digital innovation, Digitelles Misr is more than a training program. It’s a bridge connecting talent to opportunity and potential to prosperity.

The program is set to graduate its first cohort at the end of June 2025, marking a new beginning for women freelancers, ready to own their future in Egypt’s digital economy.

Under the theme “From Africa to the World: Showcasing African Excellence,” the two-day event convened academic leaders, business executives, policymakers and entrepreneurs from across the continent to explore the future of business education, innovation and leadership in Africa.

The conference commenced with inspiring opening remarks from Samer Atallah, associate dean for graduate studies and research at the Onsi Sawiris School of Business, Jon Foster-Pedley, AABS board chairman and dean of Henley Business School (Africa) and Sherif Kamel, dean of the Onsi Sawiris School of Business. Their addresses emphasized the importance of collaboration among African institutions to amplify innovation and tackle the continent's challenges. 

Foster-Pedley highlighted the proactive role of African institutions in shaping global conversations, stating, "African institutions are no longer asking for a seat at the table; we are building the table. We are shaping the conversation, not by echoing others, but by bringing our own voice." Kamel underscored the collective pursuit of excellence in business education and its profound impact on Africa's growth and prosperity.

Empowering Africa’s Next Generation

A highlight of the conference was a keynote by Mohamed El Damaty, vice chairman and CEO of Domty, a leading Egyptian FMCG, who called for greater unity among universities, governments and the private sector to inspire and empower Africa’s youth. “Hope is key in fostering a sense of belonging and success,” El Damaty emphasized, highlighting the importance of collaborative efforts to cultivate leadership across the continent.

Driving Collaboration and Innovation

The first session delved into how business schools can collaborate with industry and government to foster entrepreneurship and social innovation. Olayinka David-West from Lagos Business School and Maurice Radebe of the University of the Witwatersrand emphasized the need for education systems that focus not just on starting enterprises but on scaling businesses and creating social impact.

Digital Transformation and Inclusion

The second session focused on the role of technology in Africa’s development. Ahmed Salama, CTO of Microsoft Egypt and Steve Briggs, CEO of VulaCoin, highlighted the urgency of affordable digital access and AI literacy. They urged African institutions to transition from consumers to creators of technology, tailoring solutions to local challenges.

Championing Women in Leadership

A dedicated session, moderated by Dina Abdel Fattah, chair of the Mohamed Shafik Gabr Economics Department, Onsi Sawiris School of Business, addressed empowering African women leaders with voices like Hala Barakat, director of AUC’s Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation, Alaa Amer, HR manager, Procter & Gamble Egypt, and Manal Amin, founder and CEO, Arabize advocating for systemic change in institutions. The panel emphasized that while women are increasingly prepared for leadership roles, real progress requires organizations to actively sponsor and appoint women to positions of influence.

Resonant Leadership in a Changing World

During the fourth session, Barry van Zyl from Henley Business School - Africa, introduced the concept of “Groove” — a leadership superpower rooted in authentic connection and presence. He highlighted the unique role of human empathy in leadership, which technology cannot replace.

Innovation and Entrepreneurship Ecosystems

The conference spotlighted startups nurtured by African business schools during its fifth session. Moderated by Ayman Ismail, AUC Venture Lab, the session showcased how institutions serve as incubators, offering mentorship, funding access and fostering entrepreneurial mindsets essential for scaling ventures across Africa.

African Principles in Corporate Governance

Tumi Dlamini, corporate governance expert, called for governance frameworks that reflect Africa’s unique socio-economic contexts and ethical values during her keynote address. “Our ancient African wisdom must drive our path towards a prosperous Africa,” she asserted, linking purpose-driven leadership to sustainable growth.

African Insights Driving Transformation Through Research

Moderated by David M., associate dean for academic and student affairs and director of the Africa Case Center (Kenya), the sixth session brought together panelists Hazel Walker, director of external relations at The Case Centre (UK), Daniel J. Petzer, head of research at Henley Business School – Africa and Ahmed Elsayed, executive director of J-PAL Middle East and North Africa, The American University in Cairo. The discussion emphasized the power of contextualized, applied research to address Africa’s unique challenges, the global relevance of African narratives and the critical role of business schools in linking research to practice. Panelists also highlighted educational innovation through localized content and technology and underscored the value of cross-border collaboration in scaling Africa’s research impact.

Curriculum for Change: Advancing Sustainability in African Business Education

The seventh and final session, moderated by Estela Castelli Florino Pilz, project manager at Sulitest (France) focused on the importance of integrating sustainability into business curricula. Speakers, Maha Mourad, associate dean for undergraduate studies and administration, Onsi Sawiris School of Business at The American University in Cairo (Egypt) and Hicham SEBTI, PhD, HDR, associate dean at ESSEC Africa (Morocco), advocated for African-rooted governance models and purpose-driven leadership, emphasizing collaboration between universities, governments and industry to prepare future leaders to balance economic, social and environmental goals.

Conclusion: Honoring the Past, Forging the Future of Business Education in Africa

The AABS 2025 Connect Conference not only commemorated 20 years of progress in African business education but also set a bold agenda for the future — one where collaboration, innovation, inclusivity and sustainability form the foundation for Africa’s continued growth and leadership on the global stage.

Watch the highlights of the AABS Connect 2025 and the 20th Anniversary

Check photos of the conference here

Together, they explored how executive education can adapt to meet the demands of a fast-changing business landscape and deliver meaningful impact globally.

Set against the backdrop of Cairo’s historic AUC Tahrir Square campus, the contemporary New Cairo campus and the iconic Grand Egyptian Museum, the conference seamlessly blended world-class thought leadership with cultural immersion. It was a platform for exchanging ideas, building collaborations and shaping actionable strategies to redefine the future of executive education.

A Focus on the Future

The conference tackled some of the most pressing challenges and opportunities shaping executive education in today’s dynamic world. Central to the discussions was the transformative role of artificial intelligence (AI). Leaders explored how AI is revolutionizing executive education by enhancing curriculum design, learner engagement and operational efficiency. At the same time, panelists emphasized the importance of ethical governance and human oversight, warning against the risks of overreliance on automation. These conversations underscored the need to leverage AI as a tool for innovation while ensuring it supports, rather than replaces, human creativity and decision-making.

Localization emerged as another critical theme. Participants highlighted the growing importance of designing programs tailored to the specific cultural, economic and market needs of diverse regions, particularly in emerging markets like the Middle East and Africa. The emphasis was on moving beyond global templates to create solutions that resonate at a local level, ensuring relevance and impact. Cairo, as a city that embodies both tradition and transformation, provided a fitting context for these discussions.

A significant portion of the conference focused on leadership and team dynamics. An interactive workshop featuring The GC Index, offered participants fresh insights into how individuals and teams contribute to organizational success. By understanding their energy for impact and how to harness it effectively, attendees left with practical tools to build more collaborative and high-performing teams.

Growth strategies were also a key focus, with panels exploring innovative approaches to marketing, business development and client engagement. Leaders shared insights on using data-driven strategies, personalized learning pathways and long-term partnerships to stay competitive in a rapidly evolving marketplace. The discussions highlighted the importance of aligning institutional goals with the needs of learners and organizations to create a sustainable impact.

Throughout the conference, the power of collaboration was a recurring theme. Speakers and panelists stressed the importance of partnerships across sectors—between educational institutions, corporations, NGOs and governments—to scale impact and drive innovation. Real-world examples of successful collaborations demonstrated how these partnerships are helping institutions navigate global challenges while delivering localized solutions.

Why This Matters

The 2025 UNICON Directors’ Conference underscored the urgent need for institutions to embrace agility, inclusivity and innovation in preparing leaders for the future. The event served not just as a forum for ideas but as a launchpad for action, inspiring participants to rethink traditional models and implement tangible solutions in their organizations.

“This conference wasn’t just about sharing ideas—it was about creating tangible solutions,” remarked one participant. “It challenged us to think deeply about our roles as educators and leaders while equipping us with the tools to drive real change.” 

For the Onsi Sawiris School of Business, hosting this prestigious event reaffirmed its position as a regional leader and a key player in global executive education. By blending local relevance with global expertise, the school showcased its ability to drive meaningful change across sectors and regions.

Watch the highlights of the UNICON Directors’ Conference - 2025

View photos of the conference here

Following two days of high-level dialogue and expert analysis, the inaugural IMF MENA Economic Annual Research Conference co-organized by the International Monetary Fund and AUC, concluded with a strong call for coordinated, evidence-based policy responses to the region’s old and new pressing economic challenges. 

Held on May 18–19, 2025, the conference served as a critical platform for advancing rigorous research tailored to the realities of the Middle East and North Africa. It brought together global policymakers, academics, government officials and thought leaders to bridge the discussion on global economic issues with regional realities. The event marked a first-of-its-kind collaboration between the IMF and a leading University in the region, reflecting a shared commitment to deepening the link between academic research and policy development. 

 "This is about generating ideas that are globally informed but deeply rooted in the realities of our region."

Jihad Azour, director of the IMF’s Middle East and Central Asia Department, noted that trade tensions and increasing uncertainty affecting the global economy, alongside ongoing regional conflicts and climate risks, are creating new layers of complexities for MENA policymakers. Azour called for building a regional platform for dialogue and exchange of ideas that connects MENA to world-class research centers to provide reliable analysis and develop workable and innovative policy responses to old and new economic issues facing the region. “We are deeply grateful to President Ahmad Dallal and AUC for their commitment to fostering dialogue, research and policy innovation in the region,” Azour said.

AUC President Ahmad Dallal highlighted the event’s role as a vital platform in fostering collaboration between governments, academia and the private sector. "This is about generating ideas that are globally informed but deeply rooted in the realities of our region," Dallal noted.

Dallal affirmed that this type of multi-stakeholder engagement is at the heart of AUC’s mission and reflects the University’s commitment to research, education and open dialogue as drivers of stability, resilience and inclusive growth.

“We are deeply grateful to President Ahmad Dallal and AUC for their commitment to fostering dialogue, research and policy innovation in the region."

Under the theme “Steering Macroeconomic and Structural Policies in a Shifting Global Economic Landscape,” discussions centered on four pivotal issues shaping the future of the MENA region and the global economy:

• Fiscal Policy: With public debt at historic highs, experts stressed the importance of rebuilding fiscal buffers while tackling social inequalities, aging populations, and climate pressures. Proposals included reforms in fiscal frameworks and measures to mobilize revenues, including through multinational taxation and more progressive tax systems.  
• Monetary Policy: Participants reflected on the lessons of recent inflationary shocks, emphasizing the need for more preemptive and well-communicated policy responses to global shocks and sector-specific disruptions, particularly for emerging markets.
• Industrial Policy: Speakers examined the renewed interest in industrial policy as a tool to drive inclusive growth, innovation, and climate resilience. The discussion highlighted the need to balance vertical strategies with horizontal reforms that promote private investment, trade integration, and productivity.
• Green Transition and AI: The intersection of climate action and digital transformation sparked debate about their potential to reshape labor markets. Recommendations included investing in human capital, developing targeted safety nets, and aligning policy tools to support job creation in low-emission sectors.

Throughout the sessions, there was a clear consensus that the MENA region’s economic resilience depends on institutional reforms, cross-border cooperation, and investment in skills and innovation. Participants also underscored the importance of embedding policy in local realities — an approach that both the IMF and AUC pledged to champion moving forward.

In addition to prominent global and regional academics, as well as economists and government officials from across the region, and representatives of international and regional organizations, the conference brought together policymakers, including Egypt's Minister of Planning, Economic Development and International Cooperation Rania Al-Mashat '95; Youssef Boutros-Ghali, member of the Specialized Council for Economic Development; Mahmoud Mohieldin, United Nations special envoy on financing the 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda; and Martin Galstyan, governor of the Central Bank of Armenia.

As Nigel Clarke, IMF deputy managing director concluded, "This conference is a milestone demonstrating the IMF's commitment to deepening engagement with the research and academic community, as we strive to ensure that the IMF support is not only responsive to the needs of member countries, but also built on rigorous tested analytics and importantly, it's aligned with local realities. Through this kind of multi-stakeholder dialogue, we aim to better understand how all our expertise and resources can be directed towards the most pressing challenges of the region.”

Visit the conference website for more details and to watch Day 1 and Day 2 of the discussions. 

Mahmoud Mohieldin, United Nations special envoy on financing the 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda; Egypt's Minister of Planning, Economic Development and International Cooperation Rania Al-Mashat '95; and Youssef Boutros-Ghali, member of the Specialized Council for Economic Development