In a world where we frequently feel like we are always being barraged by networking events, it can be easy to forget the importance of building strong, trusted relationships. However, these relationships are what make up an influential network, so it is worth taking the time to cultivate habits to build them.

Chaitra Vedullapalli, President of Women In Cloud, has always been driven to leave a positive impression everywhere she goes. She is an outstanding advocate for opening new economic opportunities for people everywhere, especially women. This blog includes tips for developing a trustworthy relationship drawn from her experiences.

The strength of trust is the foundation of all the best relationships in our life. The correct degree of faith enables us to share our most sensitive tales, connect on a deeper level, and build stronger relationships, bringing the confidence to be fully seen, heard, and understood without bias or concern about rejection. Therefore, when we consider trust, especially in personal and professional relationships, it is essential to help make important decisions, accelerate your progress, and provide you with the best possibilities to become purpose-driven leaders.

The most challenging aspect of building trust is in these three areas: 

  1. Understanding how to go about earning someone’s trust. Most of us are unable to create lasting bonds with others. 
  2. Ability to measure strong relationships. You might discuss it, but you have no idea what it looks like or how to quantify it. 
  3. Let someone know when they have betrayed your confidence. Often, it is important to speak up.

Here are some pointers for developing a powerful network through trusted relationships:

  1. Seek out opportunities to connect with others. Whether this means attending industry events or simply striking up conversations with people you meet in your everyday life, leverage on every scenario to connect with others.  
  2. Get involved in your community. Participating in community activities is a terrific way to make new friends and build relationships of trust. Not only will you be able to help make a difference, but you will also get to know people from all levels of society.
  3. Be a reliable resource. People will come to you with questions and problems when you become known as a reliable resource. In turn, this will help build trust and strengthen your relationships. 
  4. Offer your assistance. Help someone if you see they are having trouble. It might be anything, such as offering to assist with a project or lending an ear when someone needs to talk.
  5. Stay connected. Once you have made a connection, do not let it fall by the wayside – stay connected! Whether sending a quick email or connecting on social media, staying in touch will help keep your relationships stronger. By following these tips, you will be well on your way to building an influential network.  

As with the tips mentioned earlier, Chaitra adheres to a trust framework that she believes helped her build strong connections, given to her by coach when she worked Oracle and it is called ‘the ROCC of trust. In ROCC framework, R stands for Reliability, O for Open-Honesty, and Cs for Competence and Compassion.

Even in a business relationship, trust is an essential factor. Without trust, how can we ever feel safe and secure working with others, or be sure that the association meets our professional needs? The tactics listed above are ways to develop a network of reliable connections. Even though they are binary options that exist or do not, they can help you build a robust network that can support your goals.

Here is a video of some fantastic insights shared by Chaitra –

WIC Million Dollar Partnership Challenge

Standing out in the $7 trillion cloud industry is no easy feat—in fact, 98% of women are unable to get access to corporate contracts and capital investments. 

That is why Women In Cloud is ecstatic to announce the Million Dollar Cloud Partnership 3-Day Challenge from June 22nd to June 25th, 2022. 

This challenge is designed to take women technology founders’ businesses to the next level and help them achieve the impact they have always dreamed of. 

Through a series of live webinars and editable workbooks, participants will become experts in strategic co-selling with cloud hyperscalers, develop a collaborative mindset that facilitates strong partnerships, gain access to new B2B SaaS investors, acquire skills in marketing and brand promotion, request warm introductions, and more! 

This challenge will cover a range of topics that promote professional and personal development:

  1. Collaborative Mindset
  2. Investor Access
  3. Co-Sell Solution Identification
  4. Brand Visibility

In addition, participants will meet and learn from industry leaders such as Chaitra Vedullapalli, Gillian Muessig, Rajeev Kapoor, Christine Puccio, Karen Fassio, and more!

Don’t miss out! Secure your ticket today! 

See the exciting schedule below:*

  1. Tuesday June 21st 11:00 am – 12:00 pm PT: Kickoff : Collaborative Mindset Through The Power of Trust (BONUS SESSION)
  2. Wednesday June 22nd 11:00 am – 12:00 pm PT: Access to Investor and Investments
  3. Thursday June 23rd 11:00 am – 12:00 pm PT: Cosell Solution Development with Hyperscalers
  4. Friday June 24th 11:00 am – 12:00 pm PT: Brand Visibility & GTM Plan

*Note: You are NOT required to attend every session. Ticket grants access to ALL sessions.

For more information on Women In Cloud’s 3-Day Million Dollar Cloud Partnership Challenge, click here

WIC is excited to announce the launch of our 7th Cloud Accelerator Cohort, beginning virtually on May 26th, 2022. Our unique accelerator program enables female tech founders to leverage the power of partnering with hyperscalers like Microsoft, Google, and IBM to become enterprise and Cosell ready. 

Women in Cloud has successfully graduated 70+ women-led companies over 6 previous cohorts with a global expansion including 9 countries around the world: United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, France, Germany, India, Kenya, South Africa and the United Arab Emirates.

The WIC entrepreneur community asked and We ANSWERED! We’ve adjusted the program to be even better than before.

Now A 3-month immersive program with even MORE benefits, including a 3 year relationship with the Women in Cloud community. During this immersive 3-month program the Cloud Accelerator provides: access to industry leaders, structured training, office hours, industry events, self-learning content, and more, all via digital platforms making the Accelerator accessible to women-led businesses worldwide. Women in Cloud is excited to announce the following 9 companies that have been accepted in the WIC Cloud Accelerator 7.0 Cohort of their award-winning Cloud CoSell Accelerator:

This kickoff focused on helping founders develop their future vision and this experience was led by Patti Dobrowolski, 3 Times TEDx speaker and inspired the founders to design their co-sell plan.

Here is the output of what a vision of equitable equity and access looks like for women founders.

Going digital has let us expand our horizon and open this program to people from around the world rather than just a region. 

This year’s WiC Cloud Cosell Accelerator is more than just an effort to make economic contributions to the system by empowering entrepreneurs. It is about embracing the new normal and moving forward with a sense of community. It is about adopting self-empowerment and finding comfort in knowing where to turn for support with a community at your side. Most importantly, it is about collective growth and learning.

The Cloud Cosell Accelerator combines training, access to industry leaders, structured training and office hours, industry events, self-learning content, and more, all via digital platforms making the Accelerator accessible to women-led business worldwide. Women in Cloud is excited to announce the following companies as accepted in the 7.0 cohort of their award-winning Cloud Cosell Accelerator:

  • AffableBPM- SaaS based Fully Customizable Business Workflow Management to provide Automated Compliance checks, Paperless – end to end, Cut down manpower up to 65% and Cost savings up to 50% . It is quick and easy to install and adopt!

  • Liiingo– Liiingo’s platform enables businesses to effectively connect, engage, and their shared customers’ journey, so they can nurture and benefit from repeat business and referrals. Liiingo’s mobile engagement platform removes those barriers for customers with our patented language delivery solution, as well as providing an intuitive an engaging experience.

  • LockDocs: LockDocs is a Digital-identity-as-a-service platform for the financial services sector. We are transforming how financial institutions collect and manage and customer data by offering a frictionless customer experience and generating significant time and cost savings in the process.

  • MyExcelia: MyExcelia is an AI-powered voice-enabled pocket coach that records voice, translates to text, anonymizes input, and provides in-the moment communication improvement feedback to managers, coaches, leaders, and employees at all levels without further input or effort from the employee.

  • OfficeTroops: Offers a global technology supported service to help small and medium organizations source, manage and nurture their future talent. The fight for talent requires a concerted effort at career brand development, candidate engagement and technology in hiring. Large organizations have substantial budgets to do this. We bring that same caliber to small and mid size businesses (SMB) who might otherwise lose out in this fight. Our solution centers around a white labelled hiring platform combined with concierge level placement services. We augment SMB hiring teams from day one and give them hiring scale at an attractive price point.

  • Accelera : The Maestro Ecosystem is a complete, all-in-one digital transformation tool. We partner with various technologies in payments, finance, and customer service through the API management layer. We use a digital identifier in a multi-tenanted environment to segregate a client’s data, which is orchestrated, headlessly, and displayed on a webpage.

  • Sapta Inc: Sapta is a cloud-based enterprise value management software built to help organizations achieve sustainable accelerated growth eliminating management chaos. The integrated management platform helps enterprises build OKRs, fuel innovation, make faster business decisions, and create a seamless CX journey.

  • Viverie AI: Viverie AI is the vision and brain for various types of smart robots, cameras, and sensors. Through collaborative training, our AI can be your solution for your specific needs. 

  • iLEAP Group: A Cloud MSP Provider transforming HBCU ecosystem with Cloud Services with IP based solutions.

Do you want to participate in the WIC Cloud CoSell Accelerator but missed the deadline? Don’t worry you can apply to be a part of our next Cohort HERE that is expected to roll out in late September.  

If you think you’d like to apply for the Accelerator Program but not sure if your business is ready yet?

 

Join us for the #MillionDollarPartnershipChallenge June 21-24, designed to prepare women-led tech businesses for the next steps.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We invite you to apply. Click HERE to learn more: https://womenincloud.com/initiative-cloud-accelerator/

Women are the key drivers of the economy; by accessing the resources needed to launch and sustain businesses, Women in Cloud will address the economic inclusion to co-develop and co-market solutions by providing women the tools, knowledge, and networks they need to build a successful enterprise-ready cloud business.

Note: This is a U.S.-only program.

Microsoft has developed the Partner Fund Program to help provide working capital to existing Microsoft Partners. You’re invited to apply for this program as you seek to grow your business.

As a Microsoft Partner, Microsoft is committed to your success. Whether you’re seeking to scale your business, improve your Microsoft capability, or put yourself on a more profitable path, this fund is for you. Review the loan information and eligibility requirements below, then fill out the form to nominate your company. Upon completion of the form, they’ll contact you to discuss your submission in detail.

About the Partner Capital Fund loan program:

  • Partner can apply for loans ranging from $25,000 to $500,000.
  • Loans maintain terms of less than 60 months.
  • No or low interest will be charged for payment terms (Microsoft will cover all or most of the interest costs).
  • Eligibility is based upon financial and other information provided.

Partner Capital Fund eligibility requirements:

  • Partner must be based in the U.S.
  • Partner must be enrolled and active in the Microsoft Partner Network.
  • Eligible businesses who are partners include those who are:
    • Offering consulting services that utilize Microsoft products OR
    • Building on a Microsoft platform to build their own business OR
    • Developing app using Microsoft products OR
    • Creating IP using Microsoft products (i.e., organizations who are willing to build unique technology on the Microsoft platform).
  • Partner must be in good standing (i.e., no disputed accounts receivable greater than or equal to 60 days).
  • Partner must have less than $7M in annualized revenue.
  • Partner must have ability to provide three years of financial statements (reviewed or audited) or provide three years of federal tax returns.
  • Startup organizations must provide a five-year projection or business plan.
  • Additional items may be requested from Microsoft’s banking partner.
  • Partner must self-certify responses.
  • Commitment to allocate forecasted spend on Microsoft products or services reviewed as a percentage of the loan. Details to be provided during review process.

You’re invited to nominate your company to receive working capital support through the Microsoft Partner Capital Fund. Whether you’re seeking to scale your business, improve your Microsoft capability, or put yourself on a more profitable path, this program is for you.

To nominate your company, review the loan information and complete the form within the link below. The Microsoft team will review your submission and contact you to discuss in detail.

By submitting this form, you are indicating that you are interested in having access to credit with the Partner Capital Fund for the Microsoft Partner Network (MPN) that Microsoft’s banking partner offers. Participation in the Partner Capital Fund program is subject to Microsoft’s program terms. Credit review and approval is subject to the program terms set forth by the banking institution providing the credit. Your personal information will be shared with banking partners and processed by Microsoft as per their privacy policy.

Apply Today!

You can learn more at Microsoft Lunch and Learn on May6th, 2022. Save Your Spot

Today we kicked off our third annual #empowHERaccess campaign and are delighted to announce the call for nominations for the 2022 #empowHERaccess Awards are now open!

WIC is inviting you to join in acknowledging and celebrating the leaders, advisors, investors and partners who have provided you with access and advocacy throughout your entrepreneurial journey. WIC has created five awards to recognize and commemorate these vital members of our community: 

  • Digital Transformation Project of the Year Award
  • Women in Technology Outstanding Leadership Award
  • Supplier of the Year Award
  • Advisor of the Year Award
  • Investor of the Year Award

As a community, we count on your support to spread the word about the call for nominations so that we reach all of the noteworthy organizations and programs around the world. 

Learn more about the 2022 #empowHERaccess campaign here.

Click here to learn more about each award and submit your nominations.

Important:

  1. Organizations, people and initiatives can nominate themselves!
  2. Nominations are open until June 10, 2021
  3. This year’s award ceremony will be on July 14, 2021 during the #WiCxInspire Event

Please contact wicmarketing@womenincloud.com with any questions or suggestions you might have.