#empowHER50 – Brea Starmer

When flexibility becomes infrastructure, inclusion becomes inevitable.

Brea Starmer has spent her career reimagining work, not as a rigid system to navigate, but as a dynamic platform for inclusion, empowerment, and growth. Her journey began at Microsoft, where she joined as a college hire and quickly saw the real-world impact of technology on public institutions and local communities. But it was a pivotal moment—watching a manager leave the workforce after her third child—that forever reshaped her understanding of work, caregiving, and opportunity.

Years later, laid off while pregnant, Brea faced a stark reality shared by countless women: the structural rigidity of the workforce often sidelines those with caregiving responsibilities. But instead of stepping back, she stepped forward—and built a solution.

She founded Lions & Tigers, a consultancy designed to keep high-skilled women and underrepresented talent in the workforce through flexible, purpose-driven work. Microsoft became her first client. Together, they created over $34 million in economic access for more than 250 consultants—85% women, 33% people of the global majority—who now work an average of 30 hours per week on high-impact projects across the tech ecosystem.

“When we solve the workplace flexibility challenge for women, everyone benefits,” says Starmer. What began as a solution to a personal challenge has grown into a business model that supports companies contributing over $2 billion to the U.S. economy.

During her time at Microsoft, Brea’s work in public sector marketing programs helped shape her belief that access isn’t just about technology—it’s about design. Her commitment to economic inclusion now drives how businesses across industries reimagine hiring, scaling, and capacity.

Brea Starmer isn’t just building a company—she’s architecting a future where flexible work powers inclusive economies.

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 – Rajashree Varma

Some stories begin with a spark.  
 
Rajashree Varma’s began with $100 and two audacious dreams: to work at Microsoft and to one day lead her own tech company. Today, she’s not only fulfilled both—she’s actively reshaping the future of healthcare operations through AI-powered innovation. 

Rajashree’s journey took flight in 1999, arriving in the U.S. as a young woman from India with a computer engineering degree from an all-women’s engineering college and a bold determination to break new ground. At Microsoft, she became one of the first from her college to enter the tech giant’s engineering ranks. But she didn’t stop there. Eager to connect technology to business transformation, she transitioned into customer and partner-facing roles, gaining critical skills that would later power her entrepreneurial ventures. 

In 2009, she founded Arth Systems, a Solution consultancy that leveraged Microsoft full stack to create scalable, impactful enterprise tech. As the business flourished, Microsoft became a pivotal partner, validating her belief that access to strong alliances can democratize innovation. When Arth Systems was acquired by Xoriant Corporation, Rajashree stepped in as VP and led a high-impact Microsoft alliance strategy, driving multi-million dollars of revenue growth and helping position the company among Microsoft’s top 4% global partners. 

Today, as Founder and CEO of AffableBPM, Rajashree is building the next chapter of her legacy—an AI-powered SaaS platform designed to simplify and scale non-clinical healthcare compliance operations. With a no-code interface that empowers business users to manage contracts, compliance, and inventory, AffableBPM has improved operational efficiency by over 70%, reduced burnout, and ensured audit readiness for providers across the U.S. healthcare system with measurable ROI. 

But Rajashree’s mission goes far beyond metrics. “Democratizing tech means paving the way for those who come next and solving real-world problems,” she says. Her work is proof that systems can be redesigned to empower, not exclude, and that leadership is strongest when it opens doors for others. 

A passionate advocate for inclusive innovation, Rajashree actively mentors aspiring technologists through Ada Developers Academy and the UW Foster School of Business. She champions women returning to the workforce and continuously invests in building opportunities that extend beyond her own success. 

From software engineer to CEO, Rajashree Varma exemplifies what happens when vision meets tenacity—and how a single dream, when matched with courage and community, can transform entire industries. 

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 – Shannon Beauclair

Some careers shape products. Others shape people. Shannon Beauclair’s story is a rare case of both. 

Born and raised in Bellevue, Washington, Shannon watched Microsoft’s rise unfold in her own backyard—eventually joining the company and building a 14-year career that bridged enterprise technology and human-centered leadership. A natural problem-solver, Shannon thrived in high-stakes program management roles, onboarding global brands like GE, Toyota, and Coca-Cola to Microsoft’s cloud and productivity platforms. 

But it was her time in Microsoft Philanthropies that reshaped her future. Leading the company’s Silent Auction for the Give Campaign, Shannon broke fundraising records and inspired a wave of giving through her personal story and public speaking. Her leadership was powered by a belief that technology isn’t just about systems—it’s about the people those systems serve. 

That same belief became the foundation for her next chapter. 

After leaving Microsoft, Shannon founded Beauclair Photography, using her lens to elevate women over 40 and amplify voices in underrepresented communities. Through her signature Worthy Series, she offers more than portraits—she offers visibility, healing, and proof that confidence has no expiration date. Every image tells a story of resilience. A portion of her proceeds supports organizations like Susan G. Komen and Donate Life America, ensuring that her business remains a conduit for impact. 

Shannon also mentors the next generation of creatives, including a Latina high school student she’s currently guiding through photography and entrepreneurship. Her mission is rooted in representation—creating space for every identity to be seen, celebrated, and remembered. 

Shannon’s journey from enterprise leader to empathy-driven artist reminds us: technology may shape the future, but humanity defines its purpose. And when legacy is captured with intention, every frame becomes a force for change. 

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 – Nandita Sampath

As a Principal Product Manager at Microsoft, Nandita Sampath believes that unlocking tech careers for women requires more than encouragement it requires pathways that are flexible, practical, and built for real life. Over the past year, she brought that vision to life through a strategic partnership with Women in Cloud (WIC), co-launching the #WICxSkillsReadyChallenge to help women gain job-ready credentials in AI and cybersecurity. 

The impact was immediate: over 1,000 applications, 75,900+ digital impressions, and more than 100 women earning Microsoft Applied Skills credentials in just weeks. For many, it was their first time accessing technical skills in a way that felt doable and valuable. Through webinars and community outreach, the program reached 1,000+ women, including career returners, students, and first-time learners, providing a launchpad into tech fields where women remain underrepresented. 

What made it work? Nandita and her team focused on meeting learners where they were. By designing the challenge around Microsoft’s scenario-based, self-paced platform, they eliminated common barriers like cost, rigid scheduling, and confidence gaps. Outreach extended beyond traditional tech circles—into film festivals like TIFF and MAMI, universities in India, and grassroots community channels—proving that access expands when we take intentional action to widen the gate. 

For Nandita, this work is about more than skills; it’s about connection and inclusion. “True education connects us not just to knowledge, but to each other,” she says, reflecting on the program’s ripple effects. By creating inclusive, scalable pathways into tech, she’s helping women not only imagine new possibilities but walk boldly into them. 

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 – Amy Strande

For Amy Strande, impact doesn’t always come with a headline, but it always starts with listening. Spending over half of her 25 years as a Chief of Staff at Microsoft, Amy has built her career around a simple but powerful idea: if you care deeply about people—employees and customers alike—transformation will follow. 

Amy’s journey at Microsoft took a defining turn when she joined the HR team. There, she uncovered a foundational truth: employee satisfaction and customer satisfaction are deeply connected. 

With that insight, Amy took action. She led the Global Onboarding initiative, uniting a complex web of stakeholders across HR, payroll, facilities, IT, and legal. The goal was clear: create a seamless onboarding experience so new hires could log in, get paid, and feel welcomed from day one. Her leadership turned friction points into moments of confidence, setting a new standard for what great onboarding looks like. 

But Amy didn’t stop there. She expanded the initiative into a broader Employee Experience strategy. Drawing from global survey data, her team identified six core drivers of satisfaction, ranging from career development and sense of belonging to trust in leadership. They also defined three essentials that must never fail: technology reliability, strong management capability, and, cross-company agility. 

What makes Amy’s leadership truly unique is her philosophy: “There’s no task too small or too big for me to take on if it helps someone else.” That mindset has made her a quiet force of change—one who ensures every system she touches becomes more human, more inclusive, and more effective. 

When working in the healthcare domain, Amy continued to bring these same principles to her leadership. Whether supporting employee growth or improving patient outcomes, she remains committed to building environments where people can do their best work—and feel good doing it. Amy’s contribution as a Board member to 40,000+ Microsoft Alumni Network has helped implement new programs for alumni to boomerang into the Microsoft employee ecosystem easily.  Amy’s story is a reminder that transformation doesn’t always begin with a revolution. Sometimes, it begins with listening closely, acting deliberately, and making every moment—and every person—matter. 

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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