New technologies are bringing a wave of change, and no technology is more highly anticipated than 5G networking. Speeds up to 100 times faster than current 4G promise almost instant connectivity and make the “internet of things” and automated vehicles mainstream reality.

Just last week, China announced mass deployment of 5G, beating a projected 2020 launch date and putting the pressure onto accelerate 5G availability in the United States. Upping the odds for U.S. success, Microsoft Corp. and AT&T Corp. have combined forces to focus on not only 5G, but associated transformational technologies artificial intelligence and cloud computing.

“If you can imagine it, it’s a possibility,” said Rokeya Jones (pictured), senior principal of the 5G Azure Connectivity PM Group at Microsoft Corp. “The internet of everything is coming.”

Jones spoke with Dave Vellante and David Floyer, co-hosts of theCUBE, SiliconANGLE Media’s mobile livestreaming studio, during the Micron Insight event in San Francisco. They discussed the cultural and technological changes impacting how the world does business and Jones’ vision for a 5G-enabled future (see the full interview with transcript here). (* Disclosure below.)

This week, theCUBE spotlights Rokeya Jones in its Women in Tech feature.

Empowering the world through tech

5G is just one area in which Jones is working to bring about change in society. She co-founded Tech World’s Half in 2016 to help break the glass ceiling of the tech industry. Then, in 2017 she became an executive adviser to the Cloud Girls nonprofit, which is dedicated to bringing more women into the technology field.

Jones is also the founder and chief executive officer of AGNM Inc., a non-profit company with the mission to “empower underserved young people with best practices, life lessons, and interactive programming designed to ignite a better future with a career in technology.” AGNM’s main impact comes from its global technology tour, The Have Not Story. The tour offers students aged 13 to 19 an opportunity to hear personal stories from role models, such as Jones herself, and take part in confidence-building activities to increase their self-esteem.

“I want underserved students to harness the superpowers they already have to realize a brighter future made possible by applying diverse experiences to a career in technology,” Jones said.

Self-confidence keeps Jones focused on her goal

Choosing a career in tech was not the easiest path for an African-American girl from Atlanta. But Jones had the passion and confidence to succeed in a field where the odds were stacked against her.

Jones’ career started with a love of STEM. She holds both a bachelor’s of science degree in network engineering and computer information systems and a master’s of science degree in data science management.

Four years in global business services at IBM Corp. was followed by time under Bob Iger as part of the Walt Disney Co. corporate information-technology team and as a solutions architecture and internet of things specialist with Verizon Wireless.

Jones joined Microsoft as the company started its major transformation from a more competitive, short-term profit focus to one more suited to the open, collaborative style of business that marks the adoption of cloud technologies.

“With our new CEO, Satya Nadella, and Peggy Johnson who leads our business development, we are really taking the game and just changing it and making it more something that we can do with everyone instead of in silo,” Jones said, describing how Microsoft has become much more open to partnerships such as the one with AT&T. “Our company is dedicated and focused on creating more diverse technology that can meet customers’ needs all over the globe.”

Jones leads others by telling her story

Microsoft has given Jones the opportunity to inspire others through mentoring, speaking at diversity events, and involvement with programs such as the Imagine Cup.

The Have Not Story website lists quotes from women who have been inspired by her example, including Mariah Hart, who works with Jones at Microsoft. ”From her mentorship, I’ve grown as a leader … she empowers people and teaches them how to realize their own strong suits,” Hart said.

Another powerful endorsement of Jones comes from Michelle McBain, vice president of global channel strategy for the JS Group, who said: “There are few people in your life you meet, who leave you completely in awe and inspired … Rokeya is one of those people.”

Public recognition for the hundreds of hours Jones spends on volunteer work each year came recently when she was awarded the 2019 Technical Pacesetter Award. One of only four women selected by the technology industry association CompTIA’s Advancing Women in Technology Community,  Jones’ award honored her dedication as a leader who inspires and mentors others with the goal of empowering them in their chosen career and, in turn, creating a more diverse and inclusive workforce.

Atomic compute and limitless 5G

“Chop up compute” would be Jones’ advice if Microsoft CEO Nadella asked her vision for how to handle compute, storage and networking under 5G.

“I think that in the future, when we talk about compute, we need to be able to chop it up and we need to sell it to individuals,” she said, describing a radical model where compute could be divided into atomic components and assigned to individual users, applications and workloads.

“We have an enormous amount of opportunity to give customers freedom and flexibility,” Jones said. “If we’re not able to give them freedom and flexibility, I think that we really limit the possibilities of what truly 5G can bring.”

Here’s the complete video interview, part of SiliconANGLE’s and theCUBE’s coverage of Micron Insight. (* Disclosure: TheCUBE is a paid media partner for the Micron Insight event. Neither Micron, the sponsor for theCUBE’s event coverage, nor other sponsors have editorial control over content on theCUBE or SiliconANGLE.)

Photo: SiliconANGLE