Through NileFM&rsquo;s coverage of the 4th edition of the CEO Women Conference, held under the esteemed auspices of H.E. Dr. Mostafa Madbouly, Prime Minister of Egypt, Yara El Gendy conducted an exclusive interview with Dr. Ghada Kandil, Chief Director at the Bank of New York and CEO Women Board Member. Dr. Kandil shared insights on leadership, financial innovation, and the importance of empowering women in executive roles. The 2025 edition placed a special spotlight on Women in Technology and Cybersecurity and Female Entrepreneurship, emphasizing the critical role women play in shaping the digital future and driving innovation in emerging industries.
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 Why do you think it&rsquo;s important to be part of such conferences as CEO Women? It&rsquo;s always good to be part of a success story and to empower other women. Whether you&rsquo;re a man or a woman, we are partners in this world. You can&rsquo;t bring women together to talk about empowerment without involving men; they&rsquo;re part of the community too. You have to be part of evolution, part of a success story. I&rsquo;m proud to be here; this is probably my fourth year attending. Every year, it grows stronger, makes more progress, and attracts more international engagement and awareness. This year&rsquo;s theme focuses on Women in Tech. Why did you choose that for this edition? I&rsquo;m a banker, but banking today isn&rsquo;t just about financial transactions. It&rsquo;s deeply connected to technology. Every transaction relies on a complex technological system that ensures efficiency and security. Even in commercial banking, the first interface you deal with is a digital one, whether it&rsquo;s through a teller using a system or through online banking from your mobile or laptop. At the Bank of New York, our work revolves around technology platforms that enhance speed and security in every transaction. Keeping up with global technological advancements is essential to maintaining trust and efficiency. Is it difficult to keep up with how fast technology is evolving today? There will always be people who resist adapting to new technologies, often the older generation, who prefer personal interactions at the bank. My mother is like that. But once the experience is made easy and enjoyable, people adapt quickly. My father, for example, started using online banking confidently after trying it once. It&rsquo;s all about overcoming the initial hesitation. Once you do, you realize how empowering it can be. Why do you think women&rsquo;s interest in technology remains lower than men&rsquo;s? Why is it still male-dominated? Interestingly, I was just on a panel, and my colleague, IBM general manager and technology leader for South Africa, Marwa Abbas, mentioned that a large percentage of electronic engineering graduates&mdash;around 40&ndash;48%&mdash;are women. So the issue isn&rsquo;t education; it&rsquo;s what happens next. The barriers often lie in the opportunities available, the challenges women face, or the lack of support structures that allow them to advance. This is not unique to Egypt; it&rsquo;s a global issue. However, in banking, I&rsquo;ve seen a different story. The financial sector is one of the most inclusive environments. We don&rsquo;t see ourselves as male or female bankers; we&rsquo;re simply bankers. That said, my early career wasn&rsquo;t free of bias. I graduated young, at 18, and people questioned my capability because of my age and because I was a young woman. At that time, many assumed women would eventually leave work for marriage. But I didn&rsquo;t let that mindset hold me back. You can build a family and a career; it&rsquo;s not a choice between the two. It&rsquo;s about balance and time management. Many people often ask women how they balance work and family. What&rsquo;s your take on that? I don&rsquo;t like that question; it should be asked of men, too. Everyone, regardless of gender, has to find a balance between work and home. Some men are extremely supportive, and at CEO Women, we even have male champions who believe in partnership and shared growth. That&rsquo;s what life is about: collaboration between people, whether in work, relationships, or communities. You have over 30 years of experience. What advice would you give to women entering tech or other male-dominated fields? Nothing can break you. Words are just words&mdash;when someone says, &ldquo;You can&rsquo;t do it because you&rsquo;re a woman,&rdquo; that&rsquo;s only their perception. Don&rsquo;t live by someone else&rsquo;s opinion. Resilience is key. Stay patient, believe in your abilities, and let your work speak for itself. That mindset will take you further than anything else.

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