#empowHER50 – Joanne Harrell

When partnerships are rooted in purpose, they don’t just drive progress—they unlock prosperity for all. 

Joanne Harrell has spent her life building bridges between business and community, turning collaboration into a catalyst for opportunity. As a retired Microsoft executive, First Lady of Seattle, and adjunct professor at the University of Washington, Joanne brings deep experience and unwavering commitment to shared prosperity and social impact. 

During her two decades at Microsoft, Joanne led the U.S. Citizenship and Public Affairs team, pioneering transformative public-private partnerships across more than 80 jurisdictions. Under her leadership, the Digital Alliance model took flight, bringing together civic leaders, educational institutions, and Microsoft’s internal divisions to create career pathways through digital skills, certifications, and economic opportunity. Initiatives like YouthSpark reached thousands of young people in cities like Los Angeles, Dallas, and Chicago, aligning Microsoft’s mission with the needs of local communities. 

But Joanne’s passion for impact began long before Microsoft. She founded The Registry Program in Seattle, providing scholarships, mentorship, and job training to 450 high school students, earning a Presidential Citation for outstanding service. As President & CEO of United Way of King County, she partnered with the Gates Foundation to grow the endowment by over $220 million, making it the most financially secure United Way in the country and vastly expanding support for underserved families. 

“Partnerships change the world. By being the type of partner that each of us would like to work with, we can see opportunities to enable dreams to become real, we can uplift others and make the world better for us all.” — Joanne Harrell 

Joanne’s legacy is rooted in collaboration, equity, and purpose. Whether she’s mentoring students, empowering women in tech, or leading regional impact initiatives, her work proves that real change happens when leaders unite around a shared vision—and uplift others along the way. 

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/  

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#empowHER50 – Sabina Nawaz

When leadership is shared, doors don’t just open—they stay open for everyone who follows. 

For Sabina Nawaz, leadership is a force for change, a platform for inclusion, and a commitment to elevate others. From growing up in India navigating social bias, to becoming one of Microsoft’s most respected leadership voices, Sabina has spent her life making sure no one else has to lead alone. 

At Microsoft, Sabina rose through the ranks to lead teams behind products like Windows, Internet Explorer, and MSN. But when she found herself in a job that paved the path for a near-certain promotion to corporate vice president, she made a different choice—one rooted in purpose. She pivoted to lead Microsoft’s global executive development, working alongside Bill Gates and Steve Ballmer to democratize leadership across the company. 

Decades earlier, she co-founded Hoppers, Microsoft’s first employee resource group for technical women. What started with a handful of members grew into a 2,000+ strong nearly overnight and then thousands and thousands—and a blueprint replicated across the tech industry. She went on to co-find the Seattle chapter of Women in Technology International, building networks that have supported thousands of professional women. 

“Democratizing leadership means putting powerful tools into every hand—not just those at the top. True progress happens when anyone, anywhere, can lead.” — Sabina Nawaz 

After Microsoft, Sabina scaled her mission globally. Her Harvard Business Review, Forbes, The Wall Street Journal, and Fast Company articles have reached over 7.5 million readers. Her TEDx talk continues to inspire audiences around the world—including one woman in Bangladesh who said it saved her life. Her book, You’re the Boss, turns 25 years of insight into an accessible toolkit for anyone ready to lead. 

Sabina’s legacy is one of deep empathy, courageous decisions, and unwavering inclusivity. Through coaching, writing, and community-building, she’s ensured that leadership isn’t a privilege—it’s a shared responsibility. Her story reminds us that real power lies not in being the only one at the table, but in pulling up chairs for others. 

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/  

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#empowHER50 – Lakecia Gunter

Technology should be an equalizer, not a barrier.  

From AI to cloud computing, she has dedicated her career to ensuring that businesses—especially those from underrepresented communities—have the tools, knowledge, and opportunities they need to thrive. Technology should empower people, not exclude them, and I am committed to making it accessible to those who need it most,” she says. 

As a Fortune 50 Tech Executive and Corporate Board Director, Lakecia has been a catalyst for change, bridging the gap between innovation and access. Through mentorship, advocacy, and leadership development, she has helped create pathways for women, Black professionals, and emerging leaders to break into and excel in the tech industry. For her, representation isn’t just about visibility—it’s about building an ecosystem where diverse voices lead and drive meaningful impact and change. 

Her impact extends beyond the corporate world. Through ROAR, her podcast, she amplifies industry insights and career strategies, bringing knowledge to those who may not have direct access to top leaders. As a board director and community leader, she champions equity-driven decision-making at the highest levels, ensuring that companies prioritize inclusion not just in words, but in action. 

Lakecia’s legacy is one of empowerment and impact. Whether she’s mentoring the next generation, shaping industry policies, or pushing for greater inclusivity in leadership, she remains driven by one core belief: Technology should work for everyone—and the future of innovation must be built by all of us. 

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/  

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#empowHER50 – Erendira González

Leadership should never come at the cost of well-being—it should be built upon it. 

For Erendira González, leadership is not just about advancement, but about awakening purpose and expanding collective impact. With over 30 years in the tech industry, including as an executive at Microsoft, she has led multicultural teams and large-scale transformations—always aligning business goals with human development. 

A turning point came after experiencing burnout. That moment reframed her vision of success: leadership needed to be sustained by authenticity, inner clarity, and a conscious approach to well-being—not just “feeling fine,” but cultivating the awareness to adjust, care for one-self, and lead with intention. 

She transitioned into transformational coaching, integrating strategic experience with mind-body medicine and positive psychology. Her scalable programs blend science, emotional healing, and practical tools—supporting leaders to reduce stress, reconnect with their purpose, and grow consciously. 

What sets her apart is her commitment to accessibility. Erendira partners with organizations to bring well-being and leadership development to indigenous communities, underserved professionals, and women in tech—expanding access to resources once limited to few. 

Guided by love, courage, and coherence, she builds safe, empowering spaces where people reconnect with their potential. Her approach is deeply human, profoundly effective, and designed to scale transformation from the inside out. 

“By transforming ourselves, we transform the world,” Erendira says. In a world hungry for authentic leadership, she is proving that when we evolve from within, we don’t just transform organizations—we transform lives. 

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/  

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#empowHER50 – Monika Mital Gupta

Monika Mital Gupta is not just transforming technology—she is engineering a more inclusive and empowered future.  

For over 27 years, Monika has been at the forefront of global enterprise innovation, pioneering engineering solutions that deliver at scale while breaking barriers for the next generation of leaders. As Partner GM, Engineering at Microsoft, she has led some of the most impactful programs across the company, setting new standards for how technology can drive transformation and inclusion simultaneously. 

Fueled by curiosity and an unrelenting drive for excellence, Monika’s path into technology began with a Master’s degree in Computer Science and a Fulbright Fellowship at Carnegie Mellon University. From managing platforms processing over $100B in revenue to enabling the secure release of 100M+ binaries and redefining employee productivity for over 200,000 users, her leadership has reshaped industries and touched lives globally. 

Yet Monika’s story is more than technological milestones—it is a story of resilience. Growing up where gender expectations often limited ambition, Monika faced skepticism at every turn. As one of the few women in her computer science program and later in tech leadership, she had to prove herself repeatedly. Instead of backing down, she turned obstacles into opportunities, blazing a trail for others to follow. 

“True leadership is not about breaking barriers for yourself; it’s about tearing them down for those who come after you. Success is measured not just by what you achieve, but by how many others you empower to rise.” — Monika Mital Gupta 

This philosophy has shaped her approach to leadership. Monika has championed mentorship, built diverse teams, and led multi-million-dollar, cross-industry initiatives that demonstrate how inclusion drives innovation. From employee productivity platforms to secure enterprise solutions, she has ensured that her work creates lasting impact. 

Beyond Microsoft, she invests in women-led startups and serves as a board advisor, continuing to democratize access to innovation. 

Monika’s story is a beacon for every woman who has ever felt unseen in tech. Her legacy reminds us that the future isn’t something we wait for—it’s something we engineer, 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/  

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