Microsoft Launches the Microsoft Power Women Awards 2025
Celebrating Inspirational Female Leaders in Tech and Driving Inclusion
We are really excited to launch the Microsoft Power Women Awards 2025 in Ireland, an initiative designed to recognise and celebrate outstanding women who have demonstrated exceptional leadership in the technology sector. The awards aim to honor those who are not only excelling in their fields but are also driving positive change and promoting inclusion within their industry.
Currently, women represent only 28% of all tech-related roles, and in STEM fields, women make up just one-third of the workforce, with only 10% holding leadership positions in STEM-related roles 1. At Microsoft, we believe that our businesses are missing out if we don’t unlock the full potential of female tech talent. To help change these statistics, we’re continuing our mission to shine a spotlight on talented women in technology in Ireland and across the EMEA region.
The Microsoft Power Women Awards celebrate women who are role models, pioneers, and advocates for diversity and inclusion in technology. These awards aim to inspire future generations of women leaders by highlighting the contributions of trailblazing women who are reshaping the landscape of the tech industry.
We are thrilled to open the nominations for the Microsoft Power Women Awards 2025. These awards are a platform to recognise female leaders who are creating lasting impact in their organisations and communities while inspiring others to break down barriers and lead with purpose.
In 2024, 19 extraordinary women from across the EMEA region were recognised for their achievements in tech. These women not only excel in their professional roles but are also actively mentoring and encouraging others to pursue rewarding careers in technology. The outcome of last year’s awards was beyond expectations, with a total of 392 nominations received from across all participating countries.
In Ireland, our worthy Power Women Award winner was Ruth McGuinness, Director of Microsoft AI Centre of Excellence at Kainos who was recognised for her leadership in AI and for promoting ethical AI adoption. While her advocacy for robust AI regulation in public forums and her dedication to fostering a more inclusive tech environment were all pivotal in her receiving this prestigious award.
McGuinness is a prominent leader in the field of AI, overseeing one of Ireland’s largest AI teams with 150 members generating millions of pounds annually through delivery of AI technology programmes in both public and private sector organisations across Ireland, the UK, Europe, and North America. Her focus includes developing AI tooling that is robust, explainable, and trustworthy and advocating for ethical AI adoption.
Passionate about bridging the gap between academic research and industry, McGuinness is also the primary industry partner of the AI Research Centre (AIRC) at Ulster University, supporting 100+ AI researchers in trusted AI applications. In addition, she supports the development of more diverse AI talent as a curator of AI CON, Ireland’s largest annual AI conference.
Recognising the impact and value of the awards, Ruth said, “Winning Microsoft Power Woman of the Year in Ireland has been an incredible honour and a real catalyst for growth in my career. It has opened doors to new opportunities, deepened my relationships within the Microsoft ecosystem, and reinforced my confidence to lead in the AI space. But more than that, it has given me a platform to champion other women in technology – something I’m deeply passionate about. The visibility and connections that come with this recognition have been invaluable, and I hope to use them to inspire and support the next generation of women in AI.”
Opening our 2025 nominations:
In 2025, the Microsoft Power Women Awards will once again celebrate women from 15 countries in the EMEA region, including Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, and the UK, as well as regions across Africa, Central Europe, the Middle East, and Southeast Europe. This year, we will add an EMEA award for women who have an EMEA-wide leadership role.
All winners will be invited to join the Microsoft Women’s Leadership Program 3rd Edition, a bespoke program developed by Professor Jennifer Petriglieri, at the INSEAD Business School in Fontainebleau, France. This program offers valuable leadership development opportunities to the winners.
How to Apply
We’re looking for women who:
- Work for a Microsoft partner in one of the participating countries or regions
- Have a minimum of 15 years of professional experience, with leadership experience in strategic tech deployments or R&D roles
- Can demonstrate professional growth and impactful results, with a focus on promoting diversity in their work
- A strong social media presence as an influencer or opinion maker is a plus
Nominate yourself or share the link with one of the Power Women you know from the Microsoft Partner ecosystem. For additional information, please find here the https://aka.ms/MicrosoftPowerWomenAward
1Global Economic Forum, Global Gender Gap Report, June, 2024
