What if the key to high performance isn’t pressure but permission? Kathryn Courtney is proving that inclusion and impact can thrive side by side.
At the peak of the pandemic, Kathryn led a high-stakes project with Microsoft OCP —7,000 customized documents, 7 languages, delivered in just 8 weeks. But instead of hiring traditional tech marketers, she chose a different path: assembling a team of 12 recently displaced workers, none with experience in tech or marketing. The project doubled as a crash-course reskilling bootcamp, and not only did the team deliver, but over half transitioned into tech roles afterward many still working with her today.
This ethos now fuels her work as President and CEO of Mix Consulting, where she’s built a business model that centers humanity without compromising results. Her team has grown 4x, maintained a 90%+ client retention rate, and delivered on global initiatives for companies like Intuit and Microsoft’s Copilot+ PC strategy all while allowing team members to prioritize family, wellness, and life outside the screen.
“Access to opportunity isn’t just about skill-building; it’s about system-bending creating structures where people who don’t fit the dominant mold can thrive on their own terms.” — Kathryn Courtney
Kathryn’s formula for success is rooted in values and radical transparency. She builds collaborative systems that flex around people’s lives, uses values like “Grace + Accountability” as a compass for every decision, and maintains open financial models with shared upside and accountability.
Through it all, she’s showing what’s possible when inclusion is designed into the business model not added on as an afterthought.
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/
