Mirna Arif

Driven by a passion for innovation and people empowerment, Mirna Arif is an accomplished business leader with over two decades of cross-sector experience across Europe, the Middle East, and Africa. She currently serves as the General Manager for Microsoft’s Middle East and Africa Growth Markets, overseeing operations across Egypt, Oman, Bahrain, Kenya, Morocco, Nigeria, and other emerging markets, focusing on advancing digital transformation, supporting cloud and AI adoption, and enabling inclusive economic growth in partnership with governments and organizations. In January 2026, Mirna was appointed by H.E. President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi as a Member of the Egyptian Parliament (House of Representatives), a testament to her dedication to public service and her commitment to shaping Egypt’s future through policy, technology, and inclusive development. Recognized for her outstanding leadership and impact, Mirna was named among the 100 Most Powerful Businesswomen by Forbes Middle East in both 2024 and 2025 , a clear distinction earned for her decades-long track record of driving transformation and empowering communities across the region. Previously, as General Manager of Microsoft Egypt (2020–2025), Mirna was the first woman to hold this prestigious role, spearheading the country’s digital transformation journey. Prior to that, she served as Surface Business Group Director for Middle East and Africa at Microsoft in Dubai (2019–2020). Before joining Microsoft, she held the position of Regional Director for Digital Transformation at GE Oil & Gas (2017–2019), and served as Regional Manager for Rosemount Group Middle East at Emerson Automation Solutions. In 2015, Mirna was appointed Assistant Minister for Investment and International Cooperation at Egypt’s Ministry of Petroleum and Mineral Resources, advising on the development and implementation of the petroleum sector strategy. Earlier in her career, she spent 12 years at Schlumberger in multiple leadership roles across global markets, including Global Marketing Director, spearheading worldwide marketing strategies for the software and marine acquisition segments. Mirna serves on the Board of Directors of Banque Misr and Rameda Pharma, the Board of the Egyptian National Council for Women, and the Board of Trustees of Knowledge Hub Education. She is the Chair of the Digital Transformation Committee at AmCham Egypt, , and sits on the Supreme Advisory Board of Al Nas Hospital and the Advisory Board of UNICEF Gen-U Egypt (Shabab Balad). She is also a YPO member. Mirna holds an MBA and a BSc in Computer Science, both from The American University in Cairo.