IAMCP Illuminate 2026 (India): Trust, Collaboration, and Engagement
Welcome to IMCP Profiles in Partnership, the podcast where we explore the strategies, stories, and communities shaping the future of business and technology. Today, we're spotlighting something really special, the IAMCP India chapter's upcoming Illuminate event this February. Illuminate isn't just another partner gathering. It's a platform where Microsoft partners come together to share insights, build connections, and spark innovation. And the India chapter has been making waves with its leadership, its growth, and its vision for collaboration across the global partner ecosystem.
Anthony Carrano:In this episode, I'll be sitting down with leaders from IAMCP India to talk about what makes this event unique, how the chapter is empowering partners, and why their work matters not just in India, but across the world. So whether you're a partner, a business leader, or someone curious about how communities drive transformation, you'll find plenty of inspiration here. Let's get started. Well, welcome to the podcast Neeraj and Suresh. Really glad to have you both on.
Suresh Ramani:Pleasure. The pleasure is all ours.
Neeraj Gargi:Anthony. It's really amazing. And we are quite excited about this podcast because Illuminate is something which is very near to our heart. So we are putting a lot of efforts around that. So it is really a bit too fun.
Anthony Carrano:Yeah. Well, right now, I'm really excited to get in and cover some things here on this episode. And we've got a lot of great questions for you. I think our audience is going to learn a lot about this incredible event. But before we get into things around the event and the chapter and the impact on membership and all that.
Anthony Carrano:Let's start off for those who aren't familiar with you. Just tell us a little bit about yourself and briefly, maybe your involvement with IAMCP. Neeraj, why don't you start us off, because Suresh has been a repeat guest. So for those who don't know Suresh, need to go back and listen to a couple episodes.
Anthony Carrano:I'm gonna come back to you, Suresh. But, Neeraj, why don't you start us off?
Neeraj Gargi:Sure. Awesome. So thank you, Anthony. So to introduce myself is Neeraj Gargi and I am one of the director and co founder of Intelegain Technologies based out in India and having multiple global locations as well. We started our Microsoft partner journey in 2017 sometime and that is where we also got engaged with the IAMCP.
Neeraj Gargi:So I will say that we started our Microsoft partner journey with IAMCP. So that is where and how I learned about this Microsoft partners ecosystem and how we should navigate it within this ecosystem. So I joined India chapter in 2017 and after spending a couple of years, I got the opportunity where I was able to serve on local chapter into my city and I started becoming more active into the IAMCP and I became a member of my chapter board. And slowly from there, I picked into the APAC Region Regional Board where I am currently serving as a secretary. Then I also picked to the international board as a board member.
Neeraj Gargi:So I served at international level as a board member for a couple of years. Today, I'm playing active role into my local chapter that is the IAMCP India as President. So typically I can say that as many years I have spent in the Microsoft ecosystem, it's the same I have spent in IAMCP. So yeah, that is my journey.
Anthony Carrano:That's fantastic. Well, I love how involved you are. Suresh, for those who aren't familiar with you, I want to share a little bit about yourself.
Suresh Ramani:As far as the IAMCP relationship is concerned, we have discussed this in a couple of podcasts also. I founded the IAMCP in India that was back in 2009 and then we set up a legal body, we set everything and then a few years back somewhere in about I think four years back the reorg of IAMCP where the IAMCP was split into three regions EMEA, Americas and a new region was started which was APAC which is where I became the founder president for IAMCP APAC. And it was around that time that the India board was functioning quite well in terms of SOPs were set, the bylaws were set, the local legal body was in place and which is where I said okay now is the time probably for me to now try to replicate the success of India in the other geos of APAC. So that's all. So right now currently we have a strong leadership team in India with needed striving and there's a proper functioning.
Suresh Ramani:By the way, just an interesting thing, we have elections every year to the India board. Just a side. And there are elections. It's not just nomination. We get more number of people filing their nomination than the number of seats. So there are also some elections which also happens. So, pretty interesting. It's a sign of democracy. It's a sign that we have a vibrant board in India.
Anthony Carrano:Very active and engaged, it sounds like it.
Suresh Ramani:Yes, absolutely. And we are now trying to now replicate that model in other parts of APAC right now because India is in, if I may say so, in very safe hands right now.
Anthony Carrano:That's it. That's great. That's great. Well, let's jump to, talking about the event. So I know, you know, we have a big event, coming up here in February, Illuminate. What inspired, the India chapter to host, the IAMCP Illuminate this February, and what makes this year's event really so unique?
Neeraj Gargi:Okay, so let me take this question. So India is one of the largest chapter within the APAC region. So we are around 130 active members at any point of time with around 10 to 20 members who are into the renewal mode. So typically we are having around 150 active members within India, which is quite vibrant and a lot of P2P activities are happening and every partner is active through various channels what we have set up into India. So considering this thing that India is a more of a flagship chapter within APAC region.
Neeraj Gargi:So that is the reason why we decided that we should be hosting this event in India. So this year what we are planning to do is we want to make this year's Illuminate one of the largest until now. We are planning to invite a complete line of the Microsoft India leadership into this event. We have planned to invite newly created South Asia region which is coming under as a part of the India leadership. So we are going to invite more and more partners from these regions this year which includes partners from Bangladesh, Nepal, Maldives.
Neeraj Gargi:So all these countries, neighboring countries. So that is something what we are creating which is going to create this event much larger than the last year. This year we are also introducing a few new events within this event where we are trying to invite a few of the startups where we are going to allow them to showcase their products or their services in front of maybe around 120 to 150 partners. So these are the few initiatives that we have taken this year. We are still working on the nitty gritty of this, and let us see how it comes out.
Rudy Rodriguez:Very good. Well, I've got some questions for you because I don't know, Suresh, if you remember, but I was on the IAMCP board when we brought India when we started working bringing India on board, which was a multiyear process, if you remember that.
Suresh Ramani:Yes. Yes.
Rudy Rodriguez:That was a long process to get you guys done, the the legal, ramifications. So can you tell us a little bit how the India chapter has evolved over the past few years and what milestones really stand out to you?
Suresh Ramani:So let me take up that question. When we started off back in February, the concept of partnering was thoughtless. Obviously, it was a big, big struggle. But once we started stabilizing and the first event I would say and that was one of the landmarks which was there was in 2019 we had the first annual event. This was the same year when SoCal had their tenth anniversary if you remember.
Suresh Ramani:The SoCal chapter had their tenth anniversary because our event was about two months after the SoCal chapter. We did our event in December. Frankly speaking, there was a bit of a pressure because we are stepping into unknown territory. All India event, annual event is a very different territory than having one event in a Microsoft office where coffee and biscuits are always available. Here, people have to come from all over India. So we did that event.
Suresh Ramani:But to our surprise, that event went off fantastic. It was extremely well received by the partner community and we got a good level of leverage and at that time the number two Microsoft person was Raji Sodin. He was the COO, literally the COO of Microsoft India. Currently, he's serving on Bill Gates' company.
Suresh Ramani:So, he's with Bill Gates in their role. So, 2019 was one of the landmarks because that was the year we also set up our legal body. In the early part, we set up the legal body which was again a landmark because setting up legal body is not so easy. We set up a not for profit, section eight we call it not for profit. The 2019 event, twenty five days before the event we stopped sponsorships.
Suresh Ramani:We said we are done for the day, there is no space, there is no space for more sponsors. Fifteen days before the event we stopped registration. He said no, there is no space. So that was a point which kind of convinced me that there is a requirement for an event like this. And a couple of reasons for that.
Suresh Ramani:Because not everybody can afford to go to Inspire. Let's be clear about it. A partner going from India to Inspire is not cheap. It's a fairly substantial cost, relatively. To hear, that is where the whole tagline came in.
Suresh Ramani:Inspire experience at 10% of the cost. Something like that. That was a landmark. Unfortunately, the tempo could not be built because we had the event in December and in March the COVID came into picture. So once the COVID came into picture, we had a big challenge because I was talking to a lot of my IAMCP friends and everybody was facing pressure because events are not happening and if events don't happen, you know how it is membership drops, which is what set me thinking.
Suresh Ramani:I spoke to some of my friends, especially my friends in Germany because they were also doing some very unique things. The plan was to have some event where you can have some degree of consistency every month or every two months. We don't wait for the annual event for a pull to happen which is where we devised two programs. One program was a solution circle program where we devised four solution circles Azure, security, business applications and modern work. Each was driven by one partner who was deep into it.
Suresh Ramani:He had to drive it and this was not a tech function, it was more of business side. So, that was one program which was set up. Second program which was set up was called as ISV, Independent Software Vendor. So, we encourage our partners to develop their own IT. I do believe that these two programs have been very effective because they have kind of institutionalized the fact that there will be some engagement happening almost every month.
Suresh Ramani:Otherwise, the whole idea of some chapter having an event, some chapter not having the event, COVID not allowing us to have physical events, four years we could not do anything. But because we set up these two programs and we had a very very active WhatsApp community, By the way, we have a very active WhatsApp community in India. What we have done is there was a lot of pressure from some partners and from Microsoft that why don't you use Teams, why don't you We said no. India is a WhatsApp country. We don't want people to force them to change their habits.
Suresh Ramani:We would rather meet partners at the place where they are comfortable. And in India, partners were comfortable with WhatsApp. So we have set up a very strong WhatsApp community with strong governance where only Microsoft specific content and IAMCP specific content can be discussed otherwise nothing else is allowed. So, I believe those were the important landmarks and then 2023 when COVID kind of was coming down, there was another challenge. We said, should we attempt annual event now?
Suresh Ramani:And we did attempt annual event in Jaipur. Again, houseful show and that convinced us, no, this event is here to stay. We will come what may to this event. And so, I think these are some of the landmarks which were there. And very clearly, we are very close to the IAMCP pillars of connect, learn, grow.
Suresh Ramani:Pretty simple. It's the best place for connections, best place to learn, and best place to grow if you are a Microsoft partner. If you're serious about Microsoft, you have to be serious about IAMCP. So those were my thoughts. Neeraj, you want to add something please?
Neeraj Gargi:No, I absolutely agree Suresh what you have mentioned that this is how we started the India chapter as a very small setup and slowly we grew. And last few years we have seen really a massive exponential growth in India and that is what we are planning to continue for next few years. The initiatives that we have started as Suresh mentioned, Solution Circle and ISP Club. So those are doing really fantastic and it is helping a lot to the partners who are very focused on a specific solution area or having a focus on to the specific ISP solutions. So yeah, it is working very well and I think we are giving enough value to the IAMCP members in India as of right now.
Rudy Rodriguez:Well, I love the way the India chapter is really engaging with partners. So that's very creative solutions that you came up with, you exhibit the three pillars of IAMCP. So it's very, very creative. So I I applaud you on that. Can you please share with us a success story where IAMCP membership directly helped a partner or business in India achieve a breakthrough result?
Rudy Rodriguez:I know you have many stories.
Suresh Ramani:Many. Neeraj? The ball is in your court.
Neeraj Gargi:Sure. I will be quite excited to talk about it because that is where we can measure our success. That as an IAMCP leadership, if we are really delivering to the community or not. So let me tell you a few stories. It may not be exactly one.
Neeraj Gargi:So I will be adding a few instances what has happened. So first of all, I want to say that every month within India chapter, are generating around 20 to 25 opportunities within the ecosystem. So this is real opportunities which are being shared within the community and we are partners of collaborating and working together and delivering this solution. So that is something which is amazingly happening. Many partners have mentioned specifically that yes, they are generating more business since they become IAMCP member.
Neeraj Gargi:So I want to take up one specific story. One of our partners who joined around two to three years back to the community. So personally I met with him in some of the event and I found him that okay, you are Microsoft focused partner. So why don't you join our community where we are doing a lot of stuff. So he just for the sake of that, I asked him, he joined the community and he found that, yeah, this is something which is working very well for them.
Neeraj Gargi:And later on when we had our event in Tukuwa, that is the year 2023. So this guy has proposed that, okay, I'm ready to take this sponsorship. And he came, he joined us as a sponsor for that event and from that sponsorship, the type of response he got from the community that is around 100 plus partners. So they were, he was completely amazed and after this event, he called me after a few months and he told me that after this event, he got so many inquiries from the partners for his ISP product which he was trying to promote for months and years. He was saying that after becoming the IAMCP member, it is very easy for me to deliver this product to the end customers through the partners.
Neeraj Gargi:So that is something which was really amazing and he was so excited and he recommended IAMCP to a lot of additional, more partners within his network that you should join this community and you will see the value what you can drive out of it. So that is something which is pretty exciting and I want to refer this specific case in this podcast.
Anthony Carrano:That's fantastic. I mean, I love I mean, I'm just learning so much. I mean, I love the just the levels of engagement, you know, to the point Rudy brought up about just the the creativity that's involved to facilitate, you know, the the connect learning and growing experiences, you know, within IAMCP for members. I like to bring it back to, you know, the the event and just just hearing all these great things that you guys are doing. What are what are gonna be some of the key themes or focus areas for Illuminate this year? And why are they especially relevant for India's partner ecosystem?
Neeraj Gargi:So this year, we are having slightly different idea and concept behind this event. So until last year, we realized that we were focusing a lot on the technology or learning or primarily sharing the knowledge. But this year, our idea is that we should create this event as a community event. So first of all, what we are trying to brand this event as a community event, we are going to call it as a community party, community dinner. So what we want to do is we want to set up an environment where people come free from the work, free from the business.
Neeraj Gargi:They come here and enjoy their three days. They do a lot of networking with each other. They spend some time with each other and then when they go back, they know that, okay, these are the guys whom I can work really. These are the nice guys, good guys and I can reach out to them whenever I'm having an opportunity. So that is the objective what we are driving this event this year.
Neeraj Gargi:We don't want to make it a conference where a lot of people are talking about various business ideas, technical stuff and workshops and that all. But instead of that, our major focus is going to be providing the enough opportunities for people to network. So we want to create it this event as more engaging, more entertaining than the knowledge driven. So that is what we are working on and let us see how it works out. We still have almost six weeks to this event. So still a lot of work needs to be done and my team is working really hard.
Anthony Carrano:Is there going to be some opportunities coming out just on how folks then who are going to come and since it is a lot about networking, about just some pre show like before the event, the ability to try and connect and set up meetings and whatnot or some of those things going to be in place?
Neeraj Gargi:Not really. We don't have any such plans. So instead of that, what we are going to do have is having two parties. One party is which is what we are calling is a community party. That is the day one.
Neeraj Gargi:We are the whole evening where people will be engaging with each other, talking with each other. We are going to have some team building exercises or team building activities around that where we are going to have partners working together as a single team. So that is how we are going to drive and we are going to create some bonding within the community. So that is the day one. And the two is more about the awards night where people will be awarded for their efforts or for their whatever they have done in last year within the IAMCP community.
Neeraj Gargi:So they are going to be recognized and followed by our Gala dinner where a lot of networking opportunities are going to be created and Microsoft leadership is going to join us for this Gala dinner so that we can bridge the gap between the Microsoft leadership and the partners. Most of the time partners are complaining that we don't know who are the Microsoft leaders whom to reach out for what. So that is where we want to set up an environment where Microsoft leadership and partners are spending time together and they are creating a good bonding between them.
Anthony Carrano:Okay. So since I know know Rudy's got a question about just, you know, with with like the global connections. I did want to just ask one more just kind of a piggyback question on this since this is about you're gonna have a couple parties such point on on networking. For those that are listening, you know, to this episode, what would be then maybe one piece of advice you would give them to say, look, if you're gonna come, here's what you got to make sure you do to get the most out of the event.
Neeraj Gargi:So the best advice is spend all the three days with us within the community, spend maximum time with us, with your peers who are there on the event and do network. So that is the only advice what I want to give to the attendees because it is not a learning opportunity. It is not a knowledge opportunity. It is more about the networking, creating the P2P stories, creating some good connections with Microsoft.
Anthony Carrano:Excellent. Thank you.
Rudy Rodriguez:Well, that sounds exciting. That sounds like something I did way back in ready? 2005 when I threw a party in here in Texas, and the one rule at that party besides networking was no PowerPoint. So which was a lot of fun, which scared Microsoft because they wanted to do PowerPoints, but I wouldn't let them do it. So so I I love the part about connections because that is a premier pillar of the IAMCP.
Rudy Rodriguez:So what are what is the India chapter doing to collaborate with other IAMCP regions and and what global perspectives can be, you know, reflected in an event where you could share these types of, activities?
Neeraj Gargi:Sure. Suresh, would you like to take this?
Suresh Ramani:Yeah. Another thing which we are doing now is we are trying to also do something at the APAC level because the idea is that as I have the responsibility to grow the APAC, things are more in our control because things can happen, events can be done. So we are doing some events at the APAC level where we are getting the partners on one platform to talk to each other. One of the things we did to kind of ensure that people communicate more at APAC level is we created something called as a WhatsApp APAC Community, not the group. The idea is the way we are structuring it is this way. Chapters, let's say India as a chapter, India chapter has a WhatsApp group, ANZ chapter Australia and New Zealand has a WhatsApp group, then you have Southeast Asia has a WhatsApp group and anybody joining that group automatically joins the IAMCP APAC community.
Suresh Ramani:That's how it works. So that is one platform which we have created by which we are wanting people at the APAC level to share more ideas with each other. Second similar platform for people who are more comfortable with LinkedIn, we also have created a IAMCP APAC LinkedIn group which is restricted to by the way both these groups are restricted to active IAMCP members only. That's very clear. It's the premium part of the freemium model which we use essentially.
Suresh Ramani:So, with these two platforms, we hope to foster closer relationships between the APAC level chapters and then of course we heavily promote the P2P initiatives which ongoing. Let's say Paul runs quite a few interesting P2P initiatives in terms of POGs, basically POGs, partner opportunity groups. So in those we encourage our partners to join those POGs based on their interest and try to share the things because there's a lot of work. We say that we are a global community. 70% local, 30% global or whatever depending you take your ratio.
Suresh Ramani:I'm giving you my ratio. This is not a formula, this is my ratio. For some it will be fifty-fifty. But we are actively encouraging partners to take part in local initiatives and global and regional initiatives because it's only when you get engaged. See some partners who are more international in their outlook and business may find greater leverage in engaging at the POG level for example.
Suresh Ramani:But for other partners, local chapter might be more interesting. So it's like we are giving you the platform. Please leverage the platform. The platform works at the chapter level, at the regional level and at the international level. You make your choice what works for you and every partner is different, every company is different.
Suresh Ramani:So that's the kind of few of the things which we have done which are focused on ensuring that we kind of grow the whole thing. In fact, one interesting thing which has happened is that we had one kind of a soft launch of Southeast Asia chapter about a week or so back. That's a newest chapter of APAC and few of the partners whom we spoke to there, they are planning to come down from Singapore, from Malaysia to the Bangalore event essentially. The idea being that we want them to come experience, network because ultimately their solutions are not restricted to their country. It's all international.
Suresh Ramani:Why not use the international forum for that?
Neeraj Gargi:Yes. I want to add here. So in another initiative, we are planning which is still under discussion that how about if we can have a joint calls between two chapters. So something like where we can invite the people or members from India chapter and then we ask some other chapter. Maybe it may be SoCal or it may be some European chapter or maybe Germany.
Neeraj Gargi:So why can't we have joint meetings where we can bring in all the members from these two chapters and we are having some specific agenda and we keep the platform or environment where these partners can talk to each other, members can talk to each other and understand what exactly they are doing into their chapter. So that is something what we are exploring if that is possible or feasible and if it can add value. So if that works then probably this is something we are an initiative towards making the global connections within the chapters.
Rudy Rodriguez:Excellent. Anthony, you have a question?
Anthony Carrano:Yeah. Yeah. No. This is this is fantastic. I know just thinking about the level just of innovation you know what you're doing both at the chapter and the regional level and I know I'm gonna bring it back to bring it back to the event.
Anthony Carrano:Now I know you're not doing any like special like speaking like their sessions per se, but there is one thing you mentioned that I'd like you to maybe unpack it a little bit more is and if I understood you correctly where you're gonna actually invite startups to come and to share and to showcase. Can you talk a little bit more about that?
Neeraj Gargi:Sure. So a small correction here. So when I said that we are having two parties, it doesn't mean that whole event is about the party only. So definitely we are going to have some serious stuff as well.
Anthony Carrano:Oh, okay. I mean, Neeraj likes to party, Suresh likes his sweets. I mean, you got a great combination going here.
Neeraj Gargi:No, we are going to have some serious business as well. So we are going to invite some senior leadership from Microsoft who will be talking more about what is that vision, what they are having for the next year, 2026. We will have some sponsors who are going to present what they are having on offer for the partners. So of course, we will have some serious business as well. But our major focus is going to be more about the networking and the entertainment and providing a platform where partners can work and spend time together.
Neeraj Gargi:So that is a whole idea. But coming back to your question about the startups. So this is something an idea which was tasked by one of our board member that why can't we do this type of activity. So we are evaluating that if that is something which can really work, how about if we give some sort of parts to a few startups who are really willing to get the exposure towards around 130 partners under one roof? How about if they can get some feedback?
Neeraj Gargi:So if they can get some ideas about their innovation, what they are doing. So that is something what we are evaluating and we are seeing that if it makes sense, maybe putting some parts during our community party and we give them some space where they can have an elevator pitch, maybe five-two minutes elevator pitch during the party. But we don't want to spoil the mood of the community and party mood of the community at that time. So we are trying and we are figuring out what best can be done. But the idea here is to bring in more innovation into the ecosystem and to learn that what exactly is happening around the world. And if there is something where partners can get cue about what is happening in the in around the ecosystem and if they can be a part of that innovation.
Rudy Rodriguez:I really like that idea. That reminds me of something we did a long time ago that we called the beta desk, where we had smaller companies come in and present what they could do, and we would line up five business owners to give them advice as well. So the elevator pitch, very good idea. I know that works. I know that works.
Neeraj Gargi:Of course, Rudy, we are we are just following your footprints.
Rudy Rodriguez:Oh, of course. Now I'm scared that somebody's been following me for thirty years. Getting paranoid there. Hey, I've got a I've got a question because the the IAMCP is always evolving. You know, it's always evolving, and you as leaders, it's it's challenging being a leader, you know, and what, you know, what you run across each and every single day, every week, every month. What challenges do you see partners in India facing? What challenges are partners in India facing today, and how are you planning on helping them? How is IAMCP planning on helping them?
Neeraj Gargi:So the problems and the issues and challenges what partners are facing are really humongous in the Microsoft ecosystem. So every time, every year Microsoft is changing, it's evolving and it's very difficult for partners to cope up with it. So of course, Microsoft is conducting a lot of webinars before doing these changes or making some innovation into their products. But most of the times, partners are not able to cope up with that. So to solve or to help partners to understand these changes.
Neeraj Gargi:So what we are doing is whenever such changes are happening, we are bringing in Microsoft speaker and we are conducting our own series of webinars where we are explaining that what changes are happening and how it is going to impact the partner ecosystem. So that is the one area what we are trying to help. In addition to that, many of the times partners don't know whom to reach out for what. A very recent situation what has happened is one partner has complained about that his opportunities or leads are being redirected to other partners. So we took it very seriously and we reached out to Microsoft mentioning that this is the complaint, what our member partner is doing and do we have any way that we can address this concern.
Neeraj Gargi:Fortunately, we got a very positive response from Microsoft VDS's team. They came in, they explained everything that how this opportunity has been generated, how it went to which partner. They shown each and every record and logs about what exactly has happened and this addresses the concern what partners faced. So I think that is the value of what an IAMCP leadership we have provided to our members. Because when we talk about our old pillars, that is PACE.
Neeraj Gargi:So that is where the advocacy is one of the area where we used to be having quite excited about. So that is where we are trying that this community should always pick up the member issues and partner issues and we should raise it to the Microsoft. Another very good example is last month only one partner was saying that his partner center renewal is not happening and support team is taking its own sweet time to resolve the issue. So we raised that matter. Wrote to the Microsoft leadership in India and we told them that this is impacting partner heavily.
Neeraj Gargi:So we should, being a part of community, need to escalate it and we want that somebody should look into this issue. Fortunately, Microsoft leadership took that support case and they sorted out this whole issue within two days. So that was a big win for IAMCP as community that Microsoft is listening to us and they are acting on whenever we are raising a concern. These are the few small incidents. But I want to call out one major event what we executed yesterday.
Neeraj Gargi:So we planned a program with Microsoft VDS team. So VDS is the team who is behind the partner nurturing and generating the inside sales referrals to the partners. So we planned a program where we said, how about if we bring in media steam and IAMCP together and we create a program where each VDS referral, its partner is converting or filling it. So they get some specific points which we are going to call as VDS points. So each partner can accumulate these points and once they accumulated few points, then they can in exchange of these points, they can get some services from the VDS team.
Neeraj Gargi:Let it be a technical webinar on behalf of the partner or let it be a customer conversation to close a deal. And most important is they are going to pass on some large opportunities to the partner against this point. So that way each and every partner community member will get the opportunity to get good referrals from the VDS team. So this was a big hit. Around 150 partners had joined this call and it was a big hit and Microsoft VDS team is quite excited about it.
Neeraj Gargi:So very soon we are going to send some communication around this event. We are going to do some social posting as well. But yeah, these are the few initiatives what we are taking towards nurturing the community and nurturing the members who are part of this community.
Rudy Rodriguez:Wow, I really like the way your chapter is so proactive in addressing the issues that you always run across at IAMCP. I really appreciate that. Really do. We should write a wind wire to all the chapters and try to create best practices around some of these things. So I've got another question because the IAMCP has always been known for fostering collaboration.
Rudy Rodriguez:You know, we've done that across the world for for many, many years. How does the India chapter how do you guys specifically cultivate trust and co sell opportunities amongst your members?
Suresh Ramani:You want to take it up, Neeraj? Yeah?
Neeraj Gargi:Yes, Suresh. Please go ahead.
Suresh Ramani:Rudy, one of the principles of business is first you build relationships, then you do business. That will not change. So that's been at the foundation. So what we are trying to do here is we are telling our partners that within the ecosystem we are going to give you resources. Resources which are by the way available to all IAMCP members through the partnering as a practice and there are so many other resources which Per and others have put up on our website of NDA templates and all those things which are all there for us which people generally don't use. So we are telling them use this platform, come together for meetings, become comfortable with other partners, look out for partners who have got complementary skill sets with whom you can grow together and then once your relation is there, business will come.
Suresh Ramani:I mean, we should not try to get business first. We should first try to build relations first. Business will happen. So I think that's something which is happening. And as Neeraj mentioned, we track opportunities every month, literally, anything between 20 to 27, 28 opportunities are exchanged every single month in our chapter. Every month. Okay? Every month.
Suresh Ramani:And partners, there are partners who have built their business model around partnering, okay. They have come together with some partners and you know and they are executing solutions together. All this happening because there is a trust factor. Let's face it. Trust even in it is very old fashioned and boring word but still very very relevant in today's time. If you have trust, business will happen. It is as simple as that.
Suresh Ramani:So when people see that okay, he is a fellow IAMCP member, number one, immediately you have a connect, oh, we are from the same community. I think that's important, right? When you are from the same group or the same community, you tend to have more trust with each other. Once that is there, people talk to each other, people work together and then things happen. Business happens.
Suresh Ramani:Do not promise business for people. IAMCP should never promise. IAMCP should say its a platform, we will facilitate relationship building, we will give you opportunities so that you can come together and strike relationship with each other and then do business as simple as that. So I think that's that's fundamental. Absolutely fundamental. I don't think that's going to change ever.
Rudy Rodriguez:Well, now that you're the India chapter is into its teenage years because you're sixteen years into into into your history right now. Where do you see the India chapter heading in the next two to three years, and how will this Illuminate set the stage for that journey?
Suresh Ramani:Neeraj, 1,400,000,000. Speak about 1,400,000,000 people in India.
Neeraj Gargi:Okay. So let me take this one. So during one of the conversation with one of the Microsoft India leader, we were talking about IAMCP and I was telling him that that is how IAMCP is. This is what we are doing in IAMCP India. So this is what we want to do.
Neeraj Gargi:So he was asking me that how many members you are having in this community? I said actively around one hundred twenty one hundred thirty members. He said, Do you know that how many partners, active partners do we have in India? That is 2,500. These are the partners who are transacting at least every year.
Neeraj Gargi:And out of this around 900 members who are transacting every month. So if you are telling me that out of this 900 members or 900 partners, you are having only 120 or 130. That means you are really really under utilizing the whole ecosystem. So he said that you should be targeting like at least 300, 400 members in this community, which can be achieved very easily. That is the type of potential you are having in this community.
Neeraj Gargi:So I took the idea and I said that yes, that's absolutely right. If there are 900 partners who are transacting every month out of this, even if we can drive 30% or 40% out of partner ecosystem, So still we will have really a huge community for IAMCP India. So considering this current potential what we are having in India, so we are targeting that this year we should be touching somewhere around 200 members by the end of, not this year, I mean to say 2026. So that is what we are targeting. By the end of next year, we want to reach or we want to touch the 200 mark of the membership.
Neeraj Gargi:For that what we are doing is we are creating or we are setting up the various chapter level meetings because ultimately that is the ground reality where partners are going to meet in person, creating the trust within the community and start doing the activities. Then we are strengthening our webinars. We are having roughly one webinar every alternate month where we are having around 120, 130, 150 partners who are joining the call and we are bringing in some really senior leadership from Microsoft to talk about the IAMCP and Microsoft relationship or the type of work what we can do together. So that is the whole ecosystem what we are building so that we can reach to the number what we are targeting at. So typically if I see back, I can see that for last three-four years, have grown from somewhere seventy-eighty members in India and today we are seeing that we are at 120 to 130 members.
Neeraj Gargi:So typically in last two-three years, I think we have around sixty-seventy percent. So if we maintain that same pace, we can really see that after a few years India is going to be one of the very significant chapter from the point of view of member count in the IAMCP ecosystem. So that is what we are targeting. But everything boils down to that what type of efforts we are putting in, what type of events, what we are doing in, what type of value we are generating members. So we are working really hard on that and we want that we are delivering the good value to the members whoever is joining the IAMCP community.
Suresh Ramani:So let me add something here. In this whole journey, this annual event plays a very important part. And the reason is very simple and I keep talking about it even in our international board meetings that now that inspire is no longer there, the physical inspire is no longer there, this is the inspire for partners. If we have that kind of vision where we say that every regional illuminate of IAMCP should be the regional inspire. I think that is going to really land us and that's something which will help us focus our attention that that is where we want to go.
Suresh Ramani:And let's face it, Is there anything which can come? If there is one event which can come near Inspire, it's IAMCP Illuminate. Simple. Let's be clear about it. I don't see anything else coming even close to that.
Suresh Ramani:It is just that we should have that kind of vision at the chapter level, at the regional level, and at the international board level that, look, this is an opportunity for us. The fact that Microsoft does not want to hold physical inspire, Ignite is a different chapter. Ignite doesn't have the Inspire vibe. Let's be clear about it. So this should become the event for partners to attend, whether in EMEA or APAC or Americas.
Suresh Ramani:Imean that is the kind of focus we should have and if we have that focus, I believe the event, every event will lead to a jump in the overall awareness of IAMCP. That's my two bits around this.
Anthony Carrano:Absolutely. That's fantastic. That's great. Gentlemen, this this has been a great interview. Really appreciate a lot of just the wisdom and the perspective. Hopefully, a lot of the chapters and even the regions I've been listening to hear about some of the, you know, the real creative and innovative ways that you're reaching, you know, connecting and engaging, you know, with members.
Neeraj Gargi:Yes.
Anthony Carrano:And you both had, you know, been involved with IAMCP for for quite some time. I like to kinda end maybe on a personal note, like, each of you can, you know, briefly just share a little bit about, like, what does being part of IAMCP leadership mean to you personally? And secondly, has it shaped your, like your personal like your professional journey as a business executive?
Neeraj Gargi:Suresh, you want to take it first?
Suresh Ramani:Let me first take it up. I think for me it has been the time when I really wish that we had forty eight hours a day of work because twenty four hours sometimes looks very, very less. With the amount of time, especially in the startup years, it just takes up, right? I am a bit rude, you know, right? When I used to look at my calendar before, I used to say, What am I doing?
Suresh Ramani:What am I doing? You know, all the calendar blocks, 70% of them used to be due to IAMCP. But it was, I think, worth it because, today when I look back and I it gives you that sense of satisfaction, a legacy that, Okay, there is a platform. And I'll be very frank. The amount of respect partners in India have for me is purely because of this aspect.
Suresh Ramani:That doesn't have a monetary value. Let's be clear about it. It doesn't have a monetary value. It's that feel good value. Even today, whenever they talk to me, they say, wow, we have this platform because of you.
Suresh Ramani:So I think work sometimes there is we have to work for money but at the same time there is also a community aspect and I have devoted pretty much my I do I am not a part of Lions Club or Oak Tree Club and all those kind of things. Feel I should put in my community community hours in IAMCP and things which are close to my heart. IAMCP has always been very close to my heart and I think that has been something which you can say it makes you feel good. I'm sure Rudy will agree with me. When you look back and you feel that oh, so many people know you, give you so much respect for what you did for the community because when you do something for the community you are not expecting anything monetary benefit to them but the love, respect you get and it's the sense of legacy right.
Suresh Ramani:Something was created which is going to be of huge huge huge benefit to the partner community. I think that's phenomenal feeling. I'm telling it's a phenomenal feeling absolutely. Neeraj you want to add something?
Neeraj Gargi:Sure. So after spending around twenty five years in the industry, so this is a time when I feel that what I get from the community I need to give back. So as I mentioned that I started my journey of Microsoft partner. That was how I started with the IAMCP. I took a lot of knowledge, lot of help and support from this community. And I think this is the time when I can really give it back. So that is what I'm trying to do. That is inspiring me every day that I need to bring something unique for this community because I got a lot from this community. Everybody has helped me. Everybody has helped me to navigate through very complex Microsoft ecosystem.
Neeraj Gargi:So today my objective is I should give it back to the community. So that is what I'm doing. Yes, it is affecting sometimes my personal life, sometimes my business life, my professional life as well. But I feel that I think this is the time when I can give back to the community a bit from the professional point of view, already worked for twenty five years. This is a quite a long time.
Neeraj Gargi:So this is the time when where I can take a pause. I can spend a couple of years towards the community. I can set up some example or I can set up something where I can say that yes, I work for the community and I got some new ideas and new innovation into the chapter and that is how I to give back to IAMCP. So that is the objective but of course it has some impact on the professional and personal life. Like I mean at this moment when my wife is waiting for me, I am sitting in front of camera and talking to you guys.
Neeraj Gargi:But yes, it gives a lot satisfaction. It gives a lot of achievement when everybody looks at me around 100 twenty-one 130 partners. They look at me that what Neeraj is going to decide for them, that how IAMCP can give them the best value out of what they are spending into this community. So I feel very excited about it and I feel that I am responsible. I have the responsibility to give back to this community in the best possible So that always excites me and every morning I'm very much excited to do and bring in some new idea around this IAMCP. So that is what I'm trying to do.
Anthony Carrano:Excellent. Excellent. Well, please do, convey to the missus, our thank you for letting you, be on the camera here for the last hour. Thought it was just a great, great, great episode. So as we wrap up, what's the best way for folks listening to connect with you?
Neeraj Gargi:So we both are on the LinkedIn, so that's the best way today. So we can post the LinkedIn, handle there. So that's the easiest way. But of course, I mean, we are having the IAMCP email ID. So probably that is the right way if you want to go in more about the formal channel.
Anthony Carrano:Excellent. Excellent. We'll have that information in the show notes. And, finally, back to the the close the loop here about with the event. What's the event, website?
Anthony Carrano:Because we wanna include that in the show notes for people that wanna check out, the IAMCP, the the Illuminate APAC. It's it's what's, www.iamcpindia.org. Is that correct?
Neeraj Gargi:Let me give you the exact URL of the event page, so that will be easier. Okay. Here it goes in the chat.
Anthony Carrano:Okay. So it's iamcpindia.org/iac2026 We'll have that in the show notes, but I know at a minimum We'll have that direct link in the show notes. But, also, folks can find out at iamcpindia.org. Gentlemen, thank you so much. This was fantastic. Enjoy the rest of your day.
Neeraj Gargi:Thank you. Thank you, Anthony. Thanks a lot, and thank you, Rudy.
Suresh Ramani:And and Merry Christmas to both of you, and Merry Christmas to all the partners everywhere. Absolutely.
Rudy Rodriguez:Peace and joy across the world.
Neeraj Gargi:Merry Christmas and, wishes for the new year.
Anthony Carrano:Well, that wraps up our conversation with the leaders of IAMCP India about their upcoming Illuminate event. For more information about this event, visit www.iamcpindia.org. What really stood out to me is you know how this chapter is blending local innovation with global collaboration, really creating opportunities that ripple far beyond the event itself. And there are so many incredible, just nuggets. So I'm really glad that I had both, you know, Suresh and Neeraj on the episode.
Anthony Carrano:And I hope, as those that are listening can get a lot of value out of what they had to say. If you're part of the Microsoft partner ecosystem, Illuminate is a chance to connect, learn and grow alongside peers who are shaping the future. And even if you're outside that circle, the lessons here about community, leadership, and shared success apply to any business striving for impact. Thank you for joining us on this episode of IAMCP Profiles in Partnership powered by Dunamis Marketing. If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to subscribe, share it in your network, and keep an eye out for more conversations that spotlight the people and ideas driving innovation and change.
Anthony Carrano:Until next time, keep building, keep collaborating, and keep illuminating the path forward.
