I’m entering my 25th year at Microsoft and here’s what you can expect

Like many, the past several weeks during lockdown I've become quite introspective and allowed myself the time to ruminate on topics that are increasingly important.?It's been a wonderful process and I wanted to share my perspective on the sweeping transformations taking place and my connection and relevance to?the?world around me?– and even more so as I had my 24th?year anniversary with Microsoft this week.?

Because of the pandemic, international travel is once again the luxury of a happy few.?In Australia and New Zealand our boarders are closed but I am optimistic that it will soon change,?and I look forward to that day to see, meet and collaboration?with?colleagues?again.??

On the personal front, my social media feed is a little hard to come at with fully vaccinated friends offering up delightful scenes in?North America, Mexico and?Europe. It may be a momentary scourge, though?it gives me much needed hope my family and I can enjoy travel again too.

My?relationship with work and?making it?purposeful??

This week, I've entered my 25th year with Microsoft, which looks like 19 years in?Redmond HQ?and five years in my?hometown,?Microsoft Australia?Sydney. I've been around the block a few times.

I think the world experiences the North American summer period in some way?or another, and personally I look forward to it.?For those in the US, their?summer has offered a?much-needed?relief from worries and?is?as close to a normal life as their situation will allow.

I've grown to rely on the period for its replenishing?ability which?is heavily influenced by reflecting on achievements - and typically at a company event where recognition is the focus.

Writing this today, it seems surreal we were able to celebrate achievements by chatting casually, shoulder to shoulder, and?typically?in the process start thinking, "What now?"?“What am I going to do differently in the year ahead to make?further impact on my team, partners, family and community”.

Now more than ever, I understand my company and my place within it. I want to connect and support others on purposeful work and in the process deeply connect with Australian and New Zealand?technology?sector?driving?outstanding innovation and excellence?both at home and on the global stage.

From?‘master of global scale’?to cultivating local connection

My adult professional identity was developed in another country?and underpinned?by a professional experience working in a headquarters?where scale was the focus, day in day out.?I was tasked?to?motivate and?lead teams?of?product marketers?and technical?innovators?in the?design, launch?and?growth of?solutions?– on a global scale.??

One?of these?teams, Microsoft 365, has?since?exceeded 50M subscribers?which is twice the population of Australia –?it?blows my mind.?And thinking about this,?I've been fortunate to lead Microsoft products to market which have ushered in new digital business era.?

I makes me?smile?when I?reflect?on?those global decisions?as they’ve?showed up?very well?in Australia.?As?a?global team we often?got?it?right?and?also?the?markets that we serve?were ready.

The relationship I have with my work has changed a lot over the?past five?years.

Today,?it is much clearer to me?and my most important task in?the?role of leading the partner ecosystem?is connecting?our global mission?to every single Australia and NZ citizen, to leverage the mastery of scale, and make it feel individual to?everyone.

Australia and New Zealand is?a?known?test bed of?tech?innovation and I'm excited about the next decade of transformation particularly?as a?new frontier of?startups?and digital businesses?become a key?driver of growth?and prosperity challenging the top performing ASX companies.

That is what I talk with many of our ANZ partners about, not just the business opportunities but also what we can be doing around diversity and inclusion and attracting more talent?to the industry.

You'll?notice?an increase in investment in this area and?we'll be throwing a spotlight on those partners doing work to address social inequities in?ANZ. It's so important.?

I now know that by doing this we can fully?realize our collective priorities and in the process deeply consider a stronger innovation agenda for all ANZ businesses.?

Innovation to me has become much less about technology and more on its application of evenly?and equitably?distributing resources.??

Hard?yet?necessary?work to come

One of the collateral impacts of COVID-19 is?the lack of visibility?women have due to working from home - it?is having a drastic impact on professional women. The literature is suggesting women who are working remotely are being overlooked for promotions?and this is?totally unacceptable.?

Mark Twain famously said, “The future interests me – I'm going to spend the rest of my life there.” I think of his quote in the context of those setting out in their careers in technology - especially women.?

My tenure and experience at Microsoft?mean?I'm in a position of responsibility, and?addressing inequities?is?an emerging value system for me which I'm getting super sharp on.?It’s?an overarching priority on putting impact first.?

October?27 is an important moment as we will carve out time and space as a business, along with?8000 other partner?members,?to learn and?act?for inclusive workplace culture?– we’re calling this moment, ‘Stand Up’.

The focus will be on gender equality in relation to sexual harassment, sex/gender discrimination and everyday sexism in the workplace experienced by people who identify as women.

Our commitment to taking this moment is unwavering?and I am proud to be leading the?charge.?I am?energized by the idea of connecting with the creative problem solvers in our community who are building solutions?which are?positively impacting those who need it most, now more than ever.

Microsoft ANZ is accountable to its commitments and creates truly meaningful experiences for its ecosystem and I’m grateful to be able to extend these experiences.??

Particularly,?if you’re a woman seeking support from your boss,?download the Women Rising ‘Ask Your Boss’ guide?with all of the tools and guidance to make your business case.

Looking back, I think I was destined to work in technology and more specifically to work for Microsoft.?I am proud Microsoft-ee.?I'm excited to be in the drivers' seat of a new chapter of transformation in ANZ?and our gender equality efforts.?

Thanks to everyone who has been part of this journey with me, I?will definitely be relying on you for the future as well.