Who We Are
PLUS Egypt is the official alumni association for Egyptian recipients of the U.S. Department of State’s Partnerships for Learning Undergraduate Studies (PLUS) scholarship program. Established under the auspices of the U.S. Embassy in Cairo, our network unites a select group of Egyptian Fulbright scholars and exchange alumni who completed undergraduate studies in the United States through the PLUS initiative. The PLUS program was created by the State Department’s Bureau of Educational & Cultural Affairs to identify and support academically talented students from the Middle East and North Africa who exhibit outstanding leadership potential in contributing to the economic, political, and social development of their region govinfo.gov. As PLUS alumni, we continue to embody that mission: we are entrepreneurs, professionals, and changemakers leveraging our U.S.-gained education and global perspectives to drive positive change at our beloved Egypt.
Our community prides itself on its diversity and excellence. Members of PLUS Egypt include award-winning scholars and emerging leaders across various fields. Many of us earned prestigious international scholarships – Fulbright, Chevening, BP Cambridge – which are highly competitive programs reserved for individuals with exceptional leadership potential and academic achievement. Collectively, our alumni have achieved top honors (including Phi Beta Kappa academic distinction and summa cum laude graduations) and have been recognized by the U.S. Department of State for their roles as cultural ambassadors fostering mutual understanding. We carry forward this legacy of excellence and service through PLUS Egypt, functioning as a credible, professional association that is both alumni-driven and closely connected with U.S.-Egypt exchange diplomacy.
Leadership
PLUS Egypt is led by an executive council of dedicated alumni, elected by our membership to guide the network’s activities. At the helm is President Osama Wahba, whose election as President has been formally acknowledged by the U.S. State Department as an example of alumni leadership in action. Mr. Wahba exemplifies the caliber of our alumni community. He is a Fulbright PLUS scholar and Chevening alumnus, holding a summa cum laude degree from the University of South Carolina (USC), after which he went on to the University of Cambridge for his MPhil and PhD. In his professional life, he has distinguished himself as one of Egypt’s leading entrepreneurs, known for modernizing traditional industries and scaling them into structured, sustainable businesses. Notably, he founded innovative ventures like Mr. Tailor, Mr. Cobbler, and Mr. Sofa, which transformed local trades (tailoring, shoe repair, furniture restoration) into nationwide franchises – launching many branches and creating hundreds of skilled jobs in under 10 years.
Mr. Wahba also brings significant public service and policy experience to his role. Following Egypt’s 2011 revolution, he was handpicked to join the T20 policy group, an elite national advisory council tasked with crafting Egypt’s post-revolution economic recovery and long-term development strategies. In this capacity, he worked on high-impact initiatives such as the White Book and Egypt’s Vision 2030 agenda, contributing original ideas to economic reform and institutional development. He has been hailed by peers as a “policy architect and thought leader” for his role in national strategy formulation. Under Osama Wahba’s leadership, PLUS Egypt has expanded its reach and programming, leveraging his unique blend of entrepreneurial success and public-sector insight. He has forged partnerships with institutions and inspired alumni to engage in initiatives of national importance. Moreover, our President’s accomplishments have earned media coverage in prominent outlets – he and our association’s work have been featured in publications like Egypt Today magazine and Rose al-Youssef, highlighting PLUS Egypt’s influence in business and civic innovation.
Supporting Mr. Wahba is a team of vice-presidents, committee heads, and advisors drawn from our alumni ranks. This broader leadership team includes professionals in fields such as education, business, technology, and public policy. Together, they ensure that PLUS Egypt’s activities remain true to our mission and that every member has the opportunity to contribute. Our leaders serve on a volunteer basis, demonstrating the deep commitment of PLUS alumni to giving back. They organize events, mentor younger members, and cultivate collaborations that benefit both our alumni community and the wider society. Through transparent governance and a shared passion for service, the PLUS Egypt leadership maintains the organization’s credibility and drives its continued success as a model alumni network.