Featuring work presented at the 2026 Faculty of Management Technology Conference at the German University in Cairo, this proceedings presents a timely and comprehensive exploration of transformative forces shaping economies, industries, and societies in the 21st century. Building on the foundation established in Volume I, the present volume brings together a collection of rigorously developed contributions that offer cutting-edge insights into transformative management practices, the integration of emerging technologies, and the growing importance of socially responsible and sustainable strategies. Chapters critically engage with contemporary challenges, highlighting how organizations can enhance resilience, adaptability, and long-term value creation in an increasingly complex and dynamic global environment. As such, it will serve as a durable reference for researchers, practitioners, and policy-makers, supporting evidence-based decision-making and contributing to the development of innovative solutions for navigating global megatrends and driving meaningful organizational and societal transformation.

Hebatallah Ghoneim is an Associate Professor and Head of Economics Department at the German University in Cairo (GUC). She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Economics from Cairo University, a Master’s in Economics from the American University in Cairo, and a Ph.D. in Economics from GUC. Her research focuses on decent work, international trade, foreign direct investment, financial inclusion, women’s empowerment, entrepreneurship, and sustainability, with a special emphasis on the MENA region. She is the Editor of the African Review of Economics and Finance (AREF) and serves on the editorial boards of several reputable journals.

José Iparraguirre is a Full Professor of Economics at the German International University (GIU), Professor of Econometrics at the University of Morón in Argentina, and Visiting Professor at the University of Malta. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Economics, five Master’s degrees in diverse disciplines, and a Ph.D. in Sociology of Demographic Change. With over 30 years of professional experience in Argentina and the United Kingdom, his research focuses on economics and ageing, labour economics, and macroeconomics. He is the author of a four-volume textbook on Economics and Ageing (Palgrave Macmillan) and numerous peer-reviewed publications.

Martin Walther is an Professor of Financial Markets, Investment, and Banking at the GIU in Berlin. He obtained his habilitation in 2024 and his Ph.D. in 2016 from Technische Universität Berlin. His research interests include behavioral finance, digital finance, risk, and investment decision-making. His work appears in leading journals such as Financial Innovation, the Journal of Behavioral Finance, and the Journal of Financial Markets.

Rasha S. Hassan is an Associate Professor of Innovation and Technology Management at GUC. She earned her BA from the American University in Cairo, MBA from Edinburgh Business School, and Ph.D. in Entrepreneurship and Innovation from Aston University, UK. Her research examines the determinants of SME growth, innovation, and entrepreneurship education, with a strong focus on Egypt and the MENA region. Her interests include entrepreneurship, SME development, innovation, and social entrepreneurship.

Heba Ali is an Associate Professor in Finance and the Head of the Accounting and Finance Department at the Faculty of Management Technology, the German University in Cairo (GUC). She received her Master's and PhD degrees in Finance and Investment from Exeter Business School, University of Exeter, the UK. Her research interests focus on the areas of behavioral finance, corporate finance, ESG & sustainability performance, and machine learning for finance.

Hala M. G. Amin is an Associate Professor of Accounting at the Faculty of Management Technology at the German University in Cairo, Egypt. Her research combines empirical, theoretical, and review-based approaches, reflecting the interdisciplinary nature of her work that centers on the quality of information within today’s business environment as well as addressing sustainability disclosure, corporate governance, earnings management, accounting education in the digital era, CSR, and institutional contexts.

Noha Ghazy is an Assistant Professor of Economics at GIU. She earned her Ph.D. from GUC, focusing on entrepreneurship’s impact on economic performance. Her research explores the effects of digitalization and entrepreneurship on economic growth and their underlying drivers.

Hadeer Mounir is an Assistant Professor of Finance at the German University in Cairo (GUC), with over a decade of academic experience in teaching, research, and student mentorship. She holds a PhD in Finance from the German University in Cairo. Her research is focused on asset pricing, downside risk, corporate finance, corporate governance, sustainability, and green finance.