The Cloud Girls Rising awards were created to honor women who have demonstrated innovation, thought leadership, and proactive solution development in the cloud and next-gen technology space as well as to inspire more women to step forward and follow their example. This year’s awards were given to seven women – one Visionary, three Trailblazers and three Rising Stars.
“As we celebrate the 10th anniversary of these awards, we are honored to recognize seven extraordinary women who are driving innovation and shaping the future of cloud and next-gen solutions,” said Cloud Girls’ CEO, Rachel Turkus. “This year’s winners are bold leaders, changemakers, and advocates—making an impact not only in their companies but also in their communities and the broader tech ecosystem. By celebrating their achievements, we hope to inspire more women to step up, lead, and claim their seat at the table.”
The winners are:
Visionary:
- Jo Peterson, Vice President Cloud, Security and AI Solutions, Clarify360
A Visionary is a female leader who has demonstrated innovation in recognizing where the cloud and next-gen tech market is headed and is leading the ecosystem toward that vision. A Visionary is a ground breaker, willing to take risks with strategic insight into what is possible.
Trailblazers:
- Nicole Steele, Senior Director, Marketing, F5
- Melanie Thomas, VP Cyber Security, Bridgepointe Technologies
- Jen Waltz, Chief Cybersecurity Officer, IMAJENATIVE
Trailblazers are female technology industry veterans who are paving the way for their organizations, customers, and industry in advancing cloud and next-generation technology solutions. They are recognized as role models and mentors to colleagues and others at work and the partner community.
Rising Stars:
- Dora Cheng, Senior Product Manager- Fraud, Microsoft
- Megan Melara, Regional Channel Manager, Enzu
- Khushbu Shaikh, Technical Lead, Staff Technical Account Manager, Twilio
A Rising Star is a female up-and-comer in the cloud community who has shown initiative in advancing cloud and next-generation technology solutions for her organization, customers, and the industry.
Women eligible for Cloud Girls awards are in sales, marketing or engineering roles in the cloud and next-gen technology ecosystem. The winners were chosen by a judging panel of Cloud Girls representatives from applications submitted online from December 2024 to February 2025. The winners were awarded trophies and a one-year complimentary membership of Cloud Girls.
About Cloud Girls
Founded in 2011, Cloud Girls is a vendor-neutral, not-for-profit, diverse community of female technology leaders who help narrow the gender gap within the technology industry while providing opportunities for the next generation of women and girls in tech. We educate, inspire, and support women in their career growth and leadership journeys through networking, partnerships, and professional development. For more information, visit www.cloudgirls.org