Behind every company milestone is a collection of untold stories. Microsoft’s trillion-dollar transformation is no exception. While headlines often highlight the achievements of its most visible leaders, a quieter revolution was unfolding within. Women leaders across the company were making decisions, driving innovation, and democratizing access in ways that shaped both Microsoft and the broader technology landscape.
OPULIS brings those stories to light. Officially archived in the Microsoft Archives and endorsed by the Microsoft Alumni Network, OPULIS is more than a book. It is a historical record of resilience, vision, and the ability of women leaders to build industries from the inside out.
The book features 50 honorees, each offering personal narratives, exclusive photographs, and practical frameworks for leadership. Taken together, these stories form a tapestry of innovation and courage. They remind us that leadership is not only about strategy and execution but also about the willingness to create access for others.
Gail Mercer-MacKay, founder of Mercer-MacKay Solutions, described the impact of OPULIS this way: “It gave language to something I always felt. True power is shared, not hoarded. And that is how movements begin.”
That lesson is particularly relevant today. As industries wrestle with rapid shifts in AI, cloud computing, and digital transformation, the question of who leads and how they lead matters more than ever. The women in OPULIS did not wait for permission to lead. They created opportunities where none existed, often in environments where their presence itself was a challenge to the status quo.
OPULIS also offers readers practical tools. Each story includes insights into leadership practices that can be applied across industries. Whether it is building resilient teams, leveraging innovation to drive equity, or navigating complex organizational structures, the book provides frameworks that leaders at any stage of their careers can use.
Billy Anders, Corporate Vice President at Microsoft, calls OPULIS “a powerful tribute to the women whose visionary leadership helped shape Microsoft’s trillion-dollar transformation.” His words highlight the dual nature of the book: both tribute and roadmap.
For young professionals entering the workforce, OPULIS offers inspiration. For executives, it provides lessons on purpose-driven leadership. For historians, it secures the record of contributions too often left out of the official story.
In elevating these voices, OPULIS does more than honor the past. It sets a precedent for the future. It shows that inclusive leadership is not only possible but essential for driving innovation at scale.
The stories within OPULIS matter because they remind us that no transformation is the work of a few. It is the work of many. By learning from those who led with courage and conviction, we equip ourselves to lead in ways that will shape the next trillion-dollar transformation.
About OPULIS
OPULIS: Women Powering Microsoft’s Trillion-Dollar Shift is a collector’s-quality coffee table book chronicling the untold stories of 50 pioneering women who shaped Microsoft’s rise into a trillion-dollar company. Through its innovative Books to Scholarships model, every 10 copies purchased fund one full AI scholarship for underrepresented talent, with a goal of igniting 1,000 AI careers by 2030.
Learn more: https://womenincloud.com/opulis/
Pre-order your copy here: https://buy.stripe.com/9B66oI0rQ1GS3nWbXR1oI07
About Chaitra Vedullapalli
Chaitra Vedullapalli is a recognized tech innovator, community leader, and executive producer of OPULIS. She is the co-founder of Women in Cloud and has spearheaded global initiatives to democratize access in cloud and AI. Her work has empowered thousands of leaders and entrepreneurs worldwide through purpose-driven leadership, education, and community building.
