Celebrate Success and Spark Inspiration in Others

To shine a light on female role models who are making significant strides in technology roles within the Microsoft Partner ecosystem, Microsoft is launching today the second edition of the Microsoft Power Women Awards[1]. There is a substantial gender disparity in the technology industry and by highlighting these amazing examples, we hope to encourage other women to pursue careers in the technology field.

This is the second year we have held these awards. In 2023, 12 female leaders in technology from 11 European countries won the Microsoft Power Women Award. These women have not only achieved remarkable success in their professional careers, but have also served as powerful catalysts, inspiring and empowering women and early-career individuals to pursue fulfilling opportunities in the field of technology.

“As leaders in organisations, being visible role models, sharing the story of our journey, and encouraging others to do the same is key. Doing so provides space for reflection and has the power to inspire others to take the next step in their own journey,” said Gillian O’Sullivan, Country Leader of BearingPoint Ireland and overall 2023 winner in Ireland.

The Microsoft Power Women Award attracted nominations from every participating country, demonstrating the outstanding quality of women leaders in the tech industry. The 2024 edition has widened its coverage to include 15 countries: Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and the United Kingdom and 4 multi-country areas: Africa, Central Europe, Middle East and Southeast Europe.

As we navigate the AI era, the importance of gender diversity in the tech industry is becoming increasingly apparent. It’s not just about ensuring fair representation; it’s about fostering innovation, creativity and collaboration among diverse mindsets to shape a better future. According to Global Economic Forum, Global Gender Gap Report from June 2023 women make up almost half (49%) of total employment across non-STEM occupations, but just 29% of all tech-related roles. For high-level leadership positions such as VP and C-suite, representation drops to 17.8% and 12.4%, respectively.

The Microsoft Power Women Award aims to spotlight female tech leaders from various companies and countries, serving as role models and inspiring other women to realize their potential in the tech industry.

The winners announced on June 24th will be invited to join the highly coveted Microsoft Women’s Leadership Program 2nd Edition, customised, developed and led by award-winning achievement professor Jennifer Petriglieri of INSEAD Business School in Fontainebleau, France.

To be considered for this award, nominees must be in leadership positions within companies from the Microsoft partner ecosystem. Candidates have until May 8th to nominate themselves here. The Award terms and conditions can be found here. Learn more about the initiative here.

Microsoft’s commitment to diversity and inclusion

According to the latest Microsoft Diversity and Inclusion Report, women make up 31.2% of the core company workforce worldwide, up 0.5 percentage points from 2022. The representation of women in executive roles is 29.1%, an increase of 3.2 percentage points year over year. Representation of women in technical roles grew at a faster rate than overall representation of women, increasing 0.8 percentage points year over year.

Employee surveys show that employees feel included on their teams, understand what is expected of them to contribute to a more diverse and inclusive environment, and observe coworkers making an effort to understand, empathise, and act in support of others. More employees also reported awareness of the concept of allyship and took optional courses to explore topics such as interrupting microaggressions and breaking down barriers.

Nominate yourself or share the link with one of the Power Woman you know from the Microsoft Partner ecosystem. For additional information, please find here the Terms & Conditions.

Nominate yourself

 

[1] There are more than 237 thousand IT companies that are part of the Microsoft Partner AI Cloud Partner program in EMEA.