23 April 2025, Wed |
12:39 PM
Ghada Elkeissi is the Head of AWS Sovereign Cloud for the Middle East and Africa, with over 25 years of experience in the IT industry. Throughout her career, she has played a key role in advancing the cloud ecosystem in the region, helping businesses adopt technology to meet their objectives and drive meaningful results.
A Career Built on Vision and Execution
With 25 years of experience in the IT industry, Ghada Elkeissi has established herself as a distinguished business leader. Throughout her journey, she has led teams across geographies and industries, working alongside customers and partners to identify digital transformation strategies, implement state-of-the-art technologies, and drive meaningful business outcomes.
Graduating from the American University in Cairo with a Bachelor’s degree (2000) and a Master’s degree (2003) in Computer Science, Ghada embarked on her professional path as a Software Engineer at IBM in 2003. Her talent quickly propelled her into the role of Executive Architect, where she worked closely with customers to secure and execute high-impact projects.
In 2015, Ghada’s exceptional contributions were recognized when she was named one of the top technical women talents in IBM Middle East & Africa. She was also shortlisted for the prestigious HQ Distinguished Engineer Women Pipeline and was selected for a one-year assignment in the United States as part of IBM’s Corporate Technology Evaluation team, led by IBM’s Chairman & CEO. Reflecting on this pivotal experience, Ghada describes it as profoundly shaping both her career and personal journey.
Her next chapter unfolded at GE Power (now GE Vernova) in 2017, where she led diverse teams of software engineers, data scientists, and analytics experts to create repeatable, scalable solutions for the power industry, specifically within the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) domain. Ghada’s transition from a purely technology-driven focus to solving industrial challenges underscored her versatility as a leader. By 2018, she was promoted to Global Senior Director, leading the Digital Technology Services organization and delivering operational performance management platforms for power plants worldwide.
While managing global teams, Ghada kept a close eye on the shifting dynamics of the Middle East market, particularly the growing momentum around cloud adoption. Her curiosity and passion for driving this change led her to join AWS in late 2019, at a time when AWS was laying its early foundations in the region.
In this new role, Ghada was tasked with establishing and leading the Professional Services organization from the ground up. Beyond just building teams, she developed sales and delivery strategies, executed business operations, and worked in tandem with AWS leadership across MEA to expand the company’s regional footprint. Under her leadership, Professional Services became a vital driver in enabling customers and partners to harness the power of AWS technologies.
Today, she proudly looks back at milestone projects her team contributed to, including Expo 2020, the Bahrain Government’s cloud adoption journey, Bahrain Cloud Innovation Centers, First Abu Dhabi Bank, and the e& partnership agreement. These successes laid the groundwork for her next endeavor—leading AWS Sovereign Cloud initiatives in the region, addressing the increasing demand for digital sovereignty and ensuring customers can securely innovate while meeting regulatory needs.
Reflections on Women in Tech and Inclusive Leadership
According to Ghada, the Middle East has made remarkable progress in gender diversity within the technology sector. Women are increasingly breaking down barriers and challenging stereotypes, supported by transformative initiatives that champion inclusion.
She also emphasizes that diversity is expanding beyond gender. Notably, the UAE’s commitment to empowering People of Determination and ensuring equal opportunities is inspiring, with many technology companies contributing to this inclusive environment, creating workplaces enriched by a diversity of talents and skills.
On Leadership and Growth
For Ghada, impactful leadership is rooted in progressive, step-by-step growth. She believes there’s no shortcut to success, it’s about building hands-on expertise early, developing the ability to lead others effectively, and embracing the art of delegation.
“Leadership isn’t confined to people management,” she explains. “It’s about having a vision, driving it forward with others, and delivering tangible, measurable outcomes. Those who focus on execution and build successful stories over time become the most influential leaders.”
Inspiration for Women and Youth
Ghada’s advice for those aspiring to grow in business or technology is grounded in five core principles:
A Vision for the Next Generation
When asked about her vision for future women leaders in technology and beyond, Ghada is clear and direct: “Forget that you’re a ‘woman.’ Focus on the value you bring to business, technology, and society.”
She encourages women to move past the anxieties of male-dominated industries and self-limiting beliefs. Success, she insists, is found in laser focus, sustained momentum, and the delivery of real, measurable results.
In a world of constant change, Ghada Elkeissi continues to be an exemplar of purpose-driven leadership, leveraging technology not just as a tool for innovation, but as a catalyst for empowerment, growth, and lasting impact.
