Setting the stage…
Loading content…Discover how to build an entrepreneurial mindset and transform your scientific knowledge into commercial value and successful businesses. This session clarifies the critical difference between merely having an "idea" and seizing a real "opportunity" to solve a market problem, emphasizing the importance of product validation and calculated risks to scale from a single product to a multi-industry empire

Dr. Mai El-Darawy: Entrepreneur, researcher & Chairwoman of Lavander Life Exporting Group (Agriculture, Industry & Trade)
Dr. Mai El-Darawy Known as the “Ms. Lavander,” Dr. Mai El-Darawy is an Egyptian entrepreneur, researcher, and business leader, and the Owner and Chairwoman of Lavander Life Exporting Group, an Egyptian business group operating across agriculture, industry, trade, export, and related sectors. Key Roles & Achievements * Leads a business group comprising eight specialized companies, along with a number of factories and production facilities operating across agriculture, industry, trade and export, medical services, advertising and marketing, design and fashion, and community service. * Has successfully combined entrepreneurship, education, and community development, while also being a mother of two sons, who are among Egypt’s youngest entrepreneurs inspired by the world of lavender. * Leads initiatives focused on women’s and youth economic empowerment through cooperation protocols and partnerships with development institutions and organizations, supporting Egyptian women breadwinners and producers while promoting entrepreneurship and sustainability. * Extends her business and development activities across Africa, contributing to stronger economic cooperation between Egypt and African countries and supporting entrepreneurship, women’s and youth empowerment through partnerships, development initiatives, and investments aimed at opening new markets, strengthening economic integration, and advancing sustainable development across the continent. * Through Lavanderita Advertising, she launched Lavanderita Studio, a training platform offering specialized programs and courses across a range of fields to trainees in Egypt and internationally. * Supports startups and entrepreneurs through the “Lavanderita Coins” system, an innovative and flexible marketing solution designed to help emerging businesses build their presence, grow, and expand. * Played a notable role during the COVID-19 pandemic through her company specializing in medical supplies and prosthetic devices, contributing to support for the healthcare sector during the crisis. * Serves as an Academic Advisor to a number of universities in Egypt and the Gulf region. Memberships & Affiliations * Member of the Export Council for Leather and Leather Products. * Member of Egypt Business Women 21. * Member of the UAE Business Club. * Member of the Gulf Cooperation Council. * Member of Women in Business Kenya. * Member of the Women’s Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (WICCI). * Member of Women of Egypt. * Member of the African Women Entrepreneurs Federation. * Member of the Afro-Asian Chamber of Commerce and Investment (AAMEC). * Certified International Representative of the American Heart Association. * Member of the GS1 Global System. Academic Qualifications * Master’s Degree in Export and International Trade. * Master’s Degree in Board of Directors Preparation and Corporate Governance. * American Board Certification in Clinical Pharmacy. * Master’s Degree in Clinical Simulation. * Diploma in Marketing Fundamentals. * Diploma in Management Preparation. * Diploma in Human Resources Management (HR). Companies & Entities * Lavander Life Exporting – Egypt * Lavander Life – England * Lavander Life – Kenya * Lavanderita Advertising - Lava social impact * Fasholava Design & Fashion * Lavander Life Leather Products * Lavander Life Farm