By: Sophie Callahan

When Chaitra Vedullapalli first envisioned OPULIS, it wasn’t born from a corporate strategy or marketing plan it started with a single, haunting question: “How will history remember the women who built Microsoft’s future?”

As Microsoft approached its 50th anniversary, Vedullapalli recognized both an opportunity and a responsibility. Microsoft had not only been a strategic partner but also the foundation sponsor that helped launch Women in Cloud, a platform enabling innovation and economic access at scale. “They gave us the tools to build, and now it was our turn to give something back,” she reflects.

With that intent, she approached Microsoft leadership with a simple idea:

“What if we honored the past, celebrated the present, and ignited the AI future?”

The proposal resonated immediately. But in early discussions, Vedullapalli uncovered a startling reality: many women who had driven Microsoft’s most transformative breakthroughs engineers, strategists, program leaders, were missing from the official records. Their work powered billion-dollar innovations, yet their names rarely appeared.

This realization crystallized her vision: OPULIS would preserve the untold stories of women and allies who shaped Microsoft’s legacy. More than recognition, it became a mission to honor those who contributed when no blueprint existed. As Vedullapalli puts it, OPULIS celebrates not just women, but the mentors, allies, and champions who advanced inclusive innovation. “True progress has always been a shared endeavor,” she says, “and I wanted that truth at the heart of OPULIS.”

Leadership Codes of Innovation

The stories within OPULIS reflect what Vedullapalli calls the “leadership codes of innovation.” Many of these women had no manual to follow and they wrote the playbook. They reshaped systems, designed first-of-their-kind solutions, and redefined leadership before anyone else dared. OPULIS, therefore, is not merely a book, it is a living framework and leadership accelerator, teaching inclusion, innovation, and impact in real time.

Unlike case studies or business school lessons, OPULIS captures the human story: the lived experiences, relationships, and risks that powered Microsoft’s most defining transformations. Vedullapalli recalls a conversation that changed everything: a woman who had led global initiatives said,

“We contributed to Microsoft’s future, but history won’t remember our names.”

That moment solidified OPULIS as a gift from Women in Cloud to Microsoft a lasting archive of shared leadership and legacy.

The book’s goals are ambitious and tangible:

• Celebrate significance: honoring the hidden figures whose contributions powered Microsoft’s trillion-dollar shift.

• Ignite 1,000 AI careers: through a Books-to-Scholarships model, every 10 copies purchased fund one AI scholarship for women.

• Archive legacy: preserving stories in the Microsoft Archives for the next 50 years.

Surprising Lessons in Leadership

In curating OPULIS, Vedullapalli was repeatedly struck by the humility of the women featured. Many didn’t see themselves as “executives” or public figures, despite having built the infrastructure that drove Microsoft’s global success. Some even questioned why they were chosen.

“It reminded me how easy it is for history to overlook those who do the real building,” Vedullapalli notes. These women may not have held visible titles, but their fingerprints were everywhere from scaling cloud platforms to advancing accessibility and inclusion.

Another revelation emerged as the project gained attention: recognition doesn’t happen passively. OPULIS became a powerful reminder that advocacy matters and leadership is defined by contribution, not hierarchy.

Across stories, a consistent theme stood out: generosity. These women weren’t just building products they were building bridges. They mentored, sponsored, and shared playbooks so others could rise faster. “Democratizing access always begins with generosity,” Vedullapalli observes. “That’s the essence of inclusive leadership. It transforms companies into communities and innovation into belonging.”

ICONIC Leadership™ in Action

OPULIS reveals how women at Microsoft broke barriers not by working within systems, but by architecting the systems themselves to be more inclusive. Vedullapalli identifies this as ICONIC Leadership™, built on six pillars: Intention, Courage, Optimism, Nurture, Innovation, and Connection.

Underneath these leadership behaviors are six activations:

• Inclusive Foundations: valuing diverse perspectives in every decision.

• Collaborative Partnerships: treating teams as ecosystems, not hierarchies.

• Open Access: removing barriers and democratizing information and tools.

• Navigational Agility: adapting swiftly to change with frameworks that guide teams.

• Innovative Solutions: fostering a culture where experimentation is encouraged.

• Collective Action: grounding leadership in shared purpose, social impact, and belonging.

These women used awareness, responsibility, and contribution as tools to reshape leadership and innovation turning structures of exclusivity into platforms of access and inclusion.

Transforming the Leader Within

For Vedullapalli, OPULIS also redefined her own leadership. The project began with no budget, blueprint, or roadmap, yet it demonstrated the power of collective access and aligned belief. She learned that leadership isn’t about forcing participation but creating reasons for people to contribute.

As a woman in tech, the experience reaffirmed that access is the greatest equalizer. By combining courage, clarity, and community, transformation and legacy can be built out of thin air.

Beyond the Book: Scholarships and Impact

OPULIS doesn’t just tell stories it funds opportunity. For every ten copies sold, one Microsoft AI Innovator Certification Scholarship is granted, equipping women with skills, mentorship, and community to thrive in AI. “We’re not just launching a book; we’re igniting a movement to bring women into the AI workforce,” Vedullapalli emphasizes.

Every scholarship becomes a bridge; every book, a spark. Together, they shape an inclusive economy where women lead, create, and innovate, not merely adapt.

Inspiring the Next Generation

Looking decades ahead, Vedullapalli hopes OPULIS will inspire young women in tech to see themselves as builders, not guests. She wants them to mentor, innovate, and create their own blueprints for access and inclusion, whether in AI, policy, entrepreneurship, or education.

“Real leadership isn’t about being the first or the loudest,” she says. “It’s about building pathways so others can rise faster. If a young woman can embody courage, clarity, and community, OPULIS will have done its job.”

Through OPULIS, Vedullapalli ensures that the next generation not only sees history but also writes the future continuing a legacy of access, innovation, and shared leadership.

Get your copy of OPULIS: Women Powering Microsoft’s Trillion-Dollar Shift and be part of the movement to celebrate legacy, ignite opportunity, and democratize access in the AI economy.