Rocket Program

Igniting Potential: The Rocket Program's Journey in Shaping Microsoft's Technical Leaders

In the realm of innovation and technology, leadership is not just a title; it's a mission. A mission to inspire, to guide, and to elevate. Microsoft's Rocket Program stands as a testament to this mission, a beacon of development for the technical leaders of tomorrow.

Two weeks ago this FY cohort graduated (100 strong from EMEA) and we successfully closed FY24 Rocket and are preparing for the FY25.

A Decade of Development. Ten years ago, in the heart of Romania, a pilot initiative took flight with a vision to nurture Microsoft's technical talent. Today, Rocket has soared beyond its initial borders, reaching over 530 engineers across EMEA and China. It's not just a program; it's a movement, with 20% of its participants climbing to new heights in their careers.

The Essence of Rocket. Rocket is more than a career development program; it's a catalyst for empowerment. It equips employees with cutting-edge skills in AI, ML, IoT, and Cloud, broadening their horizons and preparing them for influential leadership roles. The program's core lies in its ability to foster skills that transcend technology, focusing on the individual's potential to lead and inspire.

Goals and Guiding Principles The Rocket Program is driven by a singular goal: to accelerate the development of technical IC leadership skills, paving the way for career advancement. Its guiding principles are the framework upon which the program's success is built, emphasizing local needs, talent retention, technical cross-skilling, and a commitment to diversity and inclusion.

A Triad of Learning Approaches Rocket's innovative learning model integrates three approaches:

1. Internal training, including virtual instructor-led sessions, webinars, and hands-on coaching.
2. External workshops that provide fresh perspectives and insights.
3. A robust LMS for self-paced eLearning, complemented by the TechDays event, a platform for attendees to showcase their projects.

Impacting Careers and Culture The program's impact is profound, boosting participant confidence and career progression readiness. It has also significantly expanded the talent pipeline for senior IC roles in EMEA, with a notable increase to about 100.

The Rocket Legacy As we reflect on the journey of the Rocket Program, it's clear that its legacy is not just in the skills it imparts, but in the dreams it ignites. It's a program that doesn't just teach—it transforms, empowering engineers to dream big and reach for the stars.

Join us in celebrating the difference makers, the visionaries, the leaders of tomorrow. Join us in the Rocket Program's ascent to excellence.

This article is a tribute to the Rocket Program, a career development initiative that has been shaping the future of technical leadership at Microsoft. If you're inspired by the journey and the impact of Rocket, share this article and spread the word about this remarkable program. Together, let's continue to empower the technical leaders who will drive innovation and success for years to come.

Special thanks to the ones that contributed this year Christophe Desproges (He, Him, His) Tiago L. Costa Andrei Vrabie DivyaBharathi Sunkari Amani Manasa Claudiu-Catalin Mesterelu Shaden Mar'i Mayte Cubino Gonzalez Daniela-Maria Cochirleanu Mihail Neferu Eliza Voinea Anatol N. Alexandre Batista Cristian Baluta George Apostol @Hussein Jaber Matei Froicu Nicu Simion Omar Khaled Sorin Alexandreanu Val S. Sukesh Khare Henk van Roest Roxana Milas Lara Próspero Ashish Kanwar Miguel Batista Ulrich Homann Andrei Pintica Pedro Serranito Victor Legat Cristian Dimofte Yassine Mzoughi Sorin Duta Jo?o Loureiro Ricardo R. @Radu Caraivan Bruno RR Fernandes José Carlos Direito @Lenny Fenster Philipp Kuhn Amanda Nunes Francisco Prelhaz ?ngelo Oliveira Luciano Maffeis Daniel Rusen Lucian Ungureanu Manuel Semblano Waseem Pervez Luís F. Alaa Awad Riccardo Comastri Jeremy Diaz @Carolin Stadler @Dario Za @Mariana Tavares Gabriela Mosoiu Nuno Mendes Ana Santos Pedro Tomás e Silva Mohamed Hablas Daniela Bunoaica Suliman Abu Kharroub @Cristiana Lucaci @Elena Alonso Morales Jeff Unsworth Amitha Madathil Pottayil Anca Florina Raicu Robert Iacob Rayleen Hillman Monica Florea Joris Bollen Jad Geraldino @Chiroutte Khaled Robert Varosanec Andrea Acremoni sarvesh singh Telma Oliveira Alex Dobrescu Jo?o Luis Simi?o Sima Sunna Alexandru Pana Ula? ütebay Carlo Comparato André Ferreira Augusto de Oliveira Raluca Popescu Randa M. Al-Qudah Ricardo Silva Rodrigues Clive Challinor Malak Ziyad Fraihat Carlos Oliveira Florina Popa Robert Klemencz Luís Carlos Figueiredo Alexandru Zamfir Kyle Kruesi @Margarida Ventura Daniel Calin Ibrahim AlAdwan Morganna Pearse Pedro Magri?o Mih?i?? C?t?lin Brelea Camilla Mikkelsen Andreea Negulescu Radu Scaueru Gabriele Tansini Gon?alo Duarte Diana Dinu (hope I did not miss anyone) :)