» COMMITTED TO SUCCESS

Maya Zakhour, Channel Director, 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 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.

from last year onwards in adopting to the new normal at work? Especially as face-to-face meetings have been difficult to do, how does that impact your work?

For someone who enjoys interacting with and being around people for most part of my day, the lockdown came as rude and unexpected change to how I love to work. It was what it was for a majority of people‚ inconvenient. Conducting meetings via video calls was tedious at first, but with time I got used to it. Sure, it was nice to work from home, but I did want to get back to having human interactions and face to face discussions. Technology has enabled us to overcome the communications hurdle during the lockdown, and NetApp has played a major role enabling its employees to conduct business as usual, even in challenging circumstances. Now the hybrid work environment is the new norm. It offers a combination of in-office and remote working experiences to help ensure productivity. We have discovered that remote working is actually very beneficial from a business standpoint, as traditional work environments are put on hold. Our understanding of how people use offices is undergoing a massive change. Working remotely is possible for anything that does not require face-to-face interaction, or access to on-site tools. Checking in on the psychological well-being of the team is imperative, as using remote workers should be the same as working in the office. Stress and unhappiness can arise from isolated feelings. Employees should feel connected, even if they work from home.

Describe some of the achievements or milestones you achieved in sales in this role as well as over the career briefly

I have forged some invaluable and strong relationships among industry peers. This is one of my greatest achievements. I have received recognition by various industry bodies and publications for my contribution to the channel; it has given my work in the industry a new meaning and served as encouragement for new entrants as well. Over the years, I‚ have risen through the ranks during my years in the industry ‚ it has given me a different perspective at all job levels ‚ this experience is priceless and helps me grow professionally and as an individual each day. As far as achievements are concerned, I have played a critical role in efficient channel sales for the vendors I have worked with - not only growing the channel, but also ensuring my partner community is profitable as well.

On the road ahead in your professional journey, what are the ambitions that motivate you?

My mission in life is not merely to survive, but to thrive; and to do so with passion, compassion, humor and style. The channel has always been my passion. However, I find driving sales revenue so interesting. In fact, the most interesting job today for me is at NetApp where I manage NetApp’s regional distribution landscape, alliances, and growing channel coverage in the MEA, Italy and Spain as a large territory. I find the job refreshingly dynamic, demanding, and challenging‚ where no two days are the same.

An Jian

President of Carrier Networks Business Group, Huawei Middle East

Maya Zakhour

Channel Director, MEA, Italy and Spain

"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."