True inclusion isn’t just about opening doors—it’s about ensuring no one walks alone.
Gavriella Schuster has spent her career championing women, allies and underrepresented groups, creating global networks that foster connection, mentorship, and opportunity in technology.
As Board Director and former Microsoft CVP, Gavriella has been a force in building communities that empower women. She sponsored the formation of The WIT Network, which now boasts 11K members in 76 countries, providing mentorship, leadership training, and technical certifications to women in technology. She also played a pivotal role in launching Women in Cloud, an initiative that has grown into a 120K-strong community spanning 80 countries, reaching 4 million people globally. Through this work, she has helped female entrepreneurs gain access to cloud marketplaces and technical resources, fueling their growth and success.
Beyond organizations, Gavriella has personally mentored and sponsored more than 100 individuals and established dozens of mentorship rings, ensuring women and underrepresented groups have the guidance and community they need to thrive. Her leadership in the Microsoft partner ecosystem for seven years helped drive economic access and growth through technology, impacting millions worldwide.
Her work didn’t stop after Microsoft—she developed an allyship training program to drive inclusion, delivered a TEDx talk rallying for 8M women to enter tech, and continues to educate Fortune 500 leaders on fostering workplace equity.
“If a person who is an ONLY in any group has an ally, they are not alone. #ALLIES step up in the moments that matter through the little acts they practice every day to turn moments of exclusion into moments of inclusion.” — Gavriella Schuster
Gavriella’s impact is undeniable—she is not just advocating for change, she is architecting a future where inclusion is the standard, not the exception. Her relentless pursuit of equity and empowerment has ignited a movement that will shape generations to come.
About #empowHER50 campaign
This campaign celebrates women leaders at Microsoft, past and present, who have been instrumental in democratizing access to technology, opportunity, and growth. By honoring their contributions over the last half-century, this campaign highlights stories of resilience, innovation, and inclusivity. Through digital spotlights, a commemorative coffee table book, live recognition events, and more, the campaign inspires collective action toward achieving equitable societal goals. To learn more about empowHER50, please visit https://womenincloud.com/empowHER50
To learn about Microsoft 50th celebrations: https://news.microsoft.com/microsoft-50/
