The Most Powerful Women Of The Channel 2007

Under Braud's leadership, Fortinet's global channel program earned its first VARBusiness five-star award in 2006 and again in 2007. Braud has revitalized the company's Americas partner program and used it to develop channel models in the EMEA and APAC regions as well. The tri-level Americas program offers deal registration and renewal tracking.

In the past year, Brindley has formed managed-service platform partnerships with Level Platforms, N-able and SilverBack; rolled out a partner print-managed service offering; increased channel resources; and drove efforts to promote teaming of direct and indirect sales forces to support SMB channel partners' growth.

Among Cage's accomplishments this year was that she oversaw the operational aspects of merging four more locations into Heartland Technology Solutions, which effectively doubled the company's size. Cage's efforts helped drive this solution provider to $11.5 million in revenue in 2006—which marks more than 82 percent growth over the past two years.

Cook's appointment to vice president of U.S. sales one year ago is one of the numerous executive shuffles that Jonathan Schwartz has engineered since taking over for CEO Scott McNealy. This one could prove positive for the company's partners, as in the past 12 months Cook grew U.S. indirect channel revenue by 5 percent.

Cook designed and implemented new training and certification programs for partners. In addition, she launched a new beta program that incorporates partner feedback and gives early access to new solutions, as well as a Worldwide BMC Women's Network Group, where BMC's women leaders discuss career issues with all co-workers.