Meet Hiba Shabrouq
Meet Hiba Shabrouq, one of our Young Tech Leaders mentors.
Hiba is an international award-winning leader in tech and business with years of experience in business solutions consulting and product management in the telecom industry. She has spoken at TEDx and various technology company HQs, including Microsoft and LinkedIn, before royalty, business leaders, and political members. She was also named an "Influential Leader,” “Employee of the Year,” “Woman in Business,” “TechWomen Fellow,” “Woman Ambassador,” and “Aspire Young Professional.”
Get to know Hiba below!
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Why did you want to participate in Young Tech Leaders of the Middle East?
I believe that 1+1 could equal 3 with the presence of synergistic collaborations. Young Tech Leaders is not only a fantastic way for me to be part of this synergy of mentors and youths, but also an impactful one.
What is your current role?
I work as a senior product manager, freelance product consultant, trainer, and thought leader.
How did you find yourself in your current field?
I studied Telecommunications Engineering, which I thought would be my passion. I loved everything about it, yet once I graduated and worked in the technical field at one of the biggest telecom companies in Jordan, I started seeing that the local technical telecom industry was saturated, and I might need to shift my career path to be able to excel.
At the time I thought I hated the business field, but I decided to give it a shot since it was needed by the market. And yes! It became my new passion, and I got a master’s degree in Business Entrepreneurship.
The combination of both "what I thought I loved" and "what I thought I hated" led me to who I am today, not just professionally, but also personally.
What have been some of the most defining moments of your career?
I’d say 5 main moments:
When I represented youth in a meeting with HM King Abdullah II of Jordan to discuss the challenges of Jordanian youth and propose ways to solve them.
When I was accepted into the TechWomen program to receive professional mentorship at the LinkedIn HQ in Silicon Valley.
When my team and I won the seed grant from TechWomen for our social project. We were the only Arabic project that won that year and were recognized by HM Queen Rania Al Abdullah.
When I was awarded the Stevie Award as a “Woman in Business” and “Employee of the Year” in the telecom industry.
When I stepped onto the TEDx stage as a speaker.
What was your first job?
My first job was with a technical operations team as a systems and database administrator. It was not related to what I studied at university, yet it taught me how to be flexible, adaptable, and visionary.
What was the best advice you've ever received?
It was from Shannon Brayton, who at that time was the Global Marketing and Communications Executive at LinkedIn. She was discussing building a personal brand and said, "Whether for a promotion or for any other higher position, the most important decisions taken by others related to your career path will be taken without you being present at the table.”
What advice would you give to your 18-year-old self?
Know your passion but do NOT follow it—follow a vision instead.
What do you like to do for fun?
I love adventures, skydiving, kayaking, wall climbing, biking, and anything that gives me an adrenaline rush.
What was the last best movie you saw or book you read?
My all-time favorite books are Screw It, Let's Do It by Sir Richard Branson and Lean In by Sheryl Sandberg.
What are some of your goals for the future?
To influence people to be the best versions of themselves, and to use my expertise and skills in any impactful shape or form.
