Presented By 
#empowHERaccess Inaugural Award Categories
#empowHERaccess Inaugural Awards recognized contributions to the cloud ecosystem by both organizations and individuals.
Award Ceremony was held on July 16, 2021
Congratulations to 2021 #empowHERaccess Award Finalists
Let’s give a round of applause to our #empowHERaccessAwards Finalists!! Thank you for being the change-makers for the #WomenInCloud community—KEEP ROCKING!
IBM, Supplier of the Year
This award celebrates companies who have managed to be accessible to female entrepreneurs during the recent epidemic and have increased their supplier ecosystem to accommodate their diverse needs.
2021 Winner: Christine Puccio, F5 | VP, Global Cloud Alliances
Microsoft, Digital Transformation Project of the Year
This award celebrates excellence in digital transformation through cloud and AI technologies. The winning organization will be one that has delivered a highly effective transformation for a customer, such as integration of disparate systems, updating of legacy technology, migration into the cloud, or other digitization efforts that involve the utilization of cloud products or services. Both single projects or overall strategies are eligible. This award is proudly sponsored by Microsoft.
2021 Winner: Kathy Durfee, TechHouse | CEO & Founder
M12, Women in Technology Outstanding Leadership
The award recognizes outstanding contributions to the cloud industry by an individual. Our Outstanding Leader will be an industry leader whose creativity, passion, and innovation is driving the space forward—someone who embodies cloud excellence. This award is proudly sponsored by M12 – Microsoft’s Venture Capital Fund.
2021 Winner: Sara Menker, Gro Intelligence | CEO & Founder
Insight, Cloud Solution of the Year
This award celebrates the cloud solution that most successfully innovates through the use of cutting-edge cloud and AI technologies as a result of pandemic. This award is proudly sponsored by Insight.
2021 Winner: Sheffie Robinson, Shamrck Education | CEO & Founder
Accenture, Innovative Partnership of the Year
This award celebrates companies that have partnered with women technology entrepreneurs to co-sell their solutions into the enterprise ecosystem. This award is proudly sponsored by Accenture.
2021 Winner: Sonya Shorey, Invest Ottawa | Vice President, Strategy, Marketing and Communications
Meylah, Cloud Technology Deal of the Year
Our Cloud Technology Deal of the Year will be notable for creating new partnerships, coalescing resources, or injecting funds into innovative cloud businesses. This award is proudly sponsored by Meylah.
2021 Winner: Karen Fassio, Microsoft | Director, WW Partner Marketing
Advisor of the Year Award
This award celebrates the advisors and mentors who have continued to support women entrepreneurs during the COVID-19 pandemic by unlocking their rolodex, volunteering their time and sharing their knowledge.
2021 Winner: Lisa Opoku, Goldman Sachs | Partner, Chief Operating Officer of Engineering
Investor of the Year
This award celebrates investors who continued to provide economic access to women entrepreneurs during the pandemic by investing $1M+ into women-owned or led technology businesses.
2021 Winner: Sharon Vosmek, Astia | CEO
About Women in Cloud’s #empowHERaccess Campaign
#empowHERaccess is an annual digital advocacy campaign by Women in Cloud to generate greater economic access awareness for women in technology. The 2021 #empowHERaccess campaign will bring together a number of facets to better understand the Global Crisis the pandemic has created for women entrepreneurs, and celebrate the many stories of pivots and perseverance.
