Written By: Farah Ahmed
Getting closer to the end of Ramadan has been intriguing, not only to us but to I-Gamify’s virtual summit! This time they brought up exclusive discussions on COVID 19 with competent from Jordan, Tunisia, and Lebanon.
Here are some of the highlights…
The 18th day concentrated on “The Financial Impact on Companies during COVID 19” with 3 engaging business experts.
Nassima Ayfi a Tunisian trainer and business expert in entrepreneurship talked statically about the impact of COVID 19 on the economy in several points:
- The decline in productivity and individual production.
- The importance of expenses calculations in the upcoming period.
- Outsourcing is recommended for startups.
Mohamed Naiem the owner and CEO of Shark and Shrimp Marketing Agency gave insights on the ways that a company and a startup can plan and invest during COVID 19.
- Companies: He advises the companies to invest using the cash availability, in the customers; which means reinvesting in a win-win situation.
- Startups: You have to be careful in your choice of laborers, maintenance of a good relationship with your partners to ease your job, and efficient management of resources. During the pandemic, development based on the market needs is the most substantial, as well as good management of financial resources.
Saad Elalfy the founder of “3mdahab” an e-commerce platform, set up some recommendations for any startup in various points:
- The main condition for entering the market as an e-commerce business is to add-value; which means targeting a solution for a persona.
- The role and value of market segmentation, matchmaking, and marketplace.
- In choosing the product to sell, you should focus on a specific segment and the needs of such a persona. Also, pay attention to advertisements, sales, and marketing.
Check the complete panel on: https://www.facebook.com/IGamify/videos/595769464626561/
Day 19 theme was “The Strategies of Protection and recovery during COVID19” with surprising guests. Dr. Tareq Rasheed from Jordan, who works with the UN in 3 different offices; ILO International Training Centre, UN Institute for Training and Research (UITAR), and Global Youth Leadership Academy. Dr. Marwa Khodir an HR consultant in Egypt and different companies from over the world. Tarek Wael a certified coach, and learning and development manager at Boost Training and Consulting.
What are the personal strategies to recover from this period? Tarek explains that the current status is characterized by speedy rate and much conflicting information. Thus, you need to have psychological awareness and acceptance of what is in your control and what’s not to create a meaning that helps you handle this situation.
What’s your definition of psychological health? Dr. Tareeq views protection form the value perspective, intending to have nations with resistance values. He illustrated the complex reaction of thought, feeling, and behavior. If you have negative thoughts, this leads to high depression/dreadful feelings, then depression and diseases start roaming your body. The same goes for positive emotions. The strategy is to build a deep faith in the future generations.
How to manage the employees’ fears during COVID 19? Dr. Marwa stresses the importance of employees’ engagement. Hence, as an HR, you should work on 3 dimensions; psychological needs through consistent and transparent communication, emotional side through transmitting the feeling of unconditional worthiness and gratitude, and lastly the behavior as the result of your work on the previous two points. She advises companies to invest in employee coaching at this time.
The panel then continued by presenting spectacular vital inputs. With Dr. Tareeq discussing the SUNSHINE recipe, the diverse impact of COVID 19 on the various categories inside a community, and the necessity of dealing with the media during this critical time. Tarek tackling the online business and how to move forward in it. Finally, Dr. Marwa talking about spreading positive vibes vs toxic energy, and the idea of push-pull on culture.
Check the complete panel on: https://www.facebook.com/IGamify/videos/244954513233825/
The following day held an awesome surprise, it was a special conversation with Dr. Hesham Abdelaziz Omar on COVID19 itself! He is currently the founder and Chairman of Tiny’s Clinic, Zahraa Al Maadi, Cairo. Along with having a course about COVID19 on almentor.net.
People were able to have an eye-opener question and answer with the Dr. throughout the panel. Here you go some of the agenda’s highlights:
- It’s not the first time to witness the virus, yet the COVID 19 is the harshest.
- It became considered an epidemic due to its speed spreading and they aim to make the infection rate (R0) below 1.
- Arguments between medical schools of thoughts on whether the Coronavirus transfers through the air or not.
- He recommends wearing medical masks, also for children and animals (cats and dogs).
- The rumors regarding the invention of treatment are only a geopolitical conflict between countries, nothing is certain yet.
- Some medicines are available for the treatment but none is effective to terminate the disease completely.
- An affordable vaccination and medicine that are obtainable all over the world is a must.
- Coexistence with the virus by precautionary measures. First, sashing your hands is more important than using alcohol. Second, keeping the social distance. Third, drinking water to keep yourself hydrated. Fourth, strengthening your immunity system (vitamin C/D).
- There is an expectation that vaccination will be ready next January 2021.
- Treatment protocol: Hydroxychloroquine – Tamiflu – Azithromycin.
- Children are susceptible to the virus too, and another disease appeared on the, which is the Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome.
- Preventive measurements in a closed area: Open the door and the window every two hours – Leave your shoes outside the house.
Check the complete panel on: https://www.facebook.com/IGamify/videos/711160926324080/
As I-Gamify is known by its tendency towards technology and gamification, “The Importance of technology and Security during COIVD19” was Day 21’s topic.
Waleed Magdy, the assistant manager network security engineer at Otlob.com, assured the effect of COVID 19 in raising cybersecurity risks. As there are digital security challenges, some organizations and attackers take advantage of this epidemic to impersonate the WHO and other healthcare services, in the shape of emails and SMS (fishing attacks), to make wrongful campaigns aiming at stealing credentials and personal data. The organizations that don’t have digital security measurements are the most vulnerable.
Waleed Zohdy, technology director at almentor.net, stated the ways to secure employees’ data privacy while working from home. Prioritization is the first step; which means identifying the data that the employees have and its type. Thereafter, a plan with procedures is executed. He points out that passwords and security/identification keys are necessary. Waleed also warns clicking on anonymous links and always have a backup plan prevention tools. Moamen then agrees and highlights the criticality of ‘two- factor authentication’.
Rudy Shoushany from Lebanon, a specialist in ICT governance, digital transformation, IT strategy, and cybersecurity. He interpreted that many people and businesses will become adapted to working from home, having virtual meetings, and shopping from home; it will become more acceptable on a personal level. The new culture post-COVID 19 will be working from home with precautions (surveillance technology). Rudy’s point of view that there will be innovations for working from home.
Tackling the approaches and measurements to minimize the risks, Waleed Magdy spoke about 10 questions any person responsible for information security should ask to find the challenges and their solutions, while Rudy explained the Network Perimeter Defense strategy, and Waleed Zohdy described the notion of prioritization, personal protection vs professional protection and the idea of business opportunity plan.
When asked on “How to build a remote workplace force?” They recommend:
- Homeworker ease reach of the data and investing more in data encryption
- Provide business devices managed by the organization (most appropriate solution) or allow secure remote access from a home device with a strong network connection (costly)
- Take into consideration ‘work from home challenges’
Check the complete panel on: https://www.facebook.com/IGamify/videos/2705335613079742/
Their surprises didn’t end here! Keep up with updates to take a glimpse of the next article on the following days of the panel with foreign experts!
Don’t forget to book your seat for the LAST upcoming panel discussions on: https://i-gamify.net/our-global-virtual-summit