Meet the Economist Who Helped Rebuild Nations Ismail Radwan

Meet Ismail Radwan — a globally respected economist who has spent over two decades shaping economies from the ground up. A graduate of Oxford and UPenn, Ismail served as Lead Economist at the World Bank for 22 years, helping rebuild post-war nations, transform healthcare systems, and guide economic policy across more than 80 countries.

Now, as Senior Director of Economics and Investment Strategy, he’s playing a key role in Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 — an ambitious plan to diversify the country’s economy and spark global innovation.

In this episode, we dive deep into:

Why he left the World Bank after 22 years

How to make economic theory actually work in the real world

What most people get wrong about economics

Whether democracy or autocracy enables better long-term economic decisions

His thoughts on AI, inflation, renewable energy, and the next 10 years of the global economy

Lessons from rebuilding Afghanistan, reforming India’s healthcare system, and investing at a national scale

His take on legacy, leadership, and what young professionals need to know

This is a masterclass in economics, investment, and nation-building — from someone who’s actually done it.

Personable is a podcast dedicated to helping listeners become the best they can be by learning from the world’s best in their respective fields. This mission is inspired by my mother, Louise, who encouraged me to become the best version of myself before she passed away from cancer in 2023.

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