Meet Chaitra Vedullapalli, who cannot be easily boxed into a single label. She is a trailblazing entrepreneur, a globally recognized go-to-market strategist, and the co-founder of Women in Cloud, an initiative that has unlocked $500 million in economic access for women worldwide. She is also a filmmaker, venture capitalist, and keynote speaker whose ideas have been heard on global stages from TEDx to the United Nations.

Born in Bengaluru and trained as an electrical engineer, Chaitra has spent over two decades reshaping how technology companies collaborate, scale, and thrive. Her 4P Cosell GTM Method has redefined business partnerships, while her ventures in film and investment prove that she is as comfortable on a red carpet as she is in a boardroom. Guided by an “icon mindset” inspired by her grandmothers and historical figures like Cleopatra, Mother Teresa, and Indira Gandhi, Chaitra’s career is a testament to resilience, vision, and the power of inclusion.

Join us as TheGlitzMedia Co-founder Rajeev Mokashi sits down with Chaitra Vedullapalli to discuss her childhood, the lessons that shaped her, and the journey that led her from Bengaluru to becoming a global icon in technology.

Rajeev Mokashi: What early experiences shaped your “be an icon” mindset?

Chaitra Vedullapalli: Two very different, but equally powerful, influences shaped my early experiences. Growing up as an army kid, I constantly moved across India, which gave me a unique perspective on history. My seventh-grade teacher, Mr Kinsur, brought that history to life and taught me that we don’t just record it; we actively create and destroy it. He introduced me to three iconic figures: Cleopatra, an icon from the past; Indira Gandhi, a contemporary force; and Mother Teresa, a daily example of impact through service.

The second profound influence was my grandmother. A true matriarch, she lost her husband at 32 and raised eight children. As her sidekick during my youth, I inherited her perspective and what she taught me about three core principles: money is an energy to be harnessed, not a thing to be chased; people are defined by their emotions, which you must learn to work with; and self is about knowing your own identity.

Ultimately, my mindset was shaped by this understanding: that historical moments and iconic figures are born from a deep understanding of human emotion and its role in shaping the world.

What drove you to develop the 4P Cosell GTM Method and how has it transformed business partnerships?

My engineering mindset naturally drew me to reverse-engineering systems. While at Oracle, working for Larry Ellison and Safra Catz, I was tasked with creating the industry’s first-ever software investment guide. The central challenge was not just building the product but ensuring its adoption by our channel partners, who at the time were generating up to 60% of the company’s revenue. Solving that specific strategic problem became the very foundation for the 4P method, which combines product, offer, licensing, marketing, and operations into a unified framework.

What was it like being the youngest director at Oracle and how did that experience fuel your entrepreneurial ambitions?

I’ve been an entrepreneur since I was eight (smiles)… it’s pure Mumbai hustle. Travelling from Ghatkopar to Colaba daily with my younger brother, taking two trains and two buses, then walking to school, built that daring personality early on. The entrepreneurial seed was always there, and I naturally gravitated toward taking things to market, building teams, and securing funding. But I didn’t recognise it as entrepreneurship until my Microsoft career hit a plateau.

That’s when I realised I needed to test my entrepreneurial instincts. The Oracle director role taught me deal-making at scale, but more importantly, it showed me I was built for creating opportunities, not just managing them. The transition from corporate leadership to entrepreneurship felt natural because the core skills transferred: vision, team building, and execution. The difference was now I could move at the speed of my ambition rather than corporate bureaucracy. Mumbai taught me hustle, Oracle taught me scale, but entrepreneurship taught me that I’m most effective when I’m creating systems that empower others rather than just climbing someone else’s ladder.

Tell us more about Women In Tech and AI?

We’re living through the most transformational moment in human history – the democratisation of intelligence itself! When I saw Windows 95 promising to touch a billion people in 1996, I knew technology was the ultimate equaliser. That Excel spreadsheet I created as a housewife to manage our budget? That was my first taste of tech’s democratising power.

Now AI has arrived, and it’s Star Trek time! We’ve moved from democratising computing to democratising intelligence. Everyone gets the same data and the same capabilities; the only differentiators are how you protect, innovate, and create with it. Here’s the reality: AI will make you very rich or very poor, very fast. Right now, a few private companies control this infrastructure like governments control power grids. We’re just users, not owners.

Women, kids, the elderly – everyone must get AI-ready immediately. The economic power divide is shifting at lightning speed. Those who understand and control AI infrastructure become the new kings and queens of the future. We cannot leave this to chance. This isn’t where divine intervention helps. This is where we help ourselves. The world order is changing, and whichever countries, whichever humans, own the AI infrastructure will rule tomorrow. That’s why democratising access isn’t optional—it’s survival. We need everyone equipped with AI superpowers, not just the chosen few.

How do you balance your roles as entrepreneur, filmmaker, and venture capitalist?

They’re completely integrated, not separate roles. In tech, I’m a builder creating products for the market. In film, I’m translating complex technology into entertaining stories that people actually want to consume.

As a filmmaker, I can use entertainment to drive important conversations about technology’s impact. The venture capital piece enables everything else. Without funding access, nothing moves forward. Women need both economic opportunities and representation in media, but they’re systematically excluded from funding networks.

My approach is simple: use entertainment as the delivery mechanism since women love movies, create funding access where traditional systems fail, and leverage my tech expertise to bridge these worlds. Each role amplifies the others; I can’t democratise billion-dollar economic access by reaching women individually, but I can through strategic entertainment and strategic capital deployment.

From Forbes 10,000 Next to producing Oscar-qualified films, do you ever feel like you’re living multiple lives?

I’m living exactly the life I always envisioned—creating opportunities for people that never existed before. No one in tech has ‘Oscar-qualified producer’ next to their name. I’m positioned closer to Oscar-winning than most because I’ve cracked the system. These accolades matter less than the journey itself. Each path stretches your thinking and reveals your potential and skill breadth. When I come to the table, I’m not just an engineer—I raise funding, create visibility, and can turn anyone I sponsor into a star. I can transform any film into Oscar-qualified material through strategic feedback and funding.

I turned a 17-year-old into an Oscar-qualifying director. When he questioned my credentials, I told him, ‘You don’t need skills; you need people. I have access to everyone, and everything is built on relationships.’ This isn’t multiple lives—it’s leveraging diverse expertise across interconnected industries. Tech skills translate to film production. Business acumen drives creative projects. Network effects amplify everything. The secret is understanding that industries aren’t silos; they’re ecosystems where strategic thinking and relationship capital create exponential opportunities.

How do you maintain excellence across such diverse industries?

Excellence starts with an iconic mindset. Knowing your identity is anchored in uncompromising values. Second, it’s about collective action. Excellence isn’t a solo performance; it’s about creating platforms for others to shine. The moment you make it about yourself, you’ve already lost the plot. Third, true transformation happens when you transform others.

When someone needs economic empowerment, I walk them through certifications, resume optimisation, and LinkedIn strategy – the fundamental checklist. But it’s my presence and guidance that changes everything.

This morning, someone felt stuck choosing a TED topic. I didn’t give them the answer. I gave them confidence that they could figure it out within six months. That shift in belief changes the entire trajectory. Excellence comes from being fully present for others without judgement, sarcasm, or personal agenda. You hold space for their transformation to their ultimate potential. It’s not about what I want to achieve—it’s about what they need to become.

This principle works whether I’m in tech, Hollywood, or any other space because people are people. The industries change, but the core requirement remains: show up authentically, elevate others, and maintain your values while adapting your approach.

Which achievement surprised even you the most?

Creating the first Indian women-led film fund in Hollywood. No Indian woman had ever established a film fund there. Not even major players in the space had one. My partner Shana and I decided to pioneer this territory.

I had zero film experience beyond watching movies, but I understood box office dynamics through my go-to-market expertise. Every film is essentially a positioning and marketing challenge, which is my wheelhouse. I tested the concept with three friends first—all said yes immediately. We raised half a million dollars in under three hours and invested in our first movie within fifteen days, completing it before the SAG strike.

The red-carpet moment was transformative. We democratised that experience for tech women who’d never imagined themselves in that space. Seeing them transform from jeans and no makeup to looking like Hollywood stars was extraordinary. I barely recognised myself. We revolutionised movie marketing by leveraging LinkedIn when the entire tech industry lives there. Our films had unprecedented LinkedIn presence because we were the only community discussing cinema in that professional space.

The surprise wasn’t just succeeding; it was realising how money shapes narrative and how democratising access to prestigious platforms can fundamentally change who gets to tell stories and influence culture.

What role does your Indian heritage play in your global leadership approach?

Colour is the essence I carry everywhere. The diversity and boldness of Indian colours infuse everything I create. Magenta and deep green are my signatures, representing the vibrant heritage that shapes my vision.

Currently, I’m working on a project called Opulus that incorporates traditional Indian hues I discovered in historical references. These bold, historic colours are now driving a groundbreaking campaign. For Microsoft’s 50th anniversary celebration, we’re creating a coffee table book featuring 50 women’s stories that will become part of Microsoft’s permanent archives.

This project exemplifies how my Indian heritage translates into global impact: taking the fearless colour palette of my culture and using it to create something historically significant on the world stage. The global launch is scheduled for December.

Moving forward beyond the $500 million already unlocked, what’s your vision for Women in Cloud’s next chapter?

We have another half million to unlock, which I’m confident we’ll complete within two years. But my next evolution is building a $100 million fund focused on historic preservation and producing thought-provoking AI cinema that challenges how we think about regulation.

I envision creating films that tackle invisible AI complexities like digital twins and humanoid impersonation and make them visible through compelling storytelling. Think along the lines of ‘Control’, but exploring what happens when someone can perfectly replicate you digitally. These are terrifying possibilities happening right now, and we need public discourse before we’re caught unprepared.

My goal is transforming complex AI ethics into accessible narratives that spark meaningful conversations about our digital future. Ultimately, I want to take this storytelling to the Oscars and demonstrate how media can drive critical policy discussions. This isn’t just about entertainment; it’s about preparing society for technological realities we can’t afford to ignore.

What legacy do you want to leave for the next generation of Women In Tech?

You’re all icons; believe that fundamentally. Show up for yourself through confidence, preparation, and by lifting others around you.

My mission is democratising opportunities and transforming lives, not destroying competitors but elevating peers. If there’s one takeaway from my journey, it’s mastering the art of celebration. Celebrating yourself, celebrating others, and becoming an icon within your network. Humans celebrate better than anyone else, so make that your superpower.

Fireside Questions

If your life had a soundtrack, what would be playing during your most chaotic moments?

Alia Bhatt’s ‘Meri Jaan’—it’s my daily dose of shameless self-love. Powerful words, seductive music, and the perfect soundtrack for dancing through disasters.

What’s the most ridiculous thing someone has assumed about you based on your success?

That I’m dumb. Apparently, success and intelligence are mutually exclusive in some people’s minds.

If you weren’t doing what you do now, what would you be spectacularly mediocre at?

Movie watching. I’m already spectacular at sitting there doing absolutely nothing while films play. It’s a talent that requires zero skill and maximum commitment.

What’s the one thing that still completely baffles you?

Why do people choose cruelty when kindness costs nothing? The whole concept of taunting someone just for sport? I genuinely don’t get the appeal.

If achievements came with warning labels, what would yours say?

Icons are not made overnight.

What’s your go-to excuse when you need to escape boring conversations at networking events?

Want to go pee? Works every time. Nobody questions bathroom urgency.

You speak at TEDx, the UN, then Grace Hopper. Is there a green room somewhere you haven’t conquered yet?

Davos and the Hollywood Oscars. My world domination tour has a few premium venues left on the bucket list.

Do your business cards come with footnotes or do you just hand people your LinkedIn profile?

Depends on the relationship. People I love get footnotes—those are my boundaries wrapped in affection. Opportunists get LinkedIn URLs and good luck.

You champion Women In Tech while managing Hollywood funds. Is this your master plan to get more women behind and in front of cameras?

After creating a Guinness World Record with 600+ vision boards, I discovered 99% of women want to see themselves on screen. Behind the scenes is fine, but in front of the camera? That’s where validation lives.

With expertise spanning cloud, AI, IoT and cybersecurity, do dinner conversations at your house sound like tech conferences?

Not at all. I’m a master curator of Jeffersonian dinners and a damn good cook. Tech talk stays in the office; dinner is for actual human connection.