SADA, An Insight company, is thrilled to announce that two of our leaders, Tony Safoian, CEO, and Narine Galstian, CMO, have been named finalists in the prestigious 2024 CRN Women of the Year Awards. This recognition highlights SADA’s unwavering commitment to fostering a culture of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DE&I) within our organization and across the IT channel.
CRN’s Women of the Year: shining a light on excellence
The CRN Women of the Year Awards recognize remarkable women, companies, and allies who are actively driving positive change within the tech industry. These individuals champion diversity through their leadership and initiatives, paving the way for a brighter future where opportunities are open to all.
The 2024 finalists represent a diverse range of talent and contributions. Notably, our parent company, Insight Enterprises, has also secured several finalist positions, further solidifying our combined commitment to DE&I within the IT space. Congratulations to all the finalists!
Narine Galstian: a marketing leader driving results
Narine Galstian, SADA’s CMO, is a finalist for the “Marketing Executive of the Year– Solution Provider” category. Her nomination highlights her exceptional leadership of SADA’s presence at Google Cloud Next ‘23 and ’24, which positioned SADA as a leading Google Cloud Premier Partner. Under Narine’s guidance, the SADA booth generated thousands of qualified customer leads, while dominating partner sessions with impactful customer stories, showcasing SADA’s capabilities, significantly boosting demand and accelerating the sales pipeline.
Narine’s impact extends beyond event success. She leads a robust field marketing program supporting the global sales organization, orchestrating high-touch executive events, and collaborating with Google Cloud and strategic partners. Through her leadership, she recognized early that GenAI was not just a “hype cycle” and was here to stay. She encouraged her team to test and implement AI solutions to support campaigns. Her team created aggressive GTM initiatives for SADA’s AI services, establishing SADA as a leading provider of Google Cloud AI solutions and services.
A champion for change: Tony Safoian’s commitment to DE&I
SADA’s CEO, Tony Safoian, is a finalist in the “Ally of the Year” category. His nomination emphasizes his unwavering commitment to fostering an environment of empathy, humility, and inclusivity within SADA. Recognizing diversity as a cornerstone of high performance, Tony has made fostering a gender-inclusive environment a top priority.
Tony has been instrumental in fostering a culture of gender equality at SADA. Under his leadership, SADA has made significant strides in promoting women’s advancement and creating a supportive environment for female employees.
The Women of SADA Employee Resource Group (ERG) fosters open communication and allyship among female employees. Tony has encouraged employees to participate in the ERG’s events and initiatives. Additionally, he has supported programs like Google Cloud’s Launchpad for Women, which provides training and certification to equip women with the skills needed to succeed in cloud computing.
Building a future of equality: SADA’s core values in action
Diversity, equity, and inclusion are core values woven into the fabric of SADA’s culture. Tony’s leadership reflects this commitment, as SADA actively seeks to dismantle barriers and champion opportunities for women within the IT channel. One such initiative is the Cloud and Clear podcast, which often features a diverse range of subject matter experts and promotes the importance of diversity in the industry. Additionally, SADA offers employee-wide opportunities to become LGBTQ+A allies and provides comprehensive family-friendly benefits, including paid family medical leave and fertility treatment support.
A personal mission: Tony’s inspiration for building an inclusive workplace
For Tony, gender equality is far more than just a corporate initiative; it’s a deeply personal mission. His mother, Annie Safoian, co-founded SADA, exemplifying the leadership and vision of women in technology. Her story of immigrating from Armenia and building a successful business alongside Tony’s father is a constant source of inspiration for Tony. His wife, another entrepreneur, and his daughters and son further fuel his commitment to building a workplace where all individuals feel valued and empowered to thrive.
A shared vision: SADA and Insight stand together
SADA’s recognition in the CRN Women of the Year Awards reflects a shared vision with our parent company, Insight Enterprises. The combined strength of both organizations amplifies our commitment to building a future where diversity thrives in the IT channel. We are incredibly proud of Tony and Narine, as well as the Insight finalists, for their remarkable contributions to this important mission.
Insight Enterprises: a leader in DE&I
Insight Enterprises is also proud to announce that several of its leaders have been named finalists in the CRN Women of the Year Awards:
- Amy Hall: Rising Star of the Year–Solution Provider
- Megan Amdahl: Woman of the Year–Solution Provider
- Judith Breen: Woman of the Year–Solution Provider
- Brenda Hudson: Executive Mentor of the Year–Solution Provider
- Joy Levine-Winn: Role Model of the Year–Solution Provider
These nominations reflect Insight’s commitment to fostering a diverse and inclusive workplace and supporting the professional development of women within the IT industry.
Looking Forward: Celebrating the Winners on December 10th
The winners of the CRN Women of the Year Awards will be announced at an Awards Gala on December 10, 2024, in New York City. We eagerly await this momentous occasion and extend our congratulations and best wishes to all the finalists!
