Q&A WITH MO IBRAHIM, FOUNDER AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OF MALY

Q What other successful start-up do you wish you had started?

A While launching and scaling up a successful money management app has always been the goal, and Maly is there to achieve that, I always looked up to past and present successes. PayPal definitely stands out; we follow a similar path, empowering individuals with tools and education to expand their financial horizons and achieve financial wellness.

Who is your role model?

I mentioned PayPal, so naturally you’d think of Elon Musk, and that’s true. I have also always looked up to game changers like Jeff Bezos (Amazon founder) and Fadi Ghandour (chairman of Wamda and founder of Aramex).

What new skills have you learnt since launching your business?

More resilience, agility and adaptability. Since pivoting from the corporate world to a start-up seven years ago, I had to overcome a multitude of challenges, from building products and platforms with minimal resources to funding and cash flow management. Every experience presented an amazing opportunity to continuously learn and do things better.

Where do you want to be in five years?

Making Maly a household name across the GCC and the wider Middle East, North Africa and Turkey region, a one-stop-shop money management platform with frictionless experience, empowering people to achieve financial wellness

If you could do it all differently, what’s the one thing you would change?

Not differently, but perhaps earlier. Of course, I am very proud of the amazing team and capabilities we have and the rapid build and continuous improvement we’re going through.