Danielle Sharaf
2020 Fellow
Founder, Switch
Danielle Sharaf is the founder and CEO of Switch-ITC, a mobile value-added services (VAS) company based in Pakistan that produces content rich SMS, IVR and digital services for mobile users in low literate developing markets. Through a mission of ‚ÄòMobile for Change’ these services primarily use text messaging and audio calls to reach out to over 17 million cell phone users enabling them to make smarter life decisions.
The company’s initiatives are bringing health solutions to the underserved, bridging the knowledge gap from farmers to students, bringing employment opportunities to job seekers and empowering women across all socio-economic strata through cellular technology. Their most recent endeavor includes Zoya – A free health and wellness app for girls in Pakistan that is tackling difficult conversations around female healthcare in an effort to de-stigmatise it.
A strong advocate of mobile technology and its potential for social change, Danielle was previously part of Pakistan’s first start up unicorn – ROZEE.PK where she spearheaded all business development and expansion for 4 years, making it a household name. She also worked briefly with Dell Pakistan as a marketing consultant.
An electrical engineer by education and a rebel by vocation, Danielle remains the only female C-Level executive in Pakistan’s VAS industry and has received accolades like Women of Wonder Award 2018, WECON Tech Entrepreneur of the year 2019, spoken at international conferences and prestigious platforms like TEDexLahore, World Bank Human Development Summit and worked with tech gurus across the world. She was also selected to be a Fortune 500 Most Powerful Women Mentee in 2017 and is now paying it forward as an advisor and mentor to upcoming entrepreneurs in Pakistan and beyond. She is currently on the Board of Association of Startups – Gran Canaria, Spain advising them on bilateral entrepreneurial exchanges and joint ventures between the two countries.
Sustainable Development Goals 3 (Good Health and Well-Being), 4 (Quality Education) and 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth).