MPN blog | Black Partner Growth Initiative: driving innovation and empowering partners
Today’s blog is authored by Raamel Mitchell, Global Director of Business Development for the Microsoft Black Partner Growth Initiative (BPGI), with contributions from Regina Johnson, BPGI Global Strategy Director.Partner Blog | Empowering women in tech and AI through partnership
According to the World Economic Forum Global Gender Gap Report 2024, women’s representation in STEM and non-STEM fields has increased since 2016, but significant gender gaps remain—particularly in STEM leadership roles. Women’s representation in AI has more than doubled since 2016, with industries like technology, information, and media seeing notable increases—a promising trend that the report states is important to foster systemic resilience in the changing economic landscape. Closing the global gender gap is essential to create sustainable economic growth and expand access to markets and opportunities. As we observe International Women’s Day in March, we are committed to supporting gender equity and collaborating with Microsoft partners who are driving innovation and contributing to the advancement of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. Microsoft actively partners with nonprofit partner-led associations—such as Women in Cloud (WIC) and the WIT Network—to advance these goals through community-driven initiatives, mentorship, and business development programs. We encourage our partners to learn more about these organizations and participate in their upcoming events. Continue reading herePartner Blog | Honoring excellence and building impactful partnerships
At Microsoft, we recognize the vital role our partners play in driving innovation and delivering compelling solutions to customers worldwide. We believe in fostering a partner ecosystem that strengthens our collective ability to create meaningful impact. As part of this effort, we regularly highlight stories and resources that elevate entrepreneurs, business leaders, and organizations. These stories demonstrate how our partner ecosystem fosters growth, empowers businesses, and creates meaningful opportunities—not just for partners but also for the broader communities they serve. In this blog, we’ll explore how partners can access information, resources, and support systems designed to help them achieve their goals. We’ll also explore ways to connect with like-minded collaborators who share their visions and aspirations. Continue reading here Be sure to join our partner-led communities Inclusive Growth and IAMCP - International Association of Microsoft Channel Partners to stay up to date on all announcements.BPGI Spotlight | Elevating Innovation Through Digital Transformation
The future of tech is being shaped by those collaborating to blend innovation with purpose, visionaries like Jacqueline Shorter-Beauchamp, Lucas Diaz, & Dexter Hardy. Here’s how they are driving the next wave of digital transformation: 💡 𝗝𝗮𝗰𝗾𝘂𝗲𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗲 𝗦𝗵𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗲𝗿-𝗕𝗲𝗮𝘂𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗺𝗽, 𝗖𝗘𝗢 𝗼𝗳 𝗘𝗻𝗴𝗮𝗴𝗲𝗱 𝗠𝗲𝗱𝗶𝗮 𝗦𝘁𝘂𝗱𝗶𝗼𝘀 • Leading a digital media and entertainment company • Creating video games, VR/AR experiences, mobile apps, and films • Bringing fresh ideas to storytelling to life through interactive technology 💡 𝗗𝗲𝘅𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗛𝗮𝗿𝗱𝘆, 𝗣𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗖𝗧𝗢 𝗼𝗳 𝗡𝘁𝗲𝗴𝗿𝗮𝗹 • Providing optimized, secure enterprise workload solutions • Working with and for businesses, governments, and non-profits • Simplifying technology transformation, productivity, and performance 💡 𝗟𝘂𝗰𝗮𝘀 𝗗𝗶𝗮𝘇, 𝗖𝗘𝗢 𝗼𝗳 𝗟𝘂𝗱𝗶𝗮 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝘀𝘂𝗹𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 • Leading a Microsoft Dynamics 365 partner firm • Focused on service-oriented industries • Delivering tailored solutions that drive business growth and efficiency If any of these topics sound interesting, reach out to these entrepreneurs! ➡️ Check out the article and video to learn more - Forbes Article Now, more than ever, it's time to connect and build together!BPGI Spotlight | Elevating Secure I-T Solutions
In a rapidly digitizing world, cloud computing has become the backbone of innovation. However, as the world races toward a tech-driven society, one critical issue demands urgent attention and that’s security. Tech leaders like IntelligIS CEO Marcus Wilson, BizTech Fusion CEO Xadean Ahmasi and ECF Data CEO Joseph Hendrson see cloud migration as more than just a technical change. They consider it crucial for building organizational resilience and strengthening security posture, with Fortune Business Insights projecting that the global IT security market to reach $578.2 billion by 2033. The Breakdown You Need To Know: Cloud adoption without robust IT security is like building a smart city on a cracked foundation. To truly unlock the promise of digital transformation, IT security cloud solutions must be prioritized, not just as an afterthought, but as a strategic enabler. This is why Henderson, Ahmasi and Wilson leaned into the resources available to them as Microsoft BPGI Partners to help scale their businesses and provide exceptional results for clients, as CultureBanx noted during its “Elevating Innovation” session. IT security remains tricky and this is exactly why a company like IntelligIS is hyper-focused on making sure to deliver the best security solutions to its clients. Companies can no longer ignore how poor cloud security hits their bottom line. Recent data shows that data breaches now cost $4.88 million on average in 2024, according to Beamsec. “Educating our clients is key because it doesn’t matter what type of tool you use. It could be multi-factor identification or end-to-end encryption…there are always gaps in the system,” said Wilson, IntelligIS CEO to CultureBanx. Continue reading on Forbes.comBPGI Spotlight | Empowering Black-Owned Tech Companies: The Impact of Microsoft's Capital Program
Discover how the Black Channel Partner Alliance (BCP) is transforming the tech landscape for black-owned businesses. Founded in 2020, BCP aims to support 100 black-owned tech companies, create 800 jobs, and complete 1000 digital transformation projects. Learn how Microsoft's Capital Program has been a game-changer, providing essential funding that enabled companies like Ectron to scale, hire talent, and achieve remarkable growth. Hear firsthand accounts of the positive impact, including increased revenue and market exposure, and the journey from startup challenges to global success. Learn more by visiting http://aka.ms/partnergrowth. Watch full video on YouTube Join the conversation by following our Inclusive Growth discussion board!Innovators in Action Series | Ectrons
We’re proud to collaborate with visionary partners who are shaping the future of innovation. Microsoft’s Innovators In Action series spotlights tech entrepreneurs who are members of a Microsoft Partner-led Organization and are driving transformation and business impact. They are leveraging Microsoft’s ecosystem for growth. Want to be featured? Join this community and ask to share your story! This week we are featuring: Ectron Discover how Ectron excels in data collection, aggregation, and analytics both on the edge and in the cloud. Learn about their capabilities in monitoring equipment, personnel, and product quality, and how they seamlessly integrate data with ERP and BI systems. Hear about their journey through an accelerator program, the support they received, and the impact of funding from the Microsoft Capital Fund on their growth and project management. Listen to full episode here! Stay tuned for more inspiring spotlights in our #InnovatorsInAction series. Join the conversation by following our Inclusive Growth discussion board!
