Sherifa Hady, VP Worldwide Midmarket & SMB Sales at HPE Aruba shares how diversity and inclusion must become integral to a company’s DNA and her journey in a chat with Techitup ME
What are your views on this year’s IWD 2025 theme, “Accelerate Action”? How can we truly achieve diversity and inclusion in the workplace?
Sherifa Hady: The theme, “Accelerate Action,” signifies the urgency of taking swift, impactful steps toward gender equality. It’s about identifying the issues, addressing them effectively, and encouraging everyone to actively support women’s advancement.
I believe it’s our collective responsibility to ensure that every individual, regardless of color, race, gender, or ethnicity, has a place in society. Humanity thrives when everyone has a seat at the table. Prioritizing and actionizing these efforts is crucial to creating a more equitable future.
This needs to be a priority for all organizations—large or small, across public and private sectors, and industries alike. Diversity and inclusion must become integral to a company’s DNA if it wishes to hold a respected place in society.
When it comes to gender, I always emphasize this: women make up 50% of the global population, which means they are 50% of customers, workforce, suppliers, and partners. Companies should embed this reality into their strategies to ensure progress and long-term sustainability.
Can you share your journey into the tech world and what inspired you to pursue this career?
Sherifa Hady: It’s quite an amusing story! My initial aspiration was to invent something revolutionary that would change the world. That dream led me to pursue engineering. While I never invented anything personally, I’ve been privileged to work with HPE—a company that does just that.
This month marks my 25th anniversary with HPE, and I couldn’t be prouder. When I joined, HPE’s tagline was “HP Invent,” and the logo itself reflected our dedication to innovation. Even after all these years, those memories are vivid and inspiring.
What captivates me about technology is its ability to transform lives and industries—healthcare, education, transportation, defense, and more. IT has become indispensable, shaping every aspect of how we live and work. As our CEO says, “Data is the new currency,” and I feel truly fortunate to be part of this industry.
Who is your role model—someone who inspires you?
Sherifa Hady: It’s going to be difficult for me to say this without, tearing up a little bit. Without a doubt, MY FATHER IS MY HERO. He always prioritized helping others, often in ways I didn’t fully realize until he was no longer with us. Seeing the legacy, he left behind taught me that true investment in life lies not in material things, but in the positive influence we have on others. Although, it may seem nice to have material things but we get too caught up in that. I feel, the real legacy that we’re going to leave behind is how we influence people, how we help people, how we make people better people in their lives.
One story from my childhood stands out. When I was just a year old, my mother had just given birth to my sister. My father would take me with him to his office at the Egyptian embassy. He ensured everyone kept the space quiet so I could sleep while he worked. That memory speaks volumes about the kind of person he was—caring and selfless.
Rapid Fire (Let’s get to know you more)
- Dinner with a famous personality? Nelson Mandela—for his contributions to peace—and Robert De Niro, because his personality intrigues me.
- One skill you wish to learn instantly? To fly.
- Android or Apple? Apple, definitely.
- WhatsApp or Telegram? WhatsApp.
- Phone call, text message, or email? WhatsApp again!
- Beaches or Mountains? Beaches, no question.
- Coffee or Tea? Always coffee.
- Early Bird or Night Owl? Night owl.
- Books or Movies? Books—on Kindle.
- Winter or Summer? Summer. I love the sun, the sky, and the sea.
- Online or In-store shopping? Both! Online for convenience, but I enjoy in-store shopping for the human interaction.
What advice would you give to young women starting their careers in tech or business?
Sherifa Hady: One word: BELIEVE.
Believe in yourself, your abilities, and the possibilities ahead of you. Share your career aspirations, tell others how you want to grow, and don’t hesitate to seek support. Have faith in your journey. AI is the opportunity of a lifetime to leverage technology for good, make use of it.
Often, women shy away from expressing their ambitions or wait for someone to acknowledge their potential. Don’t wait—believe that YOU CAN, and take that first step boldly.
