#empowHER50 – Aliesha Pulliam

Don’t just wait for the perfect opportunity-sometimes you have to create it. 

Aliesha Pulliam’s journey through Microsoft is a study in reinvention. She began as a Premier Field Engineer for Dynamics 365, solving technical challenges for Public Sector and DoD customers. But she quickly saw that the real barrier wasn’t technology—it was adoption. So, she built bridges. Through workshops, training, and storytelling, she transformed implementation into impact, ensuring customers not only received Microsoft solutions but also embraced them. 

Her ability to connect technical insight with human experience laid the foundation for her next act—Executive Communications. Blending engineering with performance, Aliesha redefined what it means to lead with voice, presence, and purpose. 

But her most powerful work emerged outside the boardroom. As Chief of Staff for Blacks at Microsoft (BAM), she launched a Coding Academy in partnership with NSBE Jr. and Howard University. The goal? Equip K–12 students—many from underrepresented communities—with access to fun, scalable coding instruction. Aliesha designed a volunteer-led curriculum that could be replicated across Employee Resource Groups (ERGs), igniting pathways to tech for the next generation of innovators. 

“You don’t have to wait for the perfect opportunity—sometimes, you have to create it,” Aliesha says. “Empowerment isn’t just about breaking barriers; it’s about building bridges so others can cross them too.” 

Now an emcee, actress, and speaker, she continues to champion inclusive storytelling and leadership, proving that technology and creativity aren’t separate lanes—they’re a powerful intersection. 

Aliesha Pulliam is a bridge-builder in every sense: connecting communities to code, customers to clarity, and young minds to boundless possibility. 

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 – Suma Uppuluri

When you build with purpose, what you leave behind isn’t just technology—it’s legacy. 

For over 26 years, Suma Uppuluri has quietly shaped the backbone of Microsoft’s digital evolution. From optimizing the Windows kernel in the early 2000s to leading business-critical engineering for HR, CELA, and Finance systems, her work has touched nearly every corner of the company’s global infrastructure. But ask Suma what she’s most proud of, and she won’t talk about systems or code—she’ll talk about people. 

“True impact isn’t just measured by what we build,” she says, “but by the people we empower along the way.” 

Suma’s Microsoft journey began as a young engineer fresh from Kansas State University, driven by her love for STEM and a dream to join one of the world’s most influential tech companies. Her contributions to Windows, engineering efficiency, and Microsoft’s enterprise solutions have been foundational—but it’s her leadership, mentorship, and human-first approach that have had the most enduring ripple effect. 

As a Principal Group Engineering Manager, she not only leads high-performing teams but creates cultures where engineers of all backgrounds feel seen, supported, and set up to thrive. She mentors early-career talent, champions inclusive hiring, and instills a growth mindset in those around her. 

Outside the office, Suma channels her energy into community service, supporting Sophia Way and volunteering in local schools—all while hiking through the forests of the Pacific Northwest, recharging in nature’s quiet brilliance. 

Suma’s legacy isn’t just in the systems she’s helped build—it’s in the people she’s empowered to keep building. 

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 – Jane Boulware

When women rise with intention, entire ecosystems rise with them. 

Jane Boulware wasn’t expected to go to college—let alone become a Corporate Vice President at Microsoft. But from the very beginning, she chose to defy expectations and dismantle limitations, both internal and systemic. Her story is not just one of personal success; it’s a testament to the ripple effect of intentional leadership. 

Throughout her career, Jane understood that the biggest barriers aren’t always external. “Often, the loudest voice limiting and minimizing me was my own. Feeling unsure and alone is still too common—not surprising when there are so few sheroes to guide us,” she reflects. That insight became her mission: to show up, stand up, and lift others as she climbed. 

At Microsoft, she led by example. As Vice President of Devices, she built a team where women managers outnumbered men—an industry rarity. Many of those women are now senior executives at leading tech companies. Her mentorship extended well beyond her org chart, guiding 27 rising leaders and serving as executive sponsor for Career & Professional Development. 

But Jane’s leadership didn’t end with a job title. As Board Chair of the Bellevue Boys & Girls Clubs, she helped keep the doors open throughout COVID, ensuring thousands of youth had food, tech access, and tutoring support. She authored the book WORTHY to help women rise above fear and failure, donating 100% of the proceeds to scholarships for youth. 

Now, as CSO and CMO of The Gottman Institute, Jane is guiding groundbreaking AI innovation in emotional intelligence, bringing humanity to the heart of technology. She also coaches and sponsors leaders through initiatives such as WECAN, a collective accelerating the advancement of women into the C-suite. 

“Show up, stand up, and lift up—because success isn’t defined by what you achieve, but by helping others achieve more than they thought they could and would,” Jane affirms. 

Her legacy is one of action, courage, and radical generosity. Because when women rise with purpose, they build bridges strong enough for others to cross. 

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 – Kati Quigley

Quiet strength can shape bold movements—and Kati Quigley proves it. 

Over the course of her 20-year career at Microsoft, Kati redefined what leadership looks like in one of the world’s most visible companies. Starting in event marketing, her journey was sparked not by ambition alone, but by connection—introduced to Microsoft through a former vendor and returning to her Seattle roots with a mission to create experiences that mattered. 

From global conferences to lasting communities, Kati’s approach was never about the spotlight—it was about empowering others to step into it. As a self-described introvert, she once questioned whether her leadership style would thrive in a high-intensity tech culture. But mentorship from leaders showed her that servant leadership and authenticity weren’t limitations—they were superpowers. 

Her legacy at Microsoft includes launching The Hub—a highly interactive event experience still active today—and co-founding the Women in Technology Network, now a global movement of connection and support. She also helped craft Microsoft’s Digital Transformation narrative, a story that reached the company’s highest levels and shaped customer conversations around the world. 

Yet when asked about her proudest achievement, she doesn’t point to metrics. She talks about people. 

“I was a manager my entire time at Microsoft,” Kati reflects. “What I loved most was watching my teams thrive—seeing connections form that lasted beyond org charts, across careers.” 

Now VP of Portfolio and Brand Marketing at BMC, Kati continues to build bridges. She leads with purpose, mentors rising talent, and organizes a 100+ member mentoring ring in the event marketing industry—all while staying true to her core belief: lift others, and they will rise. 

Kati’s inclusion in the #empowHER50 campaign is more than recognition—it’s a tribute to the quiet force of thoughtful leadership. Her legacy is one of grace, impact, and deep humanity. 

Because as Kati Quigley has shown, kindness is a strategy. And connection? That’s the most powerful legacy of 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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#empowHER50 – Cloe Zeng

When access is powered by empathy, innovation becomes a force for healing. 

When Cloe Zeng asked her parents to invest their life savings in a dream—a master’s degree in Management Information Systems in the UK—they didn’t hesitate. What followed was more than an academic milestone; it was the start of a global journey powered by courage, sacrifice, and an unwavering belief in the transformative power of access. 

That spark has since lit the way for millions. 

At Microsoft, Cloe became a force in global innovation. She played a pivotal role in the launch of Microsoft Surface and Xbox, scaling them into multi-billion-dollar businesses that touched over 500 million lives. Yet her leadership extended far beyond products—it shaped communities. As a mentor to more than 1,000 people managers, she built inclusive cultures grounded in curiosity, shared growth, and the belief that being first means bringing others along. 

Cloe’s mission has always been clear: democratize opportunity at scale. 

Now at the Gottman Institute, she is bridging technology and emotional intelligence, using AI to make relationship health tools universally accessible—from personal to professional teamwork. Her impact echoes globally. As the first Asian American President of the Issaquah Schools Foundation, she expanded academic access for 19,000 students and 1,200 educators. And through the “Kids Helping Kids” international peace initiative in Ukraine, she has empowered displaced youth to build futures in STEM—even amid conflict. 

Whether launching market-defining innovations or designing education programs for war-affected children, Cloe operates from a singular truth: kindness and technology are not opposites—they are complements. Together, they build a world where opportunity is not hoarded, but shared. 

Through every chapter, she has shown what’s possible when women lead boldly and bring others with them. Her work isn’t just legacy—it’s blueprint. 

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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