Social Impact Pioneer Hesham Elzeftawi, Founder and CEO of EBRIIZ shares his journey from Egypt to the US and Mexico developing deep understanding and appreciation for cross-cultural learning, practical field experience, and emerging market realities. Hesham’s time in Arabic, English, and Spanish-speaking communities gives him a perspective we all need to hear. In this conversation, Hesham explores what businesses can gain from understanding different cultures, why overlooked markets hold untapped opportunities, and how inclusive growth can create wider economic opportunities, not only benefits for the few. Hesham’s career spans more than two decades across international development, cross-cultural learning, youth development, education, women’s economic empowerment, community engagement, and financial inclusion. He has worked with organisations including CARE, UNDP, GIZ, Soliya, ICA MENA, and the Science and Technology Development Fund, contributing to programmes that have reached hundreds of thousands of people across Egypt and the wider region. From managing a USD 2.4 million education programme reaching more than 40,000 students, to supporting financial and social inclusion work targeting women’s access to the formal financial system through savings and loan group methodologies, Hesham has seen first-hand how social impact succeeds when it is grounded in real local needs. He reflects on why strong project design does not always translate into local relevance, and why meaningful development must be shaped by the people, institutions, and markets it aims to serve. This is a conversation about turning misunderstanding into opportunity, seeing diversity as a way through change, and building links that are not only cultural, but practical, human, and economic. Through EBRIIZ, Hesham is now building on these experiences to explore how cultural difference can become a source of trust, collaboration, and business opportunity. His work focuses on turning misunderstanding into connection, and connection into practical economic value. He sees EBRIIZ as an evolving founder journey, shaped by both success and failure, rather than a completed success story. For anyone interested in cross-cultural leadership, youth development, emerging markets, inclusive business, financial inclusion, women’s empowerment, or the future of business with impact, this episode offers rich insights into how we can move through change with curiosity, courage, and collaboration. Hesham is part of the Business Fights Poverty Global Expert Network: https://businessfightspoverty.org/global-expert-network/ Links: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/heshamelzeftawi EBRIIZ: https://ebriiz.org/en/welcome-to-ebriiz/ If you like this, try: What Real Sustainability Integration Looks Like in Business, with Fernanda Facchini, Natura: https://businessfightspoverty.org/what-real-sustainability-integration-looks-like-in-business-with-fernanda-facchini-natura/
