Can a chance conversation capture the story of an entire technology movement?

While walking through the exhibition halls at AI Everything MEA in Cairo, I had just stepped off stage after moderating a panel when someone approached me. Alaa Ali Kortoma, a Senior Frontend Developer at Capgemini, simply wanted to say hello and ask for a quick photo. What followed was an unexpected conversation about hackathons, mentoring, women in technology, and the excitement of seeing Egypt host one of the region’s most ambitious AI gatherings.

Within minutes, I knew this was a conversation worth sharing, and what began as an informal chat became Alaa’s first podcast appearance.

In this episode of Conversations from the Show Floor, Alaa shares her perspective on what it means to build a technology career in Egypt at a time when artificial intelligence is becoming part of the country’s national ambitions. We discuss the opportunities created by a workforce that welcomes hundreds of thousands of graduates each year, the importance of connecting universities with industry, and why bringing startups, investors, and global technology companies together in one place can accelerate innovation.

One theme runs throughout our conversation. AI should create opportunity rather than fear. For Alaa, that means giving people the confidence to learn new skills, mentoring the next generation through hackathons and community events, and ensuring more women see technology as a career where they can thrive and lead.

After spending three days at AI Everything MEA, I found myself reflecting on what the event represented beyond the announcements and demonstrations.

AI isn’t simply another technology trend. It’s governments modernizing public services. It’s developers creating Arabic language models that better reflect local cultures and communities. It’s healthcare organizations finding new ways to improve patient outcomes. It’s founders meeting investors. It’s students discovering careers they hadn’t previously imagined.

Perhaps the biggest takeaway wasn’t any individual product launch or keynote presentation. It was the sense of optimism that filled every conversation. There was a genuine belief that Egypt has an opportunity to play a much larger role in the global AI economy, supported by growing investment, expanding technical talent, and partnerships reaching across Africa and the Middle East.

Over the years, I’ve recorded thousands of conversations around the world, and every event has its own personality. Cairo left me with something different. It reminded me that innovation isn’t defined by geography. Great ideas can emerge anywhere when talented people are given the opportunity, support, and confidence to build them.

If there’s one phrase that captures this episode, it’s simple: proud and full of possibility.

As AI continues to influence industries around the world, perhaps the most interesting stories won’t come from the places we already expect. They’ll come from communities building their own future, solving local challenges, and proving that world-class innovation can happen anywhere.

So, wherever you’re listening from, what does AI opportunity look like in your part of the world? And what part are you playing in shaping that future?