Ahmad Attia graduated in 2005 with a degree in computer engineering from the University of Toronto. He landed his first job in IBM and then Deloitte consulting in enterprise risk management and was one of the youngest consultants to fast track the corporate ladder.
While he enjoyed his time with Deloitte, he realized that he could not continue to suppress his entrepreneurial spirit and formed RisQ Consulting at the age of 25. Ahmad consulted in technology planning and risk management for a wide range of industries and clients internationally, and RisQ continues to this day.
As RisQ grew, Ahmad was still able to balance the demands of a high pressure work environment with starting and growing a family. He and his wife Lyla now have three children.
But in 2013 Ahmad’s life took a sudden, drastic turn.
On July 3, 2013, the day of the military coup in Egypt, Ahmad’s brother-in-law, Khaled Al-Qazzaz, who was serving as a presidential aide, was unlawfully detained and disappeared.
No one knew what had happened but all feared the worst.