Will Ahmed… A Journey of Ambition and Rejection
بقلم: Berehan El-Fahham

There are two kinds of people: one who strives to improve himself and build a better future, and another who spends his time watching others and judging their lives: Who got married? Who got divorced? Who succeeded? And who failed?

While one person spends his time talking about other people’s lives, another is busy creating a story worth telling.

Will Ahmed, an American entrepreneur of Egyptian descent and a Harvard University graduate, began his journey as a squash player, seeking to understand his body and improve his athletic performance. He wanted to know how sleep affected his abilities, when he needed to train, and when rest became essential for achieving better results.

These questions opened the door to entrepreneurship. In 2012, at just 22 years old, he founded WHOOP, turning his passion for athletic performance into a business that helps people better understand their bodies through data on sleep, physical exertion, and recovery.

However, the road from an idea to success was filled with challenges. Will faced rejection from investors and had to convince others of the value of a product that had yet to prove itself in the market. He continued working and refining his vision until WHOOP became a globally recognized brand used by some of the world’s top athletes, including Cristiano Ronaldo, who also became an investor in the company.

Behind this success lie years of persistence, difficult decisions, and continuous hard work. Rejection can push us to rethink and improve our ideas, but it does not mean we have to abandon them. Moving forward requires learning and adaptability just as much as it requires determination.

For us, Will Ahmed’s story is also a source of pride in his Egyptian roots. It reminds us of the value of knowledge and the ability to transform a personal passion into a product that reaches the world and becomes part of people’s lives.

And this brings us back to a question each of us should ask: Where do we invest our time and energy? Do we waste them following the details of other people’s lives, or do we give ourselves the opportunity to learn, experiment, and build something meaningful?

Not everyone will become the founder of a global company, but everyone can take a meaningful step toward a better life: learning a new skill, developing an idea, starting a business, or trying again after a setback.

Will Ahmed’s journey of ambition and rejection reminds us that achievement takes time, and that what we do every day may one day become a story worth telling.

Build yourself, create value, and let your achievements speak for you.