Women in Cloud Launches #empowerHER50 Campaign to Mark Microsoft's 50th Anniversary

By: WE Staff | Wednesday, 16 April 2025

• #empowHER50 initiative by Women in Cloud to commemorate Microsoft's 50th anniversary 

• Celebrates 50+ pioneering women who contributed to Microsoft's development into a trillion-dollar technology giant 

• Salutes women who democratized access to tech and generated economic opportunities 

To commemorate Microsoft's 50th anniversary, Women in Cloud—a worldwide coalition of 120,000 women tech professionals and entrepreneurs—has launched the #empowHER50 campaign. The campaign recognizes over 50 forward-thinking women whose contributions have made Microsoft a trillion-dollar technology titan.  

The honored women are acknowledged for their vision and innovation to create access to technology, open economic opportunities, and empower others in the technology sector in ways numbering in millions. 

The #empowHER50 initiative, sponsored by Microsoft and the Microsoft Alumni Network, honors women technologists, executives, and champions who have played a significant role in establishing infrastructure that enables the global digital economy. 

These pioneers have been at the helm of changing enterprise ecosystems, developing groundbreaking solutions, and extending cloud marketplaces. Their work has driven the growth of the intelligent cloud, secure DevSecOps pipelines, and AI access at the enterprise level. 

The campaign kicked off on April 8, 2025, with a record-breaking 24-hour AI Skills Fest designed to establish a Guinness World Records™ title for "the most users to take an online multi-level AI lesson in 24 hours." Thousands joined, learning essential skills in intelligent automation, data modeling, and responsible AI design—skills that will fuel digital transformation. 

The #empowHER50 initiative aims to reframe the story of who will determine the future of technology, highlighting women who are innovators, policy shapers, and economic access champions. It aims to mobilize women with industry validation and AI literacy, and it's evident that equal access to AI and quantum technologies is important for our shared future. 

Post-Skills Fest, the campaign will shift to 50 Days of Learning, providing curated AI and DevSecOps training. The program will include expert-led sessions as well as self-paced tutorials, imparting skills necessary for leadership in the AI-powered economy. The training will encompass secure software pipelines, machine learning operations (MLOps), cloud-native application development, as well as data-driven decision-making.

Together with the WiC partner network, the campaign will also organize monthly DevSecOps workshops to build leadership and technical skills. Women in Cloud will provide discounted scholarships for 1,000 women to get certified in DevSecOps. 

The #empowHER50 initiative will culminate in the #empowHERaccess Awards and Recognition Gala on July 18, 2025, recognizing women who have made their mark at Microsoft and in the global tech industry, as well as those creating the next generation of tech leadership. 

Also, the roll-out of #OPULIS, a coffee table book commemorating 50 years of inclusive tech leadership, will showcase women-led initiatives as a lasting testament for generations to come. The campaign will take its global peak at #WICxINDIA, December 3-5, 2025, as the world takes a big leap towards a digitally just future for everyone.