The desire to create a lasting impact through work

At Amazon, we believe that building a culture that is welcoming and inclusive is integral to people doing their best work and is essential to what we can achieve as a company. I believe that what is making a difference today is that we are able to see the successful stories from different women leaders in various sectors who are an inspiration to so many. Having role models is important, as it encourages young females to think about their professional careers and to know they can achieve anything. I feel hopeful about the future and the leadership roles that women will have in shaping future industries.

Most challenging

I approach my work with a desire to have a lasting impact, but that requires hard work, determination, and an ability to prioritise. There are key guiding principles for me. First is the ability to outline short-term and long-term plans, assess regularly, and be able to pivot when required with full accountability for every decision made. Second is, you are successful when your teams and your customers are successful. Third, you need to be self-critical, and embrace and learn from your mistakes.

Most engaging

I am a person who enjoys doing new things and to be challenged out of my comfort zone. At Amazon, we embrace a Day 1 culture, where we treat every day as a new opportunity to think big and innovate. The best part of the job is the ability to be a trusted advisor to our customers and helping them succeed in achieving their set goals.

Ghada Elkeissi, Head of Worldwide Public Sector Professional Services, Amazon Web Services, Middle East & Africa

Elkeissi leads the Public Sector professional services organisation in the Middle East and Africa, working closely with organisations to help them achieve their goals for digital transformation through the power of cloud technology. She leads a team who engages with customers across three verticals.