20 years later...
Today marks my 7300rd day at Microsoft as a full time employee. It’s humbling to look back and think of my experiences, memories and friends.
The thing is - I don’t have any idea of when I’d stop working here. I love working at Microsoft. The company has provided me with so many opportunities for personal growth and impact - but more important to me - made me feel like I was part of a family. When I started I was single and today I’ve been married for 18 years and have been a father for the last 12. My life has changed so much and the company has been a constant and consistent presence and source of strength.
I can’t express how much gratitude I have for all my managers, mentors, sponsors and friends.
The most significant products I’ve had the pleasure of working on:
Outlook Express, Internet Explorer & Office for the Mac right when Apple was about to enter two decades of explosive innovation and growth. I'll never forget my first computer at Microsoft was a Bondi Blue iMac running Mac OS 9!
MSN Hotmail (now Outlook.com) weeks after Gmail launched - and a mad race to rebuild it bit by bit.
Windows Live - where OneDrive was born and when I made the big move from the bay area to Seattle - my home.
OneDrive & SharePoint - content services for individuals, school and organizations - what I work on today and am having a hell of a lot of fun seeing the early investments in these two products year ago power productivity and experience for hundreds of millions of people and key parts of Microsoft’s cloud business.
I’m lucky that I have a job that I enjoy and look forward to, an amazing team, two amazing products to grow, and phenomenal leadership to learn from. I feel supported and happy despite the challenges of the responsibility that comes with working on these two great products.
I’d like to thank all the people that have helped me and taught me what I know. You have made this an amazing 20 years. I’d also like to thank my wife for moving out to San Francisco in 2002 to let me pursue my crazy dreams!
To be continued...
Working to enable teams to do effective UX research at scale
6 年Well congratulations. I still think of you as this young kid. I suppose I should shift my thinking. :)
I'm happy we were able to pull you into PM from Test. :-)
Former Microsoft, Adobe, Aldus, Xerox, and Beckman Instruments employee. Current traveler, volunteer, and grandmother.
6 年Congratulations, Omar. What a huge milestone. You were the best dogfood tester of OneNote before V1 and you continue to be an amazing leader and contributor.
Employee Experience & Culture | Business Program Manager | Project Manager | Creative Solutions Expert | Big Picture Thinker | Customer Obsessed
6 年20 years! Congratulations!
Executive Assistant to CEO & CFO | Experienced Virtual Assistant| Administrative Business Partner
6 年Go Omar!!! I remember you and all your drive :-) Congrats my friend?