Spotlight on Elise Carbone

Meet Elise Carbone, Women in Alliance Committee member. Elise is a speaker at Women in Alliances annual summit. In this article learn more about her.

Why did you agree to present at the Women in Alliances Annual Summit 2025?

Being part of Women in Alliances community has been a tremendous experience, sharing my experience and learning from others has changed my day to day. Joining the summit is a way for me to give back to the community.

How did you get into partnerships?

My career journey began in HR, where I transitioned from HR professional to HRIS consultant. This path led me to an HR tech startup where I became the Partner enablement lead for EMEA before fully transitioning into partner sales.

What do you love the most about it?

Building and nurture strong relationship is what I love the most about partnership. Co-creating a plan and then going to market with partners is a very interesting process.

What advice would you give to someone wanting to shift from a different role into partnerships?

If you're looking to transition into a partnerships role, my advice is to start by sharpening your relationship-building skills and your ability to think strategically across functions. Partnerships is a unique blend of business development, sales, marketing, and customer success. It requires empathy, curiosity, and the ability to connect the dots between organizations.

Start by getting close to your company’s current partners or ecosystem. Ask to shadow someone in a partnerships role, volunteer to support a partner project, or contribute to cross-functional initiatives. These are great ways to build visibility and experience before making the formal shift.

And finally, show that you can bring value not just internally, but externally too, representing your company with confidence while building mutual success. Be proactive, build your network, and stay open to learning constantly. It's a dynamic, people-first space, and that's what makes it so rewarding.

How have partnerships changed in the last 5 – 10 years?

Going to market with a strong ecosystem of partners will be critical for businesses. We are in a very competitive environment and having the right partner is expanding your reach and strengthening your offering. Company building strong partner networks today will be the still here in 5 years.

How are you helping raise the profile of women in partnerships?

As a woman in tech and a leader in partnerships, I'm intentional about creating visibility and opening doors for other women in our field. That includes participating in panels like the Women in Alliances Summit, where I shared insights alongside inspiring peers on career growth and resilience. I also make space to mentor and advocate for women, whether it's through everyday conversations, encouraging them to step into the spotlight, or recognizing their contributions in larger forums.

Inside my organization, I look for ways to champion inclusive leadership and bring diverse voices to the table. Especially in global settings where cultural context matters. And on LinkedIn, I share stories and learnings that reflect the highs and challenges of this journey, hoping to inspire more women to explore and thrive in partnerships.

Raising the profile of women means modelling what’s possible and making sure we’re not the last ones through the door.

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