This motivated Google Cloud to create the Google Cloud Launchpad for Women programme, aimed at helping customers upskill their teams while empowering more women across industries with cloud and AI skills. “We launched the first version of the programme in March of this year,” Rifkin says, “and we were impressed by the level of demand from our customers. We had over 5,000 people, with a wide range of titles from CEO to IT analyst, sign up for the program, representing major Global 2000 companies like Electronic Arts, Highmark Health and Palo Alto Networks.”
Ensuring everyone has a stake in shaping a new tech landscape
Lee Moore, VP of Global Google Cloud Consulting, explains the motivation behind the programme: “With AI as a significant inflection point, it’s crucial that we, as an industry, ensure everyone has a voice and a stake in shaping this new landscape. That means actively making training and resources more accessible to those who have historically been underrepresented in tech, so they can be part of this exciting future.
“At the end of the day, everyone wins when we build a larger, more skilled workforce. It helps open doors to lucrative, in-demand careers for people from all backgrounds, whether they’re in tech, marketing, HR, retail, or manufacturing. AI truly has the potential to benefit every industry and every role.”
To help organisations – and the industry itself – combat the gender gap, the programme offers a comprehensive suite of resources to help participants achieve the Cloud Digital Leader certification at no cost, including a complimentary exam voucher, instructor-led training, dedicated exam prep sessions and expert panels on generative AI.
