Hire a Cloud Kid

by Diane Krakora, CEO

In the days of web 2.0 technologies and social networking, job seekers are being very creative – from setting up Google Alerts, to leveraging KnowEm and updating on-line profiles weekly to stay at the top of queue. Here at the Microsoft Worldwide Partner Conference, about 100 recent college graduates are walking around wearing bright blue “Hire Me” t-shirts.

Microsoft WPC 2010

You’ve come a long way, baby

As Allison Watson bid farewell to the Microsoft worldwide partner community today, I can’t help but be a little nostalgic about her 8 years at the helm of WPC and the partner program. Maybe it’s because I’ve seen the changes she’s been through in the last 8 years, or maybe it’s because we’re in Washington DC this year and I spent the day at the American History Museum yesterday, hiding from the steamy afternoon.

See Also: Event Analysis – Microsoft WW Partner Conference

Evolution not Revolution – Microsoft’s Partnering Strategy

By Diane Krakora

As Alison Watson, Microsoft’s Corporate Vice President, Worldwide Partner Group, laid out the high level next generation partnering strategy at the Microsoft Worldwide Partner Conference (WPC) in Houston, I was impressed with the partnering machine that is the organization that spends billions — that’s with a B — on partnering every year. They certainly turn out a mountain of programs, initiatives and confusion.   So, during Watson’s keynote at WPC, I ended up expecting more radical ideas and innovative initiatives and yet wanting less for the sake of simplicity.   

Where is the Love, Microsoft?

By Diane Krakora

Holding a worldwide partner conference in Houston in July? Are you kidding me? That’s no way to show partners’ the love. I’ve been to 8 partner summits this year and it ends with Houston in July? Where is the love? Cisco’s held their partner summit in Honolulu in April. Now that’s big partner love. Even IBM’s partner business leadership conference in Los Angeles in May is better than Houston in July.