Collaborate, Create and Lead: Key to Success!

Born on Jun 15th, Lamyaa Alqarni, Sales Business Development, Infoblox KSA, is a perfect amalgamation of flying high while staying connected with the roots. As numerology says, number 6 born people are supposed to help others. She portrays a good mix of dedication and passion in whatever she does. Positive and Problem-solving attitude has helped her climb the success ladder. In a brief chit chat with the Associate Editor, channel360MEA, Ms. Lamyaa talked about her shift from teaching technology to selling it and the challenges faced and things that helped her carved a niche for herself in the industry. 

Early Days
After college, Lamyaa travelled to the US, to get her Master’s Degree in Computer Science & Information Systems. After graduation in 2015, she returned to Riyadh and taught at the King Khaled University as an Information Science and Computer Trainer. “In 2016 I began my first journey in the IT world, working as Senior Sales Executive for Redington Saudi Arabia Distribution Company. I then joined Exclusive Networks as Vendor Manager and in April 2022, followed by my current role as a Sales Business Development at Infoblox,” Lamyaa added. 

Her journey in the tech industry begins from 2016.

Saudi Vision 2030

When asked about the current ratio of women working in the IT or Telecom industry, she sounded optimistic. She explained that Saudi Arabia has witnessed a big change and there is now an increasing number of women executives in the workforce. This is largely on account of the huge efforts of the Government of Saudi Arabia led by Prince Mohammed Bin Salman and Saudi 2030 Vision which is to achieve a cohesive method of equality between the men and women of society in various fields. She added that the vision is to enhance rights of men and women alike, enhance support systems and care programs, thus improving their work environment in all sectors. 

Now Vision 2030 promotes Saudi women as an important part of the Kingdom’s strength, and I can see a lot of powerful women in this industry working beside men in driving this vision toward success.

Lamyaa informed, “When it comes to industries like IT & Telecom, women now make up an estimated 40% of the IT workforce, and there has been a steady increase in the number of women working in telecom roles over the past decade.” The increasing presence of women in IT and Telecom is driven by factors such as increased educational opportunities for women, more flexible work environments, and better job opportunities. Additionally, organizations are making efforts to create a supportive environment for female employees through initiatives such as mentorship programs, diversity initiatives, and training programs.

Capabilities doubted..?
She shared that here had been no specific incident that comes to her mind. But in general, she finds that when working in groups, she feels a bit sidelined and ignored when it comes to considering her inputs on important decisions. “This inherent mindset has to change where women’s capabilities are no longer doubted,” she added. 

Being a woman gives you an edge
I had an interesting experience recently where my gender helped me to better handle a situation. “I was helping a customer as they were facing some technical issues, and the customer was getting increasingly frustrated. I was able to use my natural empathy and understanding to help the customer feel more at ease, and eventually we were able to work together to find a solution to the problem, ” Lamyaa shared. 

Milestones
She has successfully established key partnerships with leading companies, which have enabled the companies to create innovative products and services that have driven long-term growth and profitability.

“I have also developed comprehensive marketing plans and strategies to drive brand awareness and customer loyalty, resulting in increased market share. Furthermore, I have identified new business opportunities and created effective strategies to capitalize on them while minimizing risk. Finally, my collaboration with sales teams to implement a successful sales process has resulted in increased revenues for the company, ” she added. 

Can W-F-H (work from home) be a game changer in 2023
When asked about W-F-H culture could help employing more women, she replied ‘Yes’. “I believe that with markets now rebounding from the pandemic and more companies offering the option of working from home, there will be more job opportunities for women in 2023 and beyond. Working from home increases the flexibility and convenience of finding a job and allows for more women to participate in the workforce as they are now able to juggle work and homelife responsibilities.” Additionally, as society continues to become more accepting of gender equality, there will be an increase in the number of jobs available to women.

The future
The future is promising. “My advice to my younger peers is to stay curious and never stop learning. Technology is constantly evolving, so it is important to keep up with the latest trends and developments in order to stay ahead of the curve. Additionally, don’t be afraid to take risks and think outside of the box. Finally, remember that failure is part of the learning process – don’t be discouraged if something doesn’t work out right away. With hard work and dedication, you can achieve anything!” concluded Lamyaa.