When Laura Neumann walked into tech spaces where few women had gone before, she didn’t just make room at the table—she built a new one.
With a bold vision and unwavering belief in education as a catalyst for opportunity, Laura transformed how Microsoft supports global learners, championing accessibility, equity, and innovation across the education technology ecosystem.
As a Partner Sales Executive at Microsoft, Laura saw the immense potential in collaborating with EdTech platforms to close the digital divide. In 2020, she launched the Microsoft EdTech Partnership Program, a pioneering initiative to expand access to skilling and certification programs through trusted education providers like Coursera, edX, Udacity, and DataCamp. What began as a bold experiment quickly became a breakthrough.
Microsoft’s first collaboration with Coursera reached over one million unique learners, offering high-impact courses in technology, data science, and business. That success validated Laura’s conviction—EdTech partners were not only viable, they were essential to Microsoft’s global skilling strategy. Today, 45% of Microsoft’s Global Partner skilling is delivered through these platforms, opening doors for millions in underserved communities.
Through consistent results, compelling metrics, and real-world impact stories—many amplified in partnership with Women in Cloud—Laura built an irrefutable case for EdTech’s role in Microsoft’s learning ecosystem.
Laura’s work has helped shift Microsoft’s skilling model from closed classrooms to open, inclusive digital spaces—spaces where anyone, anywhere can gain the skills needed to thrive in today’s economy. She didn’t just drive numbers; she changed narratives.
For Laura, this work is more than strategy—it’s a mission. “Powerful women rise by lifting others, breaking barriers, and redefining what is possible,” she says. That belief has guided every step of her journey—from standing alone in boardrooms to building inclusive platforms that now serve millions.
Her story proves that when one woman dares to push boundaries, entire systems can evolve. Laura Neumann is more than a champion of education—she’s an architect of access, building a future where learning has no limits and where women, everywhere, rise together.
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/
