During Nile FM&rsquo;s special coverage of the fifth edition of the CEO WOMEN&trade; conference, Nile FM&rsquo;s Zeinab spoke with Dr. Hajar El Haddaoui, Senior Director at NTT DATA Switzerland, about Egypt&rsquo;s potential to become a regional hub for Arabic artificial intelligence (AI) development and verification, the importance of investing in people, and her 4P framework for the next wave of AI.
With its strategic geographical position and growing technology talent, Egypt could play an important role in shaping the future of AI while attracting international partnerships and investment.
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The 4P Framework: Putting People at the Centre of AI Investment
As one of the conference's keynote speakers, El Haddaoui addressed the changing landscape of artificial intelligence and how investment can help bridge economic and technological gaps between countries.
During her presentation, she introduced her 4P framework, which focuses on connecting the private sector, public sector, people and partnerships to create a more inclusive approach to economic development.
She explained that traditional public-private partnerships have often focused on financial investment, construction and infrastructure, without placing people at the centre of the equation.
&ldquo;The next wave of AI is not only about working faster, but about how the capacity of countries, states and nations is able to sell. And to sell means also the brain,&rdquo; she explained.
El Haddaoui stressed that investment in technology should go beyond infrastructure and financial resources, highlighting the importance of developing human capital and ensuring that different countries can participate in the growing AI economy.
She also pointed to the concentration of global technology investments in a limited number of countries, arguing that a more balanced approach is needed to ensure that emerging economies can benefit from technological advancement.
&ldquo;Connecting the dots in the full economy, from private, public, people and partnership, is the key for the next wave,&rdquo; she said.
Why Egypt Has the Potential to Become an AI Hub
Discussing the conference's theme of building bridges between East and West, El Haddaoui highlighted Egypt's strategic geographical position and its potential to become an important technology and investment hub.
She pointed to Egypt's location between Europe, Asia and Africa, particularly its role in connecting international digital infrastructure through submarine cables.
&ldquo;There is a part between Alexandria and the Red Sea where there are 20 submarine cables connecting Europe to Asia,&rdquo; she explained.
&ldquo;Egypt is not just a big country, it's a location. A strategic one.&rdquo;
Beyond its geographical advantages, she highlighted Egypt's growing technology talent and its potential role in developing Arabic-language artificial intelligence.
El Haddaoui also described Egypt as a potential centre for Arabic AI verification, explaining that the country's familiarity with the Arabic language and its linguistic capabilities could help ensure the accuracy and reliability of AI-generated content.
&ldquo;There is no better than Egypt to do so,&rdquo; she said, referring to the country's potential to become a verification hub for Arabic AI.
She added that the country already has several competitive advantages that could be leveraged through stronger coordination between government institutions, the private sector and people.
Diplo Bridge: Connecting Investment and International Partnerships
El Haddaoui also discussed the importance of creating stronger connections between different economic stakeholders, particularly when it comes to international investment and cooperation.
She introduced the concept of the &ldquo;Diplo Bridge,&rdquo; which focuses on technology diplomacy, investment, economic corridors and foreign direct investment (FDI) to strengthen connections between markets.
She explained that countries cannot compete in every sector, making it essential to identify and build on their individual competitive advantages.
As part of this vision, she highlighted the launch of Diplo Bridge as the investment arm of CEO WOMEN&trade;, designed to help navigate the different economic ecosystems, connect supply with demand and facilitate investment opportunities.
The initiative aims to move beyond simply attracting more financial resources and instead focus on directing investment towards areas where it can create meaningful economic impact.
&ldquo;You cannot compete on gigawatts because you don't have the infrastructure, but what you can compete on is brain watts. It's the talent that you have,&rdquo; she explained.
For El Haddaoui, investing in people and developing local capabilities should be at the heart of every country's economic strategy.
Why Investing in People Matters in the Age of AI
While AI investment and data centres continue to attract global attention, El Haddaoui stressed that human capital must remain a priority.
She raised concerns about the limited representation of African engineers in the technology sector and questioned who would be responsible for verifying, coordinating and building trust in AI systems if investment in people does not keep pace with technological development.
She also highlighted the potential impact of AI on women in the workforce, particularly those employed in back-office operations and customer service, where automation could significantly reshape existing roles.
According to El Haddaoui, addressing these changes requires collaboration between governments, international organisations and the private sector to ensure women are not left behind in the next technological transformation.
She emphasised that women should not only benefit from AI developments but also participate in creating, developing and making decisions about the technologies shaping the future.
From Women's Empowerment to Decision-Making
Reflecting on the highlights of CEO WOMEN&trade; 2026, El Haddaoui identified the conference's focus on taking action as one of its most important outcomes.
While acknowledging the importance of discussions and awareness, she stressed that the next step should be translating conversations into measurable results.
&ldquo;I'm not a fan of conversation. I need the conversation to end, and I need to see the results of that,&rdquo; she said.
She also argued that the conversation around women's empowerment needs to evolve, as women have already demonstrated their capabilities and should now have greater opportunities to participate in leadership and decision-making.
&ldquo;We need to stop talking about how we can empower women. I think we have seen the power already. We need now to give this space for them,&rdquo; she explained.
El Haddaoui also highlighted the importance of including women in the development of emerging technologies, from coding and engineering to designing AI solutions, particularly in fields such as healthcare.
For her, genuine progress means ensuring women have a seat at the table where technological and economic decisions are being made.
Dr. Hajar El Haddaoui's Three Vitamins for Women
Towards the end of the interview, El Haddaoui shared advice for young women looking to build their careers and achieve their ambitions, drawing inspiration from her upcoming book, &ldquo;Take Your Vitamin.&rdquo;
She introduced three symbolic vitamins that represent the qualities she believes women need to navigate professional and personal challenges.
The first is Vitamin D, which stands for daring to be yourself, building your own identity and having the courage to pursue your dreams.
&ldquo;Dare to be you. Dare to be your own brand, and dare to dream and to realise your dream,&rdquo; she advised.
The second is Vitamin S, representing the importance of surrounding yourself with a strong support system.
She explained that building a successful career cannot happen in isolation, particularly when women face different professional and personal challenges.
Finally, she introduced Vitamin N, which stands for learning to say no when something does not align with your values, priorities or goals.
&ldquo;Say no when it's not okay for you,&rdquo; she said, adding that setting boundaries helps women direct their energy towards the right people and the right purpose.
Through her vision for AI investment, international cooperation and women's leadership, El Haddaoui emphasised that the future is not simply about introducing new technologies or creating more opportunities, but ensuring that people have the skills, representation and decision-making power to shape what comes next.
Photo Credit: Screenshot from the exclusive interview
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