The 10 most influential women in cloud in 2020

THE 10 MOST INFLUENTIAL
WOMEN
Expert’s View
What will the World of
Commerce be like After
the Covid 19 Crisis?
Tech Insight
Fraud Detection And
Prevention In Digital
Customer Acquisition
Shepreneurs
Maternity Time to
bring out Break the
Entrepreneur in you
IN CLOUD IN 2020
VOL 10 | ISSUE 12 | 2020

Leaders of Future
hen we talk about the industries like
Wscience industry, technology and
engineering, the dominance of men is
clearly visible. Most of the executive positions,
such as CEOs, founders, owners, and so on hold
by them. According to a report only 40% of tech
start-ups in the United States have at least one
woman on the board. But the change is coming as
calls for more women participation in the tech
industry have grown louder.
Factually, companies with women leadership
have performed three times better than those with
male CEOs. This trend is continuing with start-
ups, too. According to IDC, the percentage of
women in senior leadership positions hiked from
21 % to 24% between 2018 and 2019. And that’s
good news, because having more women in high-
ranking leadership positions can positively
empower female employee engagement and
retention.
A report shows organizations where 50% or more
senior leadership positions are held by women,
they’re more likely to offer equal pay. These
companies are also having longer employee
engagement, higher job satisfaction and feel the
company is trustworthy.
Women's businesses currently expand five times
as much as the national average and women's
businesses have more than risen since 2007. In
Editor’s Desk
Leading through the
roles of mother, sister,
daughter and wife to
CEO, Founder and
Tech proficient

Editor's Note
general, women entrepreneurs in corporate
cultures worldwide are making tremendous
strides and leaving an impact.
This is what our latest and exclusive edition,
“The 10 Most Inﬂuential Women in Cloud,
2020”, is all about. These pioneers are not
only revamping the industry with innovative
ideas but are also paving the path for aspiring
female entrepreneurs.
Also, while ﬂipping the pages, don’t forget to
go through the articles and CXOs written by
our in-house editorial team and industry
experts respectively.
rohit.chaturvedi@insightssuccess.com

Christine Puccio
Bringing Ideas, People, and
Technologies Together
16
Gina Fratarcangeli
Supporting Emerging Women Tech
Entrepreneurs to be Successful
30
Chaitra Vedullapalli
Empowering Women in
Cloud Economy
12
Gavriella Schuster
Working for Inclusivity and
Collaboration in the
Technology Space
22
CONTENTS
Gretchen O'Hara
A Proﬁcient Business Leader
with Proven Track Record
36

Kimberly Smith
Setting an Example for
Women in Cloud
48
Senator Patty
Kuderer
A True Leader, Putting
People First
60
Karen Fassio
Driving the Cloud and
AI Revolution
40
Renee Bergeron
Committed to Making Technology
Accessible for Businesses of All Size
52
Sherlaender
"Lani" Phillips
Driving Digital Transformation
64

Expert’s View
What will the World of
Commerce be like After
the Covid 19 Crisis?
26
Tech Insight
Fraud Detection And Prevention
In Digital Customer Acquisition
44
Shepreneurs
Maternity Time to bring out Break
the Entrepreneur in you
56
ARTICLESARTICLES

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October, 2020
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Kartik Balapurkar

Chaitra
Vedullapalli
Empowering Women in Cloud Economy
12 | October 2020 www.insightssuccess.com

oday, AI and Cloud technology are the words which
Trepresent the future. Together, these technologies
possess the potential to improve the quality of life
for millions. Every industry is now incorporating these
cutting-edge technologies to achieve desired their goals.
Meet Chaitra Vedullapalli, Co-Founder & CMO of
Meylah, an enthusiastic women entrepreneur and an IT
adept who is using AI and Cloud technology to help
customers in attaining success. She is known for her
expertise in Digital Strategy, Leading Digital
Transformation, Cloud & Mobile Transformation, Channel
Management; Strategic Partnerships; Product Innovation;
Mergers and Acquisitions, eCommerce Excellence, Digital
Marketing.
Below are the highlights of the interview conducted
between Insights Success and Chaitra Vedullapalli:
Kindly take us through your journey on becoming a
proficient leader in the IT and Cloud sector.
Fashion, Sports, Music and Creative Arts were my groove.
Engineering and Technology was a stretch for me. My
initial encounter with Cobol programming in college
assured me to never look in that direction. I was convinced
I lacked the imagination to develop technology code until I
learnt about Oracle Databases and Windows. The colorful
and effective interface intrigued me to explore more. I could
see the invisible with technology and I decided to defer my
plans to pursue post-graduation in music to explore
technology as a pathway for career opportunities. However,
I desired to work with Microsoft since they were able to
impact a billion lives with technology.
When the opportunity came calling, it was beyond exciting
since there was a sheer enthusiasm to learn about creating a
billion-dollar strategy which Microsoft mastered. The shift
from dismissing technology to now operating in the largest
industry has been extraordinary. Today, at Meylah, my
husband and I are striving to build an enterprise-ready
business to serve our customers with Cloud & AI solutions.
How do you diversify your organization's offerings to
entice the target audience?
I run two organizations: Meylah and Women In Cloud.
Both the companies strictly follow the motto to serve
people and customers and are advancing their innovations
with Cloud technologies.
Meylah is a Cloud Solution Provider, with a mission to help
companies have access to the digital economy. As
Microsoft Gold Partner, we serve customers in two-fold,
Ÿ SaaS Solutions – Our unique solutions such as
SpeakerEngage, Merchant Management System help
planners and decision-makers to automate their
business.
Ÿ Cloud Services - We provide digital transformation
services starting from consulting, Cloud development,
digital marketing to managing services in the enterprise
market.
Women in Cloud, is a community-led economic
development organization, with a massive mission: to take
action with global leaders, corporations, and policymakers
to help women entrepreneurs create $1 billion in economic
impact and opportunity by 2030. The intent of this
organization is to help drive equity, economic parity and
access to an inclusive economy.
Both companies are designed to help customers create more
access, value, opportunities and impact in the marketplace.
Our signature Cloud automation framework allows any
company to transform their business with ease.
How do you strategize your game plans to tackle the
competition in the market?
Every company in the market supports digital
transformation. The key to being successful is to
differentiate your offerings and services. I defy from
competing on the basis of price and capabilities. Value,
impact and access are our core pillars looking to benefit
purpose-driven leaders and companies that drive inclusive
growth and impact in the marketplace.
October 2020 | 13www.insightssuccess.com
The 10 Most Influential Women in Cloud in 2020

Hence at Meylah, we focus on 3 core things:
Ÿ SaaS Solution offering for enabling digital
transformation within days instead of months.
Ÿ Invest in public-private opportunities to build smart
communities to accelerate economic development.
Ÿ Enterprise-ready services to help enterprises to digitally
transform their business through Blue Ocean strategies.
What are the vital traits that every businesswoman
should possess?
The technology industry has not only taught me to adopt
change but also embrace the rate of change. The rate of
change in the industry is increasing by the hour and
demands constant oversight of current trends. To combat
stress and feeling overwhelmed, there are three key traits I
believe each business woman should possess:
Ÿ Situational leadership: This leadership strategy is
extremely beneficial to be present and take decisions
that a certain scenario requires.
Ÿ Economic Access Creation: Access creation is another
characteristic I passionately practice to unlock economic
opportunities for people around me. My mantra is to
help people achieve their highest level of growth on
Maslow's pyramid.
Ÿ Ultimately, acquiring emotional and relationship
currencies to understand people and unlock blockers for
them to realize their ultimate potential. I believe a
leader's capabilities and achievements lie in the
contentment of the people they are leading.
As per your opinion, what roadblocks or challenges
were faced by you in a corporate business? And how did
you overcome them?
During the early years of my career, in the midst of learning
technology, I struggled with a lack of equity. The lack of
financial, leadership, and relationship equity led me to
contemplate my decision to pursue technology.
Furthermore, this contributed to no invitations to certain
conversations. As an Indian-American woman, this
experience had me question my capabilities as a
technologist and a contributing member of the organization.
In hindsight, however, these roadblocks helped me to
acquire and structure my leadership style and qualities.
Over the years, I have made conscious decisions to serve
people and add value. I function with clarity and am critical
about analyzing a situation if I am invisible. I believe in
understanding ‘why I was not invited’, ‘why do I lack
certain equity’, and ‘how can I do better to overcome
challenges.’ Some scenarios simply require the courage to
walk away. More often than not, the answer lies within you.
Your dedication and determination will unlock almost any
door if a growth mindset is employed.
Have you in any way contributed towards the cause of
Women in Cloud?
My entrepreneurial journey revealed the lack of funding,
customers, sponsors and community for companies like
Meylah to access. This prompted me to propose a Cloud-
ready program to educate companies about Microsoft
channel opportunities as I had acquired a lot of tribal
knowledge around tech channels. The pan-US program
allowed me to interact with over 5000 companies, however
barely 5 percent were led by women entrepreneurs or
leaders; all hesitant, and shy to interact. A conversation with
these women revealed a broader problem in the system,
biases against women in technology. My instant response
was, 'We need change.'
There on, I and Karen Fassio, who collaborated on the
Cloud-ready program with me, decided to build a
community for women leaders, entrepreneurs, and
technologists providing access to economic opportunities.
Women in Cloud was born from ideas written on a napkin
in a cafe by women who desired to create a different path in
the fastest growing industry.
Women in Cloud has an empowering effect on my personal
journey. My passion for technology, my dedication to defeat
'What ifs' that I constantly encounter and my desire to
transform the industry to be inclusive have increased over
“Infinite opportunities
are created when you
are dedicated to
serving people daily.
- Chaitra Vedullapalli

the last three years. The constant energy I had to pour into
this community initially, is now a way of life.
What are your insights on “The myth of meritocracy”?
And how it could bring a change in today's business
arena?
A merit-based system does not exist in reality across all
factions of life. Success is measured with two diﬀerent
elements; what and how. 'What' comprises the contribution,
addition and impact through the work you put in. On the
other hand, 'How', is the invisible factor which incorporates
relationship dynamics, emotional currency, sponsorship
aircover and the access creation. Ultimately, it trickles
down to the signiﬁcant inclusion you have designed for
others through your work. I believe this holistic approach
outdo plain hard work.
Leaders, today, look for their representation or an individual
to represent their company; the goal is to advance the
company's ideals while successfully climbing the corporate
ladder.
What are your future endeavors/objectives and where
do you see yourself in the near future?
The Covid-19 pandemic allowed me to introspect and
restructure the goals for both Meylah and Women in Cloud;
we are now very focused on our objectives and impact. At
Meylah, we are committed to providing innovative
solutions to our customers to accelerate their digital
transformation and drive societal impact to achieve UN
Goals.
Women in Cloud is a mission to transform the industry
inclusivity, hence we are developing sustainable programs
and solutions to equip women to access economic
opportunities. Optimization is also on the agenda going
forward. Mostly, I am determined to add value to our
existing members rather than just grow the community in
number.
On my personal journey, I am looking to serve the people
who put their faith in our expertise and add value to their
journey.

Christine
Puccio
Bringing Ideas, People, and Technologies Together

very journey inevitably has roadblocks,” says
EChristine Puccio. She is the VP of Global Cloud
Alliances & GTM Programs at F5 Networks. She
is known for her expertise in SAP and putting countless
efforts on relationship management, strategic planning, and
precise execution.
Christine encourages every woman to make choices that
will help them to create access to learning, opportunities,
and growth. She asserts “I overcome my challenges by
taking risks: this sometimes means diving into unknown
situations where risks are high or not identified but with the
confidence in me to come out successful on the other end.”
between Insights Success and Christine Puccio:
My entry into IT began at the age of 25 working for
Lockheed Martin. I had studied accounting in college and
with Lockheed Martin, I had realized my dream of working
for a Fortune 100 company. Soon thereafter, I was offered a
job with sales at Pacific Bell Internet Services. After six
months on the job, I would begin to outperform my quotas
and quickly move into a lead role. In this role, I was always
in the top three of ten sales agents on the company's sales
whiteboard. Thus began my journey as a leader in the
dynamic IT and Cloud sector. Throughout my 25 year
career, I have embraced different roles in sales, marketing,
contracting, and partnering, across companies like Sun
Microsystems, RedHat, and NGINIX, which was acquired
by F5 Networks. This work has allowed me to work with
SAP, Google, AWS and other software companies which
have given me immense insight into market requirements
and competition.
Diversification of offering starts with a cloud journey
assessment. Because of my accounting background, I look
at numbers around usage, impact and savings. Most of the
companies we work with at F5 are in varying stages of
cloud adoption. My barometer is to do an assessment of
how much investment customers are willing to make to
adopt cloud technologies. My method of engagement is
driving mutual partnerships with an eye for strategic impact
and digital transformation with cloud technologies. This is
always a collaborative effort that usually consists of product
engineering, marketing, sales, support, customer success
and our cloud alliance partner to create a joint solution to
make the adoption journey smooth for the customer.
Customer service is the new formula for winning in the
marketplace today. The good old strategy of overthrowing
the competition by comparing yourself to them only
generates free press for the other team. My approach is to
highlight F5's unique features to our customers. In this
regard, a thorough internal assessment is crucial in the

market where competition is inevitably high. Another
unique business practice I advocate for is leveraging
resources outside the company I work for. If there is scope
for collaboration with an organization in the field, which
will ultimately enhance the industry, we should utilize the
opportunity.
should possess?
A journey of over two decades through an industry helps
evolve your thinking process. Earlier in my career, I was
shy, reserved and kept things to myself. I did not think it
was important to voice my opinions. As time passed and I
moved up the ladder, my perspective shifted considerably.
My leadership encompasses the opinions and insights I
bring to the table along with opinions and insights that I
have learned from others. It's important to me to invite our
team to think differently and to illustrate a different point of
view. These ideas help us to reach higher and for
management to have greater success in achieving
organizational goals.
Women in Cloud?
As a leader in the world's fastest industry, you need to
participate in an active community to keep you grounded,
focused and to expand your network. I am a strategic
advisor to Women in Cloud, a Seattle-based organization
dedicated to bringing $1 billion in economic access to
women-led STEM businesses by 2030. My introduction to
the community was through an acquaintance, which led me
to connect with Chaitra Vedullapalli (President & Co-
founder, WiC). Chaitra recognized the expertise I could
bring on board and encouraged me to contribute to the
community through collaboration, storytelling and coaching
other women.
arena?
Statistics show that tapping into a diverse workforce makes
good business sense. I am very fortunate to have worked for
multiple companies that believe good ideas can come from
anyone, anywhere, regardless of one's job title. I have
always been a champion for diversity and inclusion. In
2017, I successfully launched neurodiversity at Red Hat –
the first neurodiversity program in the company's history.
I'm also an advocate for my autistic daughter. In this
respect, I've spent over a decade working within U.S. legal
and education systems to give autistic children the best life
possible. The lack of diversity in the technology sector is a
topic garnering increasing scrutiny. It's critical that we
incorporate diversity, equity and inclusion into corporate
culture and business practices. Diversity coupled with a
meritocratic culture will bring in many perspectives and
ideas to inspire innovation.
How do you cope up with capricious IT and other
technological trends to boost your personal growth?
Technology is ever-changing, so you have to be willing and
able to change with the times and to keep up with the needs
of your clients. I follow influencers, spend time reading,
talk with customers and partners to keep up. For my work, I
have been featured in the media by Bloomberg, NBC15,
Wharton Business School, and the U.S. Chamber of
Commerce, to name a few. Given my industry expertise, I
was recently quoted in the book You had me at Hello World
alongside technology executives from Amazon, Facebook,
Google, and Microsoft. I continue to stay well versed in the
constant news surrounding my industry.
In the future, I see myself continuing to work on
transformational projects. After all these years in the
industry across various organizations I have the knowledge
to contribute to solving complex problems and to equip
people with ideas, and information to drive digital
transformation.
“It takes 20 years to
make an overnight
success.
- Eddie Cantor

Gavriella
Schuster
Working for Inclusivity and Collaboration
in the Technology Space

s leaders, it is critical to be open-minded, as it is
Aessential to embrace unforeseen shifts in the plan
rather than be stuck with a process,” says
Gavriella Schuster. She is the Corporate Vice President,
One Commercial Partner at Microsoft and has expertise
in cloud & datacenter technologies, product management,
product marketing, business model development,
acquisitions, sales, digital marketing, social marketing, and
channel programs.
Gavriella advocates the creation of an inclusive and
collaborative environment at work. She believes, this
practice significantly affects the team effort and dedication
while empowering every individual.
On advising woman business leaders, she states it is
important to be persistent. She opines “When you are the
only woman in the room, there is a tendency for men to
speak over you, and in some cases to even pretend you are
invisible. Persistence allows you to express your point of
view, gather allies in the room and speak up frequently until
you break through the barrier and your ideas are
acknowledged.”
between Insights Success and Gavriella Schuster:
From a very young age, I was determined to be a collector
of memorable experiences through knowledge, technology
and creativity. The desire to continually challenge myself to
acquire advanced knowledge gave me energy and
perspective. This curiosity gave me the confidence to jump
from psychology to healthcare to technology. While that
transition was unique, my psychology background has
helped me very early in my career to differentiate between
what people say and what their intentions are. It has served
me to be a more analytical and inquisitive person, rather
than taking things at face value.
My 24 years journey with Microsoft has taught me to
pursue technology and get creative with it. I am currently in
my 14th job role in the company after moving around six
disciplines from Operations, Marketing, Sales, Training,
Enterprise Services, Licensing, Product Management to
now leading Partnerships here in Microsoft. It has been an
incredible journey to witness the technology; the company
and the industry grow to new heights over the years.
Experience collector has been an interesting path for me
because the fast-paced industry keeps you on your toes. I
have been on a journey learning to build, sell and market
and license software services.
Microsoft operates in a broad spectrum of technologies;
hence, our target audience varies. However, as a product
planner and manager, I adopted the customer-centric
approach. Placing the customer in the center helps
understand their requirements, along with gaps in our
portfolio. We continually diversify to fill those gaps by

building solutions or partnering to bridge that difference.
I cherish my role as it allows me to constantly identify
customer needs and build partnerships on behalf of
Microsoft. The ability to support technology firms with
investments in certain solutions or our ability to guide
companies to pivot investments to compete in the market,
allows us to collaborate, uplift, and transform the dynamic
technology industry to provide the best for our customers.
Everything in the market caters to the needs of the
customer. A strategy needs to be centered around customer
reach and customer satisfaction. As service providers, it
falls upon us to lead the customer through the
transformation in the industry which, over time, has
resulted in building a trusted brand.
Competition in any market is inevitable, and dare I say
desirable to push you towards excellence; it keeps you from
complacency. Unless you are delivering the best experience
and meeting the customer needs where they are either
organically or through partnerships, you will fall short in
the market.
The ideal strategy is to keenly be aware of the market
dynamics, course correct according to your customer needs
and continually thinking 12 months ahead.
you overcome them?
The external challenges are inevitable. Our challenges
define us. Personally, my roadblocks were internal; the
limitations I set for myself were a challenge to overcome.
As a young technologist, I desired perfection in my work
and would obsess over the last 20 percent of the project,
completely unaware that 80 percent was great. My
impatience resulted in extra energy being poured where
unnecessary. Soon with exhaustion, I had a revelation that
perfection does not exist.
Another roadblock has been to break away from the brand
assigned to you by others for what you do. While
attempting to transition from licensing to product
management, I was constantly branded as a 'licensing
expert' who could not shift the stream and learn product
management. The reality was, I was good at my role as an
experience collector and going forward I wanted to learn
about working with developers, engineers and deliver there.
After persuading a few sponsors to take a chance, I was
able to make the transformation and I am here today. Most
people hold themselves back because one must fight tough
battles to convince others to believe in you.
Women in Cloud?
Five years ago, I had an epiphany and was tired of being the
only woman in the room. It was arduous setting up
meetings with partners and never running into other women
outside the Microsoft environment.
I collaborated with Karen Fassio and then with Chaitra
Vedullapalli and Gretchen O'Hara to build the Women in
Cloud Movement. It was crucial for us to ensure Women in
Cloud does not just focus on bringing women in the
industry but also helps them mobilize resources to create a
billion-dollar economic impact.
This journey has led me to mentor, including joining the
University of Washington Bothell Board of Directors, to
help young women consider careers in technology. My
reality could help young leaders find their path and enable
them to succeed.
Change is the only constant I have known. As an experience
collector, I appreciate the dynamic nature of technology.
The advancing space helps accelerate learning and
“An inclusive
environment empowers
people to take on bold
challenges.
- Gavriella Schuster

promotes curiosity. This opportunity allows me to
experiment and challenge myself.
So, whether it is about learning a new technology, a new
use case or helping organizations make a seamless
transformation, there are always gaps to be ﬁlled and it is a
great opportunity to expand your scope. Embracing change
increases my capabilities to think and it continues to put me
in a place where what I do is new, exciting, interesting, and
on the leading edge.
2020 was supposed to be the year of change at Microsoft.
We had new technologies to launch, investments lined up
and the ecosystem had a lot of momentum before the
unforeseen health crisis crippled the health and social
justice climate. Although this year has been a challenge, it
has prompted me to internalize and ask myself ‘where are
we heading?’
The essential concern is to stay connected to each other and
continue on the mission. My priority is to ensure the safety
of my team and keep them motivated.
Meanwhile, I am determined to continue my work with
Women in Cloud and Women in Tech networks to focus on
social justice in the industry. The recent Black Lives Matter
movement in the United States has led us to introspect. As a
leader in technology, I want to improve the experience of
the African-American community in the technology space.
There is a necessity to create communities, bring in role
models, build programs, enable funding and power access
to create a path for them to succeed; I am looking forward
to being a part of that journey.

Expert’s View

Gina
Fratarcangeli
Supporting Emerging Women Tech Entrepreneurs
to be Successful

omen in Cloud is a unique organization that
Whas allowed me to surround myself with
inspiring, talented female leaders,” says Gina
Fratarcangeli. Gina further adds that through this
organization, she has had face time with women who are
building impactful businesses and driving real technological
change.
Gina's intention in joining this phenomenal community is to
help women reach their goals by creating a conduit both
within the Accenture network and through her association
within the broader technology community. She asserts “My
personal experiences and the energy within Women in
Cloud have caused me to be extremely passionate about
economic access and diversity causes. If I can introduce
one female entrepreneur to a client or find one Board
Member for a woman-led start-up, all the effort will be
worth it. I would want my legacy to be -She did everything
she could to help everyone she could.”
Gina holds the position of Managing Director, and
Market Unit Sales Leader at Accenture and has over 20
years in market development and complex solution
offerings for global companies.
between Insights Success and Gina Fratarcangeli:
In 1995, as a recent college graduate, this new thing called
the “internet” was all the buzz. While working at an
advertising agency, I attended a presentation from an early
internet streaming company and the power of the internet
with its personalized advertising and information became
clear to me. It was an impactful experience and I knew the
internet and its underlying technology were something I
wanted to be a part of. Hence, I began my foray into
technology.
When the dotcom bubble burst a few years later, I ventured
into enterprise technology and learned about how it could
drive real business change. Over the next two decades, I
worked with tech giants like EDS, IBM and Genpact and
watched the conversation really evolve. Technology is no
longer relegated to the IT department and it is no longer just
considered an enabler of functionality. The usage of
technology to address business problems will determine the
survival of the organization across all industries.
Technology became fun again!
Cloud technology has an impact on businesses and
consumers alike that is nearly unparalleled. I am re-
energized and eager to experiment with Cloud at Accenture.
Cloud promises to bring drastic evolution and growth to a
company's operating models - at a lower cost and with the
support of legacy systems, resulting in innovation at an
unprecedented rate. My journey has been an interesting one
- with lots of twists and turns. I feel my experiences in
advertising, consulting and technology have helped give me
a strong base of knowledge and perspective to understand
that to help companies in the future best serve their
customers, technology needs to be leveraged in
unprecedented ways - and the cloud makes that possible.
As a leader in the cloud space, Accenture helps Fortune 500
companies use cloud technology for business
transformation. Many companies think it simply means
moving legacy technology to the cloud to save money, but
the opportunities are much more significant. Understanding
how to use technology and its ability to solve business
problems is what the C-suite now needs. One of my favorite
parts of my job is helping them understand how the cloud
can actually offer much more, such as the ability to
accelerate innovation.
It's really about complete enterprise transformation. We
categorize the cloud transformation journey into three

buckets: modernize (move legacy to the cloud for cost
savings), optimize (gain efficiencies working in an agile
development model to get products to market faster) and
innovate (enable strategic innovation with AI, digital
services and platform partners to generate growth). So,
before we dive into the mechanics of cloud migration, we
help clients understand the full power of what a cloud
transformation could mean to their business, including the
impact it can have on both the top and bottom line.
At Accenture, we elevate the conversation to the C-Suite,
thereby making the conversation about solving business
challenges and adding value. Understanding the client's
business requirements, analyzing their business challenges,
and weaving a holistic solution encompassing strategy,
technology, and ongoing delivery support is what Accenture
does best. We have the industry expertise and the
technology to deliver real transformation for our clients.
This is just one reason why Accenture works with three-
quarters of the companies in the Fortune 500.
should possess?
It is crucial to stack your customer needs before your own.
As a leader, it is important to practice honesty and integrity
to serve your purpose. Personally, I always look to build a
relationship with my client, not just sell something. An
open, honest, transparent conversation about what's best for
your client will impact and grow that relationship tenfold.
Over the course of my career, I've had to advise clients to
work with other vendors from time to time – and that
honestly was always appreciated.
Another simple yet critical trait is to do your homework.
You need to know your technology, your solutions, and
your clients before every conversation. Constantly learning
about current offerings and dynamic market conditions will
allow you to be informed and provide the best solutions to
your clients. Lastly - be fearless! Go out there and try new
things to grow. Last year, I gave a Ted Talk on mentoring
and supporting women leaders. I was nervous and excited at
the same time because this was me speaking from the heart.
I loved how that felt and now feel I am at a point in my
career where I don't have to be “corporate Gina” when
speaking in public – I am “real Gina”, it's a much more
rewarding experience.
you overcome them?
Technology is an extremely complex industry. Women in
this space encounter challenges from every angle. As a
young professional, I chose a path in sales because I was
good at it AND numbers define success unlike in other
sectors. Typically, I was the hardest working person in the
room and the results were obvious - I knew my
achievements would speak for themselves. One of the
biggest challenges throughout my career was the lack of
other women in the room, which made it difficult to find
someone to advocate for me. But at Accenture, ensuring
diversity is highly valued, starting with our current female
CEO. My four years here have shown me what an inclusive
culture can be - and how important diversity at all levels is
for a growth organization. I am very committed to this
effort.
I am thoroughly enjoying my time at Accenture and am
excited to embrace new opportunities within the
organization and continue striving to solve customer
challenges. Technology is transforming daily and the next
decade will be an exciting adventure in this industry. I hope
to be able to continue to support many of the start-ups that I
do as both an official and unofficial advisor -- there are so
many rising fearless female leaders out there!
“Life is not a dress
rehearsal. You get one
chance, so make the
most out of ALL of it.
- Gina Fratarcangeli

Gretchen
O'Hara
A Proﬁcient Business Leader with Proven
Track Record

uriosity, creativity, and my entrepreneurial spirit
Chave shaped my journey from schooling, directly
into the technology industry,” says Gretchen
O'Hara. She says her passion for solving big challenges
helped her utilize the power that lies within her to create a
sustainable impact in the world. Currently, Gretchen holds
the position of Vice President, US AI & Sustainability
Strategy at Microsoft, and holds an experience of 25 years
in the tech industry across the US and worldwide.
Over the last 25 years of Gretchen's journey, it was her
eagerness for the cloud market that prompted her to start in
the hosting business before it became a mainstream
phenomenon. As an entrepreneur, she witnessed the power
of cloud computing and its ability to enable every person
and organization to access enterprise-level benefits leading
to the democratization of IT for all.
between Insights Success and Gretchen O'Hara:
One size does not fit all. At Microsoft, we are committed to
understanding our customer business objectives to ensure
maximum growth and impact. An analysis of the customer
industry, obstacles, target audience, and goals is necessary
for customization to meet the needs of those cloud
capabilities. That is our key to diversification and
developing a strategic roadmap that leads us to our
customer's success. For instance, without a structured plan
and understanding of customer requirements, oftentimes,
one can employ a cloud capability meant for consumers to
an enterprise that does not address critical requirements
such as security, privacy, reliability, and mission-critical
availability. On the flip side, one may offer similar solutions
to the SMB market, which looks like a good fit on paper,
but in reality, those capabilities are too complex, expensive
and will not meet the specific needs of the customer. Hence,
an insight into customer intention is crucial for ensuring
customer satisfaction and success.
When you lead with a purpose-driven mission, bigger than
a person or any organization, consequentially you tackle the
competition. Every organization needs to instill a purpose-
driven mission into their business model. This captures the
essence of growth and motivates every individual to
contribute their best. My strategic approach to competition
is simple but effective; address the customer and partner
needs, combined with a purpose-driven mission - and you
will effectively compete to be your very best.
It is crucial to understand the ecosystem, capabilities,
partnerships, and identifying solutions that will provide
holistic value to the customers in a broader spectrum.
Collaboration is key and ultimately it all comes down to
customer and partner obsession. If you are consistently
captivated by the customer and embrace a growth mindset,
it shifts the way you compete. One focuses less on direct
competition and more on providing the best experience and
value for the customer. The purpose of the competition is to
bring the best solution and experience at the forefront of the
customer.

should possess?
Authenticity empowers people to deliver their absolute best
to any mission. It is crucial that every woman brings her
own unique leadership style rather than continue on a path
already built, to ensure collective action and success. As a
businesswoman, one must practice empathy while allowing
room for experimentations and mistakes for the team to
grow as individuals.
A growth mindset is an attribute I practice professionally
and personally since it is important to embrace change to
deliver your best self. Lastly, I am always curious, celebrate
the diversity of people, and practice grit. I believe these
traits assist one to overcome the biggest obstacles, despite
the failures encountered along your life journey.
you overcome them?
Throughout my journey, two specific roadblocks were
common; Perception and Community.
Perception is a market constraint. This challenge focuses on
efforts to overpower/preserve a perceived appearance to
accelerate opportunity and access for people in the
business. Microsoft is a trusted brand, with ethics and
responsibility upholding privacy and security, hence people
invest in us. As an organization, we have to work really
hard to prove these presumptions through action to
accelerate in the industry.
The second challenge is creating a vibrant community. For
women in the cloud business, oftentimes there is a lack of
more women helping other women; to have an uplifting,
supportive technical and business community. Social media
campaigns around gender equality and closing the gender
gap is a required step. However, the reality is we need to
build a much bigger and broader network of female
representation in technology, and it is an industry
imperative task. The lack of female mentors and sponsors to
help our entrepreneurs succeed is evident from the
classroom to the board room.
Women in Cloud?
Our mission at Women in Cloud is not limited to simply
changing the conversations and bringing diversity, as we
are taking it one step forward with economic development
and access to opportunity. Economic access is a pivotal
point in this critical movement as we try to make a
sustainable change that will eventually trickle down into
our education system for future leaders and innovators.
The hard-hitting truth is that if female entrepreneurs are
hurt in the area of building solutions, and female-run
companies continue to go out of business, then filling the
funnel all day long by bringing in more representation will
not make a sustainable impact. Unlike any other
organization, Women in Cloud has a unique strategy to
build visible shifts around gender diversity, to create an
ongoing cycle of opportunity and bring together allyship at
a global level. I think that is the magic of Women in Cloud.
Over the last three years, I have learned an incredible
amount from female entrepreneurs and allies that have
come to the table with me at Microsoft; women and men
coming together to focus on education, access, and
sustainable growth as an opportunity to grow our global
economy.
arena?
Meritocracy defines that hard work paves a path for
success. But my perspective on the myth is exactly why
Women in Cloud was born; there simply is not always
equitable access for women today.
Statistics tell us that women-owned businesses are currently
on par with men, i.e., 40 percent or so; but we fail to
disseminate industries and analyze women representation
“Vision without action is
merely a dream. Action
without vision just
passes the time. Vision
with action can change
the world.
- Joel Arthur Barker

from STEM which is less than 5 percent. Currently, there is
less representation of females in technology companies.
Even more troubling, less than 3 percent of C-suite female
leaders are women of color. So, the idea that hard work
results in triumph contradict reality, which is, there exist
natural blockers that are ingrained in the system that we
must change.
When you stifle innovation, you stifle personal growth. The
nature of being in technology is that it is ever-changing. We
are always innovating, and that disruptiveness is something
that allows all of us to grow because we are forced to
disrupt ourselves in the process.
Technology forces you to be agile, have a growth mindset,
and ultimately accept failure to improve learning because of
the pace of transformation.
I appreciate the industry for forcing me to accept these
rapid shifts because it allows me to bring my best self to the
community every day. I am a firm believer in the
opportunity cloud allows, because it forces you to be the
best that you can absolutely be at any given moment.
Every leader has to ask where they want to be. A proactive
plan helps a leader lead. From a leadership position, I am
intrigued to explore the power of Artificial Intelligence. The
democratization of AI and the ability for everyone to have
access to information that was previously unknown is what
I want to help democratize for all.

Karen Fassio
Driving the Cloud and AI Revolution

echnology is embedded in how we live our daily
Tlives so it's necessary to get to know it, how it
works, where it's going”, asserts Karen Fassio.
From owning her first desktop, Atari 600, to now being a
part of Microsoft as Director of its One Commercial
Partner Group, Karen has inspired many lives. In an
interview with Insights Success, Karen Fassio shares her
valuable insights of her journey and undulating moments.
Below are the highlights of the interview:
Technology has been an important part of my childhood and
early adulthood. My first introduction to a personal
computer was with the TRS-80, Atari 800 and Commodore
64. In addition to dial-up into random bulletin board
services (BBS), I remember playing early online text-based
MUX games accessed through very early Compuserve
services. There were so many quests and online character
drama! My online character's name back then was Javelyn.
My first job in tech was with Aldus, a Seattle-based
software company that produced an innovative product
called PageMaker and coined the term desktop publishing,
disrupting the publishing industry in the process. Back then
companies were pushing user-level tech to its limits. Fonts
had to be installed on your machine and your printer.
Designers had to build to the tight limitations of their
computer's memory capacity. You never knew if you would
maintain print fidelity with what you saw on the screen.
Back then, files produced couldn't be shared natively across
Mac and PCs. While I was at Adobe, I witnessed the launch
of Acrobat and PDF (portable document format) and that
helped to close some aspects of the Mac and PC divide. It
felt like new software innovations were announced daily. I
found myself moving and growing with the times rapidly,
participating in the early days of broadly available internet,
technology outsourcing, scaling that capability as the
customer demand grew exponentially. I created campaigns
to increase access to technology education all connected to
my passion for helping people access technology on their
terms. Eventually my career moved in the direction of
digital marketing which I see as enabling better
communication between people in personalized,
empowering ways—which takes me back to where I started
in a way.
It has been 21 years since my first day at Microsoft and
since then, most of my roles have had some connection to
the partner ecosystem, which I love. At Microsoft, we bring
technology to people and organizations through our global
partner ecosystem. Partners take the technology ingredients
we offer and pull them together in a way that serves
customers of all types with solutions in all forms. I know
that sounds broad, but the fact is, the opportunity is vast and
multi-faceted. And now with new innovations in Cloud, AI,
intelligent edge, and quantum computing, the space
continues to be full of opportunity.
It starts with understanding the lived experiences of your
audience and then asking 'what can I do to improve it?”
Fundamentally, be insatiably curious about your customers
and the offerings will follow. Naturally, good companies
listen to customer voice, observe the market, delve into how
products are utilized and make corrections when they aren't.
But how do you know what all that information really
means if you don't know the question you're trying to
answer? To get to great questions, you need diversity of
perspectives and a way to invite more questions into the
discussion. The right questions make a remarkable
difference in what you eventually offer. It was in the book
“A More Beautiful Question” by Warren Berger where he
shares the concept of 'question-storming' rather than
traditional brainstorming. This approach creates energy,
deepens curiosity, and it's been a valuable tool for me in
striving for limitless thinking.
Marketing seldom focuses on the deep, embedded things
that impact the quality of our customer's business and daily
reality. What are we taught? Marketing is product, price,
placement, promotion. It's so much more than that.
Marketing can educate, connect, and reinforce your values.
Rather than focus on what you can market, direct your
resource to how you can add value to your customer's lived
experience.
Focus on your customer obsessively and you will outpace
competition. The time you spend researching competition
can be put instead on the things that increase trust and help
your customers succeed. Think of yourself with them,
helping them win a deal with a customer. Can you provide
something they can use to help them bring more value in
that relationship?
Not every business has direct access to industry analysts,
but everyone has the ability to pick up a phone and talk to
their customer. For example, at Microsoft we have forums
where users of our technologies have interactive dialogue
directly with product developers. Even though I have access
to many forms of insights including data, briefings, and
analyst research, I make a point to have personal
relationships with partners who help me see the space in
between all of that. And they learn from my point of view
too. I highly recommend creating a way to put yourself side
by side with the customers you serve. Challenge yourself to

get as close as possible to their day to day. Nothing is as
powerful as the voice of your customer (or in my case
partner) as you champion change and new ideas.
Technology is all about partnership. In the places that you
can't tackle yourself, can you partner instead? I think that's
why I am so attracted to working with partners and why I
love my role at Microsoft so much. As our collective
landscape grows in complexity, no one company has all the
answers. You need partnerships for innovation, for
distribution, for capabilities, for access. It's through
partnerships that we create better solutions and serve
customers more holistically. I am constantly looking for
ways to bridge those connections and bring more partners
into the fold, so we can mix things together with more
innovations and opportunities. It's why I am so passionate
about increasing representation in the ecosystem so we can
expand perspectives, unlock innovation, and serve more
markets.
should possess?
I believe Emotional Intelligence Quotient, (EQ) is a
leadership superpower. EQ is the ability to tune in to
yourself and your emotional state and keep in balance the
relationship impact you have on others. How to work with
people, learn the areas we need to develop, and nurture is
largely underrated in the workplace. There are small signs
this is now changing so I'm encouraged. As we embrace
rapid change from all sides, EQ is needed and generally,
women tend to innately possess this capability.
Over the years, emotional intelligence has given me a
different perspective to champion and because it isn't often
practiced in business, it has given me a way to differentiate
my impact. I have often doubted the value of EQ because it
felt like such a soft skillset. The Harvard Business Review
first brought EQ into the limelight in their 1998 article on
leadership and it's been a slow process to getting it fully
recognized as a valuable leadership trait. This may be a
result of having so few women in tech leadership.
While EQ is tricky to practice and apply in business, as a
woman EQ has allowed me to be authentic and purpose
driven in how I lead and shape success.
I also encourage women to use their intuition. Most people
assume intuition is a superficial attribute. Don't discount it.
Intuition is derived from the synthesis of lots of data. When
you consume stacks of information, observe patterns,
develop insights over time, you basically create an internal
library of reference points that can be applied to new and
different situations. Data is the basis for intuition. It's not
just some made-up feeling as we are often led to believe.
As progressive women leaders, we should employ our
emotional intelligence and intuition in our role as impactful,
future-forward leaders. It's our superpower.
you overcome them?
I have often struggled with having to prove myself. An
argument can be won when you are heard, but being treated
dismissively or worse, hearing someone else use your
words and get support is tough to deal with. When you are
shut down despite your best efforts, it makes you question
yourself. In essence you're made to feel excluded from the
future.
As a brown, plus-size woman, I am aware that I do not fit
the conventional, C-suite executive image. Nevertheless, I
am an experienced leader with a track record of doing
things that bring extraordinary results and value. I had to set
my own bar, find opportunities, and believe in my own
value rather than let others define me. It's helped me see
signals that others miss.
I build my tribe and use my network to work at things from
different angles and altitudes. The fact remains that this
approach takes extra time, energy, and can demand the use
of already limited political capital. I know I'm not alone in
this experience. How much more effective could we be if
we didn't have to spend time doing this extra legwork? If
you notice someone taking a little longer to get to the goals
you expect them to achieve, don't leap to the easy
conclusion that they are ineffective. There's usually
something more going on and you should consider the role
are you playing in letting that interference continue.
I keep a people-first mindset. I push myself to be the leader
I want to follow. I try to do the things for people that I wish
someone had done for me when I was in their shoes. When
faced with a situation, I ask myself, “What would the leader
of my dreams do?” Hopefully in that approach, I model for
“Take your highest ambition
and double it. If that makes
you nervous, you’ve found a
boundary to break.
- Karen Fassio

my team the kind of leader they can also choose to be and
when they move on from my organization and go on to lead
elsewhere, they have plenty of experience in what
empowerment looks like which should give them an
amazing advantage.
Women in Cloud?
Women in Cloud has had a huge impact in empowering
women with a collective voice and providing access for
women who have previously been shut out. Personally, this
community has been one of the biggest professional growth
accelerators I have ever experienced.
The pace at which I have learned and tested myself through
this work has been phenomenal. Women in Cloud not only
aligns with my personal values but my career goals too. The
process of access creation is harder to do than people
realize, and it comes with lots of hard-earned learning. We
strive for a billion dollars of economic access for women in
this community. This contributes to local sustainability,
jobs, and in our representation, we also enable inclusive
impact.
As a Women in Cloud founding member and board advisor
our drive comes from understanding the lived experiences
where women technologists with brilliant innovations were
not included as they should have been. We have many
decades worth of technology without women represented in
it. Hence, as Women in Cloud, we kept learning and
adjusting the approach until we figured out a model that
works at scale. It's been 3 years since we started with an
idea over coffee. And now Women in Cloud is successfully
expanded into new markets.
A community approach leveraging the power of collective
action and creating alliances of influence is an essential
system. Now that we have a model that works, it's up to all
of us in the community to keep evolving it. It's not the
founding team that drives this. It's the community that
makes thing move faster, broader, more inclusive. I enjoy
hearing of other communities tapping into our resources
because that is the purpose of this network. There's plenty
of opportunity for all. Use this model. Make it yours. Create
impact. And keep it going.
arena?
The myth of meritocracy reveals the many systems in place
that prevent access. Most of us believe in putting in the
work, but there are many more schemes designed to keep
people in boxes. As we get better at talking about what is
limiting progress as a society, it is becoming easier for us to
identify these schemes and recognize that old belief systems
about working harder do not guarantee success.
Where business can do better is to get curious about the
daily working experience of their people. We need tools to
help individuals understand their impact, their personal
progress and how to apply their talents to the things that
matter most. Why don't we have more women in
management? Why are starting salaries so vastly different?
Why are opportunities unevenly distributed? Why did it
take the women in your organization 5x longer to achieve a
promotion? Why don't women stay in roles as long as their
male colleagues?
We have words like 'glass ceiling' 'frozen middle' 'covering'
that are a part of our language now because there are very
real systems in place that limit access. A woman shared
with me that she thought she was doing fine in her career
until the day she wanted more. Bang! Her head hit a ceiling.
She believed her remaining choice was to leave and start
her own firm before she mistakenly agrees to the limited
box they defined for her. Those of us who experience this
are fatigued by having to explain it repeatedly.
We vote for what you want in tech by what we use and
consume. I'm a digital marketer so I'm constantly looking
for innovations in communication and user insight. Though
I am in B2B marketing, I enjoy exploring new use cases at
the consumer level, and I like to look at the fringes more
than the mainstream for insights.
If you are around younger people, observe how they use
technology. Think about how painful it is to their
personhood to be without tech. The pain rate is more acute
for them than it is for my generation by far. What does that
mean? How can that influence user expectations in the
future? Where are the opportunities to anticipate future
services? How will that factor in with your strategies as
these users grow up to be your customer one day? What
will that mean to brand loyalty, trust, and growth going
forward? Is your roadmap accelerating faster than their
growing expectations and needs?
I am dedicated to creating an inclusive economy. I am
honoured to do this at Microsoft, and with Women in
Cloud. 'How can we inspire the solutions that can help us
solve the most challenging issues of our age? This is a
question that keeps me thinking up new ways to inspire
others to join in and participate. I am personally motivated
by the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. We
can all contribute to one of the 17 SDGs to help make the
world better for all. That's not just a lofty statement. It's a
real thing those of us in technology can do for sustainability
and inclusive impact.

FRAUD DETECTION
AND PREVENTION IN
DIGITAL CUSTOMER
ACQUISITION

The bricks and mortar retail model is being forced to
embrace the digital marketplace. Consumers are
tech savvy and expect innovative and creative
solutions to remotely access and purchase products and
services.
There is an unfounded belief in the financial services sector
that digital customer acquisition would suffer high fraud
rates. With verification technologies this is no longer true.
Financial products can take many forms. It could be the
opening of a bank account, applying for a credit card or
loan. It also extends to everything from buying life
insurance to gambling using your phone for betting on your
favorite Super Bowl team. All can be virtual, but all are
subject to fraud.
In the physical world customers must travel to your place of
business and present their photo ID to an employee to
verify their identity. In the digital world this can be done
without the restrictions of business hours and geographical
location and with greater accuracy and security than an
employee can do manually. Verification technologies have
become a reliable technology that is able to replace costly
manual process with a digital touch that enables remote
onboarding built with strong verification and fraud
mitigation.
Consumers are accustomed to providing driver’s licenses
and similar photo IDs as proof of their identify in person.
The problem is fraudulent or forged photo IDs can be easily
purchased and are incredibly good and can easily fool a
human. When it comes to verifying the owner of the photo
ID the human compares the customer in front of them
against the photo in the ID presented. This is equally
flawed. There are three issues here. One is the ability to
match. The average human is only 70% accurate! The
second is the social awkwardness of the verification process
and finally, the potential of a complicit employee
participating in a fraud.
Fortunately, technology has advanced to automate remote
customer enrollment making it easy for customers to buy
and at the same time protect against fraud. Verification
technologies conduct the same process as an employee
would manually that is delivered as customer self-service.
To verify their government issued photo ID, your customer
will be asked to take a photo of the front and back of their
photo ID. Verification technology will process the ID by
using a combination of technologies designed to spot and
stop forgeries. For example a combination of OCR optical
character recognition and bar code reading technology
ensures what is printed on the front of the ID matches the
data inside the bar code printed on the back. There are
several other methods for ID verification with the result
being photo ID verification with 99.5 % accuracy in just a
couple of seconds. Something no human can do manually.
After scanning the photo ID your potential customer will be
guided to take a selfie, which includes appropriate liveliness
and anti spoofing, that compares the selfie with against the
photo printed on the ID document. Once again face
recognition technology is more accurate, in this case an
average of 99% that is more secure and cost effective than a
human conducting the verification manually.
Verification technologies have allowed consumers to have
access to products and services that have previously been
unavailable due to geographical, cost or logistical issues.
Companies have the opportunity to de-risk their traditional
brick and mortar models and move to a consumer-friendly
digital delivery.
And for that fraudster, they will find other targets to steal
from rather than using their face to commit a fraud.
Tech Insight

Kimberly Smith
Setting an Example for Women in Cloud
Kim Smith with
Sharon John, CEO Build-A-Bear

echnology is an amalgamation of all industries
Tsince there is no sector which defies its power.
Everyone is influenced and impacted by the
technologies and technologists are builders of the new
world,” believes Kimberly Smith, the Global Vice
President of Cloud Innovation Service, Microsoft Cloud
Alliance, IBM.
In an interview with Insights Success, Kimberly shares her
valuable insights on how she forged new paths in the
technological arena.
I began my professional journey while attending college
running data center back up processes in the Polymers
Division for DuPont. Technology at the time was magnetic
tape driven and moving data to different centers meant
shifting tapes off a mainframe device and transferring them
to another machine, we truly have come so far. I have been
blessed with the opportunity to participate in the radical
shift from on-premise environments to hybrid cloud-based
technologies which has required transformation in every
sense of the word.
On my path, I went from manufacturing to financial
services running risk management and FinTech efforts
advancing the retail credit banking sector before moving
into consulting and the high tech industry. Having the
chance to work at companies like The Bank of New York,
Microsoft, Capgemini, Adobe, and IBM, has given me a
broad spectrum of experiences that I apply in every aspect
of my career. In my travels, I have found that being agile,
flexible, and willing to take calculated risks has opened new
doors to experiences and leadership opportunities I never
could have imagined.
In many instances, the role I took on didn't exist; there was
no job description. Forging new paths can be daunting but I
have found energy and passion in being willing to take on
challenges and see the potential where it otherwise might
not be seen to exist.
30 years of culminated experience has resulted in my
imagination knowing no limits to what we can achieve
when we are empowered through technology and human
potential.
Identification of your end goal can be determined by the
impact you wish to achieve with your target audience. The
spectrum of diversification that products and services IBM
has to offer is unfathomable. We are a huge organization
with a history of serving people, hence diversity is key to
affect as many lives as we do. Every day, we must take into
consideration the diversity of thought, action, behaviors,
experiences, and backgrounds if we are to approach and
solve complex challenges that have massive implications on
humanity. As technologists, none of us fit in a box anymore;
our ability to comprehend and value our differences results
in better solutions and accessibility for all.

One of the factors of success I have seen to achieve the
desired goal in technologically driven solutions is to
establish guardrails, apply governance without obsessing
over the process. In my personal experience it all comes
down to asking the question, 'How can we think outside the
box to create convenience and value for all?'
should possess?
As a female leader in an industry predominantly led by
men, I have seen tremendous advancements. As an optimist,
I believe in the continual change women lead with fortitude
and allyship.
Every generation of women faces their own roadblocks in
this space. It is my responsibility to break the barriers I
confronted, and sweep up the broken glass on my way up. I
am only successful because of the women who have broken
their backs carrying us here, and if I defy paying it forward,
it is a disservice to the future generation.
Women empowering other women provides an opportunity
to pull those behind us along with us to demolish the walls
ahead; since it is not justified for women of this generation
to deal with problems of the previous generation. This is the
easiest way to ensure industry-wide progress. Hence, if
there is one trait I truly believe in, it is creating access and
empowering other women.
you overcome them?
Each of us carries our own bag of rocks. The
challenge is to put the bag down, take out a few rocks every
chance we get and then move forward. Every day demands
effort to continue on this journey. In a room full of people, I
have been denied an opportunity to speak but the real
challenge was to address the lack of more so than the
discrimination itself. In this environment, I think being
shutdown is inevitable, but if you let fear conquer your
intention, failure is guaranteed.
It takes endurance to identify your limitations and replenish
your energy before fighting the system. The flawed
structure of this industry forces us to face similar problems
women have had to deal with for decades draining our
stamina. Hence, knowing your limitations, restoring your
bucket while supporting others and allowing yourself to
course correct is the path forward. The ability to stop and
look at the bigger picture prepares you to propel in this
industry.
arena?
Technology is a crucial necessity in the most diverse time
There is a massive attic of junk and value both in our brains
and our homes which will exhaust us eventually if we let it.
I try not to lose perspective or get lost in the tools I use. If it
doesn't provide faster time to value or remove a point of
friction in my life, I let it go. If it does, then the technology
becomes an enabler for my own empowerment.
As a leader in the industry I encourage working smarter not
just harder. To be thoughtful about what critical path will
lead to higher quality results with enriched & relevant
impact, that is what defines success for me. I do my best to
maintain a consistent focus on the importance of these
factors in my daily life.
The rapid shift in technological advancements is creating a
state of cognitive dissonance in people. There are healthy
fear and excitement; a never-ending cycle of this solution
will be obsolete tomorrow but there is a dire need for it
today. This industry has eased lives all around the world
“Suspend disbelief long
enough to let the art of
the possible sneak in
and let amazing things
happen.
- Kimberly Smith

while consciously embedding software and hardware that
take over, it is a scary and breathtaking development.
Technology is a desperate necessity in the most diverse time
on this planet. Nonetheless, it is important to create
sustainable advancements from here on. There is a massive
attic of junk and value both in our brains and our homes
which will exhaust us eventually. While I am excited for
what is to come, I would prefer seeing my children's
photographs on my phone more often than every other
thing.
I have spent a lifetime advancing technological
improvements that aﬀect lives around the globe. It is
humbling to have the chance to be part of immense impact
like that. Now, I am selective of my time and would really
like to pay it forward.
While technological solutions narrate my past, I want my
future to be about empowering and paving a path for the
next generation to experience this magniﬁcent industry that
knows no bounds.

Renee
Bergeron
Committed to Making Technology Accessible
for Businesses of All Size

Radioshack TRS-80 Personal Computer led Renee
ABergeron to technology. This machine arrived at
her house through a family friend who gifted it to
her since he saw no purpose in it. Toying around with that
piece of hardware piqued Renee's interest in technology,
empowered her to love technology and finally inspired her
to embark to study computer science which led her directly
into the technology world.
As an enthusiastic young technologist, Renee was
programming for clients like Air Canada, Hudson Bay Cap,
National Bank of Canada which allowed her to glance into
various businesses and amass knowledge. When presented
with an opportunity, she moved to Australia as the CIO for
the Bank of Melbourne. Operating in the service provider
spectrum in corporate America allowed her to experience
technology from the business aspect. As she progressed, her
journey with Ingram Micro granted her an insight into
technology supply chain management for SMB and
building cloud businesses. Currently, she is the Senior Vice
President & General Manager of AppSmart.
“In retrospect, my life could have been drastically different
if I was gifted with a stethoscope or if I was not passionate
about technology in all its form. I am incredibly lucky to
work in a technical field that excites me and motivates me,”
she asserts.
In an interview with Insights Success, Renee shares her
valuable insights on how she is empowering businesses to
soar through technology innovation.
We are all consumers of technology in the personal and
professional aspects of our life. Consumers are
sophisticated and differentiate solutions based on their
needs and convenience. So ultimately, as providers, we
focus on the customer experience. I invariably put myself in
the customers' shoes to experience our offerings. If you do
not appreciate your services as a consumer, why should a
customer experience it? Hence, we internalize before we
build on it.
Businesses are essentially groups of individuals who
employ technology to ease their workload, and I think about
their goal to serve them. For instance, if our customers are
dentists, as a business leader, my role would be to find what
technology would enable dentists to serve their customers
best. This process would involve me personally reaching
out to my dentist to understand their requirements to build a
roadmap of new solutions we can develop. Without the
desire to solve customer problems, and deliver the best
experience, your solutions do not make an impact.
The general assumption suggests that tracking your
competitors allows you to structure a better plan to get
ahead of them. However, I believe that practice only puts
you in a box with desperation to redesign the box, without
scope for reinvention. Hence, I prefer market analysis;

building strategies require market study, understanding
complexities, and identifying opportunities.
Data is my best friend. Slashing and slicing the market to
understand the organizational type, their growth, and
market scope gives me a unique edge. The market study
also helps us predict future trends and equips us to
transform the space. Looking at the overall space rather
than constantly be engrossed by competition is essential to
play the long game in technology.
should possess?
Intensity determines your success. Intensity is the key to
success and is required to consistently and reinvent
customer experience. Perseverance has been one of my
greatest strengths over the years. However, investing the
energy to consistently deliver and maintain pace requires
intensity and passion. Perseverance has been one of my
greatest strengths even at my lowest points.
As a leader, a positive mental attitude is critical. Imbibing
an optimistic outlook creates an uplifting environment for
your team to deliver their best results. Optimism is
contagious and should be adopted by every business
executive for motivating oneself and others.
Lastly, I follow True North; a concept of undertaking
decisions based on data rather than emotions. We are
humans with biases, and business judgements made with
emotions ultimately fail us. Data, however, are facts. Facts
are essential for business development and sustainability. In
my opinion this one of the most important characteristics
one must strictly follow.
you overcome them?
My journey in this industry allowed me to experience some
mainstream challenges, which I witnessed were the same
obstacles faced by my peers irrespective of gender and
nationality; like a board rejecting your proposal. In my
opinion, these are roadblocks that are essential to transform
into a leader. The most dangerous roadblock we face is the
limitations we create for ourselves. Constantly questioning
our capabilities, judging our experience, and assuming
perception hampers inculcating a growth mindset.
However, there are specific challenges, like communication
gaps which could affect your performance and growth
chart. In an instance, my manager was an outspoken
individual to everybody on the team except me. The anger,
the appreciation and the guidance were all out there for
them, while I received passive-aggressive feedback leading
to confusion.
Transparent communication was the key to identify the root
cause. He assumed that his being direct would make me
emotional since I am a woman. This was an eye-opening
perspective but my solution was to encourage him to accept
my emotional response, if any. I presented him with piles of
paper which said, 'This gives you a right to make me
emotional', and normalized something he was terrified of.
My communication abilities changed the relationship which
led to him mentoring and providing growth opportunities
for me. The intention of this story is to promote honest
conversations to address awkward undefined problems.
arena?
Working hard is a basic qualifier in the industry today.
Beyond that, one must understand the stakeholders and
their requirements. It is about demonstrating the ability to
do your job under any circumstance.
Often people overlook the dimensions of 'what' and 'how.'
Our industry houses many credible and hardworking
experts who are good at 'what' they do. But 'how' they do
“If you've never
experienced failure,
you're not taking
enough risks.
-Simon Slade

their work sets them apart; not all hard-working individuals
are agile, team-players, or the most efficient workers.
Personally, your ability to present yourself also adds value.
People will fail to recognize hard work if it is done behind
closed doors. It is vital to draw a roadmap, present your
outcomes and secure a sponsor, who will vouch for you.
You have to chart a path for yourself surrounded by the
right people that will help you expand your arena.
Technology forces change. As consumer demand increases,
the market dynamics shift, propelling change; this cycle
constantly helps me evolve. Being in this space, you
inevitably embrace the role of being a change agent; which
affects personal life as well. As we age, we are required to
work our brain to stay healthy, and this environment of
continual shift, helps us do just that.
Seldom do we focus on the real forces behind this constant
change, people. It is a beautiful cycle between humans and
technology; one change forces the other.
The perk of operating in the technology industry is, my
future can take any glorious form. While I know what the
next few years will look like on a broader spectrum, it will
be exciting to be on that journey, as new opportunities
emerge. The goals I intend to pursue, making technology
accessible for businesses of sizes, will be constant; but my
path to reach there will definitely take different forms
introducing me to bigger and better experiences.

Shepreneurs

Senator Patty
Kuderer
A True Leader, Putting People First

mom, attorney, and long-time community
Aadvocate, Patty Kuderer, the first female State
Senator from Washington's 48th Legislative
District, is setting an instance of dedicated leadership for
aspiring women leaders. In an interview with Insights
Success, Patty shares some valuable insights into her
journey, full of passion, perseverance and undulating
moments.
proficient leader.
In Vince Lombardi's words “Leaders aren't born, they are
made. And they are made just like anything else, through
hard work.”
I was born on Election Day during winter in Minnesota.
The sixth of nine children, my mom was in fierce labor
when she insisted on stopping to vote before heading to the
hospital, weather notwithstanding. Before I became a
teenager, my dad was elected County Attorney in our small
farming community just north of the Iowa border. I was told
he was the first Democrat ever elected to any position in the
County. After his years of public service ended, I heard
from folks he helped through tragic and desperate
occasions, oftentimes without asking for anything in return.
While I was touched to hear these stories, they didn't
surprise me because we all knew that being a responsible
community member meant helping others.
From as long as I can remember, men - not women - were
viewed as leaders. So to become one myself took practice. I
stepped up to the challenge when opportunities appeared.
Most of the time I felt I had done a good job, other times it
was just painful. All of those experiences, however, helped
me develop the leadership skills I would eventually need as
a legislator to craft effective policy to help the working
families of Washington.
I have natural problem-solving skills and became a lawyer
to help people. My law practice has been dedicated
primarily to employment discrimination, addressing income
inequality, the employment opportunity gap, and
harassment in the workplace. The lack of women in
decision-making roles in large corporations is a stark
reminder of challenges we as women face to establish life
on par with our male counterparts. My family taught me to
help others, so I gravitated to helping women and children,
supporting purpose-driven organizations and contributing to
progressive campaigns. It was my contribution to creating
the change I wanted to witness in the world - namely a
progressive and inclusive society. And it remained my way
until I was asked to run for the State Legislature.
I always knew who I thought should run for office, but
those thoughts did not include me. However, when friends
from the local party chapter urged me to throw my hat in
the ring, I realized that if I won, I would have the chance to
effect real change on a much larger scale, and to help right
the injustices I routinely saw in life. In 2015 I did “win,”
through appointment to the House of Representatives where
I served for a little over a year. Just after winning the

election as a House member, I was again appointed, this
time to the Senate, where I became the first female State
Senator from Washington's 48th Legislative District. I ran
successful Senate campaigns in 2017 and 2018 and now
lead as Chair of the Housing Stability & Affordability
Committee and Assistant Majority Floor Leader.
It was clear from both of my parents that people mattered
more than things, the family was paramount, and that we
were to “treat everyone with respect.” Those are values I
keep with me to this day.
What are the vital traits that every woman leader
should possess?
Leaders develop their leadership style and traits over time.
Based on my experience, great women leaders possess the
following qualities.
1. Passion to drive change
2. Determination to achieve their goal
3. Compassion to connect with people
4. Practicing effective communication skills
As a rule, I find women are more collaborative than men
and are more interested in solving the problems by putting
people first. That attitude combined with a passion to drive
change gets people's attention. Having compassion, or
empathy, gives you a sense of what it is like to walk in
another's shoes. Most of us weren't born on third base; and
understanding the challenges of working families from real-
world experiences (including your own) brings authenticity
to your work. Finally, being a good communicator is a great
skill in any profession, but it is particularly so in politics.
Being able to humanize issues through stories has changed
more than one person's mind. And growing up with eight
siblings, I have a lot of stories.
were faced by your political journey? And how did you
overcome them?
I did not take the “usual” road to the Legislature. I had not
previously held elected office, though I had served as a
prosecutor and city attorney for many years and represented
governmental agencies in complex, multi-party lawsuits in
the courts. And never mind that the males who immediately
preceded me had never been elected to anything before
going into the Legislature. I was still expected to follow a
set path up the political ladder. That argument was not
effective. This idea that there is a “right” way for a woman
to move up the ladder doesn't fit today's world. As women,
we don't need to “suffer” or “pay our dues” to be a leader.
Societal norms need to change to keep up with the rest of
the world and bring more women into our politics, the
judiciary, and all the industries, including technology and
finance.
Why do you think technology is an essential need people
cannot ignore?
The coronavirus pandemic has changed the way we
consume technology. Today, the internet and access to basic
technology is a necessity like water and electricity.
During the current health crisis, our children are educated
primarily through the internet. Telemedicine is saving lives.
Corporations rely more on remote work options enabled by
technological innovations. However, this pandemic has also
revealed the great digital divide like never before. Certain
parts of Washington State are without access to high-speed
internet, a pressing need that has only become more urgent
since this health crisis hit. Along with my colleagues like
Senator Lisa Wellman, I am working to ensure the digital
divide becomes a relic of the past, so everyone has access to
our 21st-century economy.
What are some of the policies you have employed to
ensure gender diversity?
We created a Women's Commission in Washington State to
focus on women's issues surrounding inclusivity, equity and
diversity. We recently passed a law to incentivize
corporations to employ more female leaders on their
“The best way to find
yourself is to lose
yourself in the service of
others.
- Mahatma Gandhi

boards. We continue to recognize the excellent efforts of
Women in Cloud and the economic impact of technological
innovations that create more jobs and access to role models.
Following the birth of my daughter, I realized our
healthcare insurance system was broken. My daughter was
born extremely premature, weighed under two pounds, and
spent five months in the hospital. Her treatment, including
three surgeries, helped save her life. She was still medically
fragile when I was finally able to bring her home. And when
we arrived, I found a letter from the insurance company
telling me my tiny infant had nearly reached her lifetime
cap of healthcare insurance.
That is when I knew our healthcare system was
irredeemably broken and my quest for a better plan started.
Obamacare was a step in the right direction - it ended
lifetime caps and denials for pre-existing conditions. But
millions are still uninsured and the law itself remains under
assault today by those that believe healthcare is a privilege.
I believe it is a right, and that everyone should have access
to healthcare. Moreover, this pandemic has revealed the
foolishness of tying healthcare to employment.
We can cover everyone, make healthcare portable, and it
doesn't have to break the bank. And I intend to keep
working on that until it's a reality.

Sherlaender
"Lani" Phillips
Driving Digital Transformation

s a Vice President of Microsoft's US One
ACommercial Channel Sales Organization, Lani
Phillips is driving digital transformation across its
customers in Commercial, Mid-Market and Regulated
Industries in the United States with its partner ecosystem.
As an inquisitive child, Lani Phillips was always fascinated
with technology, so it was no surprise that she started her
career as a systems engineer. Although it was an eventful
career, it left her unfulfilled. She realized that she loved
technology, but also had a passion for solving customer
business problems, and she needed to be able to do both.
So, she made the transition to a product specialist and an
enterprise account manager, which allowed her to leverage
her strengths in building relationships, understanding client
business needs, and equipping clients with the technology
to bridge gaps in their organization. This shift shaped her
career and taught her a lesson that she needs to operate
from an area of pursuing her passion and leveraging her
strengths.
Lani began to confidently declare her interest to take on
more leadership roles, and she found that the company was
willing to invest in her. Her second career led her to become
a Microsoft Executive supporting a number of large
businesses.
In an interview with Insights Success, Lani shares some
valuable insights on how she has been intentional around
investing in herself, understanding her company's
customers' business and their industries, while also keeping
an eye towards the digital disruption and transformation
that lies ahead.
My perception of competition has evolved over time.
Identifying your competitors, determining their strengths
and weaknesses is essential. Obsessing excessively over the
competition, however, leads to loss of opportunity. Look
inward instead. The key to tackling competition is to
identify your unique value proposition and recognize there
is always one key differentiator between you and your list
of competitors. That will determine your relationship and
connection with the customer. Furthermore, be an innovator
and disrupt the space. Plug into the market, invest in
research and development and anticipate the trends. This is
my go-to approach to finding our unique value proposition
that serves our customers.
should possess?
Over the years, I have realized as a businesswoman you
need to develop some traits to continue working with
precision.
1. Perseverance. Being persistent allows you to push
through difficulties until success is realized. If you lack
perseverance, you might stop short of making that final mile
to reach your goal.
2. Strength and Confidence. Confidence is an essential tool
to be able to face the challenges you may encounter.
Strength equips you to deal with the adversity. As a woman,
you have to fight for what you believe in and have the
strength, confidence and ability to face all the things
coming your way.

3. Success and Failures. Studying failure allows one to
course-correct to push ahead. But, studying successes helps
you identify the winning formula, which can be replicated.
4. Growth Mindset and Inclusivity. An environment where
people feel seen, valued, and heard, and have a sense of
belonging is the success model. When people are allowed to
operate from their strengths and approach situations with a
growth mindset, there is no goal unattainable.
5. Personal Well Being. We are only human. Finding the
balance and taking care of your mental, physical and
spiritual health is essential to being more balanced.
Personally, this is always my struggle, but prioritizing self-
care is the only way you can show up as your best self.
you overcome them?
In hindsight, all my struggles shaped the leader I am today.
However, it is important for me to look in the mirror and
own that I struggled with my confidence. As one of the very
few women of color, I was constantly seeking people I
could emulate while being surrounded by white men in IT.
This led me to a period where I tried to model their
strategies, desiring the same outcome, but was not reaching
the same goals. My lightbulb moment came when I was in a
customer situation that was quickly spiraling out of control
and I had to rely on my strengths to get us through this
difficult time. My boss told me that I was unique and had
something others did not, and that was the ability to have
deep empathy for the customer and drive towards solutions
across various organizations. At that moment I realized
being different was okay. It changed my approach going
forward.
Perception is another wall I had to breakthrough. When I
walk into a room, automatically perceptions are formed
because I am a woman of color in technology. Without
uttering a word, I have been labeled and judged, which
consequently impacted my confidence. I would pull back
versus asserting more. Over time I learned to not focus so
much on people's perception and just let my actions speak
louder than my words. I can't change how people feel.
Career stagnation can also become a barrier for any leader,
regardless of gender. When you stay in a role or group for a
substantial amount of time, people start to develop a
blueprint of who you are and what you're capable of and
automatically put you in a box. The longer you stay, the
more it will stagnate you because they can only see you in a
certain type of role. I dealt with this by always challenging
myself to sign up for additional challenges, taking on
stretch projects, and expanding my network with an
intention to add value in unique ways.
arena?
There is no substitute for hard work. Meritocracy suggests
working hard ensures success. But the reality is quite
different. In fact, sometimes you have to claim your
success. I have learned that as women in leadership, it is
important for us to represent our successes and share our
accomplishments. Don't expect that everyone has visibility
into everything you are working hard towards. Muhammad
Ali famously said, “It is not bragging if you back it up.”
Therefore, you need to market yourself as a leader with
achievements, while acknowledging the team that led you
to success.
How do you cope with capricious IT and other
Technology knows no end. You cannot stop being a learner
in this world, period. This dynamic industry allows me to
develop business skills and technical skills.
Technological developments are taking place at an
unprecedented rate. There is no business conversation
“Strive not to be a
success, but rather to
be of value.
- Albert Einstein

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