Speaker profile: Sonel Popatlal

Sonel Popatlal leads Intel’s EMEA Data Center, AI, Client, and Gigafactory Go-To-Market portfolio, with end-to-end responsibility across the Business Unit for End Users, Partners, Multinational Corporations, and Hyperscalers. She works at the intersection of strategy, execution, and customer impact—partnering with some of Intel’s largest and most complex customers to drive meaningful digital transformation, accelerate adoption of advanced technologies, and create sustained demand across Intel’s DC, AI, Client, and Gigafactory portfolio. Her leadership is grounded in one core principle: technology only matters when it delivers real business value and measurable outcomes for customers.

With more than 25 years of experience in the IT industry, Sonel brings deep commercial acumen and global leadership perspective shaped across Europe, the Middle East—where she spent a decade—and Africa, where she originates from. She holds an Honours degree in Information Technology from James Cook University in Australia and has built a career spanning senior leadership roles at Microsoft, Oracle, Atos, Equinix, Zayo, and now Intel. This breadth of experience gives her a rare, end-to-end understanding of the technology ecosystem—from infrastructure and platforms to go-to-market execution and long-term customer value creation.

Known for her authentic, people-first leadership style, Sonel is deeply committed to building high-performing teams, developing future leaders, and fostering inclusive cultures that thrive under change. She combines strategic clarity with empathy, and decisiveness with trust—believing that sustainable success is driven as much by strong relationships and empowered teams as it is by innovation and scale.
Outside of work, Sonel is a proud mother of two adult children. She values family time, travel, golf, and the great outdoors—bringing the same sense of balance, curiosity, and resilience from her personal life into how she leads and inspires others.