Entrepreneur
Women in Cloud unveils 50-year tribute to women driving Microsoft’s trillion-dollar market shift
As part of celebrating Microsoft’s 50th Anniversary, Women in Cloud, with endorsement from Microsoft and the Microsoft Alumni Network, proudly unveils OPULIS, a stunning global coffee table book honouring 50 women whose leadership, innovation, and vision helped shape Microsoft’s evolution and who are now championing the democratisation of computing and AI access for the next generation.
Launched under the #empowHER50 campaign, OPULIS will debut globally during Microsoft Giving Month in October 2025. The making of OPULIS was never about creating a vanity list. It is a legacy tribute, a powerful signal to every Microsoft woman, today and for the next 50 years: You belong. You have an impact. Your story matters.
Unlike traditional honours based on status, the women featured in OPULIS were selected for their significance and their ability to drive meaningful transformation within Microsoft and across the broader tech industry.
Their stories are preserved not only in print but also through purpose: net proceeds of book sales will fund Microsoft AI Certification Scholarships for women, helping underserved talent access the AI-powered economy and shape the future of technology.
Built on the Philosophy of Significance
OPULIS was not created to celebrate status, but significance. Each honouree was selected based on her ability to create systemic change, drive measurable outcomes, take responsibility for opening doors, and engage deeply in building inclusive access to innovation.
This guiding philosophy is rooted in the FIRE Framework (Focus, Impact, Responsibility, Engagement) ensures the stories in OPULIS reflect transformational leadership that spans decades and disciplines.
Chaitra Vedullapalli, Executive Producer of OPULIS & President, Women in Cloud, said: “OPULIS captures the stories of Microsoft’s women who democratized access and transformed the lives of billions. These are the architects of access, the builders of innovation, and the catalysts for an inclusive AI future. Their stories inspire and ignite action.”
A Permanent Chapter in Microsoft’s History
OPULIS will be officially archived in the Microsoft Archives and Museum, serving as a timeless tribute to the women who helped shape the company’s journey and our collective future. This will preserve the stories of the women who helped shape the company’s culture, technology, and global influence.
Letty Cherry, General Manager, Image & Culture, Microsoft, said: “OPULIS is a permanent marker in Microsoft’s historical canon honouring leaders whose contributions deserve to be seen, studied, and remembered.”
Launching During Microsoft Giving Month With Purpose
Timed to coincide with the 2025 Microsoft Giving Campaign, OPULIS will mobilise global attention to fuel impact. Each book purchased directly supports AI skilling scholarships, enabling hundreds of women to access the tools and readiness needed to lead in the next wave of cloud and AI innovation.
Nathalie D’Hers, Corporate Vice President, Microsoft Digital, said: “This book is about purpose-driven legacy. OPULIS ensures that the stories of these remarkable women build access for others. It is a celebration with intention and impact.”
Manuela Papadopol, Executive Director, Microsoft Alumni Network, added: “OPULIS is the fuel for alumni and future changemakers. A powerful nod to the women who built Microsoft’s foundation and a wink to those about to shake things up next.” –
Campaign Milestones
- Global Launch: As part of its legacy-building mission, OPULIS will be officially archived in the Microsoft Archives and Museum, preserving these stories for generations to come. The global book launch will take place on October 28, 2025, during Microsoft Giving Season.
- Funding the Future: Through its “Books to Scholarships” model, OPULIS is also a purpose-driven movement: every 10 books sold funds one AI Certification Scholarship for women, with a goal of igniting 1,000 AI careers by 2030, further cementing OPULIS as a legacy with purpose.
- Global OPULIS Book Launch Tour: This tour kicks off in India on December 3, 2025, celebrating honourees and advancing the mission of economic access and digital equity.
- Honouree Engagement: Award ceremonies, book signings, and thought leadership platforms
Congratulations to the 50 Honourees!
Aliesha Pulliam, Emcee, Speaker, Actress and Founder of Career Divas Collective
Anna Kopp, Microsoft Digital Lead Germany, Microsoft
Aparana Gupta, Principal Software Engineering Manager, Microsoft
Brea Starmer, Chief Executive Officer, Lions & Tigers
Chaitra Vedullapalli President, Women in Cloud
Claudia Martinez, Global Director of AI Marketing, SAP
Cloe Zeng, Chief Growth Officer, The Gottman Institute
Debbie Uttecht, Partner Marketing Lead, Microsoft
Dee Dee Walsh, Developer & AI Marketing, Growth Acceleration Partners
Doher Drizzle Pablo, Founder, Techbayanihan
Elaine Q. Chang, Technical Advisor to Chief Communications Officer, Microsoft
Erin Chapple (Bourke-Dunphy), Corporate Vice President, Commercial Solution Areas, Microsoft
Gavriella Schuster, Managing Director, Gavriella Schuster, LLC
Gena G., Senior Product Manager, Microsoft
Helen Fanucci, Founder & CEO, Pipeline Power
Jacqui Miranda, Head of Asia Corporate Segment, Microsoft
Jane Boulware, Chief Marketing Officer, The Gottman Institute
Jenny Lay-Flurrie Vice President, Chief Accessibility Officer, Microsoft
Jessica Rafuse Director of Strategic Partnerships & Policy, Microsoft
Joanne Harrell, Board member, Advisor, First Lady of City of Seattle and Adjunct Professor, UW Foster School of Business
Karen Bergin, Senior Director, Employee Engagement and Disaster Response, Microsoft
Karen Fassio, Principal, Abundant Marketing Collective
Karen Cone, Venture Partner, Board Director, Advisor, Mastersfund™, Fyrii, AffableBPM Corporation, Pagedip
Kate Maxwell, General Manager, Worldwide Public Sector, Microsoft
Kathy D., Director, Accessibility, Accommodations & Inclusive Experiences, Microsoft
Lakecia Gunter, Tech Executive and Corporate Board Director, IDEX
Letty Katchen Cherry , Partner and GM, Image & Culture, Microsoft
Lotte Cordt Ihlemann, Principal Product Manager, Microsoft
Maggie Chan Jones, Corporate Board Director BT Group , Sage , Ontinue , (USTA) United States Tennis Association
Manuela Papadopol, Executive Director, Microsoft Alumni Network
Melissa Mulholland, Chief Executive Officer, Crayon
Michele Plaia, AI Business Solutions Sales Leader, Microsoft
Michelle Pruitt, Chief Digital and AI Officer, PLIXXA
Michelle Thomas, President & CEO, MichelleFThomas LLC
Miri Rodriguez, Chief Executive Officer, Empressa AI
Monika Mital Gupta , Partner GM, Engineering, Microsoft
Nathalie D’Hers, Corporate Vice President, Microsoft Digital, Microsoft
Nickie Smith, ACC President, Be Bold for Change USA
Nitasha Chopra Vice President and COO, Business Applications, Microsoft
Njideka U. Harry, Founder, Youth for Technology Foundation (YTF) & Global VP & Leadership Group Member, Ashoka
Patti Thibodeau, Archivist, Microsoft
Sabina Nawaz CEO Nawaz Executive Consulting
Shannon Huffman Polson, Author, CEO, Veteran, The Grit Institute
Sharmila Rathinam, Founder and CEO, EatHappy
Sherlaender Phillips, Founder and CEO, FullCircle Leadership Group
Simi Olabisi, Director, Azure AI, Microsoft
Stacy Tatem (She/Her), Founding Member, Empressa AI
Tameka M., Director, Microsoft
Trish Millines Dziko, Co-founder and Executive Director, Technology Access Foundation
Yanna Andronopoulou, General Manager Greece Cyprus Malta, Microsoft
Now Available: The OPULIS Network Special: 5-Book Bundle
You can hold a piece of history by pre-ordering bundles of OPULIS by Oct 20th. Individual book orders will be available starting Oct 25th, 2025.
You can reach out to our VIP relationship manager at [email protected] and we will customise the perfect bulk orders for you.
Visit our website for more information: https://womenincloud.com/opulis
#WICxAI Innovator Microsoft Certification Program
Through our unique Books to Scholarships model, every 10 copies of OPULIS purchased funds 1 full scholarship, delivering next-generation AI skills to underrepresented talent worldwide with a goal of igniting 1,000 AI careers by 2030. To unlock access for women across the world, this scholarship will now be offered completely free or 50% subsidised based on eligibility. Apply before Oct 30th, 2025 to be eligible. The first cohort of 100 members will start on Nov 15th, 2025.
To learn more: https://womenincloud.com/workforce/
Want to be involved? Join the book launch team and help amplify these untold stories of impact. Learn more and get involved today!
Women’s health has become one of the most searched and shared topics online, from cycle syncing and cortisol management to menopause hacks, supplements, hormone testing and clinician-creator content.
That surge in attention, sometimes dubbed “healthmaxxing,” is changing how women find, evaluate and act on health information, and it is starting to reshape the relationship between patients, clinicians and the companies building products for this market.
For providers, the shift means patients are arriving better informed but also more exposed to unverified claims, putting pressure on clinicians to engage with online narratives rather than dismiss them.
For femtech and pharma companies, it opens a route to reach and educate consumers at scale, but also raises the stakes on credibility: products and messaging that ride the trend without clinical grounding risk eroding the trust the industry has spent years building.
Investors are watching the same dynamic from a different angle.
Attention-driven demand can be a signal of where the next wave of femtech growth will come from, but distinguishing genuine clinical need from viral momentum is increasingly part of due diligence.
The net effect is a widening gap between companies that treat cultural attention as a distribution channel for credible, evidence-based care, and those that risk being swept up in trends with little clinical substance behind them.
How that gap plays out will shape patient trust, clinical relationships and commercial opportunity across the women’s health industry for years to come.
These themes will be explored in more depth in an upcoming webinar, “Women’s Healthmaxxing: The Opportunity & Risks of Cultural Attention for the Women’s Health Industry,” hosted by the Women’s Health Innovation Summit (WHIS), featuring Ellen Wilcox (Listen Ventures), Jessica Bell van der Wal (Frame Fertility), Dr. Tosin Sotubo-Ajayi (NHS, BBC and more) and Nora Lansen (Elektra Health).
Register free for the webinar on 23 July 2026 at https://events.virtualpro.com/womens-health-series-webinar-july-2026/registration
Juno Bio has secured US$3.8m to expand its diagnostics platform for vaginal health and reproductive care.
The funding round was led by Ada Ventures, with participation from Artesian, Entrepreneur First and Illumina Accelerator.
The women’s health startup said the seed funding will support the launch of its first CLIA-certified sequencing laboratory in Oakland, California, and a new clinical vaginal microbiome and STI test for healthcare providers.
CLIA certification refers to US laboratory standards for testing human samples used in diagnosis, prevention or treatment decisions.
Dr Leighton Turner, co-founder and chief scientific officer of Juno Bio, said: “The vaginal microbiome is still one of the least understood systems in the body at a clinical scale.
“With our lab, we’re starting to build a measurement standard that clinicians can actually use.
“We believe the level of detail from this kind of testing can meaningfully improve how vaginal healthcare is provided.”
The company is developing precision diagnostics for vaginal health, where patients can experience recurring symptoms, inconsistent diagnoses and treatments based on trial and error.
Juno Bio said bringing testing in-house gives it greater control over the process, from sample handling to results, while allowing it to refine its technology and build what it says is one of the largest datasets focused on the vaginal microbiome.
The vaginal microbiome is the community of bacteria and fungi that naturally live in the vagina. Changes in this balance can be linked to infections, symptoms and wider reproductive health issues.
Juno Bio’s newly launched clinical test examines the wider vaginal microbiome and screens for four common sexually transmitted infections, or STIs.
Rather than looking for a single cause, the test is intended to give clinicians a broader picture of what may be contributing to symptoms.
Juno Bio says this matters because multiple infections can occur at the same time and microbiome changes may be linked to fertility, menopause or recurrent infections.
Dr Anna Powell of Johns Hopkins said: “Vaginal microbiome testing has the potential to significantly reshape how we understand and manage vaginal health, particularly for patients with recurrent or unexplained symptoms.
“While the field is still evolving, advances in sequencing and data interpretation are moving us closer to a future where more personalised, microbiome-informed care can complement existing diagnostic approaches.”
Check Warner, co-founding partner at Ada Ventures, added: “Juno Bio is setting a new standard for how vaginal health is understood and managed.
“What they’ve built at this stage, with this level of capital efficiency, is exceptional.
“We’re proud to support the team as they scale their clinical infrastructure and continue leading innovation in this critically underserved category.”
Women’s health companies raised a record $1.55 billion in disclosed equity in 2025, up 41 per cent year on year, according to W Group’s first Global Women’s Health Investment Report, The Road to the Era of Scale.
The report tracks over 500 funding stories and 164 equity rounds across 15 categories and 30+ countries.
Eighty-five companies raised equity in 2025, the highest single-year count on record. But according to the report, the headline figure isn’t the most significant one.
The bigger shift is in where that capital went and how concentrated it was at the top compared to the year before.
The report also points to a brand new investment category that didn’t exist twelve months ago.
SheMed closed a $50 million Series A this year to build a women-specific GLP-1 and metabolic health platform, the first dedicated raise of its kind.
Alongside the momentum, the report identifies one structural risk that could determine whether 2025’s growth holds: a bottleneck at Series A that’s leaving a number of promising seed-stage companies stuck.
Molly Taylor, head of content at W Group, said: “2025 was the biggest year women’s health has ever had, and the most important finding isn’t the headline number.
“It’s that the money has stopped pooling at the top.
“Capital is reaching more companies, more categories and more countries than ever before. The Era of Scale is real. It’s just not finished, and the Series A gap is where it could stall.
“Closing that gap is the highest-leverage move this ecosystem can make in 2026.”
Read the full report: https://wplatform.co/forms/womens-health-equity-funding-trends-report-2026?utm_source=advocacy&utm_medium=ext_email&utm_campaign=2026-q3-health-report-femtech-world
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