“Success is not about where you start but how you adapt and grow.”
Maymuna Akhter’s career trajectory is a testament to the power of resilience and adaptability. From her beginnings in real estate to becoming a pivotal force in the cybersecurity industry, her journey is one of transformation, perseverance, and strategic thinking.
Today, as a Renewal Manager at Gulf IT Network Distribution, she plays a crucial role in safeguarding businesses across the GCC region. She proves that passion and continuous learning can open doors to new opportunities—regardless of one’s starting point.
Despite her deep interest in technology, Maymuna’s career did not begin in the IT industry. Initially, she worked in real estate as a realtor at a prestigious firm. Her transition into cybersecurity began unexpectedly when she met a client who had established a company and was searching for a renewal specialist. Recognizing her skills and potential, he offered her the opportunity to join his team in a newly formed renewal department.
Since joining Gulf IT Network Distribution, she has been instrumental in driving organizational growth. Through her strategic leadership and vision, the company has significantly expanded its workforce and strengthened its market presence, positioning itself for continued success. Her journey in Dubai has been one of transformation, having lived in the city since 2003 and witnessing its remarkable growth firsthand.
From walking on sandy roads in Jumeirah as a student to now leading a critical department in a major cybersecurity firm, Maymuna’s story is one of perseverance and adaptation. Her background in business studies, coupled with Dubai’s financial ecosystem, helped her transition seamlessly into IT despite her lack of technical background.
Primary Responsibilities as a Renewal Manager
As a Renewal Manager, Maymuna oversees the cybersecurity renewal business across the entire GCC region, including Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain, Oman, and Saudi Arabia. Her role involves managing subscription-based cybersecurity solutions that ensure clients’ security systems remain up-to-date. Since most cybersecurity solutions are now cloud-based, her primary responsibility is to facilitate license renewals, ensuring seamless security operations for businesses.
Gulf IT Network Distribution acts as a key intermediary between global cybersecurity product manufacturers and regional clients. These manufacturers, often based in Europe, the UK, or Israel, rely on distributors like Gulf IT to establish a local presence. Maymuna works closely with key distribution partners who deliver cybersecurity solutions to end customers. Her efforts contribute directly to the company’s growth by ensuring high renewal rates and customer retention.
Her role is pivotal in the cybersecurity ecosystem, where businesses are increasingly adopting subscription-based models that provide continuous protection and real-time updates, ensuring security solutions evolve alongside emerging threats. Her ability to manage relationships, ensure seamless renewals, and adapt to evolving cybersecurity trends makes her a vital asset to Gulf IT’s operations.
Challenges Faced in Transitioning
Moving from real estate to cybersecurity was a significant shift for Maymuna, primarily because she did not have a technical background. Unlike real estate, where transactions are more tangible, cybersecurity involves complex software, digital licenses, and cloud-based solutions. Understanding the technical aspects of cybersecurity products, their licensing structures and market trends required extensive learning.
One of the biggest challenges was adapting to the fast-paced and constantly evolving nature of the IT sector. Cybersecurity threats change rapidly, requiring professionals to stay updated with the latest technologies and compliance standards. To overcome this, she immersed herself in continuous learning—attending industry conferences, completing training programs, and working closely with technical teams to deepen her understanding of cybersecurity products.
Another challenge was establishing credibility in a male-dominated industry. However, her business acumen, strategic thinking and ability to build strong client relationships helped her gain trust and establish herself as a leader in her field. Today, she heads a team of ten professionals and plays a crucial role in expanding the company’s presence into the African market.
Influencing Factors in Career and Opportunities
Having grown up in Dubai since 2003, Maymuna has witnessed the city’s transformation from a developing metropolis to a global financial and technology hub. In her early years, Dubai lacked much of the infrastructure seen today, such as pedestrian-friendly roads and large-scale transport systems. She vividly recalls the excitement of seeing plans for the Dubai Metro on billboards, symbolizing the city’s vision for the future.
Dubai’s rapid growth has created unparalleled career opportunities, particularly in finance and technology. The city’s emphasis on digital transformation, innovation, and smart governance made it an ideal place for professionals to transition into industries like IT and cybersecurity. Being educated in Dubai, completing her bachelor’s in Academic City and her master’s at the Swiss School of Management, she was well-positioned to leverage these opportunities.
The city’s financial and business-friendly environment played a crucial role in her career shift. As a business studies graduate, she found Dubai’s dynamic market supportive of professionals willing to adapt and grow. Today, her role at Gulf IT Network Distribution is a direct result of Dubai’s thriving technology landscape, which fosters growth and innovation in industries like cybersecurity.
Embracing the Pearls of Wisdom
Maymuna believes that transitioning into a new industry, particularly cybersecurity, requires curiosity, resilience, and continuous learning. One of her biggest pieces of advice is to remain open to opportunities and not be afraid of change. She emphasizes that one does not need a technical background to enter cybersecurity—many roles, such as sales, renewals, and business development, require strong business acumen rather than deep technical expertise.
Networking plays a crucial role in career transitions. Her own shift from real estate to IT happened through a client connection, highlighting the importance of building and maintaining professional relationships. She advises professionals to attend industry events, connect with leaders in their desired fields, and actively seek mentorship.
Additionally, she encourages continuous learning through certifications and training programs. Cybersecurity is an ever-evolving field, and staying updated with industry trends is key. She also stresses the importance of adaptability and problem-solving skills, which are valuable in any sector.
For women entering male-dominated industries, she emphasizes confidence and persistence. Breaking barriers requires proving one’s worth through hard work, knowledge, and strategic thinking. With determination and a willingness to learn, anyone can successfully pivot into IT and cybersecurity, just as she did.
In games like Subway Surfers or Candy Crush, you start with a limited number of lives—typically three. After that, if you want to continue playing, you either wait for them to regenerate or purchase additional lives. Kids often click on these options without fully understanding the financial implications.
Some privileged families give their children phones at a very young age, sometimes without supervision. As a result, children unknowingly engage in online purchases. There was an incident where a schoolgirl used her father’s credit card to buy a premium package in a game, leading to a significant financial loss for her family. This shows how easy it is for children to be manipulated in the digital world.
Emphasizing Today’s Challenges with Resolutions
Parents today struggle to control their child’s screen time and exposure to social media, especially when both parents are working. Without proper monitoring, children can easily become victims of online scams or cybercrimes.
There have been cases where teenagers have been deceived in online relationships, thinking they were speaking to someone trustworthy, only to later realize they had been scammed. This is why I strongly believe that exposing young children to the digital world without educating them on cybersecurity is dangerous.
Additionally, some games and online content subtly introduce inappropriate or harmful ideas to children. If parents do not actively teach their kids about right and wrong, external influences will shape their perception—often in a misleading way. Parents don’t need to be their child’s best friend, but they do need to be responsible guides. If parents themselves are not aware of cyber risks, how can they educate their children?
Kids unknowingly become easy targets for online scams. Many YouTube videos and social media platforms promote misleading or harmful content. Without parental supervision, children may start perceiving wrong things as normal or acceptable.
Parents need to step up, educate themselves, and take responsibility instead of completely relying on technology or schools to teach their children about digital safety.
