Maha Abouelwafa Rashwan was born into a family that had long been entwined with Egypt’s corridors of power. Her father’s role as Head of the Secretary Department for President Hosni Mubarak placed her close to the political elite, but it wasn’t the prestige that defined her path. What truly shaped Maha was her unusual upbringing, moving between cities, living in hotels, and witnessing the nuances of hospitality from behind the scenes. From these early years, she developed a keen sense of how warmth, professionalism, and atmosphere could elevate not just guest experiences, but entire economies.
Though her background seemed to nudge her toward a future in politics, Maha charted her own course. She pursued studies in marketing and communications and entered the field with unshakable determination. Starting from a junior position at the Holding Company for Tourism, Hotels, and Cinema, she climbed the ladder with persistence, stepping into more demanding roles with each move From an Area Marketing Executive at Rotana Hotels to a regional strategies leader at Resta Hotels, and again at Rotana, Egypt, as Head of Marketing and Communications. Each step deepened her expertise in brand storytelling and guest engagement and offered challenges that sharpened her instinct for leadership.
Maha was quick to embrace digital transformation, anticipating the future. Under her guidance, Rotana’s digital platforms in Sharm El Sheikh became some of the city’s most followed and engaging hotel accounts.
What set her apart was not just strategy but intuition, knowing what travelers look for in a brand before they even book it. This approach earned her a spot on Hotelier Middle East’s Top 100 Best Marketing Leaders list in 2023 it was a recognition that affirmed her influence not only in Egypt but across the region.
Despite mega corporate success, Maha remained anchored in her public-minded roots. She took up a position as Youth Secretariat Member in one of Egypt’s leading political parties, channeling her energy toward youth empowerment. In her view, Egypt’s future, especially in tourism and economic development, hangs on bringing young people to the table. For Maha, leadership isn’t about titles or spotlight; it’s about service, empathy, and creating space for others to grow. Her message to the next generation is simple but hard-earned: progress takes time and the courage to start —or start over— matters more than how fast you make it.