As a Principal Product Manager at Microsoft, Nandita Sampath believes that unlocking tech careers for women requires more than encouragement it requires pathways that are flexible, practical, and built for real life. Over the past year, she brought that vision to life through a strategic partnership with Women in Cloud (WIC), co-launching the #WICxSkillsReadyChallenge to help women gain job-ready credentials in AI and cybersecurity.
The impact was immediate: over 1,000 applications, 75,900+ digital impressions, and more than 100 women earning Microsoft Applied Skills credentials in just weeks. For many, it was their first time accessing technical skills in a way that felt doable and valuable. Through webinars and community outreach, the program reached 1,000+ women, including career returners, students, and first-time learners, providing a launchpad into tech fields where women remain underrepresented.
What made it work? Nandita and her team focused on meeting learners where they were. By designing the challenge around Microsoft’s scenario-based, self-paced platform, they eliminated common barriers like cost, rigid scheduling, and confidence gaps. Outreach extended beyond traditional tech circles—into film festivals like TIFF and MAMI, universities in India, and grassroots community channels—proving that access expands when we take intentional action to widen the gate.
For Nandita, this work is about more than skills; it’s about connection and inclusion. “True education connects us not just to knowledge, but to each other,” she says, reflecting on the program’s ripple effects. By creating inclusive, scalable pathways into tech, she’s helping women not only imagine new possibilities but walk boldly into them.
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/
