Sarah El-Menawi

Sarah El-Menawi represents a distinctive generation of Egyptian professionals working at the intersection of international affairs, security policy, education, and youth empowerment. With experience spanning NATO, the European Union, and the Egyptian government, Sarah has built a career defined by intellectual curiosity, international engagement, and a commitment to creating opportunities for others.

Her professional journey has been shaped by an uncommon combination of experiences. Before establishing herself in the field of global affairs, Sarah was a professional basketball player and represented the Egyptian National Basketball Team. Her transition from competitive sport to international policy reflects the discipline, resilience, and ambition that have remained central to her career.

Academically, Sarah has pursued an equally international path. She earned Master's degrees in European Studies and Russian Studies through the Erasmus Mundus programme and later pursued a Master's in Global Affairs at Tsinghua University as a Schwarzman Scholar. Her academic experiences have provided her with a broad perspective on the geopolitical relationships shaping Europe, Russia, China, the Middle East, and the wider international system. Her involvement with the Erasmus Mundus community also led to her election as North Africa's Regional Representative from 2017 to 2019.

Sarah's professional experience has taken her into the heart of international and public policy. Her career has included work with the Egyptian government as well as engagement with European and transatlantic institutions. She currently works in civil-military engagement within NATO's Strategic Direction-South Hub, focusing on issues connected to North Africa and the broader southern neighbourhood. This experience has strengthened her understanding of the complex security and geopolitical challenges facing the region.

Beyond policy and international affairs, Sarah has consistently invested in youth development. In 2023, she founded LEAD, standing for Leadership, Empowerment, Advocacy, and Development, a platform focused on personal and professional development across the MENA region. Through mentorship, workshops, educational content, speaking engagements, and guidance on international opportunities, LEAD reflects Sarah's belief that access to the right knowledge and opportunities can fundamentally change an individual's trajectory.

Her commitment to empowering young people was also recognized by the European Union. In 2022, Sarah was selected as an EU Jeel Connector, becoming part of an initiative that connects and empowers young people across the Southern Neighbourhood. In Egypt, she has contributed to helping young people discover and navigate international opportunities, including European mobility and scholarship programmes.

Sarah is also active as a writer and public voice on global affairs. Through her writing and participation in international discussions, she brings complex geopolitical issues closer to wider audiences while encouraging greater awareness of the forces shaping the region and the world.

What makes Sarah's journey particularly compelling is the connection between its different chapters. Sport taught her discipline and perseverance. International education expanded her worldview. Government and security-policy experience gave her insight into how institutions approach complex challenges. And her work with young people has transformed that experience into a platform for helping others build their own paths.

Sarah El-Menawi's career ultimately reflects a broader philosophy of leadership: knowledge becomes more valuable when it is shared, opportunities become more meaningful when they are opened to others, and professional success can have a greater impact when it contributes to the development of the community around it.

Through her work across policy, education, international affairs, writing, and youth empowerment, Sarah continues to build a career that connects global perspectives with regional impact.