Partner Connect

I had the privilege of presenting at my first Partner Connect , marking exactly three months since I was appointed Chief Partner Officer for Microsoft Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand. Over these last three months, I’ve had the privilege of meeting many of our Microsoft ANZ partners, learning from the innovation they’re delivering and the inspiring work they’re doing for customers.?

?At Microsoft, we talk a lot about our ecosystem. To be frank, we overuse the word. But I want to breathe new life into the buzzword – to recapture the strength, energy, vitality and mutual benefit of a true ecosystem, where all the participants thrive together. Our ecosystem belongs to each of our 9,000 partners in Australia and New Zealand as much as it does to Microsoft. Our ecosystem is a dynamic, deeply interdependent one where diversity only ever increases, where change is constant, and adaptation is mandatory.?

?Adapting to survive and thrive?

An ecosystem must adapt to thrive. Right now, the world is changing at a pace, scale and nature beyond what we’ve seen in our lifetimes. It’s only by adapting together that we can create the value we need today while ensuring we can transform for the demands of tomorrow.??

Every day, our partners in Australia and New Zealand help customers meet their changing business needs by applying creative thinking and the latest technology to achieve true innovation. One way Microsoft supports this innovation is through focused initiatives that back our partners as they take their ingenuity to the world. In New Zealand, the Scaling SaaS Exports initiative offers support across infrastructure, technical pathways, marketing and sales for Microsoft partners looking to build overseas markets for their cloud services. In Australia, the Go Global partnership with Austrade provides business mentors, technical guidance, on-the-ground assistance and first-hand advice for Australian SaaS exporters looking to break into the US market.?

?Investing in skills?

We’re also investing in skills programs that attract people to work in the tech sector, to counter the global skills shortage that is putting pressure on every industry. We know that Australia alone will need more than 1.2 million people to fill new tech-related jobs by 2030.?

?We’re immensely proud of the Microsoft Traineeship Program , which is developing a new, diverse pipeline of exceptional IT talent while also addressing the technical skills shortage in Australia. For aspiring trainees, this program provides a foot in the door to an exciting and rewarding career in IT. Hosting a trainee is an opportunity for Microsoft partners and customers to access new and emerging talent from a diverse pool of candidates.?

?Partner for Purpose?

The global ecosystem is currently undergoing a period of swift evolution in the way we conceive and measure value. Environmental, social and governance (ESG) reporting frameworks are critical for all organisations facing assertive investors and regulators, and ever-stricter conditions on social licence.??

?To support and encourage our partners in this area, we’re rolling out a Partner for Purpose program. This will provide information, case studies, learning activities and best practices that will help partners plan for and achieve greater gender equality, accessibility, sustainability and social impact, as well as empowerment of First Nations peoples.?

?Building diversity?

A diverse ecosystem is a resilient ecosystem. Yet globally the tech industry has two men for every woman in a technical role. That’s why we’re skilling 10,000 women in tech in New Zealand through the Microsoft #10KWāhine program. Some of the first #10KWāhine participants came to us after being made jobless by the pandemic late in their careers. Now they’re flourishing in our ecosystem having gained technical roles with Microsoft partners.?

?It’s why Microsoft is the lead Australian partner for Women Rising , a program that takes women, allies, managers and leaders on the journey to fairer, more diverse and stronger businesses.?

?It’s why we’re hiring and training Aboriginal, Torres Strait Islander, Māori and Pasifika peoples for the next generation of our ecosystem. Microsoft’s First Nations Digital Careers Program partnership with the Queensland Government will see 300 young Indigenous Australians build careers in tech over the next three years.?

?And it’s why we take a whole-of-organisation approach to inclusive design, so that accessibility is not a barrier to entry into our ecosystem for people with disability.?

?Thriving together?

Microsoft aims to be a true ecosystem partner. It’s our mission to deliver what our partners need to innovate, grow their businesses and deliver on the promises of digital transformation. To all of our ANZ partners, thank you for all your hard work, commitment and dedication to making the Microsoft ecosystem as healthy and as vibrant as possible. I look forward to building on our great partnership - a partnership that is forged by connection. And, because of this shared connection, we will move forward together.?