What It Means to Go Beyond: Women Shaping the Future of Technology
Across cybersecurity, AI, and digital transformation, leadership today requires more than execution. It requires perspective, adaptability, and the ability to move organizations forward in moments of uncertainty and change.
For the women leading across today’s technology landscape, “going beyond” is not defined by title or function. It shows up in how they challenge assumptions, build systems that scale, advocate for others, and translate complexity into meaningful outcomes.
This year, we’re highlighting women across the ecosystem – from partners to customers to industry leaders – who are shaping how technology is built, adopted, and experienced. Their perspectives reflect not only where the industry is today, but where it’s going next.
Maritsa Kondilas, Vice President, Channel Development at Gradient Cyber
 | Maritsa Kondilas, VP of channel development at Gradient Cyber, has spent her career at the forefront of technology shifts – from early broadband and wireless to AI-driven cybersecurity platforms – and she knows that innovation doesn't scale on its own. It scales through people. As the architect of partner ecosystems that drive real revenue growth, she's built something from zero more than once. |
Her secret? Seeing the whole system – partners, customers, competition, and timing – and aligning them so innovation doesn't just launch, it sticks.
What does “going beyond” mean to Maritsa? “To me, going beyond means recognizing that technology doesn’t change industries on its own. It’s the people who adopt it, trust it, and use it to solve real problems who create lasting change.
"In my role, it’s about understanding what partners and customers are truly solving for and removing the barriers that keep innovation from scaling. The organizations that succeed aren’t the ones waiting for perfection; they’re the ones willing to take informed risks, learn quickly, and adjust in real time.
"It’s about seeing the whole system, the partners, the customers, competition, and timing, and aligning them so innovation doesn’t just launch; it creates lasting impact. When technology is adopted successfully, it empowers organizations and people to focus on what matters most: serving their customers, advancing their missions, and delivering real impact.”
Rachel Albrecht, Services Strategy Manager at Acclario IT
 | Before most organizations knew what to do with Power Platform, Rachel Albrecht, strategy manager at Acclario IT, was already using it to consolidate disaster management and business continuity planning across three state government departments into a single operational view.
That early instinct — to make technology practical, governed, and built to scale — has defined her career ever since. Now having delivered 200+ Copilot workshops and 400+ adoption sessions, Rachel helps organizations move from experimentation into responsible, commercially viable AI implementation.
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She challenges default thinking, prioritizes fit-for-purpose over preferred stack, and never loses sight of the full lifecycle — from implementation to governance to refinement.
What does “going beyond” mean to Rachel? “Going beyond means asking harder questions. Am I recommending this because it is familiar, or because it genuinely creates long-term value? Is this the right fit for the customer, or simply the easiest path? Real leadership in technology requires the discipline to distinguish between cost and value, preference and purpose.
"For me, going beyond also means seeing the full lifecycle. Not just implementation, but governance, scale, review, and refinement. It means ensuring the right people are in the room, knowing when to challenge assumptions, and knowing when someone else is better placed to lead. Most importantly, it means remembering that technology is human. When people feel heard and understood, innovation becomes sustainable.”
Veronica Huskey, Enterprise IT Infrastructure Systems Group Leader at CAE USA
 | Veronica “Roni” Huskey is the enterprise IT infrastructure systems group leader at CAE USA. Widely known as the “chaos coordinator,” she excels at converting complex technical ecosystems into secure, scalable, and strategically aligned environments.
She holds a master’s degree in information systems and remains committed to leadership development and advancing cloud innovation. |
What does “going beyond” mean to Veronica? “Going beyond means leading with both grit and grace. It’s about stepping into rooms where women haven’t always been represented, navigating complexity with confidence, and turning chaos into clarity. In my role, going beyond means protecting what matters, building what’s next, and creating space for more women to lead in technology.”
Hollie Flanner, Director of Partner Relations at Summit 7 Systems
 | Hollie Flanner is the director of partner relations at Summit 7 Systems, where she leads strategic partnerships and industry collaborations supporting organizations across the Defense Industrial Base. Known for building ecosystems that turn complex compliance challenges into practical, achievable programs for businesses, Hollie is passionate about creating meaningful partnerships, improving the customer experience, and helping companies understand how cybersecurity enables business growth. |
What does “going beyond” mean to Hollie? “To me, going beyond means creating effective processes and owning the outcomes. When teams make different assumptions and partners are unsure of their roles, customer experience suffers.
"Going beyond means creating clarity by defining responsibilities, building an easy-to-follow process, and ensuring everyone collaborates effectively rather than working around each other. If the customer feels confident, partners feel supported, and the team is well organized, that’s success. To me, preventing problems before they happen is going beyond!”
Joy Beland, Vice President, Cybersecurity Compliance at Summit 7 Systems
 | Joy Beland, vice president of ccybersecurity compliance at Summit 7 Systems, brings decades of experience across the managed service provider (MSP) and security vendor space. A former MSP owner, she later led industry-wide cybersecurity education initiatives, training thousands of providers.
Today, she leads compliance strategy and advanced CMMC assessments while continuing to support the broader cybersecurity ecosystem through board leadership and ongoing education. |
What does "going beyond” mean to Joy? “Going beyond means extending impact beyond the organization I serve. Internally, that includes championing the visibility and growth of the women I work with. Externally, it means supporting the broader community of professionals advancing cybersecurity and compliance.
"It also means having difficult conversations – addressing situations where women are not included or recognized and doing so in a professional and constructive way. And finally going beyond means I never stop learning. I have a unique opportunity to blaze a trail for the women in our field and I believe that not taking my foot off the gas will benefit all of us.”
Janet Schijns, CEO of JSG
 | Janet Schijns, is the CEO and co‑founder of JSG, a go‑to‑market acceleration and ecosystem advisory firm driving large‑scale growth for technology companies. She is known for building high‑performance channel and market strategies. Janet serves on the boards of AvePoint, Ziro, and Axxess Networks, drawing on prior executive roles at Office Depot and Verizon. A committed advocate for women in technology, she founded WomWon in 2022 to advance financial independence and leadership opportunities for women across the industry. |
What does "going beyond” mean to Janet? “Going beyond means refusing to optimize yesterday’s go-to-market model. At work and in the boardroom, I focus on whether growth is built to survive market shifts, whether customer value is truly realized, and whether ecosystems are structured to win as buying behavior changes.
"It means challenging entrenched sales and marketing assumptions before the market does, seeing around corners on how customers buy and partners influence decisions, finding profitable paths to progress, and helping organizations move early, while others are still defending what used to work. Going beyond isn’t about incremental improvement. Going beyond isn’t about activity or consensus. It’s about making decisions that create lasting customer impact and keep organizations ahead of what’s coming next.”
Christina K. Diers, Product Owner at Edward Jones
 | Christina K. Diers is a seasoned digital product leader with 19 years of experience driving enterprise collaboration, content management, and modern workplace transformation. At Edward Jones, she leads cross-functional teams shaping SharePoint Online, Microsoft 365, and Power Platform solutions, recognized for her scalable governance models, user-centric design approach, and impact on major firm-wide initiatives.
Christina brings deep technical expertise, broad certifications, and a collaborative leadership style focused on creating intuitive digital experiences that simplify processes and empower users. |
What does “going beyond” mean to Christina? “For me, “going beyond” as a product owner means stepping beyond backlog management and embracing a leadership mindset focused on delivering meaningful value. It includes shaping product strategy, uncovering user needs, and aligning the team around outcomes rather than outputs.
Going beyond also means building strong stakeholder relationships, anticipating obstacles, elevating team performance through clarity and collaboration, and championing continuous improvement. By thinking like an owner — making informed decisions, advocating for the customer experience, and connecting vision to execution. Ultimately, it means driving impact, and consistently raising the bar on the quality and effectiveness of the products and solutions our team delivers.”
Samantha Lukemyres, Manager, Managed IT, Cloud and Infrastructure at RSM US LLP
 | As a technology and management consultant manager at RSM, Samantha Lukemyres leads a global team helping organizations optimize productivity, security, and collaboration across their Microsoft 365 environments.
With more than ten years of experience supporting thousands of clients, she excels at turning complex technology into practical, scalable solutions and brings a genuine passion for helping people embrace and get excited about IT advancements. |
What does “going beyond” mean to Samantha? “Going beyond means looking past the immediate ask and focusing on what is needed to achieve their long-term goals.
"Often, the first question isn’t the real question. It’s a signal of a bigger outcome they’re trying to achieve. In my role, that means slowing down to understand the why, clarifying desired outcomes, and partnering with stakeholders to design the right path forward, not just the fastest answer. It’s about collaboration, curiosity, and helping clients and teams move from tactical fixes to meaningful, long-term impact.”
Susan Tommy, Strategic Advisor at Ultimate Partner
 | Susan is a proven alliances and ecosystem leader who helps technology organizations build strategic partnerships that accelerate growth. Known for turning ambiguity into clear, actionable plans, she strengthens pipeline, partnership performance, and go-to-market execution. In her role at Ultimate Partner, an independent platform for executive leaders to learn and connect on ecosystem strategy, she builds the curriculum and experiences for meaningful collaboration. Susan leads with a growth mindset and a commitment to elevating diverse voices. |
What does “going beyond” mean to Susan? “In a fast-paced, constantly shifting technology landscape, going beyond means choosing to slow down and truly listen to understand the perspectives of others. As complexity increases, real progress happens when people meaningfully engage, exchange insights, and collaborate to address complex business challenges.
"In my role, I focus on creating trusted communities where executives can have honest conversations about what’s working, be candid about what needs to change, and explore what’s possible through aligned problem-solving. Going beyond is giving voice to others because when individuals feel heard, the quality of decision-making shifts. Intentional listening leads to stronger partnerships, better customer outcomes, and practical solutions that move our ecosystem forward in meaningful ways.”
Sabrina Vazquez, VP, Customer Success at AvePoint
 | Sabrina Vazquez is vice president of customer success at AvePoint. She began her career as a Tier 1 support analyst, learning the business from the ground up by solving problems in real time and doing whatever it took to help.
That mindset has remained central to her approach. Today, she partners with leadership to shape and evolve customer success, with a focus on building strong teams and helping individuals grow — ensuring each team member feels supported, challenged, and positioned to succeed. |
She brings that same philosophy to her work with customers, prioritizing consistency, trust, and a deep understanding of their needs.
What does “going beyond” mean to Sabrina? “To me, going beyond means ensuring that my team members feel heard, supported, and empowered in their roles. When people know their perspectives matter and that they have the backing they need to succeed, they are able to do their best work.
"At the same time, going beyond means making sure our customers feel seen and valued; that they know they are a priority to AvePoint. By creating an environment where both our teams and our customers feel supported, we can build stronger partnerships and deliver meaningful outcomes."
Stephanie Donahue, Director, AI Business Solutions at Softchoice
 | Stephanie Donahue is a seasoned technology and business leader with over 25 years of experience driving innovation across the Microsoft ecosystem.
As the director of AI business solutions at Softchoice, she leads the strategy and evolution of the Microsoft Workforce AI and Copilot portfolio, helping organizations responsibly adopt AI to transform work. |
A Microsoft MVP and strategic technical advisor, Stephanie is widely recognized for her thought leadership around Microsoft 365, Copilot, and the future of work.
What does “going beyond” mean to Stephanie? “Going beyond means getting comfortable being uncomfortable. For me, that's meant embracing change early, leading by example, and stepping into roles that weren't fully defined or didn’t exist before I took them on.
"In my current role, it means helping customers do the same thing and guiding them through taking the right risks — those that can fundamentally change how their business operates and drive long-term profitability and success. Going beyond also means mentoring and developing future leaders. When we invest in people and model curiosity and courage, we build stronger teams that are confident in navigating all of that change together.”
Theresa Lubelski, Modern Work Senior Consultant at First Horizon
 | Theresa Lubelski is passionate about helping organizations – and the people who support them – get meaningful value from Microsoft 365. With 20 years of IT experience including leadership and consulting roles across healthcare, financial services, and government contracting, Theresa has been a speaker at Microsoft 365 community events and regional cloud conferences, where she is known for delivering practical, real-world sessions grounded in enterprise experience. |
What does “going beyond” mean to Theresa? “To me, going beyond is all about championing the achievements of others and actively contributing to their success. In my professional role, I take great satisfaction in supporting colleagues as they leverage collaboration and automation technologies to enhance efficiency in their daily responsibilities. As the company integrates AI, their capabilities will strengthen further. What means the most to me, though, is giving back to the community that helped me learn SharePoint. Whether I am a speaker or an organizer, when I see an attendee's eyes light up because they had an "aha" moment or something suddenly clicked, I am honored to have played a part in their learning journey.”
Jennifer Hewitt, Head of Digital Workplace at Truist
 | As AI continues to reshape how work gets done, Jennifer Hewit operates at the intersection of technology, leadership, and human experience. A senior digital workplace executive at a Fortune 500 financial services organization, Jennifer leads enterprise employee technology strategy—reimagining how employees interact with IT, HR, and workplace services. Her work focuses on building intelligent, consumer‑grade experiences that reduce friction, elevate productivity, and integrate AI directly into the flow of work.
For Jennifer, innovation isn’t about deploying the latest tools. It’s about designing operating models where accountability, clarity, and culture can scale alongside technology. |
What does “going beyond” mean to Jennifer? For Jennifer, “going beyond” means refusing to separate systems from the people who use them. It means designing experiences that feel intuitive, embedding intelligence into workflows, and ensuring innovation strengthens culture rather than exposing its gaps.
She believes the future of work will not be defined by AI capability alone, but by leaders willing to evolve alongside it. Beyond her enterprise role, Jennifer is passionate about developing future‑ready leaders. She speaks and writes about intentional leadership in the age of AI — encouraging clarity, ownership, and cultural alignment as technology accelerates. Her philosophy is simple: Technology reveals culture. Leadership shapes it.
Janine Morris, Manager, Solution Engineering at AvePoint
 | Janine is an expert technology and information management leader known for bringing clarity and momentum to complex environments.
As manager of solution engineering at AvePoint, she blends technical strategy with people‑focused leadership to help organizations maximize value while managing risk, compliance, and operational integrity. |
A respected speaker and trusted advisor across the Australian tech landscape, she is recognized for translating complex challenges into practical, actionable guidance that empowers teams and supports confident decision‑making.
What does “going beyond” mean to Janine? “For me, going beyond means leading with creativity and energy; being dynamic, always curious, and passionate. It’s about creating clarity where there is complexity, building momentum where there is hesitation, and opening doors so that others can grow, lead, and succeed. It’s turning ideas into action, lifting the bar on what's possible, and using my voice to stand up for what’s right — all while balancing my life, family, and what truly matters.”
Christina Palmer, Google Cloud Security Sales Specialist at Google
 | Christina brings over 22 years of IT and technology sales experience across the telecom, high-tech, financial services and cloud sectors. Most recently, she's held a significant tenure at Google in both Cloud Sales and Security Sales roles.
What truly drives Christina's work, however, is a commitment to empathetic, long-term partnerships. |
She doesn't believe in transactional sales; she focuses on building deep, trust-based relationships with her customers and colleagues to ensure they are driving a successful, shared future together.
What does “going beyond” mean to Christina? “To me, going beyond isn't a corporate catchphrase. It’s a philosophy built on three pillars:
"Beyond the Transaction: In an industry that moves at the speed of light, I’ve doubled down on the 'slow' work: empathy. Real partnerships aren't just about deploying a platform; they are about the architecture of trust. It’s about building partnerships that outlast a contract.
"Beyond Presence to Influence: Being at the table is the baseline. As a woman who has navigated this space since the early 2000s, I believe going beyond means ensuring women are recognized as core architects of strategy. Our unique skills – high-stakes collaboration, deep empathy and emotional intelligence, and holistic problem-solving – are not soft skills, they are the engine of significant business influence.
"Beyond the Status Quo: We talk a lot about modernizing the technology space with AI, but we must also modernize how we treat the people behind the screens. Whether it’s an internal teammate or a long-term customer, I’m committed to making sure every individual contributor has the leverage to drive change and feels represented.
"After 22 years, I’m more convinced than ever: The future of technology isn’t just about the code we write or the tech stack we build, it’s about the human empathy we bring to the solution, and to each customer interaction — big or small.”
Kirsten Rispoli is the Content Marketing Lead at AvePoint, where she leads editorial initiatives for global case studies, #shifthappens articles, and more. With a rich background in public relations and marketing, Kirsten has empowered a diverse range of organizations, from nonprofits to venture-backed startups, to effectively tell their stories.
