Speakers

Set with a profound commitment to Egypt, Mirna Arif brings in 19 years of experience with multinational organizations and public sector entities across Europe, the Middle East and Africa into the position of Microsoft Egypt Country General Manager. Equipped with a strong belief in empathy-based management and in youth training, the first woman to assume this prestigious role is leading the nation’s technological movement towards digital transformation.

To assert Microsoft Egypt’s competitive edge in the country’s tech industry, Arif is expanding the company’s digital footprint across public and private organizations to accelerate their conversion towards a digital economy. Arif’s passion closely ties with Microsoft international drive to instill a “Growth Mindset” culture based on the core values of diversity and inclusion in the workplace. It also links with Microsoft Egypt’s mission to empower every person and organization, of today and tomorrow, to optimize operations, increase customer engagement, transform business models and most importantly evolve the workforce towards a business growth paradigm founded on a culture of lifelong learning.

Prior to being appointed as Microsoft Egypt Country General Manager in 2020, Arif held the position of Surface Business Group Director in Microsoft Middle East and Africa, heading the strategy for the latest device series in the region. From 2017 to 2019, prior to Joining Microsoft, Arif held the title of Regional Director for Digital Transformation at GE Oil & Gas where she directed the digital transformation strategy in North Africa and Turkey. Prior to that, she was the regional Manager for Rosemount Group Middle East at Emerson Automation Solutions. In 2015, Arif was appointed Assistant Minister for Investment and International Cooperation at the Egyptian Ministry of Petroleum and Mineral Resources, advising on the development and implementation of the petroleum sector strategy. Preceding that, Arif spent the first 12 years of her career in Schlumberger, where she assumed various leadership roles, including Regional Sales Manager for UK & Ireland, Regional Sales Manager for the East African and East Mediterranean region, Egypt Manager for Schlumberger Information Solutions, and Global Marketing Manager, spearheading worldwide marketing strategies for the software and the marine acquisition segments.

Outside of Microsoft, Mirna sits on the Board of Directors of Banque Misr, the second largest bank in Egypt, and is a member of the Digital Transformation board at Egypt’s Ain Shams University.