During the START Summit 2026 Hisham Mehran narrates the journey of ambition and making success from Upper Egypt to Orange leadership
Hisham Mehran, CEO and Managing Director of Orange Egypt, addressed important messages to thousands of young people participating in the START 2026 Summit, organized by the Ministry of Social Solidarity, stressing that success is not related to positions as much as it is related to passion and continuous desire to learn, develop and make a real impact.
This came during a session "From study seats to driving", which was held as part of the activities of the forum at the Grand Egyptian Museum, and was moderated by the media Rami Radwan, with the participation of Ahmed Hamouda, founder and president of Thunder, Dr. Shirin Helmy, President of Varco Pharmaceuticals, and Amy Moafi, founder and president of the MO4 Network.
Mehran reviewed his career, explaining that he grew up and studied in Upper Egypt, then moved to Cairo to start his working life with simple jobs, before gradually making his way into the telecommunications sector until he took over the leadership of one of the largest telecommunications companies in Egypt.
He stressed that his ambition was never linked to the position of CEO, but his permanent goal was to excel and provide real value in every job site, pointing out that professional success is not achieved by chance, but through continuous diligence, teamwork, and permanent investment in developing skills and acquiring new experiences.
Mehran said that reaching leadership positions does not require a person to have a dream of a certain position, but that he has the passion and desire to be the best version of himself, adding: “Thirty years ago I did not imagine that I would lead Orange Egypt, but I have always sought to be different and add real value in every step.”
He pointed out that young people today have much greater opportunities than they were available to previous generations, thanks to internship and summer training programs that give them the opportunity to learn about the labor market early and gain the necessary experience to build their professional future.
The CEO of Orange Egypt stressed that summer training has become one of the most important tools for preparing future competencies, pointing out that large companies no longer see it as a temporary activity, but as a strategic investment in young talents that will lead the digital economy in the future.
He added: "I advise every student to seize any opportunity for training or learning, even if it is not directly related to the specialization, because practical experiences are what help young people discover their abilities and determine the path that suits their ambitions."
He pointed out that the practical training experience gives young people the opportunity to explore various fields, starting from marketing and entrepreneurship, to digital transformation and artificial intelligence, to help them make more conscious decisions about their professional future.
Mehran called on Egyptian companies, especially small and medium-sized companies, to expand the provision of practical training opportunities, stressing that supporting youth and preparing qualified cadres represents a direct investment in the future of the Egyptian economy, and contributes to building a generation more prepared for the requirements of digital transformation and the knowledge-based economy, in line with the targets of Egypt's Vision 2030.
He explained that modern companies have increasingly focused on skills and practical experience in addition to academic qualifications, pointing out that communication skills, teamwork, flexibility, and the ability to continuously learn, have become among the most important factors that make the difference between candidates.
He stressed that Orange Egypt offers one of the best summer training programs in the market, based on its belief that young people are the real wealth of the future of Egypt, pointing out that the company is keen to give trainees a real practical experience that allows them to learn, develop and directly contact the labor market, while supporting them to acquire skills that enable them to build successful career paths.
Mehran concluded his speech with a direct message to the youth, saying: “Do not make positions your first goal, but make your goal to be distinguished, to learn constantly, and to take advantage of every opportunity available to you. The future will be for those who have the knowledge, skill and the ability to develop.”
The Start 2026 events witnessed the participation of about 30,000 students from various Egyptian universities, in addition to more than 300 companies from the largest private sector institutions, providing wide opportunities for employment, training and direct communication between young people and the labor market, as well as the participation of dozens of experts and career counselors and grants and vocational rehabilitation programs aimed at preparing a new generation more prepared for the future.
