Off The Press: Women In Cloud is community partner to the Microsoft #BuildFor2030 Hackathon, supporting our collective effort to advance UNSDG 2030

GRI’s podcast examines the role of women-led businesses on the road to the 2030 Agenda. The key nugget is “Women Are a Driving Force for the SDGs.”

Through Women in Cloud’s community partnership with Microsoft, we are unlocking Women Tech Founders to develop tech solutions to help advance  SDGs . Last year, we had 5 women founders who were recognized as #BuildFor2030 Hackathon Heroes , and it is exciting to participate for the second year.

Women In Cloud’s mission has always focused on creating economic access for women. 

To achieve that vision, we all need to act as changemakers  which comes in many forms: An Entrepreneur, A Professional, A Community Leader and more. We believe in each of us lies  a changemaker, and you have the potential to step into your zone of genius to activate change and make an impact.

Whether you’re well on your way as a purpose-driven business or just starting out, we are here to support your journey. Take your current offering (or new idea) to the next level and learn how any solution can be built to be more inclusive, accessible, and sustainable.

About Microsoft #BuildFor2030 Hackathon

In everyone lies a changemaker, and you can make an impact.

Join   the Microsoft #BuildFor2030 Hackathon, an eight-week stretch of collaboration to focus your attention and resources on growing as a changemaker, and creating solutions to make a difference.  Challenge areas include gender quality, sustainability, accessibility, enabling nonprofits, empowering communities, and an open category, welcoming all solutions and services that help advance the UN SDGs.

 By participating, you can:

  • Skill up to build for impact through technical, marketing, and storytelling support.
  • Get help building or updating solutions and publishing to the Microsoft commercial marketplace through collaboration, like-minded community, and inspiring challenge statements.
  • Have the chance to win a total of $60K in cash prizes and be featured as part of the Microsoft #BuildFor2030 Initiative, with added Go-To-Market benefits.

 Next steps  

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WICxInspire 2022: Leading Strategic Business Partnership with Cloud Hyperscalers

Do you want to be a top 3% tech business who gets what it takes to strategically partner with Cloud Hyperscalers?

On July14th, we’ll be talking about the cloud-enabled world of 2020, exploring new business strategies, GTM tactics and cosell opportunities for the cloud era, and redefining how cloud business is done in this time of tremendous disruption with Cloud Hyperscalers.

#WICxInspire 2022 focuses on leading conversations about Cloud Business Mastery with Hyperscalers, sponsored by Kyndryl. 

Hyperscalers such as Google and Microsoft will provide us with early access to game-changing trends and proprietary technologies that connect women tech founders to enterprise customers, strategic channel partners, talent and knowledge that can scale them on the global platform. 

This event will be an excellent opportunity for female tech founders, SAAS companies, Cloud Solution Providers, Tech Service Providers, Corporate business development leaders, allies, and communities supporting tech founders looking for infinite access to people and economic opportunities

WICxINSPIRE

Held in tandem with Microsoft Inspire, WICxInspire will focus on Cloud business development and partnerships with hyperscalers. This is an opportunity to increase knowledge within the industry on key issues and opportunities facing Cloud businesses including GTM and co-sell opportunities. Also, there’s a unique chance to participate in a bootcamp to gain business insight, increase your courage, and more to expand your career and create more business opportunities.

  • Learn: Lead Strategic Partnerships with Hyperscalers
  • Architect: Design your co-sell launch and GTM strategies with hyperscalers
  • Match: Get matched with buyers, decisions makers and influencers within enterprise ecosystem
  • Awards: Celebrate #empowHERaccess awards with your fellow leaders and allies who are unlocking access in the enterprise ecosystem

Let’s take a look at the agenda what you can expect from WICxInspire:

  • CXO Fireside Chat: Leading Strategic Partnerships with Hyperscalers
  • CXO Panel: Mastering Co-Sell GTM with Microsoft, Google and Others
  • #CloudFounder Bootcamp: Leading Co-Sell Product Launch Strategies with Hyperscalers
  • #CloudFounder Bootcamp: How to Secure Funding For Eligible GTM Strategies from Hyperscalers
  • #empowHERaccess Awards Ceremony
  • Cloud Business Building Roundtables

Reserve your spot today to ensure your access to this invaluable content and opportunity: 

How to get involved with WIC?

What’s Next at WIC? Stay Tuned!

Learn more about events here

Don’t forget to join the Women in Cloud Community on LinkedIn to stay tuned for the latest news and upcoming events.

 

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Announcing #3CMicro Internships for Youth in the Cloud Industry!

Fewer than half (41%) of college students feel well-prepared for their future careers, according to a recent McGraw-Hill survey. When asked what would have made them feel more prepared, the largest percentage of students (51%) responded with “more internships and professional experiences.”


In collaboration with Creative Children for Charity , Women In Cloud is proud to announce the kickoff for the #3CMicro Internship Project for Youth In The Cloud Industry!

#3CMicro Internship Project for Youth aims to help by jump start their careers in the cloud technology sector, foster self-confidence, and connect to professional mentors to increase their network value. The Internship usually consists of 40-60 hours of high quality work, and can occur any time of year. They are highly-specific, project-based positions, often in arenas like events, research, or technology solutions.

Please join us in congratulating the 6 amazing youth for being accepted into this program!

Sloane Nordé was born and raised in Haiti and in school she participated in outreach and was heavily involved in church. She was in pathfinders, led out in youth ministries, and volunteered with a humanitarian organization called NAPS. She has also pursued other Passions she has such as writing and drawing by teaching herself. She is a born leader, and wants to continue to grow, so she can make the biggest impact possible in this World, which she most certainly will! She will be leading youth entrepreneurship stories via digital campaign.

Asmita Malakar is a rising junior at Green Hope High School in North Carolina and is passionate about promoting equity in the STEM field. She also is  an active volunteer in her community, and in her spare time, she likes to watch Netflix, play tennis, and sketch cartoons. She will be leading #AIEthics Research Project For Youth and understanding impacts of how AI solutions are developed for younger generations.

Cassidy Puccio is a rising high school leader. She is passionate about history, fashion and writing. She finds history very exciting because she can learn about different cultures and learn about the past and the present. She also like writing because she like the art of persuasive writing. When she was younger, she was bullied, made fun of, teased for not answering questions immediately and struggled with friends. When she started attending a school with kids with learning differences and was taught to advocate for myself and others. She is leading Anti-Bully project.

Nikhita Penugonda, a rising Sophomore at Interlake High School. She is friendly, enthusiastic, dedicated, and a hardworking student. She enjoy learning and trying new things at every opportunity, especially topics related to math, science, and space. She is passionate about the cosmos from a very young age and have recently gained interest in global warming and ways to stop it. Outside of school, she participates in Toastmasters Gavel Club, Destination Imagination and have been a Girl Scout since kindergarten. She volunteers at Higher Orbits and am a mentor at Girls Rock at Science Seminars. During my free time, she enjoys singing, reading, camping, and rowing, both as a sport and for fun. She is leading Climate Action App Project.

Hitesh Mantha is a high schooler, self-taught developer with interests in software, digital fabrication, design, and cybersecurity. He is leading Youth mentor matching AI app with Srikar Chava.

Srikar Chava is rising high school leader. He love working with entrepreneurial projects that deal with societal issues in order to help others. He also love intertwining coding with these projects to construct the best product to deal with problems. He play football and cricket. He also really love meeting new people and building valuable connections. He am really excited to be working with the 3C program and using my skills to directly combat societal problems! He is leading Youth mentor matching AI app with Hemanth Manta.

This project is led and managed by Neal Vedullapalli, who is a high schooler and T-Mobile Ashoka Youth Change Maker.

Learn more: https://www.3cyouth.com/wic-3c-2021-youthmentorship

Applications will open in March2022. Stay Tuned.



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Does Your Workplace Care About Your Mental Health?

Work related stress and mental health disorders have been affecting professionals for too long. Work-life balance and strong mental health are a necessity.   

Did You Know? 

  • One of the most threatening health concerns in the United States are mental health disorders 
  • One in five US professionals report mental illness issues 
  • Stress causes almost one million professionals to end up missing work and nearly 83% of all United States professionals to suffer from work-related stress and mental health problems 
  • There are almost 120,000 deaths every year due to workplace stress and mental health issues
  • US businesses lose up to 300 billion dollars due to workplace stress and mental health issues, up to 51 billion dollars due to absenteeism, and up to 26 billion dollars due to the costs of treatments 

The Problem 

  • Covid-19 has impacted nearly every facet of our global system—but some areas, such as mental health—were affected more adversely than others
  • Every year, serious mental health issues severely affect most US businesses and their employees 
  • Employees are negatively affected by workplace stress and problems related to deteriorating mental health
  • Poor mental health gravely affects employees’ productivity and job performance 
  • Toxic workplace culture often substantially affects professional’s mental health 
  • Poor communication between coworkers often induces stress issues 
  • Adverse mental health might lead to reduced daily functioning and/or physical capability 
  • Professionals suffering from depression are often associated with higher risks of unemployment and disability
  • Depression, stress, and related mental health issues substantially reduce cognitive performance 

By bringing awareness to this silent pandemic, workplace related mental health issues can be addressed and solved. Businesses must implement open discussions and resources for management and support into corporate philosophy. These small shifts in culture will improve the lives of employees, reduce incurred healthcare costs, and promote positive, productive, and healthy work environments. 

A solution to work-related mental health risks seems to be the need of the hour. Want the entire fool-proof solution to this widespread problem?  

Subscribe and download your Workplace Mental Health Solution now!

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Do Women Make Better Alliance Managers than Men?

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Recently, I was reminded of the book ‘Men Are from Mars, Women Are from Venus (1993)’ by the American author and Relationship Coach, John Gray. While facilitating an alliance workshop between two high-tech partners, I was reminded of a suggestion the book makes; there are incompatible differences between the way that men and women act in any given situation, and that conflict arises from these different viewpoints. One partner was a global systems integrator and consultancy; the other was an equally large (and global) software company. The workshop was to discuss the current state of the global alliance relationship that they had formed many years ago and reset the vision for the alliance.

Despite the number of senior key stakeholders at the workshop from both parties representing: product lines, consulting practices, sales, marketing, R&D, and corporate planning, the two global managers leading the discussion caught my attention. Experienced Vice Presidents in their respective companies, both responsible for managing global relations, the only obvious difference was their gender. For the purpose of this article let me call them Sally and Simon.

During the course of the workshop, we addressed the question of ‘Joint Business Value Propositions’, and I asked the question: “What is the Joint Business Value Proposition for this alliance? What is different and exciting to the customers about using the combination of both of your company’s products and services?”

Simon immediately jumped right in: “Well, it’s obvious right? Between us we control a large degree of market share in our chosen fields, we are both acknowledged leaders in our respective products and services, what I need is to agree on a target figure with Sally about how many of our software licenses her company will sell this year.”

Sally replied: “What are we trying to achieve with our offerings here? Between us, we need to understand better how we come across to the market and I’d like to know more about Simon’s business strategy and how my team can help him.”

Simon: “Great! That’s just what I said… now let me tell you in detail about my sales targets territory by territory around the world and we can then agree on what numbers you will allocate …!”

And before I could stop him he jumped up to the whiteboard and started doing just that!

The incident put me in mind of the Mars versus Venus debate sparked all those years ago.

If one is to consciously observe and compare the language that Simon is using, which is, ‘me, I, my targets, my objectives, my territories’ to Sally’s conversation which is, ‘us, we, our team, our common goals’, it wouldn’t be hard to differentiate between the leaders. One might say this is negligible and unimportant, however, I believe it is indicative of a deeper mindset. 

Whilst flying home I ruminated on our conversations in the workshop, I confess I couldn’t decide whether the fundamental difference highlighted by the two professionals was the difference between men and women or the difference between sales executives and alliance executives.

In traditional sales, the business landscape is quite clear. I am a seller and you are a buyer; my job is to convince you of the suitability of my products and services to your challenges and needs and I will use appropriate and suitable tools and methodologies to help me do that (e.g. Challenger Sales, Consultative Selling, SPIN Selling, Relationship Selling, Closing Techniques, and on and on). The language involved in the conversation is focused on the seller. It’s a binary type conversation. I win, you ‘lose’ (because you pay out the highest price I can negotiate).

In alliance selling on the other hand it’s a little more subtle. Sally isn’t trying to sell to Simon, she’s trying to understand how they can both together sell to an (as yet) unknown customer, and do it in the most efficient and effective way possible.

The conversation is peppered with words like Us, Our, Joint, Collaborative, Together, Consensus, Joined-Up Approach, and so on.  During my flight I thought about two different scenarios:

  • The different background, mores, and language used to typically describe men and women and,
  • The different background, mores, and language used to typically describe salespeople and alliance people

In both cases, I daydreamed about the words that I had heard used in the past to describe the two groups and I wondered if there was some kind of connection.

Now don’t get me wrong, I am not saying that you can’t have good male alliance managers and I’m not saying that you can’t have aggressive and hard-driving female executives, but the more I thought about my own experiences with all four groups (men, women, sales, and alliances) the more I resonated with the differences and the apparent connection between the two groups.

Could it be that women are more genetically ‘programmed’ over many thousands of years to view harmony and collaboration in the family unit as preferable to personal advancement?

The jolt that I got as I hit the runway in Birmingham (my hometown) jerked me awake and afterward I couldn’t decide whether it was clear thinking and deep insight or pure gibberish?!

What do you think?  I’d love to hear from you!

If you’d like more information or would like to contribute to this research, feel free to contact me at mike.nevin@alliancebestpractice.com

About Mike Nevin
Mike Nevin is a highly experienced international strategic alliance consultant, coach, and author. Mike was the founding Chairman of ASAP in Europe (ASAP is the Association of Strategic Alliance Professionals) which he launched in March 2002. and his seminal work (The Strategic Alliance Handbook) is recommended reading on MBA courses throughout the world.
https://www.amazon.com/Strategic-Alliance-Handbook-Business-Business/dp/0566087790

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