In an era where data is redefining industries, Beltone Holding is at the forefront of leveraging AI and data science to drive financial innovation. We sat down with Basma Rady, Chief Data Scientist at Beltone Holding, to explore how the company is harnessing technology to shape the future of finance, and the role of data science in Egypt’s Vision 2030.
Basma Rady, Chief Data Scientist at Beltone Holding since 2023, came with a clear mission: to establish a cutting-edge Data Science platform that serves the entire ecosystem of Beltone Holding, its subsidiaries, support functions, portfolio companies, and clients. Her role is to leverage data science and AI to drive smarter decision-making, unlock new opportunities, and create a competitive edge across the financial landscape.
Before joining Beltone, Rady founded and led the Data Science Hub at the Central Bank of Egypt (CBE), where she was responsible for defining the vision, shaping the analytics roadmap, and building a high-impact team that provided critical insights to the Governor, the Monetary Policy Committee, and the Board of the Central Bank. “My focus has always been on applying AI and data science to solve real-world challenges at scale.”
Holding a Master’s degree in Operations Research and Information Engineering from Cornell University, Rady’s passion lies in bridging the gap between advanced analytics and business strategy—transforming raw data into actionable insights that drive growth, innovation, and financial excellence.
Building on its commitment to technological advancement, Beltone Holding is harnessing the power of data science to drive innovation by developing AI-powered financial products, predictive models, and automated decision-making systems. By leveraging data-driven efficiencies and advanced risk modeling, it is optimizing business operations to enhance overall performance. Moreover, with a focus on customer-centric solutions, Beltone Holding is utilizing data science to gain deeper insights into consumer behavior, enabling the delivery of highly personalized financial services. At the same time, by staying ahead of market trends, refining investment strategies, and unlocking new revenue opportunities, the company is continuously strengthening its competitive edge in an increasingly dynamic financial landscape.
How Data Science is Driving Beltone’s Growth
Beltone is known as one of the fastest-growing financial institutions in the MENA region, and data science is playing a crucial role in shaping its trajectory. “By harnessing the power of data science, we are driving innovation by developing AI-powered financial products, predictive models, and automated decision-making systems.”
“As we continue to embed data science across all functions, it will play an even more pivotal role in shaping Beltone’s future. From personalized wealth management solutions to AI-driven investment strategies, data science is helping us not only adapt to the evolving financial landscape but proactively shape it. Our goal is to transform Beltone into a fully data-driven organization, ensuring we remain a leader in the financial sector and continue delivering unparalleled value to our clients.” – Said Basma Rady.
Groundbreaking Research Contribution
Beltone’s Data Science and Analytics team has recently made a groundbreaking contribution to financial technology through their participation in the International Conference on Machine Learning (ICMLSC) held in Japan last January. “We developed an innovative machine learning model designed to predict stock price volatility, with a particular focus on the unique dynamics of Egypt’s financial market. Our goal was to bridge the gap between advanced AI techniques and real-world financial applications, contributing valuable insights to both academia and the industry.” – said Basma Rady.
One of the main challenges was ensuring model robustness and adaptability, as Egypt’s financial market presents unique patterns that required a model capable of capturing these complexities while adapting to evolving conditions. Another key hurdle was balancing predictive accuracy with interpretability—AI models in financial markets must not only be predictive but also transparent and explainable, so we employed Explainable AI techniques to enhance trustworthiness.
Additionally, although the research is rooted in Egypt’s market, we optimized our methodology to align with international financial research standards, ensuring scalability beyond regional constraints. Data quality and feature engineering also played a crucial role, requiring significant effort in identifying the most relevant macroeconomic indicators, technical signals, and alternative data sources. Finally, bridging industry and academia was essential, as presenting at ICMLSC 2025 meant translating complex financial AI concepts into a research format that met academic rigor while maintaining practical relevance for financial institutions and investors.
Through rigorous experimentation, model validation, and industry-aligned optimizations, the team successfully developed a model that not only enhances predictive accuracy for stock volatility but also sets a benchmark for applying AI-driven financial analytics in emerging markets.
Setting a New Benchmark in AI-Driven Finance
“Our research introduces a novel AI-driven approach to forecasting stock market volatility in Egypt’s financial market, addressing a significant gap in emerging market risk forecasting. Unlike conventional models, we leverage machine learning techniques to enhance predictive accuracy and adaptability to market-specific dynamics.” – mentioned Rady.
She added that there are several key aspects that set this study apart First, it significantly improves forecasting accuracy by refining predictive models to deliver greater precision in assessing market risk Second, unlike most studies that focus on developed economies, this research is specifically tailored to the unique financial conditions of emerging markets, filling a crucial gap in existing literature Lastly, it integrates advanced AI and machine learning techniques, not only enhancing model performance but also improving interpretability, making the findings more actionable for investors and policymakers.
“This research sets a new benchmark in AI-driven financial risk modeling, demonstrating how machine learning can enhance investment strategies, risk assessment, and financial stability in emerging economies.” – Basma Rady highlighted.
A Step Toward Egypt’s Vision 2030
This work aligns with Egypt’s Vision 2030 by advancing AI and data science in the financial sector, supporting the nation’s digital transformation and economic growth. “By integrating machine learning into financial risk forecasting, we enhance market stability, improve risk management, and strengthen Egypt’s position as a hub for financial innovation.”
Beltone’s research contributes to the country’s technological advancement by accelerating AI adoption, fostering a skilled workforce, and bridging the gap between industry and academia. Additionally, leveraging AI-driven insights is driving financial modernization, attracting investment, and reinforcing Egypt’s global competitiveness in fintech and AI.
Presenting this research at ICMLSC 2025 solidifies Beltone’s position as a global leader in AI-driven financial innovation. The work showcases a commitment to advancing data science in finance, particularly in emerging markets, where AI-driven insights create a competitive advantage.
Fostering Global Collaboration in AI & Finance
“Our research will act as a catalyst for collaboration between Beltone and leading global academic and financial institutions, fostering cross-border innovation in financial services. By presenting cutting-edge AI methodologies in financial risk prediction, we create opportunities for knowledge exchange, joint research, and industry partnerships.”
By encouraging dialogue between local experts and international thought leaders, this initiative will ultimately drive technological advancement and financial innovation across markets.
Empowering the Next Generation of Data Scientists
Basma Rady addressed an impactful message to women in the field, encouraging them to embrace the challenges and opportunities that data science offers. She emphasized that data science is a rapidly evolving and impactful domain where diversity in perspectives is essential for driving innovation.
On the other side, Rady advised the future talents saying “Build strong technical skills, stay curious, and commit to continuous learning, as the field constantly evolves with new methodologies and applications. Women bring unique insights and problem-solving approaches, making their contributions invaluable. Believe in your capabilities, seek mentors who inspire you, and confidently pursue opportunities—your voice and expertise are needed to shape the future of data science.”
With its commitment to AI-driven finance and groundbreaking research, Beltone is redefining the financial sector’s future. As data science continues to revolutionize financial markets, Beltone’s innovations serve as a model for how AI can drive smarter investment strategies and sustainable economic growth.
