Ahmed Shafik

Life has never been an easy road, and there are no shortcuts to quickly reach your dreams. It's full of twists and challenges, each making you reevaluate your path and face yourself. I believe that every step along the way teaches you something, and every hardship builds something new within you.

One of the hardest decisions I ever made was leaving my job at the United Nations to join the ITI program in Egypt. My job back then was stable and comfortable, and everyone around me thought I lost my mind to leave all of that for something uncertain. The program was incredibly intense, 9 months of continuous learning and relentless challenges. But in that moment of decision, I realized that stability wasn't enough for me. I had to take a risk if I wanted to achieve something bigger.

My name is Ahmed, one of the most common names in Egypt. If you called out 'Ahmed' on any street, a hundred people might respond! That's why my friends call me 'Shafik,' a name close to my heart. My work today can be summed up simply: I build cities, but not with bricks and cement. I build the digital infrastructure that keeps everything running: systems, data, and networks.

Imagine a city where all the roads are blocked! Everything would come to a halt, right? The same thing happens in technology when systems break down. My role is to ensure that doesn't happen. If there's a problem, I'm the first to step in, fix it, and improve the systems to keep them strong and reliable.

Today, I live in Tallinn, Estonia, working as a team leader at a global company specializing in digital identity verification. Every step in my life has been a challenge, and every challenge has shaped who I am today.

I always remember that success isn't a coincidence, and life isn't easy. Success is about raising your ambitions, facing your fears with courage, and never giving up. Because, in the end, there are no shortcuts in life.