Dania Ghoneim, Egypt cluster vice president at N Gage Consulting: Each week, My Morning Routine looks at how a successful member of the community starts their day — and then throws in a couple of random business questions just for fun. Speaking to us this week is Dania Ghoneim (LinkedIn), Egypt cluster vice president at N Gage Consulting.

My name is Dania Ghoneim. I’m the vice president of N Gage Consulting for the Egypt cluster. I’ve spent the past decade working in government relations and business lobbying, helping companies navigate regulatory challenges and advocate for their interests. At its core, my work is about crisis management — solving problems, mitigating risks, and finding strategic solutions. That’s what makes it exciting for me — it’s dynamic, fast-paced, and constantly evolving.

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As VP, I oversee government engagement, policy advocacy, and regulatory strategy, primarily for larger corporations operating in Egypt. But beyond that, I’ve also made it a point to support the startup ecosystem. What started as an occasional passion quickly became a key part of my work. In addition to advocating for the private sector, I actively work to push for policies that create a more supportive environment for startups, ensuring they have the access and chances they need to grow.

One of my key responsibilities is trying to find or create a system amidst the chaos, which is a big part of my job. If I had to break my day down, I’d split it into three main parts. The first is managing clients. I check on ongoing projects and, of course, brace for whatever new crisis the world has thrown our way. The second part of my day is dedicated to my team — ensuring they have what they need, offering support, and making sure we’re all aligned. The final block of my day is company housekeeping, which inevitably comes last.

N Gage Consulting’s core mission is to advocate for the private sector, making it easier to do business in Egypt and attract investment. This means protecting clients’ operations, advancing their interests on the regulatory front, and building strong government partnerships — all to create a more business-friendly environment.

The company was founded in 2013 to fill a major gap in the market — there was a clear breakdown in communication between the government and the private sector at a time of economic transition and opportunity. The company set out to transform government relations from an arbitrary process into a structured, strategic science, something unheard of in the region at the time. Many were skeptical when founder Karim Refaat built N Gage Consulting with a team of fresh graduates instead of the seasoned insiders typically seen in government relations. But the firm set out to challenge the notion that success in the field depends on “connections” alone.

Everybody is tech-obsessed right now, and I’m no exception. Digitization, automation, and AI are at the center of every conversation, from fintech to supply chain automation. What makes this trend different is that there’s no ceiling — no one knows how far it will go. That’s what makes it exciting, but it also poses a major challenge for our industry. If we don’t fully understand the scope of AI yet, how do we even begin to regulate it?

Our number one priority is fixing the lack of predictability in the regulatory landscape. Businesses need a stable environment to plan and grow, but constant shakeups make that nearly impossible. We’re seeing this now in the US and the EU, and most notably during covid — when the system is in flux, the private sector struggles to adapt to new developments. That’s why a huge part of our job is working with governments to create a consistent, predictable framework that allows businesses to operate with confidence.

MOST RECENTLY- N Gage inked an MoU with the General Authority for Investment and Freezones to strengthen cooperation on investment promotion. Under the MoU, N Gage will promote local investments through its offices here and abroad, connect private players with GAFI, and feed GAFI information on sectors investors are interested in. Meanwhile, the authority will provide N Gage with data on investment in Egypt.

My job is naturally chaotic, so I carve out two blocks of peace — morning and night — where I disconnect as much as possible. When I first wake up, it’s my quiet time. I start with coffee and the news. EnterpriseAM is always one of the first things I read, followed by global updates and a couple of opinion pieces, maybe from the Economist, to get a sense of where things are headed. On my commute to work, I listen to music — it’s my last moment of calm, a chance to think through the day before the chaos begins. Once I step into the office, there’s no time to plan — we just go straight into it.

My workday is packed with back-to-back meetings, so I force organization wherever I can. Compartmentalization is key — I set a dedicated email time, keeping my phone on do not disturb to focus on urgent tasks and delegate where needed. When I’m on calls or in meetings, I do the same, keeping distractions to a minimum. I try to stick to regular working hours, though crisis management sometimes means late-night emergencies. Still, maintaining some normalcy is essential, so we aim to wrap up by 8pm at the latest.

My current personal and professional goals are deeply intertwined. Lately, I’ve been focused on giving back and being of service to the community, especially in Egypt’s startup ecosystem — something I’ve always been passionate about. Over time, that passion has turned into hands-on volunteer work, collaborating with partners to mentor, fund, and support young people. I’m excited to prioritize this in the coming year, with a packed calendar of masterclasses, workshops, conferences, and training programs across Egypt.

I like to think of myself as a reformed workaholic. During covid, the workday never really ended, and I pushed myself even harder. But I realized balance isn’t just good for me — it makes me better at my job. In crisis management, you can’t mirror a client’s panic, you have to be the solution. That means staying calm, clear-headed, and grounded. Now, I make sure to do at least one thing for myself daily — whether it’s calling a friend, reading, or listening to music — to stay balanced and effective.

I unwind by reading or watching TV — mostly political thrillers. My job is all about strategy, so I also gravitate toward books that sharpen my thinking. I’m currently rereading Never Split the Difference by Chris Voss on negotiation.

The best advice I’ve received came from two places — from my father and what started as a joke with my team. My father always told me, it's all in your head. It wasn’t advice, just a statement, but it shaped how I think. It taught me to step outside my own perspective and consider every situation from all angles — critical in negotiations, where I need to understand what the other side wants and speak their language, not just my own. The second is a phrase my team and I live by: one crisis at a time. It started as a joke but became a mantra. When overwhelmed, the only way forward is to break things down into manageable steps. Trying to solve everything at once never works — pacing yourself does.

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