Chapter 2
All Roads Lead to Microsoft

Empowering women in technology is not just about equality; it's about unlocking the full potential of our industry.

-Amy Hood, Chief Financial Officer at Microsoft

As of 2025, roughly 57,000 women are working at Microsoft-and that number keeps growing. It's truly inspiring to me to know that I have proximity to these many brilliant women, and the potential to learn from them, get to know them, befriend them, or even co-author a book with some of them. Hello, Miri!

While I don't know where all of us were, long before we found ourselves in the same tech bubble, I doubt any of us dreamed of working at Microsoft specifically. But I can picture us as little girls, with wide-open hearts and even wider imaginations, spinning dreams about the future. Some of us, including me, possibly spent hours dressing up as our favorite heroines, racing through the rooms of the house, embodying what the self-proclaimed Chief Troublemaker at Microsoft, Dona Sarkar, calls "and people." You know, the kind of kids who didn't want to choose between ballerina and astronaut, doctor and princess. Because honestly, what's the point of a white coat if you're not rocking it with a tutu?

And then adulting came along. We had to grow up, set aside our uninhibited imaginations, and step into the "real world." Suddenly, we were told to pick one path-and only one. There was no room for "and people" at university, or in life.

I still remember that overwhelming pressure to figure out my entire future, and to figure it out fast. The dreams I once held, vivid and brimming with possibility, began to feel like fleeting, romantic illusions. Choosing a field of study felt monumental, as though it alone could define the rest of my life. That decision, framed as final and unchangeable, cast a shadow over everything. And what a heavy load that was to bear at such a young age, with so much of life still waiting to unfold.

I often found myself wondering, What if I hated the career path I chose? Was I even allowed to change my mind anywhere along the way? And the hardest question of all: Am I on the right path to do what I love, when I'm not even sure of who I am?

Oh, how things have changed in just a few decades. Job trends show that reskilling is already a common thread in our careers,1 with individuals needing to learn and grow multiple times as technology continues to weave itself into every corner of our lives.2 Digital roles are expanding rapidly, shaping the future of work in ways we're just beginning to grasp.

This can only mean one thing: it's never too late to step into tech. In fact, there's never been a better time to lead it. You may not know this about my co-author Miri, but she's one of the remarkable women at Microsoft who reprogrammed herself to become an "and" person. She's a Senior Storyteller at Microsoft, and a twice-published author, and a renowned public speaker, and now the CEO of the world's first AI for women, Empressa.ai-a groundbreaking AI platform offering a secure and trustworthy space for women to connect, exchange insights, and support one another. You should really check it out!

I share this not only because I'm immensely proud of her, but because Miri embodies the very essence of the She in the industry. She often speaks passionately about the extraordinary opportunities women have today to not only join but lead in this new Era of AI.

Yet, despite the unprecedented possibilities opening up for women in tech, there's a sobering reality. While recent studies3 show that generative AI technology is being adopted in the United States faster than the internet and personal computers ever were, studies also reveal a troubling disparity: men are adopting AI at significantly higher rates than women.4 This mirrors historical patterns in technology adoption. If women don't close this gap, we risk exacerbating job disparities, skills gaps, and economic inequalities in the very near future.

Here's the truth: growth in tech isn't just about learning new tools or mastering new platforms. It's about weaving the wisdom of our past into the fresh challenges of the present, building a foundation for professional success.

Our paths aren't forged by a single factor-they're shaped by an intricate and remarkable blend of passion, talent, persistence, education, market opportunities, societal expectations, and those magical moments we like to call coincidences or destiny.

At Microsoft, this truth comes alive every day. The company welcomes an extraordinary mix of talented individuals, each bringing their unique stories, motivations, and aspirations. The journey into tech isn't linear or predictable. It's as diverse and dynamic as the people who dare to walk it.

Take Steph, for example. She found pure joy in learning to speak the language of machines. Or Débora who rewrote her destiny thread by thread, crafting a future she could finally call her own. There's Laiba, who joined the Microsoft Aspire University Hire program with her sights set on her dream company, and Jenia, who charted a bold course from the skies to the digital cloud. And then there's Kasia-a recruiter whose journey from candidate to career coach brings us full circle.

In the next few pages, we'll share their stories, and their aha! moments in tech-stories of courage, resilience, and curiosity to bring to light how these women didn't just land jobs in "Big Tech," they defied odds, chased passions, and seized every opportunity with both hands. Kasia will also leave you with invaluable insights and advice for anyone aspiring to carve out their own path in tech.

WOW! I Can Make Machines Talk to Me! by Steph Burg, Principal Group Engineering Manager at Microsoft

It was another hot summer in the middle of Wisconsin, where technology felt more like something you'd see on TV than something that shaped real lives. In my community, a "real" job meant working on a farm with animals and grain, or on the assembly line at the auto manufacturer-tangible, practical work. Life was predictable, and nothing seemed destined to change.

When I got into college, I could have never imagined that my path would eventually lead me to Microsoft. Back then, my dream was to become a neonatal neurologist-a very specific kind of doctor focused on understanding and healing the newborn human brain. That dream consumed me as I studied biochemistry at the University of Wisconsin in Madison. Then life intervened in ways I couldn't have foreseen.

I discovered a program at my university for underrepresented minorities in computer science. It included extra discussion sessions led by peers, and I decided to join, mostly out of curiosity. A few months in, everything changed. I remember sitting in a dark basement computer lab writing my first "Hello World" program. In that moment, something clicked. I thought, Wow. I can make machines talk! It wasn't just cool-it was powerful. It opened a door I didn't even know existed. That was my first aha! moment, and it changed everything. I shifted my dreams and decided to pursue a dual major in biochemistry and computer science. It wasn't easy, but it was the right choice for me.

Graduating, though, was just the beginning. The real test came when I stepped into the working world. My first internship at Amazon was equal parts terrifying and exciting. I was assigned to explore an uncharted area and given full freedom to figure it out. For many, that would have been a dream. For me, it was intimidating. But I did it-and that success gave me a level of confidence I'd never had before.

That summer wasn't just about work. It was about finding myself. I changed my look-something that felt truer to who I was, even if it seemed "boyish" by my hometown's standards. I felt at ease in the big city and realized I could thrive there. For the first time, I felt like I'd found my place in the world.

The next year, I wanted to return to Amazon. But someone gave me advice that changed my trajectory: internships are an opportunity to explore. Reluctantly, I applied to Microsoft. When I interviewed, I was surprised. The people were warm, the project sounded fascinating, and the team felt like a real support system. I accepted the offer, and that summer changed everything.

Since then, I've never left Microsoft. I've grown with the company, from an intern to a Principal Manager, managing managers and leading teams. Along the way, I've also navigated life as a mother of four, learning to balance family and career while discovering my own superpowers. This journey has taught me something important: being an engineer isn't just about writing code. It's about the connections you make, the conversations you have, and the impact you create. For me, my strength lies in bringing people together-facilitating the right conversations with the right individuals to drive meaningful outcomes.

Looking back, I never could have predicted this path. But I've learned to embrace the unexpected, trust my instincts, and follow my dreams wherever they lead. So, if there's one thing I'd share with anyone out there wondering where their road might take them, it's this: don't be afraid to...