Sometimes, the boldest revolutions begin with a single, heartfelt question.
Heba Ramzy’s journey began in a think tank in Egypt, where she was using technology to support smarter policymaking. After speaking at a youth conference, a young girl approached her with a question that would alter the course of her life: “How can I use IT to shape my future?” That moment of curiosity became Heba’s catalyst. It wasn’t just a question—it was a calling.
Determined to find an answer, Heba founded “Little Hours,” Egypt’s first internet gateway for children, and launched a national computer club movement that soon scaled across the Middle East and Africa. These clubs didn’t just teach skills—they opened doors. Millions of young people became creators, leaders, and agents of their futures.
As Heba puts it: “Inspiring future leaders means equipping young minds with tools, vision, and opportunity to unlock their potential.”
Her impact only expanded from there. During her 14-year tenure at Microsoft, Heba led philanthropic initiatives across the Middle East and Africa, empowering youth through digital literacy and social innovation. Her leadership earned her Microsoft’s prestigious Circle of Excellence award. At Avanade, she built the Global Citizenship platform from the ground up, helping more than 1.6 million young people annually and fostering a culture of service through tens of thousands of employee volunteer hours. She also co-founded Avanade’s nonprofit consulting arm and introduced its first ESG scorecard, aligning business growth with purpose.
Throughout her journey, Heba has leaned on the power of mentorship, allyship, and bold collaboration. From government leaders to corporate changemakers, she credits a strong support system for scaling her vision. Today, she mentors underrepresented youth and rising professionals, ensuring access to skills, confidence, and opportunity.
For Heba, being honored in the #EmpowHER50 campaign affirms her life’s work: building systems that unlock scale, equity, and lasting impact. Her legacy? A future where innovation and opportunity aren’t privileges—but universal rights.
About #empowHER50 campaign
This campaign celebrates women leaders at Microsoft, past and present, who have been instrumental in democratizing access to technology, opportunity, and growth. By honoring their contributions over the last half-century, this campaign highlights stories of resilience, innovation, and inclusivity. Through digital spotlights, a commemorative coffee table book, live recognition events, and more, the campaign inspires collective action toward achieving equitable societal goals. To learn more about empowHER50, please visit https://womenincloud.com/empowHER50
To learn about Microsoft 50th celebrations: https://news.microsoft.com/microsoft-50/
