When access becomes an ecosystem, women don’t just succeed—they transform the world.
In 1995, Chaitra Vedullapalli sat in front of a TV, mesmerized by the Windows 95 launch. It wasn’t just a product debut—it was a declaration: that access to technology could change everything. That spark ignited her life’s mission to build ecosystems of opportunity.
At Microsoft, Chaitra became a force of transformation. She unified 45 global partner programs into what is now Partner Center, secured $80M to support 400,000 partners, and streamlined over 1,000 sales portals into one platform—saving the company $100M. During the 2008 economic downturn, she led a financing initiative that unlocked $1B in revenue, proving that innovation thrives in adversity.
But Chaitra’s vision was always bigger than the boardroom.
As co-founder and president of Women in Cloud, she has opened over $500M in economic access for women in 80+ countries through accelerators, AI, and cybersecurity certifications, and global awards. Her ICONS Initiative bridges technology and storytelling, producing an Oscar-qualified film and elevating untold voices to influence policy and perception.
Now, she’s stepping into her boldest chapter yet: launching a $100M GTM Fund to scale inclusive innovation across tech, film, and wellness. Guided by the ICONIC Leadership Framework and her signature SIP Method—Serving, Influencing, Partnering—featured in her TED Talk, she’s turning purpose into powerful playbooks, unlocking access for the next generation of visionary leaders.
“ICONIC leadership is not about who sits at the table—but who has access to it, who’s impacted by it, and how decisions create prosperity for all.”– Chaitra Vedullapalli
#empowHER50 isn’t just a milestone for her—it’s a time capsule, preserving the blueprints of how women helped lead trillion-dollar shifts in access, innovation, and power.
Chaitra’s story is a call to action: architect boldly, lead inclusively, and leave a legacy that lifts generations.
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/
