There's Strength In Numbers

A wide range of organizations enable women executives to network with their peers, offer advice to those just starting out, and so much more

Celine Azizkhan, Channel Chief, ATandT
Formal mentor to Future Sales Leader Candidates within ATandT. For the past 20 years, she has been involved in community outreach and fund-raising for Mothers Against Drunk Driving (www.madd.org) and the Tri-County Women's Support Services.

Wendy Bahr, Vice President, U.S. and Canada Channels, Cisco
Coach and mentor for women at Cisco who participate in the Women Unlimited Program; a member of the Women's Action Network at Cisco; a former member of the Cisco Gender Diversity Operating Committee; and a personal mentor to more than a dozen Cisco managers both male and female.

Julie Bennani, General Manager, Partner Program, Worldwide Partner Group, Microsoft
Very active in organizations during her tenure at Accenture (executive sponsor of women's leadership activities for the Northwest and key lead for the Americas) but has spent her first year at Microsoft getting the lay of the land and building her team. Bennani says she looks forward to engaging more in this area in the future, as Microsoft provides a number of opportunities.

Laurie Benson, CEO, Inacom Information Systems
Supports multiple women-specific initiatives but doesn't usually join women-only organizations.

Johnna Bowley, Senior Director, Channel and Partner Marketing, Riverbed Technology
Women In Technology (www.womenintechnology.org)

Linda Brotherton, Chief Technology Officer, Connectwise
Was heavily involved in Business Profession Women (www.bpwusa.org) until her husband's illness, which resulted in him becoming disabled.

Linda Connly, VP of Strategic Alliances, EMC
Chairwoman of Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce, Women's Advisory Board and EMC Women's Leadership Forum

Michelle Drolet, CEO, Towerwall
Four women-related organizations: MetroWest Chamber Women's Initiative, Women's Independent Network, MetroWest Center of Excellence for Women and Minorities in Math, Science and Technology, and Women in Enterprise

Katie Dumala, Vice President, Marketing Services, Tech Data
Board member for Centre for Women (centreforwome.org), a nonprofit organization in the Tampa Bay area dedicated to providing individuals of all ages and gender a wide range of support services, including substance abuse assistance, family counseling, mentoring and job placement.

Dawn Duross, Operations Director, Federal Channels and Government, Cisco
Keynoted a seminar titled "Tools for Tomorrow" for the Society of Women Engineers (www.societyofwomenengineers.swe/org), a nonprofit organization that stimulates women to achieve the full potential in their careers. Also the co-host of Cisco's annual Channel Leadership Forum for Women, to recognize the women in channels and provide a valuable day of learning and sharing best practices.

Julie Criscenti Heck, Director, Channel Segment, VMware
Founding member of the West Coast Chapter of the EMC Women in Leadership Organization; Forum of Women Entrepreneurs and Executives (www.fweande.org)

Catherine H. Giordano, President and CEO, Knowledge Information Solutions
Women Impacting Public Policy (www.wipp.org)

Hope Hayes, CEO, Alliance Technology Group
Women Presidents' Educational Organization (www.wpeo.us), Women's Business Enterprise National Council (www.wbenc.org)

Michelle Jonhnston Holthaus, General Manager, Channel Mobile Platforms Group, Intel
Belongs to Women at Intel Network (WIN), which offers a career speaker series and development planning course, in addition to a mentoring program. She is also a mentor to women students at the Linfield School of Business, her alma mater.

Marie Huwe, General Manager, Worldwide Partner Marketing Group, Microsoft
Unlimited Potential is a training organization focused on women's leadership. Huwe had the opportunity to participate and says it was a wonderful chance to network with senior women from all over high-tech. Also involved in Senior Women's Networking at Microsoft.

Lila Ibrahim, General Manager, Emerging Markets Platform Group, Intel
Annual lecturer for Women in Engineering Seminars at her alma mater, Purdue University. She also works with WIN (Women at Intel Network) as a speaker and mentor to women, whether they're just starting their corporate careers or are taking leadership roles at Intel.

Next: Felise Katz

Felise Katz, CEO, PKA Technologies
Women In Technology

Choo Kim-Isgitt, Senior Director, Americas Marketing
Has been involved in Women in Communications and the YMCA. An executive leader in the IBM Asian Leadership From has let her mentor Asian women on career development and being more proactive. Also served on technical advisory boards that allowed her to support up-and-coming women engineers.

Kendra Krause, Director of Channel Sales, Fortinet
Active member of Women In Technology throughout her career, networking and promoting the development of young women in the field. This has led to her participation in Junior Achievement programs in the Silicon Valley and Dallas areas.

Carole Kurimsky. Vice President, Marketing, Ingram Micro
Periodically speaks on career advancement and other topics at local women-oriented technology groups and university classes. Previously served on the Board of Women Helping Women, a local non profit that provides low-income women who are trying to move into the workforce with the appropriate business attire.

Jane Linder, Principal, NWN
Welcome Back, a program to help immigrant nurses develop their skills in English and pass their licensing exams so they can practice their profession in the U.S.

Katie McAuliff, Vice President, Channels, Novell
Women In Technology

M. Cathy Morris, Senior Vice President and Chief Strategy Officer, Arrow Electronics
Member of the YWCA Academy of Women Achievers, a notable honor for professional women. Last year participated in a study on women's leadership styles led by RHR International, a global executive and organizational development firm. The study aims to help young female managers understand the differences in the perception of male vs. female management style.

Ann Elizabeth Moser, Senior Vice President, Ricoh Americas
Board of Directors, Tiffany Circle, American Red Cross

Carol Giles Neslund, Executive Director, Americas Distribution Channel, Seagate Technology
Women's Wilderness Institute, board member (www.womenswilderness.com); Women's Vision Foundation, board member (www.womensvision.org)

Lesley D. Norris, Vice President, Global Distributor and Reseller Channel Management
Women In Technology

Sheila O'Neil, Vice President, Channel, Panasonic
Local women in business organizations

Amy O'Neill, Director of Marketing, GreenPages Technology Solutions
VARBusiness Woman of the Channel Community; Women IN Technology; Advisory Board for Everything Channel

Julie Parrish, Vice President, Global Channel Office, Symantec
Symantec Women's Action Network (SWAN), a forum for women and men at Symantec intended to help the company achieve its goal of building a work environment that supports female employees in their career goals. Parrish has also been a speaker and panelist at various events for organizations that help women achieve their career goals.

Mary Piehler, Vice President, Operations, Systems Management Planning
Director, Rochester Small Business Council; member, Rochester Business Alliance Women's Council; Rochester Women's Network, judge; 2008 Up And Coming Businesswoman's award. In addition. Piehler is a trustee at St. John Fisher College in Rochester, where she is the only female alumni ever invited to join the Board of Directors/Trustees (the college went co-ed in 1974).

Karen Sigman, Vice President, Worldwide Channels, Data Domain
Involved in multiple local organizations, but most of them are not specific to women, but to issues such as education. Willow Glen Foundations is one organization she is involved in that is focused on rebuilding schools in the local community.

Ramona Thibeault, Vice President, SMB Sales, HP Solution Partners Organization, Americas
Executive board member for six years with the Klein Education Foundation, a nonprofit community organization that supports innovative academic and enrichment projects for the Klein Independent School District. Gabriel Project, a diocesan program designed to help women in crisis pregnancies. Casa San Diego, a community outreach focused on the specialized needs of immigrants, refugees and the poor. Attended Gulf Coast women in leadership Symposium. Simmons Leadership that HP sponsors.

Luanne Tierney, Director, U.S. Channel Marketing
Women Unlimited, Cisco's Women in Action network and Women's Leadership Forum

Sharon Woolley, Channel Sales Director, SpectorSoft
American Business Women's Association, National Association for Female Executives and Business Women's Network