Celebrating the digital leaders that drive transformation
Empowered employees are the lifeblood of any successful organization.
This week, we’re exploring how several Microsoft employees have made a lasting impact on our internal digital transformation efforts. We hope that you are as inspired as we are by the following insights we’ve gained from these individuals as they take initiative and make a difference for themselves and their organization.
Embrace a continuous learner mentality
When Brent Burtness began his career at Microsoft nearly two decades ago, he spent his days software testing internal customer support solutions. As the cloud became more prevalent, Burtness took it upon himself to stay sharp on the latest information and trends. Burtness’s desire to constantly chase what’s new found him at the forefront of cloud advocacy, and eventually landed him a lead role in helping the Microsoft Solve Team migrate its 60,000 servers to Azure.
Don’t be afraid to rethink everything
As a principal architect in Microsoft Core Services Engineering and Operations (CSEO), Robert Venable has seen firsthand the dramatic change in how customers pay for Microsoft solutions like Office and Azure. He’s also acutely aware of the toll the rapid influx of monthly transactions is putting on Microsoft’s current revenue reporting system. Now, Venable is challenging everyone involved – including the Microsoft Finance Department – to reevaluate the way they work and pushing for a new cloud-based solution.
Ask ‘why not?’
Microsoft’s migration of its internal HR portal to the cloud was not without its bumps and bruises. After the first attempt was called off due to a host of technical challenges, Joseph Jassey, senior program manager in Core Services Engineering and Operations (CSEO,) was brought on to figure out what went wrong. Jassey’s ability to get colleagues out of their comfort zones and encourage a growth mindset resulted in a flexible team that was eager to approach the migration in innovative ways.
In the fast-paced world we operate in, driven individuals across departments and teams can help their respective companies keep pace with the latest trends. Listening to your employees and celebrating their unique skills and perspectives can help you start driving innovation today.
