Why I Keep My Head in the Cloud—Reflections on a Year at Microsoft

As September winds down and we move into a new season, I find myself doing quite a bit of reflecting. The kids are back in school, routines are reliably routine, and I’m already wrapping up my first year at Microsoft.

I watch my two daughters chase their dreams using emerging technology without a second thought, and I’m reminded of why I came to Redmond in the first place: To help create a future where everyone has the tools they need to make a difference, however that may be. 

My oldest daughter is in her final year of undergraduate studies and uses data visualization in ways we couldn’t have imagined just a couple of years ago. She doesn’t see it as anything special because it’s second nature to her, but as a developer by pedigree, I see below the surface to the magic made by someone with an idea, a computer, and the support to make it happen. My daughter uses technology to inform everything from her daily bus route choice to the outcomes of her research papers, and while she isn’t following in my footsteps to become a developer, she is using the tools available to her to work towards her goals.

And, my youngest is a programming wizard. What started as playing in Minecraft to develop her own world—and work her imagination and innovation skills without realizing it—has morphed her into a true engineer, writing her own games in Python, JavaScript, and Ruby while entering the sixth grade! To her, it’s a fun way to spend time and relate to her peers. But she is learning so much more than gaming. She’s learning that life is what you make of it—it can either have no goals or big goals; it’s all up to the individual. That’s a powerful message for a young girl, sent in an unassuming, non-threatening package.

It’s not just my kids who are using technology for all that it’s worth.

Recently, in our annual Imagine Cup competition, students from around the globe presented their ideas, ranging from a fake news analyzer that runs on the cognitive services available through the Azure cloud platform to an app that can help the visually-impaired identify their surroundings. The winning idea was from a group of students in the Czech Republic: A glucose meter for children with Type 1 diabetes that rewards behaviors that keep their diabetes in check, managed through in-app games that motivate kids in a way they appreciate.

It’s worth noting that this work was done using the cloud at the foundation. Speaking of “the cloud,” it’s a broad and wide term that means many different things to different people, as I’ve found out over the last year in my role as head of cloud and ecosystem growth. For some, it’s a way to store files and photos and access them anywhere, from any device. For others, like the Imagine Cup competitors, it offers a way to seamlessly collaborate on a project without having to be in the same room. And for others still, it’s about data and analytics. 

That’s the power of the cloud. It’s not one-size fits all. It lets people to do amazing things—in ways that work for them. Whether it be a student working on a group project, an organization rolling out a company-wide procedure to employees, or a developer coding a new app that can change the world, the cloud empowers progress, regardless of geographic location, financial backing, or experience level. That’s powerful, and it’s why I’m excited to come to work every day.

When I think back on the past year, I’m filled with energy. I’m grateful to live in a time when technology is inclusive to anyone and everyone, and optimistic about what’s to come. Innovation happens at the speed of thought in today’s landscape, and I’m thrilled to work at a company whose mission is to empower every person on the planet to achieve more. 

Next week is Microsoft Ignite, where thousands will convene to talk about all things technology. I’ll be there to talk about how the Microsoft Cloud fits into the workplace of today and tomorrow. If you see me, please say hello, and let me know what the cloud means to you.