Stories that inspire change.

Womena is a feminist media company that creates inspiring and compelling women-focused content to build a lasting impact. From documentaries, to articles, podcasts, photography and more, we are taking back ownership of the narrative around our community.

Over the last decade, Womena has consistently targeted and addressed the many levels of inequality facing women today.

From our early start in the entrepreneurial ecosystem to spearheading impact driven storytelling, Womena represents the change we want to see in the world.

Whether it's storytelling for change or opening up access to funding, education or networks of support: when Womena chooses to tackle an issue, we do it all the way, whole-heartedly, and with excellence.

Meet the team text

Elissa Freiha

Elissa Freiha
Founder, Managing Director & Executive Producer

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Elissa Freiha
Founder, Managing Director & Executive Producer

I own womena. Google me for more.

Amira Salah-Ahmed

Amira Salah-Ahmed
Chief Media Officer & Executive Producer

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Amira Salah-Ahmed
Chief Media Officer & Executive Producer

I’ve been telling stories for as long as I can remember, mainly as a writer and sometimes poet. I studied media and worked as a journalist and editor in Egypt for many years (co-founding a couple of media platforms along the way). When I joined Womena in 2018 I dove into the world of video and became a producer and director, and slowly pivoted the company toward a full-on regional media platform. Whether it’s a script, article, caption or headline, I obsess over the details of how we tell stories and how we convey nuanced, authentic narratives. I’ve always found a certain fluidity between journalism and creative writing, both as a way of documenting the memories of certain moments – be they historical or intimately personal – and as a way of processing the experiences we go through. In what feels like another life, I co-authored a book ("Tahrir Memoirs") with a group of writers and bloggers about Egypt’s 18-day uprising in 2011.

Alexia Booker

Alexia Booker
Social Media Marketing Manager

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Alexia Booker
Social Media Marketing Manager

Aya Elhusseiny

Aya Elhusseiny
Producer & Video Editor

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Aya Elhusseiny
Producer & Video Editor

Photos, videos, and documentaries are my forms of speaking. While studying radio and TV production at Cairo University, I fell in love with the way the camera allowed me to express myself and see the world - mainly because I think I’m dyslexic. The world makes sense through a camera, don’t you think? If I'm not answering my phone, it’s because I am having a one-on-one therapy session with my dog.

Rythma Ekanayake

Rythma Ekanayake
Creative Producer & Writer

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Rythma Ekanayake
Creative Producer & Writer

You’ll find me where forgotten ideas go, with a garden of towering books over my head. Born in Sri Lanka and raised in the UAE, I share in the unique shapeshifting gifts of third culture kids.  I’m a silent and enthusiastic (sometimes) observer of the many ways in which humanity chooses to exist. Currently, I’m a Philosophy major at the University of London because I absolutely refuse to be palatable despite being adaptable - invite me to your dinner parties, I will bring the poets and Scorpios with me.

Hadi Gaafar

Hadi Gaafar
Production Coordinator

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Hadi Gaafar
Production Coordinator

After 15 years in Canada (you can ask me about it later), I moved back home to Egypt in 2019. As a way to give back to the region, I set out to be a part of the growing entrepreneurial ecosystem and found Womena. I started the journey as the program manager of the Womentum Accelerator and pivoted my career to become a producer when I understood the potential of storytelling. When I’m not supporting the Cairo team in making the magic happen, I go diving to disconnect from the chaos and noise of the surrounding world. I’m in my element when I’m underwater, taking part in a world you do not see above it.

Sherilee Khan

Sherilee Khan
Social Media Manager

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Sherilee Khan
Social Media Manager

I love stories and our ability to tell and hear stories that crush the perceptions that we form just by looking at someone. Having only one ear means that I have had to deal with many false perceptions, but it’s great because I can’t hear my haters either. Hailing from a family of matriarchs, I’m determined to keep pushing the narratives that empower women because it shows young women that there is more to aspire to than what we’re all taught.

Nadeen Zohair

Nadeen Zohair
Audience Development Manager

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Nadeen Zohair
Audience Development Manager

Our data has a lot of stories to tell us, and that is why I studied data analytics and branding at NYU. I’m a huge fan of analyzing how data impacts our everyday lives. Alcoholic at heart (Kidding…ish). But if you ever want to sip whiskey and dance the night away to some House or Electronic music I’m your gal. I feel at peace near the water so I have a passion for diving and exploring the calmness ‘under the sea’ (as Sebastian from The Little Mermaid says.)

Rowan Messelhy

Rowan Messelhy
Video Editor

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Rowan Messelhy
Video Editor

I love connecting deeply to people and things, but being someone who finds it difficult to express themselves using words, I grew to be deeply passionate about all forms of art, especially film. Studying media design at the German University in Cairo allowed me to touch the intangible worlds around us and learn about the magical process of creating films (it also made me discover the nerd in me). At the same time, I love movement and the joy it brings - sports, games, activities, sign me up! I also really love laughing, funny people are my favorite kind of people.

Hadeel Jazzar

Hadeel Jazzar
Manager of People and Culture

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Hadeel Jazzar
Manager of People and Culture

Though I am an architect by profession, I joined Womena because I believed in the cause. Anything I can do to make a difference and make the world a better place was worth my time. Today, I thoroughly enjoy being of service to the amazing people who work for Womena.

Join the team text Send your CV text Salma@womena.com text

Contributers text

Farida Fawzy

Farida Fawzy
Filmmaker

Christina Atik

Christina Atik
Illustrator, Graphic Designer

Alya Mooro

Alya Mooro
Writer, Podcast Host

Ashley Wentling

Ashley Wentling
Chef, Illustrator

Nadia Gilbert

Nadia Gilbert
Chef, Filmmaker

Get in touch text

Inquiries

General Inquiries

contact@womena.com

Sales & Partnerships

elissa@womena.com

Get Featured

rythma@womena.com

Join Us

Womena Collective

nadeen@womena.com

Work For Us

salma@womena.com

Contributions

contact@womena.com

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