The Turning Point: 15 RiseUp '26 Speakers Defining the Global Economy

On February 5th-7th, one of the region’s largest and most dynamic entrepreneurial summits returns to one of Egypt’s most iconic new locations, the Grand Egyptian Museum. Now entering its 14th edition, RiseUp has firmly cemented its position as a unique breeding ground for conversations and ideas, bringing together figures from the local, regional and global ecosystems together for a rich agenda of panel discussions, fireside chats and more.

This year, RiseUp arrives under the theme of The Turning Point - a tribute to the moments that redefine the trajectory of a career, a company or even an entire industry. Whether it arrives as a breakthrough, a setback or a single decision, a turning point is the event horizon where perspective shifts and the future is altered.

It’s a universal concept, but it also speaks directly to worlds of entrepreneurship, tech and innovation. Oftentimes, what begins as an entrepreneur’s personal revelation or a startup’s strategic pivot ripples outward, contributing to a collective evolution across ecosystems and sectors.

Here are 15 speakers announced for RiseUp that that represent and embody this very momentum.

Phil Wiser — Chief Technology Officer, EVP, Multiplatform Operations at Paramount Global

The Turning Point: Shifting from digital entrepreneurship to spearheading the AI-first transformation for Paramount’s global entertainment empire.

An industry-leading entrepreneur and executive, Phil Wiser’s impact sits at the intersection of technology and global media. As Executive Vice President and CTO at Paramount, he leads the technological strategy and multiplatform operations for one of the world’s most iconic entertainment houses, using his expertise in navigating the complex evolution of legacy systems into an AI-driven future.

Shaloo Garg — Managing Director, Microsoft

The Turning Point: Transitioning from corporate M&A at Oracle to leading Microsoft’s global engine for startup partnerships and social entrepreneurship.

Based in Silicon Valley, Shaloo Garg is an influential figure in enterprise innovation, who as the founder of Microsoft’s Global Social Entrepreneurship Program, bridges the gap between disruptive startups and global commercialisation. With a background in mergers and acquisitions at Oracle, Shaloo has unique insight ion navigating the complexities of scaling globally.

Diya Wynn — Principal, Responsible Al Lead, Amazon Web Services (AWS)

The Turning Point: Pivoting 25 years of digital scaling expertise to establish the first global Customer Engagement practice for Responsible AI at AWS.

Diya Wynn is a seasoned executive operating at the frontier of digital transformation. With a career spanning twenty-five years across e-commerce, cloud and mobile, she now leads the critical conversation on ethical artificial intelligence at AWS.

Moe Ibrahim — Data & AI Lead, Google Switzerland

The Turning Point: Translating a decade of European tech experience into the creation "Outcome Engines’ that solve industrial-scale challenges for Google.

A specialist in bridging the divide between technical potential and tangible business impact, Moe Ibrahim excels at building what he calls ‘Outcome Engines’. With over a decade of experience across Google and AWS, he has spearheaded data solutions for Europe’s largest industrial firms.

Ismael Faro — VP Quantum+AI, DE, IBM

The Turning Point: Launching the IBM Quantum Experience, a move that redefined the cloud by making quantum computing publicly accessible for the first time.

As the VP at IBM Research, Ismael Faro has changed the accessibility of advanced computing forever. As the principal architect behind the world’s first public Quantum Cloud and a pioneer of the open-source Qiskit framework, his work represents the very edge of what is possible, bringing the future of quantum computing into the hands of millions of developers.

Eduardo Frias — Field CTO, Enterprise, Shopify

The Turning Point: Ushering the technical transition of Fortune 500 giants onto the Shopify platform to redefine global enterprise commerce.

With a thirty-year career spanning startups and Fortune 500 stalwarts, Eduardo Frias is a veteran of the global tech industry. Having held senior roles at the likes of Nike and Johnson & Johnson, he now drives enterprise commerce at Shopify, where he utlises a deep understanding of the technical architecture to modernise retail for the world’s largest organisations.

Khaled Hashem — Board Member, The Sovereign Fund of Egypt - Infrastructure

The Turning Point: Directing the strategic deployment of national wealth across Egypt’s critical multi-billion dollar infrastructure projects.

Formerly the President and CEO of Honeywell for the Middle East and Africa, Khaled Hashem now oversees the strategic deployment of wealth within Egypt’s Sovereign Fund. His expertise lies in operational excellence across diversified portfolios and managing the foundational infrastructure that underpins regional growth.

Youssef Salem — CFO, ADNOC Drilling

The Turning Point: Joining the executive team of the world’s largest integrated driller to lead its massive financial expansion and ENERGY tech platform, Enersol.

As CFO of ADNOC Drilling and Chair of the $1.5bn Enersol platform, Youssef Salem has orchestrated over $150 billion in mergers and acquisitions and capital raises. From taking Swvl public on the Nasdaq to advising MENA’s first AI unicorn, Salem’s career is defined by the execution of massive financial expansion in emerging markets.

Javier Villamizar — Operating Partner, SoftBank Investment Advisers

The Turning Point: Spearheading global growth operations for the world’s most ambitious tech portfolio at the SoftBank Vision Fund.

From his origins as a Colombian entrepreneur to his current role at the SoftBank Vision Fund, Javier Villamizar has experienced the full lifecycle of a startup. Having led business development at Motorola and now advising a portfolio of the world’s most ambitious tech firms, he brings a global perspective on scale.

Wang Xinxi — Economist & Advisor, World Bank

The Turning Point: Moving to Nairobi in 2022 to bridge the China-Africa investment gap, directly leading to her advisory roles on catalytic health and startup funds.

An economist with a uniquely cross-regional understanding, Wang Xinxi is a critical connector between the Chinese and African entrepreneurship ecosystems. Based in Nairobi, she has been instrumental in designing catalytic funds for primary healthcare systems, while her work as an advisor to the most prolific China-backed VCs makes her an essential figure in south-to-south investment flows.

Jeremy Adams — Film, TV, & comic book writer & producer, DC Comics

The Turning Point: Writing the blueprint for global IPs like The Flash and LEGO Monkie Kid, commanding a reach of over 50 million viewers.

Jeremy Adams is the creative mind behind some of the modern era’s most successful global intellectual properties. From revitalising The Flash and Green Lantern for DC Comics to developing LEGO’s hit series Monkie Kid, his work commands audiences in the tens of millions, something that has given him a rare grasp of the mechanics of storytelling and narratives that resonate across diverse global markets.

Victoria Caña — Manager of Game Production, The Pokémon Company

The Turning Point: Directing the digital production and scaling of the highest-grossing media franchise in human history.

Leading international production at The Pokémon Company International, Victoria Caña has brought the Pokémon digital card game to life. Prior to The Pokémon Company, Victoria produced major games at Riot Games including Wizards of the Coast, and Probably Monsters, where she's contributed to major titles like Legends of Runeterra and Magic: The Gathering.

Monica Brand — Engel Co-founder & Managing Partner, Quona Capital

The Turning Point: Launching a specialised $50M lending vehicle for small businesses, which turned her focus from traditional VC to managing $800M in inclusive fintech.

Monica Brand Engel is a co-founder and Managing Partner at Quona Capital, a venture firm focused on fintech for inclusion in emerging markets. As an entrepreneur and investor, Brand Engel has launched a host of different funds and products aimed at broadening financial inclusion, while at Quona, she manages over $800 million of assets.

Zachariah George — Managing Partner, Launch Africa Ventures

The Turning Point: Co-founding Startupbootcamp AfriTech, the move that established him as the leading VC voice for pan-African tech unicorns.

In addition to being Managing Partner at Launch Africa Ventures, a leading pan-African VC fund, Zachariah George is a prolific angel investor in over 50 tech startups, including Flutterwave and KudaBank. In 2020, he was recognized as one of the Top 4 Most Influential Persons in Technology in Africa by Les Echos, having launched Startupbootcamp AfriTech.

Paris Deletraz — Managing Director of Venture Lab, IE University Paris

The Turning Point: Shifting from a 20-year M&A banking career to academia to lead the IE Venture Lab and mentor the next generation of high-growth founders

A Professor of Entrepreneurship and the Managing Director of the Venture Lab at IE University, Paris Deletraz is a former investment banker and serial startup founder whose PhD in Organisational Behavior, has seen him establish narratives around the psychology of entrepreneurship.

Stay tuned for more RiseUp 2026 with StartupScene.