#empowHER50 – Kathy Dixon

When design is inclusive, possibility becomes universal. 

For Kathy Dixon, inclusion isn’t just a principle—it’s a practice. As Director of Accessibility, Accommodations & Inclusive Experiences at Microsoft, she’s spent her career turning barriers into bridges for people with disabilities and underserved communities.  

“Removing barriers is key to unlocking opportunity for underserved communities.” 

Kathy’s work is anchored in the belief that design must be co-created with the people it’s meant to serve. That’s why she champions the mantra “Nothing about us, without us”—embedding lived experience into every layer of policy, product, and process. 

Her impact is as deep as it is wide. By revising Microsoft’s soft-skills curriculum to reflect the needs of neurodiverse learners, Kathy has improved learning experiences for over 65,000 employees. Her accessibility research helped elevate the voices of content creators and users alike, leading to strategic M365 investments that are transforming how accessible content is created and consumed. And when she saw the challenges people with disabilities faced in certification accommodations, she simplified the request process and expanded support, making technical achievement more accessible to all. 

But Kathy’s influence goes beyond the workplace. As a certified coach, she’s dedicated over 100 hours to helping ERG members map their goals and navigate their careers. And as the leader of the Microsoft Disability Scholarship program, she has expanded its reach from two to ten recipients annually, raising over $810K since 2013 to support the next generation of students with disabilities. 

Kathy’s work proves that inclusive design isn’t a feature—it’s a foundation. It’s how we build systems that reflect the people they serve. It’s how we ensure that no voice is left unheard, and no potential left unrealized. 

Through every product, program, and policy she touches, Kathy reminds us: the future belongs to everyone—and it’s our responsibility to design it that way. 

About #empowHER50 campaign

This campaign celebrates women leaders at Microsoft, past and present, who have been instrumental in democratizing access to technology, opportunity, and growth. By honoring their contributions over the last half-century, this campaign highlights stories of resilience, innovation, and inclusivity. Through digital spotlights, a commemorative coffee table book, live recognition events, and more, the campaign inspires collective action toward achieving equitable societal goals. To learn more about empowHER50, please visit https://womenincloud.com/empowHER50 

To learn about Microsoft 50th celebrations: https://news.microsoft.com/microsoft-50/  

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#empowHER50 -Alka Badshah

When you lead with empathy and design with purpose, innovation becomes a catalyst for human transformation. 

Alka Badshah’s story is one of reimagining what’s possible across disciplines, decades, and personal challenges. Trained as an architect, she pivoted to computer science at MIT and joined the MIT Media Lab, where design, technology, and human behavior intersect. It was there that she discovered her calling: creating systems that don’t just function, but connect, include, and empower. 

That philosophy led her to Microsoft during a formative time in its history. As part of Microsoft Consulting Services (MCS), Alka introduced user-centered design into enterprise-level solutions, well before UX was considered a critical business function. She traveled regionally from New York to Cincinnati, working directly with senior executives to integrate usability into large-scale projects. When one client removed UX after her departure, user backlash was so severe that they brought her back—this time with a dedicated budget to lead inclusive design research and usability testing. 

That moment marked a turning point—not just for the client, but for Microsoft. Alka’s work proved that when you embed empathy and listening into the development process, you don’t just improve products—you strengthen trust, loyalty, and outcomes. 

Over her tenure, Alka became known for mentoring women and building inclusive team cultures. Her work earned internal “best practice” recognition and served as a template for empowering environments that valued transparency, curiosity, and psychological safety. 

Even after leaving Microsoft, Alka’s purpose only deepened. As Founder and CEO of Anarti Therapeutics, she now applies her systems-thinking and product design expertise to the wellness space, developing plant-based therapeutics that help others live with less pain and more dignity. 

Alka represents the quiet strength and bold clarity that have shaped Microsoft’s global impact over five decades. Her journey is a powerful reminder: true innovation is never just technical—it’s human at heart. 

About #empowHER50 campaign

This campaign celebrates women leaders at Microsoft, past and present, who have been instrumental in democratizing access to technology, opportunity, and growth. By honoring their contributions over the last half-century, this campaign highlights stories of resilience, innovation, and inclusivity. Through digital spotlights, a commemorative coffee table book, live recognition events, and more, the campaign inspires collective action toward achieving equitable societal goals. To learn more about empowHER50, please visit https://womenincloud.com/empowHER50 

To learn about Microsoft 50th celebrations: https://news.microsoft.com/microsoft-50/  

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#empowHER50 – Helen Fanucci

The most powerful transformations in technology don’t come from code—they come from people empowered to lead. 

Helen Fanucci has spent her career proving that technology alone doesn’t change organizations—people do. From her early days as an MIT-trained mechanical engineer to becoming a senior leader at Microsoft and now a founder, author, and investor, Helen has always put people at the center of innovation. 

At Microsoft, Helen led global sales teams responsible for driving some of the company’s most iconic transformations—from the adoption of Windows 10 to the growth of Office 365 and mid-market solutions. But what defined her leadership wasn’t just business success—it was her people-first philosophy. Helen built mentoring programs reaching over 100 mentees, championed non-traditional candidates into tech roles, and created a culture where belonging and performance went hand in hand. Her teams regularly posted some of the highest satisfaction scores in the company, reflecting her belief that empowered people drive sustainable success. 

“Technology doesn’t transform organizations—people do. And people need to be seen, supported, and empowered to succeed.” — Helen Fanucci 

Helen’s impact extends well beyond Microsoft. As the founder of PipelinePower.AI, she helps leaders harness AI to build strong team cultures and drive predictable revenue. She is the author of the best-selling book Love Your Team, offering actionable strategies to help managers create high-performing and inclusive teams. 

Today, Helen is using her voice and influence to tackle financial equity. As an Associate Producer of the documentary Show Her the Money, she is bringing attention to the gender gap in venture capital, advocating for women founders, and investing in women-led startups and VC firms. Her work spans technology, advocacy, and mentorship—all with one goal: to help people realize their full potential. 

Helen’s story is a masterclass in sustainable leadership. She reminds us that when you invest in people—not just products—you build teams, companies, and industries that endure. Her legacy is one of courage, care, and lasting impact—and she’s far from finished. 

About #empowHER50 campaign

This campaign celebrates women leaders at Microsoft, past and present, who have been instrumental in democratizing access to technology, opportunity, and growth. By honoring their contributions over the last half-century, this campaign highlights stories of resilience, innovation, and inclusivity. Through digital spotlights, a commemorative coffee table book, live recognition events, and more, the campaign inspires collective action toward achieving equitable societal goals. To learn more about empowHER50, please visit https://womenincloud.com/empowHER50 

To learn about Microsoft 50th celebrations: https://news.microsoft.com/microsoft-50/  

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#empowHER50 – Sharmila Rathinam

When food goes to waste, so do opportunities to nourish communities—and Sharmila Rathinam is making sure neither is lost. 

As the founder of Eat Happy Now, Sharmila has built more than a food rescue platform—she’s architected a smarter, more inclusive food system. Her technology connects small grocers, culturally specific food providers, and local businesses with surplus inventory to shelters, food banks, and housing groups—bringing dignity, transparency, and efficiency to the process.  

In just over two years, Eat Happy Now has delivered over 550,000 meals, served 38,000+ food-insecure individuals weekly, and prevented 1.68 million pounds of CO₂ emissions by rescuing more than 675,000 pounds of food. 

“Building hunger-free futures empowers every person can rise,” Sharmila says—a mission that echoes through every line of code and every meal delivered. 

Her work goes beyond logistics. Through Eat Happy Now’s youth leadership programs, she’s training the next generation of food justice leaders—equipping students for our communities with digital tools and operational skills to lead in both tech and nonprofit sectors. 

Before launching her nonprofit, Sharmila spent years at Microsoft, where she helped streamline global partner operations for Azure. She managed multimillion-dollar budgets across alliances, developed scalable systems for tracking performance, and drove efficiency with precision—experience she now channels into her social enterprise. 

Sharmila’s impact is rooted in three principles: make donations effortless, empower the next generation, and partner deeply with community organizations to ensure food gets to where it’s needed most. 

Her work is not only closing the hunger gap—it’s creating a blueprint for tech-powered community resilience. Through generosity, ingenuity, and inclusion, Sharmila is proving that the future of food isn’t just about what we eat—it’s about how we care. 

By blending technology, community engagement, and sustainability, Sharmila is not just feeding people—she’s building a smarter, more sustainable food system for the future. 

About #empowHER50 campaign

This campaign celebrates women leaders at Microsoft, past and present, who have been instrumental in democratizing access to technology, opportunity, and growth. By honoring their contributions over the last half-century, this campaign highlights stories of resilience, innovation, and inclusivity. Through digital spotlights, a commemorative coffee table book, live recognition events, and more, the campaign inspires collective action toward achieving equitable societal goals. To learn more about empowHER50, please visit https://womenincloud.com/empowHER50 

To learn about Microsoft 50th celebrations: https://news.microsoft.com/microsoft-50/  

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#empowHER50 – Simi Olabisi

 
When lived experience fuels innovation, technology becomes more than a tool—it becomes a lifeline for those who need it most. 

 
Simi Olabisi was born into uncertainty—three months premature in Lagos, Nigeria, in a hospital without a working incubator. Today, she helps democratize technologies that save lives, open doors, and scale inclusion across the globe. As a Director, Azure AI at Microsoft, she leads some of the company’s most strategic Azure AI engagements while using her platform to drive equity, representation, and opportunity at scale. 

 
Simi’s personal story of survival inspired Project Omoverhi—a solar-powered, low-cost infant incubator designed for hospitals across Africa that lack consistent electricity. Featured in NBC News, Sierra Club Magazine, and more, the project exemplifies her belief that innovation should be empathetic, inclusive, and accessible. 

At Microsoft, she applies that same ethos to global impact. As Co-Chair of Black at Microsoft (BAM) and advocate of Africans at Microsoft, Simi leads team that organizes programming, mentorship, community, and AI education for over 7,500 employees across 40+ countries. BAM’s 2024 GIVE campaign raised $225,000 and funded scholarships for 60+ students pursuing tech careers. 

“I was born fighting for my life in a country without equitable access to the technology that could save it. Today, I help democratize technology—all of us deserve a chance to live, to lead, and to thrive.”— Simi Olabisi 

Through Caspar Coding, a platform she co-founded, Simi has helped over 10,000 African software engineers upskill and access global job opportunities. She also offers career coaching for women, empowering them to close wage gaps and negotiate with confidence, work that was spotlighted in Glamour Magazine across print, podcast, and video platforms. 

From ringing the NASDAQ Closing Bell during Black History Month to speaking at SXSW 2024, Simi is amplifying a global call to build tech that works for everyone. Simi is proof that when we scale innovation with heart, we don’t just build better technology—we build a more equitable world. Her work reminds us that tech is only truly transformative when it’s accessible to all. 

 
About #empowHER50 campaign

This campaign celebrates women leaders at Microsoft, past and present, who have been instrumental in democratizing access to technology, opportunity, and growth. By honoring their contributions over the last half-century, this campaign highlights stories of resilience, innovation, and inclusivity. Through digital spotlights, a commemorative coffee table book, live recognition events, and more, the campaign inspires collective action toward achieving equitable societal goals. To learn more about empowHER50, please visit https://womenincloud.com/empowHER50 

To learn about Microsoft 50th celebrations: https://news.microsoft.com/microsoft-50/  

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