For Jill Tracy, leadership has never been about titles or accolades—it’s been about building bridges. Bridges between cultures, between people, and between what is and what could be. “Leadership is about courage, compassion, and the unwavering belief that change is possible,” Jill says. “Leadership fosters ripple effects that can transform lives. I strive to build bridges of understanding, empower voices, and foster a world of peace.”
From her humble roots in the Chicago suburbs to executive boardrooms at Microsoft, Jill’s life has been a testament to that vision. As a first-generation college graduate, she began her journey as a Rotary exchange student in Brazil, where she first witnessed global inequities—and the resilience of communities rising to meet them. That experience shaped a calling. She later served as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Paraguay for three years, igniting a lifelong commitment to justice, access, and dignity for all.
Armed with degrees in Spanish and Communications from Marquette University and an MBA from Thunderbird School of Global Management, Jill joined Microsoft, where she spent 21 years helping to transform the global digital landscape. From pioneering billion-dollar channel strategies that drove $1B+ in cloud revenue, to leading high-impact initiatives across Latin America and Asia, her leadership became a blueprint for scalable impact across markets and communities.
But her influence didn’t stop at business metrics. Jill has mentored girls in STEAM through DigiGirls and Girls Who Code, led Girl Scout troops for over a decade, and championed youth education by bringing students into Microsoft R&D labs to witness innovation firsthand. Through her service with Rotary International, she continues to support women in tech, mentor leaders, and advocate for sustainable development and disease eradication efforts around the world.
Now, as CEO of United Planet, Jill is aligning her life’s work with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals—empowering youth, advancing global collaboration, and sparking ethical leadership. Her current pursuit of a PhD in Leadership & Change from Antioch University reflects her belief that transformation requires both scholarship and heart.
Jill Tracy’s legacy is defined not by personal success, but by the lives she’s lifted along the way—and the communities she’s helped unite through empathy, innovation, and purposeful service. Her story reminds us that true leadership isn’t about power—it’s about the power we give others to lead.
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-5
