When you build quietly and relentlessly, you leave behind more than impact—you leave infrastructure.
In 1983, Sandra Jacobson joined Microsoft as one of fewer than 300 employees—and one of the very few women in systems and product management. Over the next 31 and a half years, she helped architect some of Microsoft’s most foundational programs, laying the groundwork for the global partner network, technical certifications, developer tools, and software training systems that continue to scale opportunity today.
Her fingerprints are on more than 40 product launches, from developer toolkits and programming languages to strategic initiatives like the Microsoft Certified Professional (MCP) program, which she defined, developed, implemented and MCP became a global benchmark for IT excellence and career growth. She defined and launched programs that empowered millions of IT professionals worldwide—including the first Partner Referral Tool in 30 languages, the global expansion of Microsoft Training Centers, and the Software Advisor licensing programs that helped small businesses grow smarter.
Whether building out Microsoft’s global certification framework, creating online partner enrollment platforms, or designing the first career pathways for Microsoft Solutions Partners, Sandra always held one truth close: “Without people who are respected, who care, who support each other and the goals, a company cannot succeed.”
Sandra’s legacy is a powerful testament to collaboration and perseverance. As Microsoft’s longest-tenured woman employee at the time of her retirement in 2014, she opened doors—then built systems to ensure others could walk through them with confidence.
Her spotlight reminds us that true impact isn’t always loud—it’s often foundational, sustained by decades of work that lives on in the people, programs, and partnerships it empowered.
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/
