Reflecting back on 12 years at Microsoft

A few days ago, I rather unceremoniously celebrated my 12h anniversary at Microsoft. I have experienced our successes, struggles and true grit for almost every day of those 12 years.

Reflecting back, it all started when I was 16 years old, I used to stay up many nights learning to code, writing code in a paper notebook as owning a computer was well beyond the financial means of my family in those days, the dream of working for Microsoft one day, as impossible as it looked during those nights, made them not only bearable but almost enjoyable.

It is hard to summarize the spirit of a large organization like Microsoft. But this how I see us: 

We are not in the business of building $1,500 phones which are barely distinguishable from their $500 predecessors.

 We are in the business of building an inclusive cloud platform that enables a generation of innovators and problem solvers to address some of most complex scientific, healthcare, social, political and business challenges of our time.

 We deservedly got ridiculed for our first attempt at Surface. We worked hard and made it better with every generation.

 Our first attempt at Azure, not so deservedly, was written off in light of better established competition. Now we are humbled by the trust of our customers in Azure.

 Now, 31 years later after those long, sleepless nights, I wouldn’t have it any other way.

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