“A Proud Lebanese and a grateful Canadian- From a Bomb Shelter to a Boardroom That believes in the power of Learn it, Earn it, Return it.”
Rola Dagher
About
LEARN IT. EARN IT. RETURN IT.™ | THE ART OF REWIRING AND REINVENTING YOURSELF
Leadership is not a title—it’s a daily choice to act with purpose, conviction, and courage. Rola Dagher lives by this belief. With over two decades of experience in the technology industry, she has led transformational change, built world-class teams, and championed inclusive leadership at every turn.
Dagher returned to Dell Technologies in 2020–2023 as Global Channel Chief after a groundbreaking tenure as President and CEO of Cisco Canada. She previously held senior sales leadership roles at Dell and Bell Canada. Her influence on the global channel ecosystem earned her recognition as one of CRN’s Global 50 Most Influential Channel Chiefs, Channel Influencer, and multiple accolades including CRN’s Women of the Year, Power 100, and Top 100 Executives.
A passionate advocate for equity and representation, Dagher has made it her mission to elevate diverse voices. She’s been honored as one of Canada’s Most Powerful Women: Top 100™, WXN’s Top 25 Women of Influence™, WCT’s Woman of the Year. She was also recognized by RBC as one of the Top 25 Canadian Immigrants of the year.
Her extraordinary journey—from a childhood in a war-torn country to boardrooms at the helm of global enterprises—has earned her four Honorary Doctorates (LL.D.) from McMaster University, University of Waterloo, Toronto Metropolitan University, and Wilfrid Laurier University. In 2023, Dagher was appointed to the Order of Canada and received the prestigious King Charles III Medal and the Horatio Alger International Award.
Beyond the boardroom, Dagher serves on the advisory boards of Catalyst and the 30% Club, sits on the Board of Trustees for SickKids Hospital, and is a Director of the Horatio Alger Association of Canada. She is also a member of the Toronto Metropolitan University Board of Governors, sits on the Advisory Board for McMaster University, contributes to Shift Canada, and serves as a council member on the University of Waterloo Dean’s Advisory Council.
Today, Rola inspires leaders to rewire and reimagine their thinking for the AI era—to shift from legacy leadership to human-centered innovation. Her message is clear: the future belongs to those who lead with authenticity, embrace reinvention, and prioritize impact over ego.
At the heart of her leadership philosophy is a powerful mantra: “Learn it. Earn it. Return it.” ™ Rola Dagher continues to live this mission—empowering the next generation to rise, lead, and make lasting impact.
Why Should You Listen
to Rola?
What You’ll Learn
How purpose, resilience and service can shape a leadership style that transforms teams and drives meaningful change.
Why You’ll Love Her
Rola speaks with clarity and heart, blending lived experience with practical insight that inspires people to lead with courage.
What’s Unusual
Her journey from refugee to global executive embodies a rare path of reinvention and impact, proving that leadership grounded in giving back can reshape entire organisations.
From the Bomb shelter the Boardroom – Lessons in Transformational Leadership
When Rola Dagher first came to Canada as a young refugee, she didn’t speak the language and had no formal education. Beginning her career in Bell’s telemarketing department, she hustled her way to the top, earning senior sales leadership roles at Bell Canada and Dell. Most recently, she was the global channel chief at Dell Technologies after a groundbreaking tenure as President and CEO of Cisco Canada.
With over two decades of experience in the technology industry, Dagher credits her leadership philosophy, “learn it, earn it, return it™” for fueling her success, both individually and as a leader. In this story-driven keynote, Dagher shares her powerful journey from a childhood in war-torn Lebanon to boardrooms around the world, breaking down her philosophy — “learn it”, embracing continuous growth; “earn it”, relentless hustle, determination, and resilience; and “return it”, the mentality of lifting others up — and illustrating how it creates leaders who don’t just succeed, but build world-class teams, drive transformational change, and achieve sustained excellence.
Key takeaways include:
- The three-phase framework that turns adversity into advantage.
- How to hustle with heart while maintaining authentic leadership.
- Why “returning it” amplifies your impact exponentially.
- How to transform systemic barriers into stepping stones for yourself and others.
How a philosophy shaped by resilience and service builds leaders who change their world.
Rola Dagher is widely recognised for her leadership, resilience and commitment to lifting others as she rises. From her beginnings as a young refugee arriving in Canada to becoming President and CEO of Cisco Canada and later the global channel chief at Dell Technologies, her journey reflects a rare combination of grit, purpose and vision. She has been honoured as one of Canada’s Most Powerful Women, named to the Top 100 Most Influential Leaders in the country and celebrated for her advocacy in diversity, inclusion and community impact. Dagher also received the Women in Communications and Technology Woman of the Year Award and has been recognised by the Lebanese government for her leadership abroad.
Get to Know Rola
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