Authentic leadership is measured not just by personal success, but by the impact one has on others.
Sandy Kallio has dedicated her career to fostering equity, building opportunities, and empowering communities—both inside and outside of Microsoft.
- “Investing in others is the cornerstone of building strong communities. It empowers individuals to reach their full potential and democratizes opportunities, ensuring that everyone has a chance to succeed and contribute to a brighter future.” — Sandy Kallio
Sandy’s passion for giving back and inspiring others is evident in her long-standing work with the Scholarship Foundation of Northshore, which awards over 100 scholarships annually, totaling more than $500,000. She has played a pivotal role in growing investments in scholarships, including co-funding the Dream Big scholarship, designed to help graduating seniors from Northshore High Schools achieve their higher education goals. As Past President of the Woodinville Rotary Club, Sandy led initiatives that raised and invested more than $80,000 to support women’s and children’s health, education, food security, domestic violence prevention, and homelessness—proving that investing early in individuals creates lasting, generational impact.
At Microsoft, Sandy brings this same passion to her work as a partner advocate, supporting 165,000 partners in engaging go-to-market strategies, scaling customer reach, and translating channel insights into action. Her commitment to empowerment extends to mentoring professionals, both internally and externally, helping them build successful careers and personal growth. In recognition of her work in enabling partners, Sandy was honored with the Microsoft Platinum Pinnacle Award—a testament to her dedication and impact.
Sandy’s success is rooted in three key strategies: Defining Impact, by setting clear goals to maximize effectiveness; Investing in Education and Skilling, ensuring people have the tools to seize opportunities; and Creating Advocates, fostering a cycle where those empowered become mentors themselves, amplifying the ripple effect of change.
Sandy’s leadership is a reminder that when we invest in others, we strengthen entire communities. By championing access to education, fostering career growth, and driving real change, she is ensuring that opportunity is not just a privilege—but a shared responsibility.
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/
