Vince Menzione

Founder of Cloud Wave Partners LLC

I help technology leaders thrive in this era of rapid, tectonic change—mastering Microsoft, AWS, and Google partnerships to drive growth, innovation, and impact.

From scaling startups to leading $4.6B at Microsoft, I’ve learned one truth: success is built on meaningful connections—between people, ideas, and opportunities - trust is always a key ingredients.

Raised in a close-knit Italian family in New Jersey, my upbringing shaped my leadership principles. My grandfather arrived in the U.S. with only $20 in his pocket and built multiple sustainable businesses through grit and determination.

My dad fought in WWII and taught me that integrity and trust were omnipotent. These teachings were  the foundation upon which I built lasting success.

In college, I sold goods at flea markets and created a successful business organizing watch parties— creating opportunities by connecting people. After college, that drive took me to the front lines of wireless computing, where I helped scale a startup from $6M to $125M and led it to a successful public exit.

At General Dynamics, I turned around a struggling division, driving exponential growth, securing $20M in defense appropriations, and delivering a third of the company’s revenue—through partnerships built on collaboration and execution.

Then came nearly a decade at Microsoft, where I led the US Public Sector Partner business through one of the most significant transformations in tech. We grew revenue from $2.5B to $4.6B, shaped the modern cloud reseller model, and built high performing partner teams known for trust, alignment, and results.

But I saw a gap. Leaders didn’t just need strategy decks—they needed real focus, practical frameworks, and a trusted space to learn from one another.

In 2017, I founded Ultimate Partner® to be that compass for technology leaders navigating ecosystem-led growth. Through Ultimate Guide to Partnering®, now 270+ episodes strong, and Ultimate Partner LIVE events, I bring together top voices from Microsoft, AWS, Google, and across the partner ecosystem. I also developed the 8 Principles of Partnering Success, used to align strategy and drive measurable impact.

Our mission is simple: empower leaders and their organizations to grow with clarity, connection, and credibility—while building partnerships that scale with purpose.

Founder

Over six years ago, I embarked on a mission to empower partners struggling to navigate the complex world of tech giants like Microsoft, Google, and AWS. 

Having witnessed the industry from multiple perspectives – leading a $4.6 billion Ecosystem at Microsoft, spearheading partnerships for a billion-dollar company, and hosting 200 episodes of the Ultimate Guide to Partnering®, I’ve gained invaluable insights and crafted a manifesto of principles to guide your success.

In an era defined by tectonic shifts, such as the global pandemic, economic headwinds, and the rise of AI, the role of hyperscalers has become increasingly critical. With investments of billions of dollars in ecosystems, technology, and customer acquisition costs, they have secured over $200 billion in customer commitments to durable cloud budgets. We stand on the precipice of a marketplace moment where simplifying and streamlining economic models associated with co-selling and ecosystem-led growth will shape the decade ahead.

Yet, as vendors and organizations demand more from us while resources diminish, we ask, “Where do we go? How do we navigate these seismic shifts? How do we thrive during this decade of the ecosystem?”

If you’re a partner, you’re likely grappling with these questions. The watering holes of the past no longer offer the guidance required to transform into a Cloud GTM and embrace Ecosystem Led Growth. That’s why Ultimate Partner exists – to be your trusted compass amidst the noise.

Visit our website, tune into Ultimate Guide to Partnering and join The Ultimate Partner LIVE events.

Microsoft just placed a HUGE bet — and partners are at the center of it.

In my latest episode, Erwin Visser breaks down the real story behind Microsoft’s AI and SMEC strategy — what’s changing, what partners need to know, and how this shift will redefine co-sell, Copilot adoption, and the future of the ecosystem.

If you lead a partner business, this is the conversation you cannot afford to miss.

 🎧 Listen to the episode https://lnkd.in/ejU4Tr4z

 📩 Subscribe for deeper insights in the newsletter https://lnkd.in/e4BCMxQ3

 🧭 And join us inside UPX, where leaders get the clarity they need to win in this new era. https://lnkd.in/e-ZpX3pB

Let’s rise to the moment. The opportunity is here — and it’s partner-led.

Connecting tech leaders through community, media and events, creating high growth in hyperscaler ecosystems | Founder, Ultimate Partner® | Host, Ultimate Guide to Partnering® | Chief Connector UPX

View newsletter: Ultimate Guide to Partnering

What a thrilling week hosting partner leaders at Ultimate Partner LIVE in Reston, VA at the Carahsoft Training Center. Even if you couldn't be with us

Open article: Microsoft Co-Sell & AI: Erwin Visser on the $600B Growth Model by Vince Menzione • 3 min read

Microsoft Co-Sell & AI: Erwin Visser on the $600B Growth Model

Jane Street

Early Careers Strategy - Asia and ANZ

Microsoft

Building Early in Career Talent Strategy for Microsoft business in APAC, Australia and New Zealand.  
Advising and Partnering with Business Leaders, HR Leaders & UR Talent Sourcers to build, evangelize and execute the talent strategy. 
Leading the Internship Program strategy & experience for the APAC, Australia and New Zealand.

University Recruiting Account Manager, APAC & Australia

1. Product Manager Hiring for Microsoft India Development Center 
I work with multiple stakeholders & IDC leadership to create a sound hiring strategy and implement it to deliver outcomes. I also create & execute the branding and engagement programs at B-Schools to elevate the Microsoft brand.

2. Branding Lead for Microsoft India University Recruiting
I devise and execute programs & strategies for Tech and B-schools to uphold and improve our brand on campus while creatively engaging with top talent in colleges. 

3. Microsoft Asia UR Learning Community Lead
I lead a team in Asia which curates fun & engaging learning initiatives within Asia UR team as a way to foster the 'learn it all' culture & bring the diverse team together through these learning programs. I work in close alignment with the Asia Leadership team to realize their vision of up-skilling the team and fostering cross regional collaboration in doing so.

4. Business Manager to Asia University Recruiting Leadership Team  (Dec'19- Jan’21)
I work directly with the Asia UR Lead and his leadership team to help create and execute Asia wide strategies & global core priorities. My job is to enable the Asia Leadership team to see areas of focus & opportunity across Asia, bring in fresh perspective and work with them to solve for some of the most interesting challenges faced by Asia UR.

University Recruiter, India

Uber

- Engaging with Tier 1 Business and tech schools across the country to hire the best talent 
- Headcount mapping  for Intern and Full time Hires
- Employer branding and engagement on Campuses
- Lateral Recruiting for mid - level Operations and Marketing roles across India
- Stakeholder Management with a metrics driven approach

University Recruiter

- Sourcing and hiring candidates for Operations, Marketing and the cross-functional team in Uber India. 
- Efficient Recruitment Coordination across roles both laterally and through Campus
- Recruitment projects to help set up and improve processes
- Effective stakeholder management 
- Championing the cause of GREAT candidate & interviewer experience.

Talent Sourcer & Recruiting Coordinator

D. E. Shaw India Software Private Limited

As a part of the global Talent Acquisition team based in Hyderabad I was responsible for recruiting Software Developers for D.E. Shaw India. I was also processing, sorting and screening candidates for various positions based in D. E. Shaw New York.

Talent Acquisition Associate

Role :
- Developing creative ideas for Ad and Print media Ads in English and Hindi. The Ads were primarily for Airtel which is the biggest client of JWT.
- Proof Reading Print media Ads before they were sent to further review

Copywriter Intern

With over a decade of recruiting experience, I am now building the University Recruiting Strategy for Asia at Jane Street, a global quantitative trading firm. I work with a team of inspiring University recruiters and am passionate about finding, engaging with, and hiring the best Early in Career talent across universities in Asia.

In my previous roles at Microsoft and Uber, I have hired across a range of job roles and levels, from software engineers to product managers, from university hires to lateral industry hires, including leadership roles. I have also led and contributed to various branding, learning, and engagement initiatives to elevate the employer brand and foster a diverse and inclusive culture. I thrive in dynamic, high-energy, and creative work spaces, and I am curious, driven, and thirsty for knowledge. I am passionate about public speaking, stimulating conversations, learning new things.

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Likes

Performance Score.css-goub6s{font-size:var(--chakra-fontSizes-md);font-weight:500;color:var(--chakra-colors-gray-600);display:block;margin-top:var(--chakra-space-1);}Vince Menzione's LinkedIn Performance

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