People to People: Walid Khoury’s Vision for Water, Innovation, and Africa
Walid Khoury opens up about his journey in the water industry, founding Desalytics, and his passion for driving change in Africa. The power of P2P business. Thoughts on industry events.
This week's episode is special. Not just because of the topic, or the impact, but because of the guest.
We’re joined by someone I truly consider a super-star in the water world.
And not because he chases the spotlight, but because he shines by nature.
You may already know him—Walid Khoury.
With a global presence and a LinkedIn community of more than 35,000 professionals following his journey, Walid stands out not only for his visibility, but for his story, his vision, and his relentless passion for making a difference in the environmental and water sector.
In this episode, Walid shared how his journey began, his entry into the environmental and water industries, and how it all led to the creation of Desalytics, a company that I find genuinely inspiring.
Desalytics is an initiative focused on improving water access and quality across Africa, a continent with massive potential and deep challenges.
What touched me most was the heart behind the mission.
You can feel how grateful the people are to receive not just help, but real commitment from someone who truly cares.
What You’ll Hear in This Episode
Walid’s story: how he entered the sector and how Desalytics came to life.
Why Africa became the center of his mission, and how Desalytics is delivering real value.
His thoughts on the best water events worldwide (he’s probably attended them all!).
The power of small-scale events and the authenticity they bring.His recommended guests for future episodes: Antoine Walter (already a Water MBA favorite for our community, episode → HERE ! ) and Dragan Savic—fingers crossed!
If I had to pick one takeaway from our conversation, it’s this:
“The most valuable asset in the water industry is people. That’s where the magic happens.”
Walid spoke passionately about the idea of P2P—People to People—business.
In a world chasing digital trends, hype cycles, and AI revolutions, water stays grounded.
It’s a physical asset. It’s real. It’s essential.
And the business around it?
It thrives when people connect, collaborate, and create value together.
That’s what we try to reflect in The Water MBA: a space where people from the industry connect, share, and grow.
Every story, every insight, every connection—no matter how small—adds something meaningful to the bigger picture.
Water isn’t viral. It’s not trendy.
It’s sustainable. It’s forever. And so is the mission behind it.
Walid is also a member of the 2024-25 Board of Trustees WEF (Water Environment Federation) and, believe it or not, a DJ at water events!
I had the chance to catch a few minutes of his set at Aquatech Amsterdam 2025, this guy knows how to energize a room (or a booth in this case).
What is Desalytics?
Desalytics Water Solutions is a mission-driven company focused on addressing water quality challenges in emerging markets, especially across Africa.
They provide analytical reagents, lab equipment, and services to help ensure water quality in industrial, municipal, and commercial sectors.
They operate with a deep focus on local empowerment, enabling professionals on the ground to lead solutions tailored to local needs.
What is WEF?
The Water Environment Federation (WEF) is a not-for-profit technical and educational organization of water quality professionals.
With a global network of over 30,000 members, WEF's mission is to inspire the water community in pursuit of human and environmental well-being.
They’re behind key conferences like WEFTEC, industry-leading publications, and offer a strong platform for innovation, learning, and collaboration.
This event is definitely on my wish list to attend. However, due to the logistical costs—travel, time off, and so on—it’s still a bit early for me to make it happen.
🎬 Behind the Scenes
I had the pleasure of joining Desalytics Water Week in both 2023 and 2024. It’s a great initiative.
In the latest edition, they had a leaderboard for attendees (and by the way, we’ve also got one here at The Water MBA—share and recommend our publication to earn points and rewards!).
I spent time exploring virtual booths, attending webinars, and fully diving into the experience.
Then came a surprise, I received an email saying I had won 3rd prize!
The reward?
A choice between a $200 Amazon voucher, or the opportunity to donate the $200 and have a 1:1 session with Walid.
I didn’t even hesitate.
As I shared in a previous post, we chose to donate the $200—and instead of a private chat, I asked Walid if he would turn that 1:1 into a Water MBA episode, so that our whole community could benefit from the conversation.
So in a way, we all won.
You now get to enjoy this powerful, inspiring hour with one of the most driven and genuine voices in the global water space.
I hope you find it as energizing as I did.
Congresses? Here's the King: The Global Water Summit
Tomorrow, May 12th, kicks off what is arguably the #1 water event in the world—the Global Water Summit (GWS), hosted by Global Water Intelligence (GWI).
Many of you are probably already familiar with it.
This is the place where the real decision-makers and industry leaders gather.
It’s not just another conference, it’s where power, strategy, and innovation converge.
It’s still not my time to attend (those logistics and costs add up!), but it’s definitely on my list for the coming years. 🙂
If you’re new to the sector or still finding your way, you absolutely need to understand what GWI—Global Water Intelligence—is all about.
GWI is a leading organization providing in-depth market intelligence, data, and analysis for the global water industry. Their reports, databases, and events are used by utilities, investors, suppliers, and consultants to stay ahead of trends and make informed decisions.
By the way, I absolutely loved their master move of using AI characters to emphasize the theme of Accelerating Investment.
It’s such a brilliant, forward-thinking approach that blends technology with real-world solutions.
Exciting times lie ahead for our industry in the coming years!
