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

Palo Alto Networks

Customer Success Manager

VodafoneZiggo

Responsible for multiple VGE (Vodafone Global Enterprise) accounts in terms of providing support, resolving escalations, process enhancement solutions 
	Preparing & presenting Customers’ QBR (Quarterly Business Review)
	Developing Dashboards, Reports and Forecasts
	Solving billing and invoicing issues
	Following up on any customer issue (technical problems) that takes more than expected in addition to immediate intervention in case of P1 incidents
	Discussing new solutions that would be of benefit for the customer

VGE Service Manager

Vodafone

Providing solutions and consultation for international enterprise customers. Selling more than 10 products on shelf in addition to customized ones according to customer needs 
	Costing and offering for the customers
	Responsible for the MSAN project in the commercial department
	Introducing new vendors and products

Presales supervisor

Vodafone Egypt

Leading the Data SOC team, mobile internet,fixed network & enterprise in addition to wifi team managing 18 members
Also assigned as the engagement leader across the service management department to drive highly motivated people

Currently focusing on automating and standardizing the tools and processes for monitoring.

Mobile and Fixed data SOC team leader

Change management supervisor

I particpated in establishing the Change Management process and maintaining it by make all Technology teams align to it.
Responsible for authorizing major technical changes to Technology production hardware and software systems including the transition of new systems to production state (End to End), conduct risk assessment of potential impact on the services of failed changes, schedule changes to avoid critical business periods and reduce the change impact on live services.

Change Management Sr Engineer

Responsible for cross functional tasks along the network operations department, providing frame works and organizing the processes, responsible for BCP and KPIs, Measuring Workload across departments for resources reallocation.

Planning Engineer

1st  line GPRS, DATACOM & HLRs in the technology network operation department. Responsible for monitoring, troubleshooting & configuring Vodafone’s Packet switching network, IP Backbone network & the HLRs.

1'st line Data Engineer

1st  line Switching support engineer in the technology network operation department. Responsible for monitoring & troubleshooting Vodafone’s circuit switching network (MSCs, BSCs, MGWs & RNCs).

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Engagements

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