Our Woman Crush Wednesday, Rania El Rafie is a seasoned public relations expert with over two decades of experience across the Middle East and Africa. She currently holds the position of Vice President of Public Relations & Strategic communications at the African Press Organization (APO Group), where she plays a crucial role in amplifying the voices and stories of Africa and its people.
In recognition of her contributions, Rania was named one of the 2023–2024 ‘50 Remarkable African Women in Communication’ by CommsOfAfrica, an organisation that highlights leaders in the communication, media, and content creation sectors in Africa. Additionally, Property Plus, Egypt’s leading real estate online publication, has honoured her as one of the ‘Top Women in PR.’
During her three-year tenure at APO Group as Group Account Director, Rania has led award-winning campaigns and collaborated with notable global and regional clients. She played an instrumental role in campaigns that earned SABRE Awards Certificates of Excellence for communications efforts with Canon Central and North Africa in both 2022 and 2023. APO Group has garnered several prestigious accolades, including Best PR Agency Africa 2024, Leading Communication Consultancy Africa 2024, and Leading Press Release Distribution Platform Africa 2024 by Brands Review Magazine, underscoring the company’s excellence in the PR and communications industry.
Rania’s expertise spans strategic planning and execution of comprehensive communication plans for diverse industries, managing clients like Canon, NBA, Vertiv, Siemens Gamesa, FIFA, Mercy Ships, Jumeirah, AfreximBank, and the Islamic Development Bank. At APO Group, she oversees key client relationships, leads the account management team, and drives long-term growth strategies.
Before joining APO Group, Rania was the Regional Account Director for Ketchum RAAD Middle East in Dubai, where she managed PR accounts and provided strategic counsel to prominent clients such as Etihad Airways, Nissan, P&G, and CNN. Earlier in her career, at J. Walter Thompson PR in Dubai, part of the global WPP group, she managed key accounts within the consumer and financial PR sectors across the MENA region, working with brands like Diamond Trading Company, LUX Fashion World, VISA, MBC Group, Al Arabiya news channel, Victory Heights real estate, AL Dar, Al Aan TV, AIG, and HSBC.
Rania holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration with a double concentration in Advertising and Marketing from the American University in Dubai (AUD). She is also a devoted mother to two boys, Youssef and Yassin.
In her leisure time, Rania enjoys traveling and immersing herself in new cultures. She has explored Europe, the Far East, and many fascinating places within Egypt. Her favourite destination is Dahab, a small coastal city in the Egyptian Sinai Peninsula known for its stunning diving spots. Pride Magazine Nigeria recognises Rania El Rafie’s notable contributions to PR in Africa, making her a worthy Woman Crush Wednesday.