Why Cloud Knowledge Needs to be Turned into Action

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In recent times, cloud computing has become a commodity to organizations all over the world. Most companies use cloud computing in one form or another because of the efficiency it offers. However, most companies have yet to recognize and unleash the full potential of the cloud.   

A new report from The Economist Intelligence Unit and IBM found that among 572 business leaders surveyed, almost three-fourths indicate their companies have piloted, adopted or substantially implemented cloud in their organizations yet, only 38% cite cloud as a leading priority for the entire company. Rather, cloud is still viewed by many as an IT solution, with 62% citing cloud as a leading priority for their IT organizations. (Forbes) 

While cost-cutting is a crucial reason for the growth of cloud computing, there are other usages cloud plays in the disruptive innovation of the IT sector. Hence, it is extremely important for companies today not just to incorporate cloud computing but acquire knowledge about the technology to utilize its fullest potential. 

Today, most companies use cloud technology for file storage or backup or as a means for disaster recovery; the basic mundane use of cloud, which kick-started the growth of the cloud industry. However, plenty of other options like Online Marketplaces, Ecosystem Connectivity, Artificial Intelligence, Large-scale market adaptability, and scalability remains largely unexplored by various small and mid-level businesses simply due to lack of knowledge and the ability to turn knowledge into action. 

That being said, it would not be completely true to believe that cloud knowledge isn’t being put to action. Cloud Hyperscalers like Microsoft, IBM, Google, and Amazon not only display cloud innovations in their products but they also offer software to businesses that echo their needs. The knowledge and resources these organizations possess about the cloud are immense, and hence it becomes inevitable that the profitable numbers are kept aside and this piece technology is used for the greater good of the society. 

Women in Cloud recognizes the importance of empowering businesses through technology for a better society. With Microsoft and IBM leaders on board, the community offers cloud tech support to businesses led by women like Stylyze Inc, a B2B Retail SaaS platform to enhance product catalog that curates like a personalized stylist and RightSciences, a B2B SaaS platform to develop plant-based patch formulation for hyper-personalized medicine delivery.

Knowledge is an asset in the tech-driven world we are a part of today. While knowledge is available all around us, the power to tap into the knowledge and channel it into action lies with few.

There are various ways knowledge can be converted into collective action. Women in Cloud particularly focuses on making an impact in the following ways;

  • Providing and supporting access to customers, funding, and resources
  • Accelerating businesses through policy resources and readiness 
  • Striving to create and spread innovative solutions, partnerships and communities

 Hence, knowledge management and information dissemination become vital for sustainable growth.

Cloud computing is a technological innovation that can be used for improving lives in society. An estimate suggests that Cloud will provide the digital infrastructure of tomorrow’s cities, where an estimated 6 billion of the world’s population will live by 2045. 

It is safe to say that in the near future, Cloud computing is going to be a bigger part of our lives than it already is. Therefore, it is important to not just acquire knowledge about cloud computing to all types of businesses but to utilize technology for a better technologically-enabled society should be the goal. 

With that thought, stay tuned for the next blog about how to make powerful alliances to further your business or personal goals.

 

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How to Partner with Cloud Hyperscalers By Nicole Sayler

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Hyper-what? 

Let’s start with; what does it mean to hyperscale in terms of technology? By definition, “Hyperscale computing is a distributed infrastructure that can quickly accommodate an increased demand for internet-facing and back-end computing resources without requiring additional physical space, cooling or electrical power.”

An example comes from companies like Microsoft, Google, and Amazon who have the capacity and resources to create a massive infrastructure with many servers in one data center. Those companies invest in the physical equipment to create a data center and carry the ongoing cost and responsibility of maintenance and world-class security. In 2015 alone, Microsoft invested more than a billion dollars in security research and development. **

Partnering with a hyperscaler is beneficial because instead of spending time, money and resources on physical infrastructure, partners can ‘rent’ out cloud space. Why build the entire data center when you can use a hyperscalers cloud and pay for only what you use, when you need it? Hyperscalers enable any company to dream big without being held back by the limitations of a large capital expense.

At Microsoft, we look to at companies (we call them our partners) to help us scale and to provide our customers with the solutions they need to digitally transform their business. “For everyone working with partners, I encourage you to ask yourself “what could be?” and explore new, creative ways to do interesting things that add value back to our platforms for customers” -Satya Nadella in Hit Refresh

Hyper-why? 

So, you’re sold on the cloud. Wonderful. But there’s another huge reason beyond the ROI, security, and scalability of using a hyperscalers cloud. Companies like Microsoft, Google, and Amazon have an existing customer base, extensive sales team, and an experienced partner network.

Microsoft alone has over 3,500 field sellers who manage customers and are aligned with teams of technical resources. Leveraging customer/seller relationships to accelerate sales is a game-changing strategy for partners at every level.

Being able to sell with Microsoft is a fast way to augment and enable your own sales force. Joining the Microsoft Partner Network (MPN) opens the door to Go-To-Market benefits, which provides marketing and branding resources for partners.

 

Hyper-how? 

Microsoft leverages its partner ecosystem to scale its solutions and digitally transform the way customers do business. One focus is having partners publish apps within the Microsoft Azure Marketplace and/or AppSource.

Within those marketplaces partners, list offers and trials, manage and monitor apps, and sell directly to customers within the Microsoft global ecosystem. Once the app has been published, there are additional Go-To-Market benefits like; Marketplace performance insights, White-glove Azure Active Directory (AAD) integration, and on-boarding and One Commercial Partner (OCP) catalog listing. The OCP catalog is especially influential, as it is utilized by Microsoft sellers to determine which partners have the solutions necessary for their customer’s digital transformation. Below is a link to more information on how to publish an app;

https://partner.microsoft.com/en-us/isv-resource-hub/publish-your-app

 

Whether the IP solution has yet to be developed or just needs help to move forward, the Partner Development Management (PDM) team at Microsoft can help. The PDM team works specifically with new solutions to get them into Microsoft Cloud and can help Independent Software Vendors (ISV’s) by engaging technical resources, publishing apps in Marketplace/AppSource, and becoming Co-Sell ready.

To significantly increase the reach, visibility and performance of an IP solution/app contact; [email protected]

Next Steps to Partner with Microsoft:

  1. Get a Microsoft Partner Network ID (MPN ID). https://partner.microsoft.com/en-us/support/partner-center-help
  2. Have a conversation with a PDM about your solution; [email protected]
  3. Visit the Microsoft Partner page to get more information for every level/partner type. https://partner.microsoft.com/en-US/

Credit : Nicole Sayler

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Clearing The Path For Female Entrepreneurs By Gavriella Schuster

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I look forward to joining the Women in Cloud community on Saturday, Jan 26th, where female entrepreneurs from many facets of the tech industry are coming together to invest in themselves, to recharge their energy, and be inspired by a community of like-minded women leaders, sponsors, and allies.

The data is clear, female technology entrepreneurs are outnumbered and underfunded and we need that to change.

What can enterprise leaders do to help? Here are  five ideas:

  1. Investigate – Look for places within your supply chain where women-led suppliers are under-represented.  Examine your application process for requirements that may not be inclusive.
  2. Analyze and Take Action – Measure the mix of women in your tech communities and create practices and norms that encourage women to feel welcomed, valued and involved.
  3. Seek Broad Support – Look for support from across your company’s communities. The women in your organization should not be the only ones to bear the burden of driving the fixes we need. Get everyone involved, and set-up women in the company to be strategic advisors and mentors.
  4. Share the Voice of Women – Ensure the female perspective is shared in your feedback systems and deliberately reach-out to women-led communities to include their point of view.
  5. Go Beyond – Sharing advice and mentoring women in your organization is important. But for greater impact, create true pathways for women business decision makers to take active steps toward engagement with your organization and business opportunities.

I can’t wait to speak with all of you who are attending the Women in Cloud Summit. I’m excited to hear your stories, learn from your journey, and get ideas about how we can make things better together.  I’ll be joined by other industry leaders who share my passion and energy for helping female entrepreneurs step into the cloud opportunity.

If you haven’t yet registered for the event, here’s the link to reserve your spot.  Tell your friends, colleagues, leaders, investors, communities.  Let’s take the time to make this investment in ourselves together.

 

#WomenInCloud #SheSoars

Credit: Gavriella Schuster

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Women In Cloud Summit 2019 – Become a Champion & Make Deeper Connections (Table Sponsorships)

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The Women In Cloud Summit 2019 Summit is just around the corner!

We hope that you and your organization will join us in January at the largest summit in the Washington state on the address digital divide, gender equality and equity for women and girls in the cloud computing era. Under the theme “Accelerate. Access. Action.” we will bring together more than 700+ business leaders, entrepreneurs, community leaders, government officials, celebrities, academics, advocates, and journalists with the drive to accelerate progress for girls and women everywhere.

Sponsoring a table at the 2019 Women in Cloud Summit offers you the opportunity to include colleagues, clients, young leaders, and industry allies as your guests*.

Sponsor a Full Table (10 seats) for $2000

Sponsor Half a Table (5 seats) for $1000

If you want to only bring a few people for your table, we will invite a specially curated balance to meet your goals. You may fill the other seats by: 

  • Let us make the connection with another company that will be attending
  • Offer them as sponsored seats as a part of our Diversity and Inclusion program
  • Is there is a specific connection you want to make? Let us know and we will invite them to join your table!

WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF BEING A TABLE SPONSOR?

There are a number of benefits that are included when you become a table sponsor:

  • Invitation to all executive roundtables and dinners throughout the year
  • Be offered the addition to the delegation team to have the opportunity to join in the continuing conversation with UN
  • Receive special year-round discounts
  • Be announced as champions at the Women in Cloud Summit
  • Be offered the opportunity to participate in TechNative video interviews for Women in Cloud video collage
  • Logo inclusion on-site at the sponsored table and in selected marketing materials
  • Be offered the opportunity to advise young girls and women as a part of our Cloud Accelerator network

HOW DO I BECOME A TABLE SPONSOR?

Don’t miss out on this unbelievable value!

Visit https://wicsummit.eventbrite.com to become a table sponsor today!

Download the Table Sponsor Benefits Flyer

For more information and to submit your logo, contact Raisa Noelle at [email protected]

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Women In Cloud Summit 2019: Save the date & call for speakers

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Welcome to the “Women In Cloud Annual Summit: Now we Accelerate!”
Women key drivers of economic growth. However, we continue to face substantial hurdles in accessing the resources needed to launch and grow businesses and careers. From addressing the financial inclusion gender gap in funding to providing women the tools, knowledge, and networks they need to reach their full potential, Women in Cloud in 2019 declares this is the year to ACCELERATE.

We are pleased to announce the Second Annual Summit, a one-day immersive experience on Jan26th, 2019 at the Microsoft Conference Center, Redmond Washington. This event is open to everyone.

This year’s summit is designed to connect you to cloud industry leaders, women-led cloud companies, intrapreneurs and allies of all types.

The 2019 Summit will explore:

  • Enabling New Innovations: Provide ways to leverage and adopt cloud technologies to innovate
  • Personal & Skill Growth: Give women access to personal and cloud-related skills development
  • Networking: Accelerate ideas and access to resources including strategic partnerships
  • Customer Connections: Identify new ways to acquire customers, understand the customer experience & drive customer obsession

As a past supporter of Women In Cloud experience and events, we wanted you to be the first to know! Please save the date and we look forward to seeing you there!

Step 1. ARE YOU READY TO ATTEND

  • Registrations are now open.
  • Grab your tickets and secure your 30% discount by Nov10th. Use Discount Code (WICEarly)
  • Secure your spot today and also consider sponsor D&I ticket.

Step 2. CALL FOR SPEAKERS

We are building a full day agenda of keynotes, breakouts, lightning talks and workshops in the areas of personal and business acceleration. Ready to submit a session? Apply to speak

Step3: DIVERSITY & INCLUSION SCHOLARSHIP TICKET 

Would your company like to provide an event ticket for one or more aspiring entrepreneurs or diverse young women growing their career? Are you a diverse emerging technical or entrepreneurial talent who’d like to apply for a D&I scholarship ticket?

Reach out here!

Step 4. PROMOTE & ENTER TO WIN $50 AMAZON GIFT CARD

Calling all social media champions!  We’d love your help to get the word out and invite your network of amazing women leaders and entrepreneurs.  By doing so you will be entered into a drawing to win a $50 Amazon e-gift card. No cost to enter and you can participate till Jan04th, 2019. You can enter either via an email address or facebook account.  Promote, Participate & Win!

Step 5. SPONSOR THE SUMMIT

Sponsors get amazing access to leaders, entrepreneurs, a potential job candidate, investors, community leaders and many more during the summit to connect. Learn more by downloading the sponsorship kit.

WHO IS WOMEN IN CLOUD

Women in Cloud is a community-led initiative supporting technology entrepreneurs who identify as women! Via private-public partnerships with innovative companies and leaders in tech, Women in Cloud creates access to partnership opportunities, programs that accelerate business growth in the cloud and strategic alliances that advance the success of women in tech. Follow us on Facebook, LinkedIn & Twitter and our website at https://www.womenincloud.com/summit2019
Media Contact: Jacqueline Touma, [email protected]
Sponsorship Contact: Raisa Noelle; [email protected]
Speaker Contact: Chaitra Vedullapalli, [email protected]
##Press passes available, Press announcement

 

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