Engineering Without Borders: MVPs and Experts at CognitionX Egypt
CognitionX is a premier seasonal events series happening worldwide and a global community for people who care about depth and accountability in engineering. It brings together AI, cybersecurity, cloud, and software engineering because production systems do not respect silos. Backed by Microsoft MVPs, researchers, and industry experts, CognitionX focuses on knowledge sharing across borders, drawing experts from 35+ countries for practical, technical editions with real-world impact. CognitionX Events are founded and organized by Hazem Ali, a Microsoft AI MVP, Principal AI & ML Engineer / Architect, and Founder & CEO of Skytells. His work sits at the intersection of deep learning and the disciplines that decide whether AI survives production: software architecture, cloud systems, and security. CognitionX Cairo is one edition in the CognitionX Events series. It was hosted at Microsoft Egypt on December 23, 2025. Public announcements around the Cairo edition highlighted a cross-border lineup of 15 featured speakers from 11 countries, including multiple Microsoft MVPs. The topics reflected what modern delivery actually demands: AI alongside cloud and cybersecurity, with sessions aimed at builders who operate real systems. CognitionX Cairo attendees showed up at 9:00 AM even though Microsoft’s office is far from downtown Cairo, which means they didn’t come for convenience. They came because the content was worth the trip and worth the time. That kind of turnout tells you the event hit a real need: serious, engineering-first knowledge that people don’t easily find elsewhere. The event also carried a clear founder signal: a deep commitment to engineering discipline and real production thinking. Hazem shared, “At the next CognitionX AI Conference, we’ll be announcing a new technology designed to let your system evolve and improve itself.” The point was not the headline. The point was the mindset behind it: observe production, connect decisions to evidence, and treat governance and safety as first-class engineering work. Cairo also brought in recognized contributors from the broader Microsoft and security communities. Jamel Abed, a Microsoft MVP and international speaker, participated and later described the room being full early and staying engaged throughout the day. The edition also included experts like Hammad Atta and Ahmed Hussien cybersecurity and AI security specialist known for work in AI governance and agentic AI security frameworks. Impact and Insights Across CognitionX Events, CognitionX Cairo stood out because it respected the audience. The official recap describes engineers challenging assumptions, sketching diagrams, and debating trade-offs instead of consuming motivational slides. That culture is the product: ideas get pressure-tested, patterns get examined, and people leave with clearer mental models they can apply at work. The impact also traveled beyond the technical circle. The CognitionX recap notes notable TV coverage, which helped carry engineering conversations to a wider audience and reinforced a simple message: meaningful AI progress requires depth, discipline, and informed leadership. When decision makers see real discussions about scaling, security, governance, and failure modes, it changes what gets funded and how systems are evaluated. Hazem Ali delivering a deep enterprise AI session at CognitionX Cairo, walking the audience through production-grade architecture decisions across AI, cloud, and security. CognitionX is not a one-off. It is a series that already spans multiple hubs, including editions hosted at Microsoft locations such as Dubai (July 28, 2025) and Cairo (December 23, 2025). For anyone who wants serious learning, the next step is straightforward. Follow CognitionX Events, join the CognitionX community, and attend an edition when it reaches your region. Come with real questions from real systems. Expect clear explanations, not simplifications. Expect AI discussed in context: cloud constraints, software engineering trade-offs, and cybersecurity realities. Join our Community at : https://www.cognitionx.org/en/community That is what CognitionX is optimizing for, and that focus is why the series keeps earning trust from engineers and attention from leaders. Author Bio / Co-Authors Hazem Aliis a Microsoft AI MVP, Principal AI & ML Engineer / Architect, and Founder & CEO of Skytells, and the organizer behind CognitionX Events. Jamel ABED is a Microsoft MVP and Product Evangelist with a passion for developer advocacy. He brings extensive experience in building and nurturing technical communities, helping developers worldwide leverage cutting-edge technologies. Resources https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:7410622433864589312/Thinking of Joining the MVP Program? Hear What Makes It Special!
We’re thrilled to share our brand-new video spotlighting the heart of the MVP Program - our MVPs themselves! In this inspiring video, MVPs from around the world open up about what being part of this global community means to them, and why they love it. Watch the MVP Program video here If you’ve ever wondered what it’s like to be an MVP - or if you're considering applying - this is the perfect place to start! But that’s just the beginning. We’ve gathered a set of helpful resources to guide you through the program and how to get involved: New to the MVP Program? Start Here: MVP Communities Website – Find everything you need to know about the MVP Program, including how to apply, who the MVPs are near you, and the impact they’re making in their communities. MVP FAQs - Our updated FAQ page answers key questions about the application process, eligibility, expectations, and more. Live Event Replay - Don’t miss the replay of our recent live session, where MVPs Anastasia Salari and Zaid Zaim share their personal journeys, practical advice, and tips for those thinking about applying. Ready to Take the Next Step? If you’ve been actively contributing to the community over the past 12 months, this might be your moment. Whether through sharing knowledge, helping others, organizing events, or driving conversations - you’re exactly who the MVP Program is looking for. Dive into the resources, get inspired by the stories, and if you meet the criteria, consider applying or connecting with someone who can nominate you. Your journey to becoming an MVP could start today!
