#empowHER50 – Julie Slocum Bennani

When Julie Slocum Bennani first joined Microsoft as an Accenture analyst in 1996, she didn’t anticipate that her short UAT assignment would evolve into a multi-decade legacy of transformative impact. But her gift for aligning big-picture vision with cross-functional collaboration and operational execution would soon position her as a critical architect of scalable change. 

Over the next 11+ years, Julie’s Accenture work spanned some of the most pivotal programs in Microsoft’s evolution—from leading the end-to-end launch supply chain operations of Xbox in North America to co-designing the go-to-market strategy for the Open Value licensing program. She played a key role across CRM/PRM strategies and operations for global teams and worked extensively across Microsoft’s Enterprise, Mid-Market and Small Business, OEM, Developer\ISV, and Field partner and customer organizations. Her strong reputation was built not only on execution, but on her ability to bridge silos and create structures that would scale end-to-end. 

In 2007, Julie transitioned from consultant to full-time Microsoft employee, stepping into a leadership role under then-Channel Chief Allison Watson. Her mission: transform the aging Microsoft Partner Program (MSPP) into the modernized Microsoft Partner Network. At the height of the global financial crisis, Julie led a broad coalition across Business Groups, IT, Operations, and Services to deliver a vision rooted in clarity, consistency, and community and despite major pivots to the hundreds of thousands of partners in the program globally, partner retention and alignment was excellent. 

Her leadership enabled several firsts: transitioning Action Packs from physical to fully digital delivery, launching Microsoft’s first-ever global partner sales accreditation program and co-building a strong partnership and synergy between Developer and Customer and Field enablement organizations, and building repeatable partner-type launch frameworks and growth and investment alignment across all commercial product groups that could flex to new technologies (and partner business models) —including Microsoft’s shift from on-premise to cloud software, which also happened during her tenure. 

Julie’s approach was patient and persistent. She prioritized deep listening, gave stakeholders true ownership in the process, and stayed the course—even when economic headwinds challenged the pace of innovation. “Real transformation happens when you align vision with trust,” she says. “It’s not about leading alone—it’s about empowering others to co-create with you.” 

From 2008 to 2014, Julie was recognized externally as one of CRN’s Top 100 Most Powerful Women of the Channel and served as global spokesperson for Microsoft’s five-star partner program. Internally, her legacy lives on through the systems, frameworks, and partner enablement structures that continue to scale across the Microsoft ecosystem. 

Now serving as Executive Advisor at Accenture, Julie continues to bring her unique blend of strategy and empathy to global change initiatives—always grounded in the belief that big systems evolve best when built on trust. 

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 – Elaine Q. Chang

For Elaine, chaos isn’t the enemy, it’s the canvas for possibility.  

From a young girl who couldn’t afford college application fees to earning full scholarships that carried her across continents, Elaine’s journey is defined by resilience, reinvention, and relentless curiosity. She became a computer scientist, a product builder, and now serves as an executive technical advisor at Microsoft, helping leaders and organizations navigate the AI era –  advising on strategy, shaping products, and inventing possibilities that harness technology for meaningful impact.  

With two decades of experience, Elaine has led across engineering, communications, business strategy, bridging disciplines and geographies. Elaine has guided product development across Microsoft’s iconic products – SharePoint, Office, Windows, Bing, Azure, and Business Applications. She built conversational AI products, authored an O’Reilly book for developers, spoke on stages worldwide, and shaped technical storytelling for major AI product launches. 

“From mess to meaning—when we stay curious in the unknown, we make room for insight, connection, and change.” — Elaine Q. Chang  

As a mom, technologist, and community catalyst, Elaine embraces her “octopus mind”—juggling roles, navigating chaos, and finding grace in the mess. 

Beyond products, Elaine builds inclusive communities. She has chaired Employee Resource Groups, launched leadership conferences, and initiated global hackathons, including efforts that help locate missing children. She’s taught AI to children in rural villages and champions STEAM education, grounded in the belief that access to opportunity should never be defined by geography, gender, or background.  

Elaine’s leadership blueprint is rooted in  

  • cultivating inclusivity so everyone feels seen and empowered 
  • using curiosity and foresight to translate complexity into actionable insight 
  • leading with candor grounded in integrity and empathy to build credibility and lasting connection 

Through it all, she shows that in the mess, creativity sparks and courage takes root. That’s where transformation begins. 

 
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 – Jessica Rafuse

Jessica Rafuse believes that accessibility is where partnerships combine with technology to accelerate opportunity and she’s turning that belief into a global movement. 

As Director of Accessibility Strategic Partnerships at Microsoft, Jessica leads with one goal in mind: to accelerate accessible technology so everyone can fully participate in the digital world. Her work sits at the intersection of partnership, technology, and business value, turning ideas into accessible solutions that democratize technology for all.  

From the transformative Ability Summit that now reaches over 20,000 participants to accessibility features built into your favorite products, Jessica’s impact is both personal and systemic. She’s helped position accessibility not as an afterthought, but as a strategic imperative for organizations seeking to lead with empathy and drive business results. “Disability is part of the common human experience and we all have a responsibility to create a more accessible future.” 

One of Microsoft’s most impactful projects that is most notable for Jessica is partnering with the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam to use AI and computer vision to generate text descriptions for more than one million artifacts, bringing art, history, and culture to life for blind and low-vision visitors. “Vivid reds, moody blues, swirling stars of Van Gogh,” she notes.  

As the head of Microsoft’s Global Commercial Accessibility Program, Jessica empowers over 400+ Microsoft sellers to champion accessibility in every conversation with customers, partners, and communities. She equips them not just with tools, but with language, empathy, and confidence— promoting accessibility as a business strategy and disabled talent as subject matter experts. 

At the Microsoft Ability Summit, Jessica creates a platform for disabled and neurodiverse leaders to be celebrated and accessible technology to scale. It’s a free, global, digital gathering—where AI is reimagined as a companion, tool, and equalizer. This summit is not just an event—it’s a movement. A call to action for companies and communities alike to embrace the responsibility and the opportunity of accessibility. 

Jessica Rafuse is proof that when accessibility is embedded in culture, business impact follows. Her leadership is a beacon, reminding the tech world that accessibility is a catalyst for innovation.  
 
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 – Kelly Lanier Arnold

When girls see what’s possible, they start to believe they belong and Kelly Lanier Arnold is building that vision, one datacenter career pathway at a time. 

As a Community Affairs Regional Manager for Cloud Operations at Microsoft, Kelly has been a driving force behind programs that empower women to explore and pursue careers in technology infrastructure. Her passion for inclusivity led to the launch of Introduce a Girl to Engineering and Pathways to Technology Careers, two signature programs that expose young women to real tech role models and hands-on experiences with datacenter technology. 

In 2021–2022, Kelly piloted the Women in Datacenters Pathway Program in the U.S. and Ireland—a multi-month initiative that provided female students with IT fundamentals training, culminating in industry recognized (CompTIA) certification and direct mentorship from Microsoft datacenter professionals. The program helped participants build confidence, gain in-demand skills, and visualize a future in tech. 

“Believe in yourself, let passion fuel your dreams, and be willing to embrace change.” — Kelly Lanier Arnold 

By collaborating with state community colleges systems and industry partners, Kelly has built bridges into tech for underrepresented women creating programs that are practical, inclusive, and deeply human. Her initiatives have reached hundreds of students and inspired over 87% of participants to consider a technology career. 

Kelly’s success is powered by three strategies: building programs that connect learning to opportunity, bridging aspiration with authenticity and role models, and scaling impact through allyship, mentorship, and collaboration. 

 
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 – Heather Doran

Heather Doran doesn’t just drive outcomes; she builds systems where others can succeed, scale, and shine. 

As Head of Business Operations and Chief of Staff for Microsoft’s Commercial Cloud and AI Marketing organization, Heather has been a catalyst for some of Microsoft’s most strategic marketing and operational initiatives. From budget strategy and spend optimization to operational efficiency and change management, her influence is woven through transformative efforts that shape how Microsoft engages customers, partners, and communities. 

“It’s not just what you drive—it’s what you enable” 

Her leadership philosophy is rooted in intentionality and empowerment. That belief guides how she leads, with precision, empathy, and a relentless focus on enabling others. She’s known for asking hard questions, surfacing unseen blockers, and building trust by pairing accountability with genuine care. 

One of her greatest impacts has been building bridges, between teams, between strategy and execution, and between vision and reality. She creates the connective tissue that turns ideas into outcomes, ensuring diverse voices are included and empowered in high-stakes moments. 

Her commitment to access extends beyond corporate walls. As Chairwoman of the Board for Hesperus, a Native American nonprofit, she has championed IT skills development in Native American communities, demonstrating that leadership is as much about opening doors as it is about walking through them. 

Heather’s approach to democratizing opportunity is anchored in three strategies: aligning systems that create clarity and cohesion across complex initiatives; modeling transparency and accountability to help others navigate opaque structures; and bridging communities to champion representation, ensuring that access isn’t tied to proximity or privilege, but to intentional design. Through this, she continues to shape a legacy of bold, transparent, and inclusive leadership. 

 
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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