When complexity is simplified and connection becomes strategy, engagement doesn’t just grow—it transforms communities.
Helane Cohen has spent nearly 14 years at Microsoft transforming the way people access, understand, and engage with opportunity. As Owner of CliftonStrengths Coaching & Consultancy business —and a longtime leader inside Microsoft—her mission has been clear: simplify the complex, humanize engagement, and ensure everyone has access to the information they need to succeed.
At Microsoft, Helane turned platforms into pipelines for connection. She led the integration of a taxonomy search feature into LinkedIn, transforming it into the central hub for Americas Partner Communications. This shift made real-time information not only accessible but actionable, resulting in a 96.2% year-over-year increase in social engagement. “True transformation begins by simplifying complexity and humanizing engagement,” she says. “When access is intentional, innovation becomes inclusive, and communities thrive.”
Her approach to content proved just as impactful. Through the Top Stories blog, Helane delivered high-impact insights in short, digestible formats, making enablement easy and empowering. Her editorial strategy drove a 65% year-over-year increase in blog views, proving that clear communication fuels adoption at scale.
But she didn’t stop at systems and stats. Helane believes deeply in the power of visibility and authenticity. She launched the scalable #MeetTheTeam campaign to spotlight Microsoft leaders and partners through storytelling, building trust and belonging in the ecosystem. The campaign achieved a 4.5x year-over-year engagement boost, with sustained performance in FY25.
Helane’s career is a masterclass in communication as a vehicle for equity. Her work ensures that information is not a privilege for the few, but a right for all, delivered with empathy, intention, and strategy. And Helane’s number one Clifton Strength is Communication, and she has leveraged it in all aspects of her work and personal life.
Through every initiative, she has helped Microsoft partners feel seen, informed, and empowered. Because when engagement is intentional and access is human, relationships deepen, opportunities multiply, and transformation becomes truly inclusive.
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/
