Lena May: Bridging the gig economy with cloud computing

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As an entrepreneur, I see opportunities developing in cloud technology in the United States market. After personally struggling with difficulties of buying and selling tech services, I realized there had to be a better solution. This discovery led me to create a common central marketplace to bridge the gig economy with cloud technology to monetize and modernize these business transactions. This year at the Women in Cloud Summit 2020, I will discuss the opportunities for increased innovative cloud technologies and ways to get started. Currently, there needs to be utilization of the cloud technology; researching the service sector for cloud opportunities will result in opening a global conversation and entrepreneurial options. 

The Women in Cloud network has provided PSE Consulting with a broader, more strategic view of the potential that my organization has over the next year. I’ve gained insights on how to leverage relationships and transform them into real business leads. In the future, I would like to leverage the WIC network to work through next steps to launch the IT Marketplace in international markets, specifically in Mexico and Latin America.

I took a risk when I saw the opportunities for independent consultants; the same must be done for women to rise in countries with emerging technologies. There is a shift happening in technology around the globe, and I want to empower women with equal opportunity to join the movement and accelerate the shift.

As a resident of south Texas, there is a gateway of international opportunity at my fingertips. My vision for collective action within the Women in Cloud program involves creating IT opportunities for women in Mexico and Latin America through education and IT careers. One of the largest populations in North America is in Mexico City, with roughly 21 million people. Imagine the impact if 5% of women in CDMX had access to IT opportunities and training certifications for cloud technologies. The results could and would be life changing!

If you are thinking of breaking in to the gig economy and are ready to think outside the box, I want to hear your stories at the summit. Purchase tickets for the summit today and let us get to work. We are truly in a global inclusive economy and the gig services market is the key. 

To get more information visit the summit website, and don’t forget to apply the 20% discount code: JOINME@WIC

See you there! Take action by joining our online network to get engaged today!

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Countdown to the new year and the Women In Cloud 2020 Summit

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As we wind down 2019, we can’t help but think of all the things we have to be thankful for this past year. Although we still have a lot of work to do in order to see gender equality in the tech industry, we’ve also accomplished a lot of things this past year. 

  • We’ve grown our WIC active network to over 1500 members, more than double where we were one year ago and, as a result, we’ve tripled our audience during this time. 
  • We launched the online WIC Network community to give members an exclusive space to communicate, network, share ideas and help each other through mutual generosity. 
  • We build an Advisor Network comprised of industry executives and subject matter experts.
  • Our Accelerator impact generated $50M in pipeline opportunities and $6M in investments.
  • We’ve expanded the Cloud Accelerator into 8 countries: Canada, UK, France, Germany, India, Kenya, the US and Dubai.
  • We now have 60+ major companies directly participating in the community. 
  • And we’ve garnered major media coverage for WIC on Microsoft, GeekWire, TechNative and more. 

And as we move into 2020, we know we can accomplish amazing things. We’re going to continue launching our community in new countries and territories, add new programs like Executive Dinners and Innovation Hacks, continue to evolve our community into a true Generosity Network, and much more.

We kick off the year with our annual summit, and this year’s promises to be extra special. We’ve added a number of amazing new experiences that not only accelerate growth for women-led technology businesses, but also inspire, connect and harness the amazing power of the community to help solve other major problems we’re facing across the globe. 

Here are our top 5 reasons why you can’t miss out on the 2020 summit:

  1. Learn from relevant industry leaders: there are so many amazing speakers at the summit this year including critically acclaimed performer and author Patti Dobrowolski, and corporate vice president for Microsoft’s One Commercial Partner business, Gavriella Schuster, and many others. You’ll wish you could listen to all of them!
  2. Change the world and yourself in the process – #AISolutions2030 Innovation Hub: Women In Cloud and IdeaGen have partnered together with industry leaders and policy makers to further the 2030 UN global goals through AI-based solutions by launching the #AISolutions2030 Innovation Hub. Leveraging the UN Knowledge Repository, WIC will be bringing some of the sharpest tech and business minds together in one place for a greater purpose, and promises to produce strategic AI solutions directed at solving the UN’s SDG goals.
  3. See up-and-coming women entrepreneurs and women-led business emerging into the spotlight first hand through the #CloudInnovateHER Pitch Challenge: women-led companies developing an enterprise-ready cloud solution that’s earned less than $10M in the past 12 months qualify to enter the pitch challenge. Four finalists will have an opportunity to deliver their pitch during WIC Summit 2020. The winner will be selected at the pitch competition and will receive a prize.
  4. Join in on scintillating conversation with industry leaders at the #CloudExecConnect Executive Roundtables: an intimate group eating together and inspiring through meaningful dialogue around one topic. Each table conversation is facilitated by an industry executive, and you can pick the topic that interests you most. 
  5. Multiple opportunities to network: in addition to the #CloudExecConnect Executive Roundtables, there’s also Collective Action Lounge, as well as the #CloudCommunityConnect: Community Roundtables that are community lead roundtables similar to the executive roundtables. With over 1500 attendees, there are bound to be a number of influencers you can get connected to. 

There are several more reasons to attend, so be sure to register today!

Also, there are other ways to get involved if you’re interested:

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#AISolutions2030 Innovation Hub: WiC and IdeaGen partner to further to the 2030 UN global goals

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In 2015, the UN adopted the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, proposing the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). This agenda is built to create a global blueprint for dignity, peace and prosperity for people and the planet, now and in the future, and is challenging the world as a whole to band together to leave no one behind. 

As humans, our well-being is linked. Poverty, gender inequality, and lack of access to education, nutrition, clean water, and sanitation is detrimental to economic growth and undermines social cohesion, increasing political and social tensions that can lead to conflict. The converse–no poverty, sustainability, equality, and access to basic human needs–benefits the entire population and promotes personal and social well-being, economic growth, and development. It’s key to building our future together and ensuring prosperous societies and a planet we can all enjoy together for years to come. 

That’s why Women in Cloud (WiC) and IdeaGen have partnered together and with industry leaders and policy makers to further the 2030 UN global goals through AI-based solutions with the #AISolutions2030 Innovation Hub at WiC’s 2020 Summit in January. Leveraging the UN Knowledge Repository, WiC is looking to bring some of the sharpest tech and business minds together in one place for a greater purpose and promises to produce great AI solutions directed at solving the UN’s SDG goals.

Advancing gender equality is one of the first five goals, and the UN is emphatic that realizing global gender equality is “critical to all areas of a healthy society, from reducing poverty to promoting the health, education, protection and the well-being of girls and boys,” and will go a long way to help solve the other goals. They stress that “investing in education programs for girls and increasing the age at which they marry can return $5 for every dollar spent. Investing in programs improving income-generating activities for women can return $7 dollars for every dollar spent.”

It’s no secret that advancing gender equality is at the nucleus of WiC, but all 17 goals are on the table for the #AISolutions2030 Innovation Hub.  “We not only want to be at the forefront of gender equality, but the other UN goals as well,” says president of Women in Cloud Chaitra Vedullapalli. “We believe this world is worth saving, and we know that we have one of the brightest communities out there–a community that is no stranger to gathering together to solve big problems and overcome adversity.” 

More than just an opportunity to show off their great skills, the #AISolutions2030 Innovation Hub gives up and coming women tech entrepreneurs and the entire community the chance at winning awards for their innovative thinking as well as bringing something better to the world. 

Prizes include swag, plus with the industry recognition and visibility the #AISolutions2030 Innovation Hub generates, the best and brightest ideas are sure to get noticed by community leaders, corporate sponsors, and outside investors alike. It will be a prime opportunity to be recognized as a leader in the tech space. 

Join us and gain valuable experience through collaborative design thinking, problem solving, executive pitch development and more. 

The Details

  • Signup:
    • #AISolutions2030 Innovation Hub is inclusive, so anyone can participate. This includes literally anyone at the Summit, even Speakers and Judges. The more people we have to solve the problem, the better. 
    • When you register, tell us which SDG goal you want to contribute to. We will group people based on their selected goals. 
    • Be sure to recruit your own team members and invite the community to join. 
  • Readiness:
    • Women In Cloud team will put together the Groups on Online Community and host an online call to explain the process. 
    • George Sifakis and other UN representatives will be part of the call.
  • Team Engagement: Summit
    • The teams will use the SDG knowledge base to identify their “target” and “outcome” to do research, and begin preparing their ideas. 
    • The teams will join the Design Hacking Workshop to develop their AI solution.
  • AI Solution Selection for Advancement 
    • The judges from IDEAGEN and WIC community will pick the compelling ideas to win awards at the IDEAGEN Global Awards Ceremony.
  • All other ideas will be recognized and nurture throughout the year.
  • Read the full terms and conditions for more details. 

Join us for this amazing opportunity to roll up your sleeves, have fun, and help solve the world’s big problems through innovative tech solutions. Sign up today. 

 

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Calling All Volunteers! Women in Cloud Summit 2020 – Time to Take Action!

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We are accepting applications for enthusiastic and energetic volunteers for the third Annual Women In Cloud Summit.

Being a WIC volunteer allows you to:

  • Learn the insider’s perspective about what it takes to produce a large-scale summit with C-Level executives, entrepreneurs, and intrapreneurs.
  • Meet today’s leaders and network at the Welcome Reception
  • Earn volunteer credit hours through a meaningful advancement to women and the future of the technology industry
  • Work with other up and coming people in the industry and make connections for long after the event

Key Qualities of the Ideal Women In Cloud Volunteer:

  • Reliable and Committed
  • Energetic
  • Team Player
  • Strong Communications Skills
  • Self-Motivated
  • Contributing Member

WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF BEING A VOLUNTEER?

There are a number of benefits that are included when you become a volunteer:

  • One (1) Complimentary Ticket (Summit – Jan 25, Welcome Reception – Jan 24, Post-Event Celebration – Feb 22)
  • Swag Bag
  • Opportunity to Attend special Summit activations: Opening Keynote, Closing Plenary, #CloudExecConnect Executive Roundtables, #CloudCommunityConnect Roundtables, & #AISolutions2030 Innovation Hub, #CloudInnovateHER Pitch Challenge
  • Acknowledgements at event & at post-event celebration
  • 15% Discount Code for your network
  • Access to special discounted hotel rate for Summit

WHAT ARE THE VOLUNTEER REQUIREMENTS AND COMMITMENTS?

Schedule Commitments

  • Volunteer Orientation Call – Zoom Call: Friday, January 17th – 11 am to 12 pm PST (Attendance Mandatory)
  • Welcome Reception / Pre-Event Cocktails – Friday, January 24th – 5 to 8 pm PST (Optional/Registration Required)
  • Day of Summit Volunteering – Full Day commitment: Saturday, January 25th – Event Hours 8:00 am – 7:30 pm PST (Mandatory/Registration Required) – AM & PM Shift Reporting Times Vary

Available Volunteer Role Areas:

  • Morning Setup Support
  • Afternoon Setup Support
  • Speaker Support
  • Sponsor Support
  • Booth Support
  • Registration Support
  • Breakout Rooms Support
  • Ushers
  • Technology Support (AV, Decks Management, Photography, Videography)
  • Social Media/Event App Support
  • Tear Down Support
  • General Support (Event Runner)

Promotion to your network
We will provide a guide to share information about the event to your network, including the following:

  • Email & Social Media Copy
  • Photos & Video Content
  • Blog Submission Opportunity

HOW DO I BECOME A VOLUNTEER?

Don’t miss out on this great opportunity!
Complete our Volunteer Sign Up Form to sign up to become a volunteer today!

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Women in Cloud launches inaugural #CloudInnovateHER Pitch Challenge

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Women in Cloud (WiC), the organization responsible for working with global leaders and policymakers to help women entrepreneurs create economic opportunity, is looking for the next revolutionary innovation in tech-based enterprise solutions. 

We are launching the inaugural #CloudInnovateHER Pitch Challenge on Nov 4, 2019, with the goal of helping women tech entrepreneurs across global market develop, showcase and win enterprise customers. As demands in enterprise tech grow, the need for products and services that address these unique challenges increases. The #CloudInnovateHER Challenge provides that platform. 

Enterprise tech is one of the fastest growing and most influential sectors of the tech industry with enterprise software spending expected to reach $457 billion this year, but the numbers indicate that women are largely being left out of that economic opportunity. [Gartner] Although women founders continue to deliver outsized returns, data demonstrates that they still receive less than 3% of all VC funding, and women-founded companies catering to audiences beyond female consumers receive 54% less funding on average. Plus, there are disproportionately fewer women founding startups that serve enterprise, with only 2% of female entrepreneurs founding B2B companies, compared to 12% of men.

That’s why we at Women in Cloud are generating new ways for women tech entrepreneurs to get better access to funding, education, and a supporting community. 

“We are excited to bring this opportunity to women-owned tech businesses and help them find commercial success by showcasing their enterprise-ready cloud solutions,” says Chaitra Vedullapalli, President of Women in Cloud.  “Here’s a chance for startups and companies to compete on a global scale for a share of $10,000 in cash and access to Cloud Accelerator.” 

This experience is sponsored by industry leaders like Microsoft, Meylah and others, who are also core supporters of expanding enterprise business opportunities to more women entrepreneurs. If indications from the Boston’s Consulting Group’s are correct, then if women entrepreneurs received funding on par with their male colleagues, some estimates indicate that the global economy could experience a $5 trillion boost. Beyond the importance of gender parity, that influx into the global economy would be an incredible lift. 

Be recognized as an up-and-coming leader in the enterprise cloud space, and compete for the top prize of $10,000 to contribute to your business growth.

Qualifying is easy. Women-led companies developing an enterprise-ready cloud solution that’s earned less than $10 million in the past 12 months qualify to enter. Enter your business pitch or encourage others who qualify to enter. 

Solutions will be evaluated for originality, market feasibility, and use of cloud and AI solutions.

Bring us your best pitch. Enter today. 

Who should apply?

  • Ready: Companies that are developing and/or developed an enterprise-ready cloud solution and looking to expand their customer market
  • Set: US registered companies that already have a business plan and are pitch-ready with a commercially viable enterprise-ready cloud solution
  • Change: Companies offering a cloud tech solution that solves enterprise related challenges

Why apply?

  • Exposure to cloud market leaders and their channel partners
  • Access to go-to-market benefits and cloud accelerator
  • Global industry recognition as an innovative enterprise-ready cloud solution
  • Recognition to maintain your company’s competitive edge

What are the competition timelines?

  • Submission: The competition starts at 12:01 a.m. Pacific Time (PT) on Nov 04th, 2019 and ends at 11:59 p.m. PT on Dec 24th, 2019
  • Selection: Finalists will be notified by Jan 6th, 2019, and provided with instructions for next steps
  • Pitch Competition: Four finalists will have an opportunity to deliver their pitch during WIC Summit 2020, Jan 25th, 2020. The winner will be selected at the pitch competition and will receive a prize.

Note: Finalists will be awarded free registration to the Women In Cloud Summit 2020 registration, but will need to arrange and pay for their own travel and expenses related to attending the event. Submissions that aren’t selected will still receive a 15% discount to the event. In addition to having an opportunity to pitch your solution, you’ll have access to top companies and industry leaders from Microsoft, Ingram, SAP, and many more, who will present valuable sessions and invaluable resources throughout the day.

Selection Criteria

  • 50% – Originality of idea which solves real customer need/business problem in the enterprise market
  • 20% – Strong market opportunity & potential revenue stream
  • 30% – Cloud and Artificial Intelligence (AI) is core to the solution

Judges

Judges for the competition include well-known leaders in the enterprise cloud industry with a proven track record of success and provide key influence to the industry at large. Regardless of the outcome, all entrants will benefit from exposure to these influencers. 

Ready to create change for the global good? Apply now

Read the full terms and conditions for more details. 

For more information visit https://www.womenincloud.com/cloudinnovateher/ or contact community@womenincloud.com. 

 

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