#empowHER50 – Kate Behncken

When funding meets community, innovation becomes empowerment, and opportunity reaches every corner of the world. 

 
As Corporate Vice President of Microsoft Philanthropies for the last 6 years, Kate Behncken has led one of the most ambitious missions of our time: ensuring that no one is left behind in the digital economy. Her work is driven by a clear conviction that technology, when paired with trust, strong partnerships, investment, and global collaboration, can lift lives, unlock potential, and create lasting systems of opportunity. 

Since 2021, Kate’s team has helped over 12.6 million people build digital skills, 80% of whom come from underserved communities. From partnerships with 430 organizations in nearly 200 countries, her work scales what matters most—access, inclusion, and local impact. 

Whether supporting national education ministries or grassroots changemakers, Microsoft Philanthropies has bridged global vision with local leadership. In India, partnerships reached over 2.4 million learners in under a year. In Mexico, over 600,000 students gained access to AI education. Kate’s team is also empowering educators as force multipliers of digital equity, training millions of teachers across Brazil, Korea, and beyond. And in Thailand, a bold initiative aims to skill 4 million educators by 2027.  

Microsoft Philanthropies, through the Technology for Social Impact program, has also collaborated with 375,000 nonprofits, providing $4.7 billion in donated and discounted technology. If you compare this to the size of foreign aid budgets around the world in 2024, Microsoft would rank as #13th largest, between Switzerland and Spain!  

At the community level, the TechSpark Fellows Program is building new pathways for economic growth—securing $177 million in funding in 2024, reaching 48,000 community members, and supporting job creation and skills development in 37 regions. 

“The combination of emergent technologies, resources, and opportunities offers us immense hope for the future and the power to create change in the present.” — Kate Behncken 

Microsoft Philanthropies is helping to showcase how philanthropy can be scalable, collaborative, and deeply human. By putting technology in the hands of those closest to the world’s challenges—and possibilities—they are helping build a future where everyone has the skills, tools, and support to thrive. 

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 – Manuela Papadopol

When access to knowledge is paired with the courage to climb, true transformation begins. 

For Manuela Papadopol, innovation isn’t just about building products—it’s about unlocking human potential. Manuela has devoted her career to expanding access to technology, opportunity, and leadership—especially for communities often left behind. 

As Executive Director of the Microsoft Alumni Network, one of her most impactful initiatives in 2024 was launching an AI skilling program in partnership with Microsoft, empowering alumni worldwide and their extended communities with free access to AI education through platforms like Microsoft Learn, Udemy, Coursera, and LinkedIn Learning. Designed to meet learners where they are, the program reached 3,500+ individuals globally, with 42% reporting better job prospects or increased earning power. 

Her belief is simple and powerful: 

“Every challenge—whether climbing a mountain or navigating a career—requires resilience, knowledge, the right tools, and a strong community. My mission is to help others reach their summits, unlocking new heights of potential through access to knowledge and opportunity.” — Manuela Papadopol 

Manuela’s impact doesn’t stop with technology. She launched a Microsoft Alumni Hackathon with Microsoft Garage, fostering mentorship and real-world innovation. And as a tech entrepreneur, in 2018 she co-founded Designated Driver, a bootstrapped software company that powered mobility solutions for Ford, Verizon, and Terabase Energy. Though the startup closed in 2022, her commitment to growth and reinvention continued. 

In 2023, she founded Mantra.Today–a platform focused on mountaineering, skiing, and climbing education for women, blending outdoor leadership with executive development. She’s guided women of all ages to summit iconic peaks like Mt. Rainier and Mt. Baker, using the mountains as a metaphor for resilience, risk-taking, and transformation. 

Manuela’s journey reminds us that real leadership is forged through challenge—and that when women rise, they lift entire communities with 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 – Nitasha Chopra

By empowering young and diverse leaders today, we’re not only influencing their paths but unlocking limitless possibilities that will drive progress for generations to come. 

As Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of Business Applications at Microsoft, Nitasha Chopra is a recognized champion of inclusive innovation. Her career has been defined by a mission to democratize access to technology and opportunity—ensuring individuals from all backgrounds have the tools, mentorship, and confidence to thrive in the digital economy. 

Nitasha has led transformative initiatives that simplify complex technologies and make them more accessible to those without traditional technical backgrounds. Her work bridges the gap between innovation and equity—scaling impact through user-friendly solutions, inclusive design, and strategic partnerships that drive real-world change. 

Inside Microsoft and beyond, she has championed inclusive talent pipelines, mentorship programs, and leadership development initiatives. At Intel, she led a global initiative to foster connection and inclusion across a 2,000+ person organization during the height of the COVID-19 crisis, grounded in the principle that “inclusion is how we build the best products.” This bold and human-centered approach earned her team the prestigious “Diversity and Inclusion Team of the Year” award. 

“When we empower the next generation to lead, we don’t just shape careers—we shape the future of innovation” — Nitasha Chopra 

Nitasha’s passion extends into STEM education. As a Board Member of SciTech Institute, she supports the Chief Science Officers (CSO) program, empowering 1,000+ students across the U.S., Kenya, Kuwait, and Mexico to become STEM leaders and advocates in their communities. Many of these student leaders are young women who, through mentorship and real-world problem-solving experiences, now see themselves as future innovators. 

Driven by the belief that innovation flourishes when everyone has a seat at the table, Nitasha’s leadership has helped redefine what’s possible—cultivating pathways for future innovators, dismantling systemic barriers, and inspiring the next generation to lead boldly and inclusively. 

About #empowHER50 campaign

xThis 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 – Melissa Mulholland

When innovation is personal, technology doesn’t just scale—it saves lives. 

For Melissa Mulholland, AI isn’t just a business strategy—it’s a lifeline. As CEO of Crayon and a former Microsoft executive, Melissa is scaling the power of AI across industries, driven by her own powerful experience with how technology can transform healthcare and human connection. 

Melissa’s journey took a dramatic turn when she was told that her unborn son had posterior urethral valves (PUV)—a rare, life-threatening condition. Determined to give him a chance, she underwent a high-risk medical procedure that saved his life. That experience became a catalyst for her mission: to make life-changing technology accessible to all. 

At Microsoft, Melissa began championing AI in healthcare, sharing her story with global health leaders to inspire action. One of those conversations sparked a collaboration between Crayon and Oslo University Hospital, where AI now supports colon cancer screening and patient monitoring—real solutions with life-saving potential. 

“My story demonstrates the transformative impact of AI in healthcare, driven by personal experiences and innovative technology.” — Melissa Mulholland 

Now leading Crayon, Melissa continues scaling inclusive, purpose-driven innovation across the globe. She’s helping expand access to AI for underserved communities, breaking down geographic and economic barriers in healthcare, and ensuring technology is easy to use, easy to understand, and accessible to everyone. Closer to home, she sees AI’s power daily—her son Conor uses speech therapy apps powered by AI to build communication skills and confidence. 

Melissa’s work proves that meaningful innovation must be both scalable and personal. By connecting human needs with technological possibilities, she’s building a future where AI doesn’t just solve problems—it delivers hope. 

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 – Kim Kelly Hart, ACC

True innovation is born when courage meets compassion—and creates lasting change for people and the cultures that support them. 

Kim Kelly Hart has always believed that transformation begins with people. Over her 25-year journey at Microsoft, she didn’t just lead change—she humanized it. From major workforce shifts to bold cultural conversations, Kim has redefined what it means to innovate with empathy. 

When the pandemic forced the closure of Microsoft’s physical Stores, it could have marked an ending. Instead, it sparked one of the company’s most impactful workforce transformation efforts. As a senior leader, Kim stepped forward to lead the charge, aiming to transition 300 Store employees into new corporate roles—tapping into their technical know-how, customer experience, and resilience. 

Under her vision and leadership, 320 employees successfully moved into roles across the company. She mapped their skills to business needs, created targeted training, offered resume and interview coaching, and rallied hiring managers across departments. More than a talent redeployment, this initiative was a reaffirmation of Microsoft’s commitment to its people—and earned recognition in the company’s year-end diversity report. 

But Kim wasn’t done. The experience inspired her to found MiDOViA, an organization dedicated to empowering midlife employees through workplace menopause awareness, education, and advocacy. In a world where midlife is often invisible, Kim is giving it a voice—and companies a roadmap to support their most experienced talent. 

“Together, we can drive change that benefits individuals, businesses, and society as a whole.” — Kim Kelly Hart 

Kim’s leadership bridges transitions—with grace, vision, and results. From helping frontline employees find new purpose to breaking the silence around midlife in the workplace, her work is transforming how organizations think about inclusion, wellness, and retention. Her legacy is proof that innovation isn’t just about what’s next—it’s about who we bring with us. 

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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