Changing Seasons and the Opportunity to Learn

No matter how much uncertainty we have seen this year, there is one thing right now we can all be certain of in North America, Fall is beginning, the leaves are changing, and I’m reminded once again why the Pacific Northwest is such a beautiful part of the world to live.

The summer felt short. There was little, if any, travel for work or vacations. And with the continued challenges the world is experiencing, it was hard to completely get away and recharge physically and mentally.

However, a new season brings new opportunities and a fresh start. For my daughter, her fresh start will be going to college and entering a new chapter in her life. My wife and I spent time helping her settle into her new surroundings this week, and as our youngest child this will be the third and final time we do this. For anyone that has been through it, I’m sure you also experienced the full range of emotions a time like this brings – immense pride and excitement for your child, wondering how the years passed by so quickly, and whether the quieter house will be a good or a bad thing. But among the many feelings I had there was one that stuck out for me, and that was a feeling of hope. 

What I see in my own children and the young people that I interact with in my personal life are people that are incredibly welcoming, open-minded, inclusive, thoughtful, supportive, and optimistic. That’s not to say that they don’t have their own challenges as every generation does, but when I see their care and focus on improving the world, it does give me hope that today’s youth will succeed in what I believe is the goal of every generation – to move the human-race forward and leave the world in a better place for the next generation.

In my professional life I see these attributes in the talented individuals that participate in the ACE Rotation Program at Microsoft. The program provides college graduates the opportunity to spend two 12-month rotations in different teams in any part of the company. For these ACE hires, this is the first season of their career and it is an incredibly important time to broaden their knowledge, build their community, strengthen their networks, and continue their learning journey.

This program is so very critical to our team and I am always inspired whenever I get the opportunity to work with our ACE hires and mostly to just listen to their thoughts and insights. The culture shift at Microsoft to having a Growth Mindset and to focus on inclusivity has taught us that everyone’s thoughts and opinions must be heard, so I really value the fresh thinking and ideas they bring. I love the fact that someone two months into their Microsoft career can have as much positive impact on a product or a marketing campaign than someone who has been at the company 20+ years.

Members of my leadership team and I have also taken the opportunity to participate in reverse mentoring in which an Ace hire or early-in-career employee guide and mentor us. There is so much to be gained from listening to different perspectives, no matter how well connected we think we may be with the world around us. Here are the three key things I have learned from these discussions and hearing what is on their mind:

The Importance of Listening with Empathy: When we were told in March that we had to stay home as our offices, schools and colleges temporarily closed, it was a challenging time for all of us. However, one benefit for me is that I did get to spend more time with my family, which I cherished. What I didn’t consider until I spoke with some of the early-in-career employees on our team is that many had recently moved to the area and were away from their families. They lived alone and didn’t have partners or roommates around them, so there was a very strong feeling of isolation. You would think it would be easier to not have children or homeschooling to worry about, but for those living alone or new to a city, quarantine was a much tougher time. It opened my eyes to how important it is to check in with others and to take time to understand and empathize with their situations, as your expectation and their reality may be vastly different.

Company Culture is More Important Than Ever: I’ve been at Microsoft for many years, but for people early-in-career, especially those in the technology sector, there are many opportunities and paths to career growth. Even with those opportunities, what matters as much as career progression is working for a company that has a strong moral compass and is focused on impacting the world in a positive way. The attributes we value at Microsoft regarding making others great, building on the ideas of others, and respecting a diversity of thoughts and experiences resonate as strongly as ever with ACE hires as any employee group at Microsoft.

Positivity is Infectious: I always find that I come away optimistic after I have spent time speaking with our Ace hires and the early-in-career employees on the team. With everything the world is going through and the different challenges we are all facing, I am so impressed with their optimism and wisdom about how to navigate the challenges. This positivity manifests in looking at problems with a fresh eye, with an optimism that challenges are solvable, and with an energy to help others along the journey.

So, as we all enter a new season in our lives, one that does offer uncertainty and trepidation, I encourage us to embrace and support the young people around us. We should look up to them and seek to learn and grow from their wisdom as much as that of our own experience and world view. Together, we can build a brighter future for everyone.