9 Women of the Year CEO Finalists on Finding Inspiration and Fostering Innovation

As a finalist in the CEO category of CRN's third annual Women of the Year Awards, CRN spotlighted CEO Malinda Gagnon on what inspires her and how she drives innovation within Uprise Partners.

"At Uprise, I focus on mentorship at every level by cultivating a culture of openness, accessibility, and support for bold thinking. Through a genuine open-door policy, employees are encouraged to share their thoughts and ideas directly, knowing they will be heard regardless of their level in the organization," said Gagnon.

Gagnon has more than 20 years of experience in business strategy and technology—serving as a Strategist at Google and Sr. Partner at GroupM, WPP before founding Uprise Partners in 2017 to help small and medium-sized businesses streamline operations, optimize technology, and enhance cybersecurity.

Under her leadership, Uprise Partners has won numerous industry awards, including being named to CRN’s prestigious Fast Growth 150 (ranked #2), Tech Elite 250, Security 100, and Managed Solution Provider 500 lists, as well as being honored as a Next-Gen Solution Provider Leader—an achievement given to rising-star solution provider executives.

"Innovation thrives because suggestions are not only welcomed but actively solicited across departments," adds Gagnon. "This approach empowers people to think creatively and contribute meaningfully, knowing that their input has the potential to drive real change."

CRN's Women of the Year Awards highlight extraordinary women, companies, and allies who demonstrate dedication to advancing the IT industry. A media brand of The Channel Company, CRN reports on IT industry events and trends and empowers solution providers such as systems integrators, value-added resellers, and managed service providers to deliver the business outcomes their customers need.