Microsoft reposted this
Chief Diversity Officer and Corporate Vice President of Talent Development | Microsoft
Last week media coverage inaccurately implied that Microsoft's corporate D&I team was eliminated. While the situation has been clarified, it does strike me that concern around the company's ongoing commitment to D&I is important to address. Since I happen to be passing my 6-year mark at the company, I've been reflecting on all Microsoft has done in this space up to this moment, and all we still need to do ahead. When I first arrived at Microsoft, I spent time in our archives to learn about our D&I history, which is robust. Even Microsoft’s original mission required a commitment to diversity and inclusion—because it is different perspectives, skill sets, and lived experiences that give us the empathy and insights necessary to envision and build products that serve customers and consumers in transformational ways around the world. In the decades since, our focus on D&I has informed our policies, partnerships, and product innovation. Year over year, we have been disciplined and systemic in how we do this work, to deliver progress over time. This next fiscal year our focus includes continuing to execute D&I and talent management best practices that we know deliver business outcomes as well as investing in net new opportunities to support skills and career growth. A few examples include: ✔ Driving greater access to skilling and career opportunities for Microsoft employees at all levels through intentional talent management and cross-company experiences such as our premier global career event ✔ Ensuring each one of us at Microsoft is accountable for our D&I progress, individually through our D&I Core Priority, as managers and leaders through inclusive hiring and executive accountability, and collectively through companywide opportunities such as D&I learning and our global ERG Engage event that helps us move together from insights to action ✔ Continuing to anchor our product innovation to inclusion, as we have done with self-expression in Microsoft 365 and accessibility in Copilot, M365, and Azure AI ✔ Transparently sharing our progress, and our opportunities, around increasing representation and strengthening our culture of inclusion this coming Q2 in our Global Diversity & Inclusion Report As we embark on our 50th year at Microsoft, with one of the most inclusive missions in the industry, let’s remember who we have always been. Succeeding at our mission to empower every person and every organization on the planet to achieve more requires inviting in different perspectives and lived experiences to Microsoft so we can innovate and deliver aligned to our ambition. Each of us doing our best work depends on us collectively creating the conditions for all employees at Microsoft to thrive. The world is counting on Microsoft to apply all we know about diversity and inclusion to realize an AI-enabled future that includes everyone. The work is not done, and we remain committed to push ahead for progress together.
Melanie Ryan
1w
Thank you for clarifying. I would like to better understand Microsoft’s commitment to equity. With no explicit mention of this either in the department’s name or in this post, Microsoft implicitly is upholding the concentrated efforts to dismantle equity work. Words are so powerful and Microsoft has an opportunity to not only lead but influence others to withstand the pressure. There is no diversity and inclusion without equity.
Lindsay-Rae McIntyre, I’m incredibly proud to be part of this company and witness the impactful work we do every day to activate Microsoft’s unwavering commitment to inclusion. Our dedication to diversity and inclusion not only shapes our company culture but also drives innovation and progress. Together, we are making a difference and creating a more inclusive future for everyone.
So I am not actually sure what happened? Was is missrepresented and how so?
SHRM
1w
It's great to hear about Microsoft’s commitment to advancing diversity and inclusion as fundamental cornerstones of a thriving workplace and society. At SHRM, we firmly believe that true innovation and progress stem from the collective potential unlocked when all employees are empowered to contribute their unique experiences and viewpoints. The journey toward an inclusive and equitable future is ongoing, and we stand with Microsoft in pioneering initiatives that pave the way for a more inclusive, AI-enabled world. Together, we can ensure that our workplaces mirror the rich diversity of our global community and drive forward meaningful change.
Bofta Yimam
1w
Curious to know, how many are on your Microsoft Global Talent, Development, Diversity and Inclusion team? While it's commendable that you have a robust list to accomplish (as you have outlined), a small team will struggle to do it all. It's simply unrealistic given the size of the organization. It's also phrases like, "ensuring each one of us at Microsoft is accountable for our D&I progress" that often leaves diverse individuals rolling their eyes because the question is, "how will you ensure it?" "who's helping to hold up the accountability?"
Lindsay-Rae McIntyre, are you able to share where the situation has been clarified? Have been trying to find it, but perhaps unsurprisingly all I can find are the inaccurate reports you mention.
Nate Boaz
1w
Microsoft’s unwavering commitment to D&I has and continues to be about delivering superior business results - D&I means understanding all our customers and their unique needs, driving innovation which comes from a diversity of backgrounds and perspectives, and having access to the best talent regardless of pedigree or privilege. Lindsay-Rae McIntyre is spot on that D&I is mission critical here - you can’t empower every org and every person on the planet to achieve more without embracing D&I as a core enabler.
James Hamlin
1w
I'm a little confused by the statement that the initial report has been clarified. I don't see much online that clarifies or corrects the initial report. If that's true that message is not getting out there
I have worked in HR in tech for over 25 years. I have never worked in a company where inclusion is imbedded at the core of every decision… until I started working for MSFT. I am part of the phenomenonal team under Lindsay-Rae McIntyre ‘s leadership and our collective work is more important than ever. We will not be distracted.
Joyful Equity™ | Head of DEI | Inclusive Leadership Coach | WBE & WOSB | Speaker | Ex-Apple
1wThanks for this transparency! While media coverage can misinterpret intentions, it also sparks necessary discussions about the broader impact eliminating DEI roles has on diverse talent, especially in the tech industry. It’s not always about misinformation, but about addressing the underlying concerns. Now, I say this as someone who believes DEI is changing…re-evolving, and will eventually be driven from a more People Operations AND PMO perspective. As someone who bridges all these worlds, I’d love to know if you’ve seen this as well? Because, DEI when implemented with laser-precision, can enhance every business function—finance, marketing, engineering, supplier diversity, and more. But without intentional, dedicated teams (who are cross-functionally experienced), we risk focusing solely on qualitative results that make it even harder for DEI to prove its worth.