Lillian Barnard

Lillian currently serves as Chief of Enterprise Partners for Middle East & Africa, a position she assumed in July 2025. Previously, she was the President of Microsoft Africa for two years, following her four-year tenure as CEO of Microsoft South Africa. Lillian joined Microsoft in May 2017 as Public Sector Director. With over 25 years of experience in the technology industry, she is a highly accomplished executive and leader.Lillian started her IT career at IBM, where she held several key leadership positions during her 15-year tenure, which included a 7-year international assignment living in France (Paris) and Switzerland (Zurich). She gained extensive experience in a broad range of strategic business areas. She also worked for Vodacom as Chief Sales Officer for Enterprise Business and served on the board prior to joining the business. She then joined Microsoft after her tenure at Vodacom. Her strong leadership skills, strategic thinking, and deep industry knowledge have been instrumental in driving growth and success in these organizations.During her tenure at Microsoft, Lillian has played a pivotal role in transforming the company's operations and driving double-digit growth in South Africa. She has spearheaded initiatives to empower businesses and individuals with digital transformation solutions, helping them leverage technology to achieve their goals and drive economic development. Lillian has become well-known for building strong, high-performing teams that consistently deliver on their financial targets while also bringing innovative digital solutions to her partners and customers.Lillian is renowned for her passion for driving inclusion and diversity in the technology sector. She has championed various programs and initiatives that support the development and empowerment of women in technology, aiming to close the gender gap and create equal opportunities. She has been pivotal in re-igniting the local chapter of Women@Microsoft and spurring a culture that encourages equality in the workplace. She was recently chosen as the Central Europe Middle East Africa (CEMA) Executive Sponsor for Women at Microsoft.Lillian was honoured in 2022 as the Lifetime Achiever for Women in Technology in Africa. She also received the prestigious Trailblazer Tech Award from Wired4Women and ITWeb Brainstormin 2024. This is a testament to her commitment to developing and advancing the next generation of leaders.Lillian is a highly respected and influential leader in the technology industry. Her dedication to driving digital transformation, promoting diversity, and delivering impactful results makes her an exceptional executive at Microsoft.She holds a BCom (Hons) in Business Economics from the University of the Western Cape.