» SPOTLIGHT
Women's Day Supplement
COMMITTED TO SUCCESS Maya Zakhour, Channel Director, NetApp, Middle East & Africa, Italy and Spain elaborates hard work has paid off for her and now she enjoys enabling the channel towards more profitable growth What made you choose technology as your professional path? How has this journey been so far in terms of achieving professional success and personal happiness? I have always been interested in mathematics and logical thinking ever since I was a child, so I took up a Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science from Notre Dame University in Lebanon. Some might perceive it as a domain for males only, but for me, it was a logical choice. I did not think twice. After graduation, I entered the world of information technology (IT). The competition back then was already fierce, but it did not deter me from pursuing an IT career. From my perspective, it allowed me to get out of my comfort zone by constantly challenging me to improve my craft given that this field is continuously evolving. Over time, my hard work had paid off. I ended up leading projects with direct impact on the
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business. I have remained on this path over the years. I am also lucky to have worked with renowned mentors who up until this day guide and inspire me. Does gender matter in channel sales in terms of expectations and recognitions? What are some of the common attributes as key differences between women and men in such roles? In my opinion, gender really doesn’t matter irrespective of the industry or job role. What’s important is getting the job done with positive results. Just like any other industry, women can make it big in this field if they put their mind to it. I believe men and women perform their job roles equally well, however, women bring a unique intuitive ability, emotional quotient and understanding to the table. Hard work is involved across the board, but women tend to work harder to prove
their worthiness in a male dominated job. Women work hard and persevere as well as have the willingness to learn even the smallest of details. To succeed in the area of technology, they need to equip themselves with a deep understanding of the different layers, applications of different technologies, underlying factors that form the backbone of the industry, and of course, the IT channel and its landscape. More women are becoming bold when it comes to their career choices. We are now aiming high and dreaming big so it is important that we pursue what we love doing and never second-guess ourselves. The IT industry offers talented and bright women with so many opportunities as men. With the right attitude and guidance, they can be successful in this field. Has hybrid work mode been rewarding or taxing? Describe your experience
