Ep 9: Starting Over Without Starting From Zero

Tony Feghali sits down with Dr. Mona Itani for an honest conversation about courage, reinvention, and what it really means to start over.

Mona shares her journey from telecom engineering into academia, entrepreneurship, and social innovation. Along the way, she reflects on the calculated risks that shaped her career, the challenge of stepping into junior roles again despite years of experience, and the emotional process of letting go of the social enterprise she built.

They discuss the deeper meaning of courage, not just taking risks, but having the clarity to make difficult decisions, the resilience to rebuild, and the humility to begin again when necessary.

The conversation also touches on purpose, motherhood, impact, and Mona’s growing focus on AI ethics and on the responsibility to shape technology to serve humanity.

This episode is a reminder that success is rarely linear. Sometimes the most courageous move is not pushing forward at all costs, but having the wisdom to change direction while staying true to your larger vision.