25 April 2025, Fri |
5:03 PM
Sherifa Hady, VP at HPE Aruba Networking, shares her journey of breaking barriers, from overcoming gender challenges to leading in the tech industry with confidence and drive.
It’s not every day you meet someone who describes their teenage self as both a top student and the life of the party. But then again, Sherifa Hady isn’t just anyone. Now the VP of Worldwide Midmarket & SMB Sales at HPE Aruba Networking, Sherifa’s story is a masterclass in self-belief, and breaking norms, whether on the football field or in the boardroom.
From the UK to Egypt: A Culture Shock in Cleats
“I was brought up in the UK,” Sherifa begins, painting a picture of her early years. “And then had to move when I was 12 back to Egypt. That was a bit of a culture shock.”
Suddenly, a girl who just wanted to play football and hang out with the boys found herself navigating new social norms, and a new language. “People thought I was trying to be too much of a tomboy,” she recalls. “But I’ve always felt that being different is a strength. I never saw myself as a minority. I saw myself as unique.”
The Hard No
After earning her engineering degree in Egypt 30 years ago, Sherifa was ready to conquer the world, or so she thought. Instead, the world wasn’t quite ready for her.
“I applied for two jobs with multinational companies in Egypt. I was rejected from both because I was a woman,” she says, matter-of-factly. One was an oil company that wouldn’t consider women on rigs. The other, a telecommunications firm with “unsuitable” hours for women.
“After five years of engineering, I thought I could do anything. And then to find out I couldn’t take certain jobs because of my gender… that was really hurtful.”
But as Sherifa points out, thankfully, times have changed. “That was many years ago. Today, those obstacles don’t exist anymore.” And perhaps that’s thanks, in part, to women like her, who didn’t take no for an answer.
An Accidental Sales Star
With her screwdriver dreams on pause, Sherifa pivoted to sales. “I started at a company called ICL, now part of Fujitsu,” she says. One of her first accounts? The biggest department store in Egypt.
“I remember thinking, who am I, a 20-year-old kid, to tell this veteran CEO how to run his business?” But there she was, pitching barcodes to revolutionize inventory management.
After five years, Sherifa made her way to Dubai, joining a marketing agency managing HP and Microsoft. “HP didn’t even have an office in the region then. I literally had to go out and buy the dustbin and the fax machine,” she laughs.
And from those humble beginnings? “Twenty-five years later, here I am.”
Setbacks That Make Sense
Sherifa is the first to admit her career hasn’t been a straight climb.
“You can imagine, over 25 years, I haven’t always gotten the job I wanted,” she says. “I applied for a very senior role once. Everyone said I’d get it. And then… I didn’t.”
Disappointed, she tried to make sense of it. But a month later, her mother needed two surgeries. “That’s when it clicked. I wouldn’t have been able to be there for her if I’d taken that job. Sometimes, when something doesn’t happen, there’s a good reason.”
The Power of Being Your Own Driver
Sherifa’s philosophy is clear: own your journey.
“You’ve got to believe in yourself. Know what you’re good at, and be humble about it. Know your weaknesses, too, and work on them.”
But above all? “Drive your own career. No one’s going to show up and ask, ‘What would you like next?’ You have to steer the wheel. Make sure the people who can help you know where you’re going.”
She smiles, thinking back to advice she recently shared with a colleague. “I loved hearing how she’s taking charge of her path. That’s what it’s all about.”
Extending More Than Careers
Among the numbers, targets, and quarterly goals, Sherifa finds pride in moments that transcend business. She reflects on a milestone in South Africa, where she championed extending the company’s retirement age.
“I think it was from 60 to 62 or 63. That wasn’t easy. The whole company in South Africa was based on retirement at 60. We analyzed other IT companies, worked with HR, built the business case, and we made it happen.”
The payoff? In the form of one memorable phone call.
“A lady called me before her last day. She had just turned 62. And she said, ‘Sherifa, thank you for giving me two more working years of my life.’ That’s one of my proudest moments. Yes, our numbers matter. But it’s what we do for people that really counts.”
The Next Chapter
Today, Sherifa leads HPE Aruba Networking’s worldwide midmarket and SMB business, managing customers and the Instant On product portfolio. It’s a big job, but after years of navigating hurdles, it’s exactly where she belongs.
And if you’re wondering what’s next? Rest assured, she’s driving toward it already.
