Across the MENA channel , we are seeing partners shift from selling solutions to becoming trusted advisors in enabling customers ’ Digital Transformation .
What is your management philosophy ?
My management philosophy is based on building trusted relationships amongst our channel partner ecosystem . Trust is one of the core values of Salesforce and we want to support our partners and customers based on transparent advice and guidance , sharing best practices , building long-term relationships , and aligning with the business visions to support global and regional digital initiatives .
When you look back at your career , what has been the most memorable achievement ?
My proudest moment has always been when I give back to the community and make time to support local initiatives . As part of our philanthropy model , Salesforce provides each of their employees 56 hours per year ( 1 % of our working hours ) to support projects and I have been fortunate to use this time to help restore derelict community gardens , create safe play areas for young children , serve and care in homeless shelters , and mentoring students on their career paths . I ’ m also the VP of Faithforce EMEA , which is our interfaith employee resource group at Salesforce focused on celebrating , supporting and fostering understanding of our global faith and spiritual diversity through inclusive and educational events and initiatives . It ’ s really helped me cultivate a culture of empathy , respect and belonging at Salesforce for people from all faiths , backgrounds , traditions and worldviews .
What made you think of a career in technology ?
My journey with technology started at a very young age , when my parents gifted me with a home computer . I became fascinated by this amazing equipment which led to hours of exploring basic programming . In pursuit of a career in this field , I gained a bachelor ’ s degree in IT and began my career as a consultant . The role privileged me to work on multiple assignments in advisory capacity and to deploy technology solutions across multiple industries . As the adoption of cloud computing matured it changed how organisations invested in enterprise solutions , which is when I joined the pioneers of the CRM market and leaders of softwareas-a-service ( SAAS ) known as Salesforce .
I ’ m now a proud member of the Koa Club at Salesforce , offered to employees with 10 plus years of tenure . In this time , I ’ ve transitioned from a solution engagement manager role to now leading our regional channel business . It ’ s been a natural transition to develop a strong Salesforce partner ecosystem to support our customers in the fast-growth emerging markets of the MENA region , all underpinned to achieve customer success .
What do you think will be the hot technology talking point of 2021 ?
Following the pandemic , it is imperative that Salesforce channel partners understand our customers ‘ Digital Transformation challenges and unique business needs . Digital Transformation is the biggest technology trend in the region and worldwide , as the pandemic has accelerated organisations ’ shift to a more digital journey and the need to drive business innovation and competitiveness .
Showing the impact of Digital Transformation , our Trends in Workflow Automation Report shows that 87 % of consumers and business buyers expect companies to accelerate digital initiatives due to COVID-19 . Our State of Connected Customer
Report shows 91 % of UAE customers expecting their companies to go digital and companies will take on a larger societal role .
What are your personal interests and where do you like to spend most of your time after work ?
The subject of wellness is more relevant than ever before , so it ’ s essential to balance your mental and physical state . To that effect , I ’ m very active in my lifestyle through regular exercise , frequent visits to the gym ( when they are open !) and at least twice a week five kilometres outdoor runs . Being physically active helps me to destress and put my workload into perspective to drive better focus . More importantly , with the reduced travel I have really enjoyed spending more time at home with my family and embracing this opportunity with my children . •
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