First 100 days on the job: my learnings at Microsoft

First 100 days on the job: my learnings at Microsoft

Earlier this year, prior to the start of the pandemic, I began my role as a legal & compliance GBB at Microsoft; my first role at a technology company. This was not the only change in my life at the time – I had recently gotten married, purchased a new home, and was accepted into a master’s program in Cybersecurity & Privacy Law. Why I chose Microsoft: I wanted to collaborate with the brightest minds and work for a company that focuses on improving the lives of others. This is exactly what Microsoft stands for, as its mission statement reads: “To empower every person and every organization on this planet to achieve more.”

From my learnings at Microsoft in the first 100 days, I am hoping to inspire and give confidence to those that are interested in making a move into a new industry, those that are interested in knowing what its like working in big tech, and to those that are interested in moving into a non traditional legal role. To sum up my experience working at Microsoft, this has been one of the most rewarding career decisions I have made to date.

What is it like working at Microsoft?

When asked, “what is it like working at Microsoft in your first 100 days”, what initially came to mind was the following comment:

“I have drunk from a firehose before, working at a law firm, investment banks, and big pharma… but working at Microsoft was different, I felt like I was drinking straight from the hydrant.”

Nonetheless, these 100 days have been nothing but incredible. There is always the fear of failure when ramping up at any new company, but when you find your sense of purpose, your passion, and the opportunity to provide real value to your customers, the fear slowly washes off and the eagerness to learn kicks in. Excitement, anxiety, and fear are the best ways I can describe how I’ve felt; a balancing act between the three in the first 100 days, with excitement in the lead. The outcome, however, has been rapid growth and learning.

With the excitement for working at the greatest tech company also came challenges, as I began my journey amid the coronavirus. A very uncertain and unusual time, but an opportunity to better support our customers through their journey to digital transformation. I am grateful to experience this learning opportunity.

Some learnings to share for my first 100 days on the job:

1.Be patient with yourself

The reality is that there is a lot to learn and you will be drinking from a firehose for sometime. It will be painful at times and your head will be spinning often. You will be in multiple meetings at the beginning and have no clue what is going on. That is okay. You are hired for a reason, be patient, and have confidence in yourself.  My biggest challenge wasn’t ramping up on technology or understanding industry challenges; I was putting too much unnecessary pressure on myself. I have also been counseled on this by many other GBB’s. Once you get over the hump, you are smooth sailing from there. Not having a strong technology background, I can confidently say, I am a Rockstar at demoing E5 compliance and the all up MS MW platform story. 

2. Build your Network, build your relationships, find a mentor, find a buddy.

This is where I really lucked out. I work for the Modern Workplace GBB team, under Hayete’s org, reporting to Amit Panchal. Yes, I wanted to call out this team and note how much I appreciate the support of everyone on my team. I was paired up with multiple buddies and had a few mentors from the start of my journey. Within a few weeks into my role, I had all the answers… correction, I had support from everyone on my team to help find the answers. Whether it be supporting a customer deal or demoing a technical solution to a client, the support network here at Microsoft gave me the confidence I needed to be successful in my ramp up and best serve my customers. My key message here: build genuine relationships, build your network, be honest, be kind, and you will be fine. Once you develop your skills and make an impact, don’t forget to pay it forward. Not only will you further refine your skills, you will be seen as an expert and prove your value within the organization.

3.Be passionate and bold. Always keep learning. 

My favorite quote from Satya, “Be passionate and bold. Always keep learning. You stop doing useful things if you don’t learn”. Microsoft is a very fast paced company and not a place for amateurs. This place operates at warp speed and the only thing constant here is change. This is how I would differentiate tech from law, banking, or pharma. As a lawyer moving into a non traditional legal role as a GBB in compliance, what drives me is my passion for our products and the value that we can create for our customers. This is an exciting time to be at Microsoft as technology has proven to be immensely important as a way forward post COVID. I am proud to be part of a company that is changing the way other companies do business by offering out-of-the-box solutions for its customers.

4.Listen first, and be humble

I have found myself in a room full of highly intelligent, experienced individuals which I am excited to learn from. When you surround yourself with brilliance your only pathway is upwards, to achieve more and become better.

5.Be part of something bigger.

Working for a leading company in technology has made me aware of the reach that Microsoft has had amongst various industries. Educators trying to facilitate classroom lectures, companies keeping positive morale amongst its employees during a time of uncertainty, and healthcare workers making themselves available in an untraditional manner. I am excited to see what the future of Microsoft will bring to the table.

My closing comments:

In the 100 days at Microsoft, this role has surpassed my expectations. I am excited about the opportunities to learn and grow as an individual and apply myself to the best of my ability. 

Finally, thank you to the leadership team for taking a bet on me and supporting me. I am truly grateful for these experiences and couldn’t be happier working here. 

Thank you

Manny Sahota