George B. Thomas
Rather listen to this post?
Sometimes the right next step looks impossible until you take it. From a childhood of feeling different to building and selling an Elite-level HubSpot partner agency, Ranya Barakat’s story is a masterclass in courage, clarity, and community. It matters right now because so many teams are being asked to do more with less. Ranya shows us how to center value, protect people, and still flourish.
Origin to Ops
Seven-year-old Ranya already sensed it. She was playful, high-energy, and knew she didn’t quite fit. Years later, she would become a HubSpot partner in 2013, newly arrived in Chile without Spanish and without a network. Instead of shrinking, she made those constraints her edge and learned fast.
Two anchor points shaped her: early life experiences across Kenya and Egypt, and a bold restart in Latin America. Add in generous HubSpot humans along the way: David Torres, Dan Tyre, Mali Diaz, Ali Kovich, and Jose Martin — and you start to see the pattern: show up, ask for help, do the work, repeat.
“Be your authentic self, and that would’ve helped a lot.” — Ranya Barakat
A Cost Paid
There were rooms where she was the only woman. There were board tables full of suits and skepticism. In 2018, a major client underestimated her team again and again. Flags were raised. Boundaries were crossed. So Ranya made the hard call: they fired the client. Revenue took a hit, but the team kept its dignity. Health over hype. Humans over tiers.
Earlier in her career, after delivering 300 percent growth in a corporate role, she heard a single, deflating question: why not 400?
She closed the laptop, resigned, and never went back.
Sometimes the cost of staying is higher than the risk of leaving.
“I’m a really big believer that not all revenue is healthy.” — Ranya Barakat
The lesson Ranya keeps teaching is simple: lead with value. When she and her partner launched the agency in Chile, a local competitor told them they’d never succeed without Spanish or connections. That became fuel. She reframed the language gap as an advantage, asked sharper questions, and focused on measurable outcomes.
The breakthrough moments followed. By 2018, they were Diamond and in the VIP room at INBOUND. Brian Halligan heard their story of landing in a new country, building with HubSpot, and growing from nothing to something real. This is repeatable excellence built on clear process and relentless clarity.
Empowerment in Practice
Ranya leads a global team with short, weekly coaching bursts focused on soft skills, the human glue that makes complex systems work. Think about navigating tough conversations, running boardroom-level meetings, and protecting equal seats at the table for partners and clients. She networks intentionally, from HUGs and PUGs to women-led sales groups, because community multiplies competence.
Empowerment, for Ranya, means equipping people to handle any scenario with calm confidence. It’s not a theory. It’s a practice, every week.
Looking Ahead with HubSpot
Ranya lights up when she talks about Commerce Hub and the power of tying sales to finance without friction. She’s also energized by Sandbox and MCP progress, which make responsible change possible. The throughline is clear: build systems that reduce chaos so humans can do their best work.
Long-term, she wants to give back to the partner ecosystem, especially women-led teams, and, someday, cultivate a literal garden of well-being with a farm, yoga retreats, and a juice bar.
Growth with roots.
A Word to Women in Tech
Ranya’s advice to women choosing this path is grounded and generous: focus on brains and value, not labels. Show up prepared. Sit as an equal. Walk away when respect is missing. And for the next generation, including her daughter, she’s modeling that a woman can own a business, lead with love, and be “bossy” when it really means bold and tenacious.
Because many of us are navigating change, pressure, and identity in our work.
Ranya’s story reminds us that you can protect your people, choose healthy revenue, and still flourish. The path is human-first: decide what you won’t compromise, build systems that back it up, and surround yourself with a community that pulls you forward.
Reflect & Act
-
Where are you accepting unhealthy revenue or relationships, and what boundary needs to be set this week?
-
What soft skill would most multiply your team’s impact over the next 90 days?
-
Which HubSpot capability (Commerce Hub, Sandbox, MCP) could remove friction for your customers right now?
