A former digital journalist, brand marketer, event designer, speechwriter, executive coach and operations executive, El-Gawly’s tapestry of professional pursuits combine to shape her philosophy and approach to purposeful living and working. She co-founded her first company, 360 Live Media, at the age of 27, driving a values-driven approach to team development, brand building and customer service that led to both rapid growth (400% in five years) and high employee satisfaction (twice named Best Place to Work in Washington). She learned, by doing, that investing in people and relationships will always yield exponentially better results. 

El-Gawly has crafted unique partnerships and designed experiences in collaboration with the world-leading Gallup organization, renowned design firm IDEO and the association of associations, the American Society of Association Executives. Through these programs, she has introduced more than ten thousand people to a strengths-based approach to human development, and more than five hundred thousand people have been touched by her work. 

By nature, El-Gawly is a beauty seeker and connoisseur. Her innate ability to recognize potential and maximize its impact infuses everything she does. She believes in the unique genius of every human being on the planet. She is an interpreter of needs and wants in the workplace. She creates environments that enable people to grow, build powerful relationships, and do their best work. She has become a trusted advisor to dozens of CEOs, business and nonprofit leaders, entrepreneurs and community visionaries. Some even call her their executive whisperer.

Egyptian by birth and hailing from Abu Dhabi, El-Gawly is tri-lingual and holds degrees from Georgetown University and The American University in Cairo. She proudly serves on the boards of two incredible community nonprofits: A Wider Circle and the Catalogue for Philanthropy. She was recognized as one of Washington’s 40 under 40 in 2017.