Explore every episode of the podcast Negotiating the World Podcast

"What is more important to me than $14 billion is that I go to my bed at night knowing there is not a human being on Earth who's managed to bend my arm."

What does it take to negotiate, invest, and lead in countries where political uncertainty, conflict, and changing power dynamics shape every major decision?

In this episode of Negotiating the World, host Ambassador Herro Mustafa Garg sits down with Naguib Sawiris, Egyptian billionaire investor, entrepreneur, and Founder of Orascom Telecom.

This conversation goes beyond corporate talking points to explore the realities of operating in some of the world's most challenging markets.  As the visionary of one of the most successful telecommunications expansions across emerging economies, Sawiris shares the mindset that guided him through extortion attempts, political pressure, and high-stakes negotiations, while refusing to make decisions out of fear.

From establishing a telecommunications presence in North Korea to investing his own capital in post-war Iraq, Sawiris reveals the lessons that shaped his approach to risk, leadership, and dealmaking.  He also reflects on one of the defining moments of his career: walking away from a $14 billion business in Algeria rather than compromising his principles.

The result is a candid conversation about conviction, negotiation, and the price of staying true to your values when the stakes are at their highest.

About the Guest

Naguib Sawiris is an Egyptian billionaire investor, entrepreneur, and Founder of Orascom Telecom.  He pioneered mobile telecommunications infrastructure across emerging markets and helped build one of the most successful telecom enterprises in the developing world.  He is widely regarded as one of the most influential business leaders in the Middle East.

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Negotiating the World | Statecraft, Strategy, and the New Global Risk

Most people believe global power is exercised in public, but history-defining decisions are almost always born in moments of intense pressure, behind closed doors, and amid the uncertainty of the backroom.

In the premiere episode of Negotiating the World, host Ambassador Herro Mustafa Garg sits down in Egypt with Minister Nabil Fahmy – the former Foreign Minister of Egypt, former Ambassador to the United States, and the incoming Secretary General of the Arab League – for a candid conversation about leadership, diplomacy, and the hidden dynamics that shape world affairs.

"The greatest mistake in any negotiation is assuming the person across the table sees the world the way you do."

Together, they reflect on a generation of leadership that, Fahmy argues, too often prioritized short-term transactions over long-term strategy.  From chaotic backstage moments during a 1990s peace signing broadcast live on CNN to a blunt and unforgettable farewell with President George W. Bush at the White House, Fahmy shares lessons learned from decades spent negotiating with allies, rivals, and global powers alike.

What does it take to defend your nation's interests when the stakes are high, the clock is ticking, and there is no clear playbook?  And what lessons from the last generation of diplomacy will shape the future of the Arab world as Fahmy prepares to assume one of the region's most influential leadership roles?

About the Guest

Minister Nabil Fahmy is one of the Middle East's most respected diplomatic practitioners.  He has served as Egypt's Foreign Minister and Ambassador to the United States, navigating some of the region's most consequential geopolitical challenges.  He is the author of Egypt's Diplomacy in War, Peace and Transition and will assume the role of Secretary General of the Arab League on July 1, bringing decades of diplomatic experience to one of the Arab world's most important institutions.

Negotiating the World | Statecraft, Strategy, and the New Global Risk

Hosted by former U.S. Ambassador Herro Mustafa Garg, this global podcast explores how influential leaders shape consequential decisions in diplomacy, business, and public affairs.

Through unfiltered conversations with senior policymakers, business leaders, and next-generation entrepreneurs, the series goes inside the strategies, relationships, and negotiation skills that drive outcomes on the world stage.

Filmed in major capitals around the world, beginning in Egypt, this trailer offers a first look at a series that reveals how power actually works and how decisions that shape nations and markets are really made.

Episode 1 land 2 launch Tuesday. Subscribe now on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.

Negotiating the World | Statecraft, Strategy, and the New Global Risk