Marlin Soliman is an event expert and EQ coach. She has a BA in French literature and Mass Comm.

She was 15 years old when she first moved to the US. She returned back to Egypt to pursue her college degree. After college, she continued to go back and forth to visit her family in the US. Finally, she settled in the US six years ago.

She decided to move to the USA because of several reasons: economic hardship in her country, sexual harassment on the streets, and concerns about personal safety. Additionally, she was troubled by the unfair treatment of women within Egypt’s judicial and governmental systems. She moved to seek justice and respect.

Marlin watches Egyptian TV, she cooks Egyptian food and visits Egypt every year. In her opinion, the biggest difference  between life in Egypt and life in the USA, is that social life in Egypt is “much better”.

Marlin is proud to be part of the Hollywood Arab Film Festival. It’s a passion project led by three Egyptian co-founders, and she joined with her expertise and background. After three successful editions, she is proud that they were able to create a platform for Arabic cinema in the heart of Hollywood.

She believes it’s crucial for new immigrants to integrate and avoid getting stuck in the comfort zone of Egyptian communities. “My advice is to put yourself out there, engage with the broader American community, and not stay exclusively within the Egyptian community. Be flexible and open to changing your mindset and beliefs. We are here to learn new things and unlearn outdated or unhelpful conceptions so we can move forward with our lives,” she says.

The advice Marylin has for Egyptian women who are considering moving to or are currently living in the USA is to “put yourself out there, open up to the American community, and don’t stay only within the Egyptian community. Be flexible and open to changing your mindset and belief system—we are here to learn and unlearn so we can move forward with our lives. Try to be neutral and avoid judging others. Accept people with their differences; no one is 100% right or wrong, and there is truth in every perspective. Stay focused on your goals and make the best of every opportunity life offers you. You’re in the land of opportunities, and the sky is your limit, so dream as big as you want and don’t let your limited beliefs about yourself, others, or the world slow you down. The biggest investment you will ever make is in yourself by reassessing your belief system and keeping only the beliefs that will move you forward.”

Marlin doesn’t solely identify herself as an Egyptian woman, especially in today’s globalized world. However, “as a woman who has faced challenges and worked to make sense of the world around me, I want to share with other women that everything started working in my favor when I became more self-aware, recognized my worth, and decided to change my mindset. Real transformation comes from within. When you understand your own value and take control of your beliefs, you create the conditions for success. My journey has taught me that being flexible, open-minded, and willing to grow are key to overcoming obstacles. It’s not just about where you’re from; it’s about who you choose to become.”