On a continent teeming with entrepreneurial energy and untapped potential, Malak El Masry stands at a unique intersection—where creativity meets strategy, and where youth empowerment is a mission, not a slogan.
As Director of Fantasiam Art Studio and Program Manager at RiseUp, El Masry is not only shaping the narrative of entrepreneurship in Africa—she’s helping young changemakers author it themselves.
From spearheading Digitize with Facebook, a program that trained over 5,800 businesses, to curating innovation-driven competitions across the region, Malak has built a reputation as a formidable force in Africa’s entrepreneurial ecosystem.
But beyond numbers, her impact lies in her ability to weave art, education, and technology into tools of transformation—particularly for the continent’s youth.
“A big part of programs like Africa’s Business Heroes (ABH),” she explains, “is not just the funding, but the training, the community, and the exposure. These are the catalysts that help startups truly thrive.”
As an ABH Partner for North Africa, Malak has become a vocal advocate for inclusive entrepreneurship—highlighting the power of competitions like ABH to accelerate not just business success, but broader social change.
“Startups that tackle multiple Sustainable Development Goals with their business models,” she says, “demonstrate the kind of systemic thinking we need to build a resilient and inclusive Africa.”
At the heart of Malak’s philosophy is a deep reverence for storytelling. She believes that beyond spreadsheets and scalability, what truly moves investors, mentors, and markets is why a business exists.
What distinguishes Malak is not only her strategic mind but her artistic soul.
Through Fantasiam Art Studio, she’s curated spaces where young Africans explore identity, innovation, and imagination.
In doing so, she challenges the often rigid separation between business and culture—and affirms that both can coexist to drive sustainable impact.
Having worked in strategic communications, education, and now innovation management, Malak’s multifaceted background informs her leadership style—empathetic, intentional, and community-driven.
“The best entrepreneurs,” she notes, “aren’t just solving problems. They’re building legacies.”
“Don’t let fear delay you. Begin your application early. Lean on your community. Tell your story with clarity and conviction. Africa is listening.”
In a world where innovation often feels like a race, Malak El Masry reminds us that entrepreneurship is also a canvas—where ideas, identity, and impact come together in bold strokes.
Through her work, she is helping Africa’s next generation not just dream big, but build boldly.
Image Credit: Behance
