Nicole Steele has spent her career successfully helping business customers and partners navigate the shift to cloud and next-gen technologies.  She currently is serving as the Senior Director of Marketing at F5 where she leads Field and Channel Marketing, focused on partner engagement, enablement and demand generation for cloud security and application services. 

Through her tech career that spans nearly two decades, Nicole has consistently worked to create opportunities, leadership pathways, and stronger networks for women in the industry through structured employee resource groups (ERGs), career development programs and industry-wide initiatives.  Nicole also serves as the co-chair of the Alliance of Channel Women (ACW) Mentorship Committee, where she leads initiatives to support women in the cloud and technology channel through structured mentorship programs.    

How have you innovated in the cloud and next-gen tech space and shunned the status quo? 

At a previous born in the cloud company, where I led partner and field marketing during a time of early days of cloud adoption, I began by educating customers directly on cloud-based data analytics, but as the company shifted to a 100% channel model, my focus turned to partner enablement. I was responsible for recruiting, onboarding, and supporting partners. I helped grow the company’s ecosystem from 300 partners to more than 1,700 globally. 

I launched a concierge partner program designed to accelerate cloud adoption by equipping partners with the tools, resources and targeted support needed to drive cloud-based analytics solutions deeper into the market. We identified the top 50 partners and provided them with additional funding for telemarketing, BDR outreach and marketing support, but with a strategic focus on high-value cloud opportunities. Instead of a one-size-fits-all approach, we worked closely with each partner to pinpoint top accounts with the highest cloud adoption potential and develop customized go-to-market strategies to speed up cloud migration.

This program was a catalyst for growth—partners embraced it because they saw real, measurable success in moving customers from on-prem to the cloud. Initially, we fully funded the program, but as partners recognized the value of cloud acceleration, they were willing to co-invest, shifting to a 50% partner-funded model while still achieving strong results.

I successfully replicated and refined this approach at another company, applying the same data-driven, high-touch engagement model to drive cloud-first networking adoption through the channel. The results further validated that structured partner enablement, backed by targeted funding and strategic execution, is key to accelerating cloud adoption at scale. 

How have you mentored or inspired up-and-coming female technologists to pursue leadership tracks in their careers?   

I am the co-chair of the Alliance of Channel Women (ACW) Mentorship Committee, where I lead initiatives to support women in the cloud and technology channel through structured mentorship programs.

One of the most impactful programs I’ve been involved in is Mentoring Circles, a cornerstone initiative of ACW. This program creates peer-driven mentorship groups that allow women in technology and the channel to share experiences, gain insights, and support each other as they navigate their careers.

A key focus of my mentorship work is helping professionals understand the value of mentorship itself. Many people don’t realize the difference between mentorship and coaching, limiting their ability to take full advantage of these opportunities. Mentorship is an ongoing, relationship-based process focused on career growth, skill development, and long-term professional guidance. Coaching, on the other hand, is often more short-term and goal-specific, typically centered around improving a particular skill or overcoming an immediate challenge. By clarifying these distinctions, I’ve helped many women build more meaningful and productive mentorship relationships that contribute to their long-term career success.

Beyond co-chairing mentorship programs, I have also developed communication and survey strategies to ensure these initiatives deliver measurable benefits to participants. Tracking engagement and feedback allows us to continually refine these programs to better serve the next generation of female leaders in cloud, security and the technology channel. 

What is your favorite quote?  

“If they don’t give you a seat at the table, bring a folding chair.” ~ Shirley Chisholm  

This resonates deeply with me because it reflects resilience, determination, and the courage to create opportunities when they are not handed to you- values I try to embody in both my career and life. 

Who do you admire most and why?    

I most admire my grandfather.  At the age of 55, he made the courageous decision to move his entire family, his wife and nine children, from Trinidad to Canada to build a better life.  He worked tirelessly until the age of 85, and his strength, sacrifice, and determination continue to inspire me to persevere, lift others up, and create opportunities for those around me.