Early Life & Education:

Can you share insights into your childhood and academic journey? What inspired you to pursue a career in finance and technology?

I was born and brought up in Beirut, Lebanon, in a family of college professors. My dad taught Mathematics, and my mom taught English and both became deeply ingrained in me from a young age. I was really good with numbers and communications and by the time I had to pursue my university studies, I chose Finance which nicely combined both. I graduated from the American University of Beirut in 2007, and I started my career in Finance at Procter & Gamble as a Financial Analyst.

I worked at P&G for five years in various roles in FP&A and Distributor Operations. It was a tremendous learning experience, an immersion into the corporate life and a validation of my passion for finance.

I was only exposed to Tech when I left P&G to pursue my MBA at INSEAD in France. The fast pace of tech innovation and its wide impact on the world sparked my curiosity and I was hooked when Microsoft came on campus for a recruitment event. It was the early start of the digital transformation era and an exciting time to be in tech and have a broad impact.

Career Growth:

How did your professional journey evolve, leading you to the position of UAE CFO at Microsoft? What were some defining moments in your career?

I joined Microsoft in the UAE in 2013 as part of the Aspire Program for MBA graduates. I started as the segment controller for the small & medium enterprises and channel partners. I learned the Microsoft technology stack and the customer & partner dynamics and experienced the start of our finance transformation journey.  I then moved into the consumer & retail segment where I was responsible for the P&L for the Gulf region, deeply focusing on driving profitable growth. It felt like home given my retail background and I was really enjoying the role until we went through a re-org.

While it was initially daunting, I learned to embrace uncertainty, to adapt and to pivot my career. I was given a newly created role of “new business controller”. I had to define my role, navigate through unchartered territories and essentially build a plane while flying it. That time also coincided with becoming a mom and navigating a pandemic which brought shifting work norms. It was one of the hardest career chapters but the one I’m most proud of because that was when I reinvented myself, built my resilience, and created support systems and habits that allowed me to do my best work.  I was involved in highly strategic projects for the company including two data center launches in the region, and I was recognized through “Circle of Excellence”, the highest recognition at Microsoft.

I then moved on to lead investments across MEA, where I ran the investment boards and influenced the resource allocation strategy across the region. I was part of another org redesign and the formation of the CEMA area, which opened up the UAE CFO opportunity. I got to define the ambition & trajectory of the subsidiary and partner with the leadership team on some of the most innovative and strategic partnerships helping us unlock new opportunities.   

Apart from clarity that I wanted to grow into a CFO, none of those roles were on my development plan. I had to pivot my career multiple times, adapt to change and create new opportunities that accrued to that direction.  

Mission & Vision:

What is your personal mission as a financial leader, and how does it align with Microsoft’s vision in the UAE and beyond?

My personal mission is to drive transformative impact through the integration of AI in finance, to foster a growth mindset & an inclusive culture that ensures everyone is represented & heard, and to grow thriving future leaders. This seamlessly aligns with Microsoft’s mission to empower every person and every organization on the planet to achieve more.

Challenges & Successes:

What have been the biggest challenges in your career so far, and how did you overcome them? Can you share a defining success story?

One of the biggest challenges I faced was becoming a mother at the prime of my career. While motherhood brought immense joy, it sent me on an unexpected transformative journey. With my first child, I was worried about how I showed up. I wanted to emphasize my commitment to my career. I took on stretch projects, late calls, even called out “I’ll reconnect later in the evening” when leaving the office earlier than usual. By the time I had my second child also coinciding with the pandemic, I was already burnt out. It was a wake-up call to shift my mindset. I became more intentional on prioritizing the essential and high impact work. I started saying No more frequently and finding ways to eliminate trivial work. I tried many different support systems, different ways to preserve my energy and wellbeing until I cracked what works best for my family and myself. I leveraged a multitude of mentors and drew inspiration and support from communities of mom leaders.

Success didn’t happen overnight and was definitely not driven solo. It was a learning process that taught me the importance of resilience and adaptability and how blessed I am to be surrounded by amazing family, colleagues, teams, mentors and business partners all of whom played a key role in my journey.

Technology & Finance:

How do you see the role of a CFO evolving in the age of digital transformation, AI, and cloud computing?

The role of a CFO is rapidly evolving in the era of AI. I have experienced first hand the finance transformation journey at Microsoft starting with machine learning for predictive analytics nearly a decade ago to generative and agentic AI today. We outsourced forecasting to AI, enabling us to make more accurate & data driven decisions with confidence. We enhanced productivity with Copilot saving hours on redundant tasks and we’re now innovating with agents to streamline processes, solve for bottlenecks and optimize workflows. Our teams now focus on strategic work instead of getting drained by trivial tasks.  The underlying enabler to this has been a cultural transformation based on growth mindset where we embrace continuous learning, innovation and risk taking.

As a result, the role of finance has evolved from being a mere caretaker to a catalyst for change. CFOs are no longer just gatekeepers; they have become strategic business partners, risk takers, and guides during times of ambiguity and chaos. This transformation has empowered CFOs to drive innovation, support business growth, and lead strategic initiatives.

Women in Leadership:

As a female leader in a global tech company, what challenges have you faced, and how have you navigated them? What advice would you give to women aspiring to leadership positions in finance and technology?

Some of the challenges I faced were around breaking stereotypes linked to unconscious biases that exist around women leaders and working moms. There were instances in my career when I had to put significantly more effort to prove my capabilities and build my credibility. I heavily relied on mentors and coaches who went through similar challenges. I had many situational mentors for different aspects and stages of my career.  They were a source of courage when I was in doubt and providers of a multi lens perspective when I was only looking through one lens.

For all women aspiring leaders, I would say be clear on the value you’re brining to the table and what you want to be known for. Build relationships with people who inspire you and can teach you new things. Those will become mentors, coaches and sponsors who would lift you up and advocate for you when you’re not in the room. Seek feedback, always stay curious and approach every challenge as a learning opportunity.  

Work-Life Balance:

How do you manage the high demands of being a CFO while maintaining a work-life balance? Do you have any personal strategies or habits that help?

I’m a firm believer of the power of focusing on the essential and dropping the trivial. It requires deep thinking about areas where you can go big and have a significant impact and sole focus on those. It also requires being comfortable saying No to things that don’t align to the high impact areas and consistently simplifying and eliminating bottle necks.

I’m now obsessed with AI because it enables me to do that. Tools like copilot have been life changing, helping me significantly increase my productivity and focus on the incredible.  

I also invested in my wellbeing. I’ve managed to stack good habits into my daily routine like going for morning walks, playing with my kids, listening to audio books and completely disconnecting from the online world in the evenings.  I built a support system of care givers I can trust and they’re the unsung heroes in this journey.

Mentorship & Team Development:

How do you support and mentor young professionals in your field? What leadership principles do you follow to build high-performing teams?

At Microsoft, we have clear leadership principles and frameworks that allow us to build a culture of continuous learning and improvement.  

The Microsoft Leadership Principles emphasize that everyone at Microsoft is a leader, and great leaders are defined by their ability to Create Clarity, Generate Energy, and Deliver Success.  These principles are crucial for navigating uncertainty, fostering enthusiasm, and achieving results despite challenges.

The Model Coach Care Framework is designed to create an environment where everyone can do their best work. It involves Modelling the Microsoft culture & leadership principles, Coaching through defining team objectives, enabling success and helping the teams adapt and learn, and then Caring which is about understanding individual capabilities and aspirations, investing in their growth and attracting & retaining talent.

How does Microsoft, under your financial leadership, contribute to business development, digital transformation, and economic progress in the UAE while staying ahead of major financial trends shaping the tech industry?”

As the CFO of Microsoft UAE, I would highlight our significant contributions to business development, digital transformation, and economic progress in the UAE.

Microsoft UAE has strategically invested in cutting-edge technologies and initiatives that drive innovation and growth across various sectors. For example, we have partnered with key organisations such as G42 to enhance digital transformation through joint sovereign cloud and AI offerings. This collaboration has enabled several public sector and highly regulated industries to accelerate their adoption of Microsoft Azure Public Cloud and AI transformation while maintaining full compliance with UAE cybersecurity regulations.

Our state-of-the-art cloud datacentres in Dubai and Abu Dhabi provide secure, enterprise-grade cloud services that are essential for organisations embarking on their AI journey. These datacentres not only support local businesses but also attract global enterprises, fostering a vibrant technological ecosystem in the UAE. Research we conducted with IDC indicates that over the next four years, Microsoft, its partners, and cloud-using customers will generate about $74.4 billion in new revenues above the 2024 level. Furthermore, our efforts are expected to add 152,530 jobs to the economy by 2028.

Finally, Microsoft UAE is deeply committed to skilling initiatives that empower individuals and organisations to thrive in the AI-driven economy. For instance, the AI National Skilling Program aims to equip one million UAE learners with essential AI skills by 2027. This initiative, announced by Microsoft Vice Chair and President Brad Smith, is part of Microsoft’s long-term commitment to bridging the global AI knowledge gap and fostering a culture of AI innovation across the UAE.

The major trends shaping the financial landscape in the tech industry, including AI, cloud computing, and digital transformation, are reflected in Microsoft UAE’s strategic investments and initiatives.

Personal & Professional Aspirations:

What are your future career goals? Are there any new projects, innovations, or initiatives you’re particularly excited about?

I’m always a student, forever a learner. This has always guided my career trajectory & choices: “Am I learning new things and am I progressing in the right direction?”, and when I’m not I think through how I can find or create opportunities that serve that.

I’m passionate about finance and tech, and I’m excited and curious about all the new opportunities Gen AI is creating on both the business and personal levels. The possibilities around working smarter, solving complex problems and creating tangible value are endless. Now more than ever, there is space to focus on the incredible and let AI do the rest!

Legacy & Impact:

How do you want to be remembered in the finance and tech industry? What impact do you hope your work has on the community and future generations?

“People will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel” – Maya Angelou.

If I want to be remembered for anything, it’s the positive impact I have on others. As AI integrates more and more into the workplace and our lives, building relationships, connecting with others, leading with authenticity and addressing biases becomes more and more important. I hope to be a catalyst for positive change whether through leveraging tech to create more meaningful and impactful work or through creating more diverse and inclusive work environments that are truly reflective of every person and every organization on the planet!