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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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.