#empowHER50 – Joerose Tharakan

When partnerships are grounded in purpose and empathy, they don’t just drive innovation—they open doors for generations to come. 

 
Joerose Tharakan didn’t just find her voice in the tech world—she helped create a stage where others could rise, too. From navigating Wall Street to shaping Microsoft’s global partner strategy, Joerose has always believed in the power of proximity, purpose, and partnership to unlock human potential. 

Today, as Chief of Staff for Global SI & Advisory Partnerships, she’s helping reimagine Microsoft’s engagement with global service providers in the AI era—ensuring that equity, access, and education are never left behind in the pursuit of innovation. 

Joerose’s journey began in the high-stakes world of capital markets, where she worked as a sales-trader at Lehman Brothers and Nomura International in London. When the 2008 financial collapse hit, she was enlisted into crisis response – to help manage the complex transfer of systems and assets between the two firms. That moment of transformation lit a fire in her: she pivoted careers, earned her MBA at Yale, and joined Microsoft in 2012 through the MACH MBA program, ready to channel the resilience she’d built into impact. 

And impact did follow. From shaping Microsoft’s global partnership strategy to advocating for inclusive economic empowerment, Joerose has become a force behind some of Microsoft’s most meaningful initiatives. A highlight of her career thus far has been helping drive a $3 million investment in CodePath.org through a partnership with Cognizant and Walmart Foundation, expanding tech education access for 7,000 students. 

Outside Microsoft, her leadership echoes just as strongly. As a board member of Ivy Child International and Colby College, she uplifts multicultural education, financial aid expansion, and global inclusion. And as a mentor to early-career professionals, particularly Microsoft Aspire hires, she models the power of showing up, lifting others, and creating space where people feel seen. 

“True greatness lies in the audacity to give without expectations of return, to uplift others with grace, and to create ripples of kindness and empowerment that transform lives.” — Joerose Tharakan 

Joerose’s legacy is one of action over optics, of building systems that center people—not just profit. Her leadership reminds us that inclusion must be intentional, opportunity must be shared, and change must be rooted in community. Through every partnership, boardroom, and mentorship conversation, she proves that kindness and strategy are not opposites—they are allies in lasting change. 

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 – Suzan LeVine

A two-time Microsoft alumna, Suzi brought a product builder’s mindset to public service, transforming how the U.S. thinks about equity in education, work, and caregiving. 

At Microsoft, Suzi learned about rolling out programs at scale by being a part of the historic Windows95 team in which she led the World Tour and the manufacturing efforts. She then dug in on impact by helping pioneer storytelling and partnerships through programs like the Imagine Cup, where students used technology to tackle real-world problems. She also worked alongside Intel and Cisco to reshape global education assessments, advocating for project-based learning and 21st-century skills. 

It was that work, fused with her global perspective as U.S. Ambassador to Switzerland and Liechtenstein, that inspired a bold new vision: adapting the Swiss apprenticeship model to the United States. Suzi spearheaded a formal agreement between the U.S. and Swiss government and enlisted 30+ companies to bring their workforce programs stateside. Her efforts catalyzed what is now a national apprenticeship renaissance, powering initiatives in Washington State, Colorado, NYC, Indiana, and beyond—all grounded in access, dignity, and economic mobility. 

Her time at Microsoft also laid the foundation for another milestone: launching Washington State’s Paid Family and Medical Leave system as Commissioner of the Employment Security Department. With product acumen drawn from her work on Windows and NT, Suzi applied beta testing, MVP, and agile rollout strategies to a state-run benefits platform. The result? The on-time and on-budget delivery of a first-of-its-kind system that inspired similar programs in over a dozen states, supporting millions of families with critical caregiving benefits. 

“The future of opportunity lies in reimagining systems—where every learner, every worker, and every family has the power to thrive, not just survive,” says LeVine. 

Suzi’s journey—from operating systems to system change—proves that innovation isn’t confined to the private sector. When technology meets empathy and policy meets lived experience, the American Dream expands for all. 

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 – Brea Starmer

When flexibility becomes infrastructure, inclusion becomes inevitable.

Brea Starmer has spent her career reimagining work, not as a rigid system to navigate, but as a dynamic platform for inclusion, empowerment, and growth. Her journey began at Microsoft, where she joined as a college hire and quickly saw the real-world impact of technology on public institutions and local communities. But it was a pivotal moment—watching a manager leave the workforce after her third child—that forever reshaped her understanding of work, caregiving, and opportunity.

Years later, laid off while pregnant, Brea faced a stark reality shared by countless women: the structural rigidity of the workforce often sidelines those with caregiving responsibilities. But instead of stepping back, she stepped forward—and built a solution.

She founded Lions & Tigers, a consultancy designed to keep high-skilled women and underrepresented talent in the workforce through flexible, purpose-driven work. Microsoft became her first client. Together, they created over $34 million in economic access for more than 250 consultants—85% women, 33% people of the global majority—who now work an average of 30 hours per week on high-impact projects across the tech ecosystem.

“When we solve the workplace flexibility challenge for women, everyone benefits,” says Starmer. What began as a solution to a personal challenge has grown into a business model that supports companies contributing over $2 billion to the U.S. economy.

During her time at Microsoft, Brea’s work in public sector marketing programs helped shape her belief that access isn’t just about technology—it’s about design. Her commitment to economic inclusion now drives how businesses across industries reimagine hiring, scaling, and capacity.

Brea Starmer isn’t just building a company—she’s architecting a future where flexible work powers inclusive economies.

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 – Rajashree Varma

Some stories begin with a spark.  
 
Rajashree Varma’s began with $100 and two audacious dreams: to work at Microsoft and to one day lead her own tech company. Today, she’s not only fulfilled both—she’s actively reshaping the future of healthcare operations through AI-powered innovation. 

Rajashree’s journey took flight in 1999, arriving in the U.S. as a young woman from India with a computer engineering degree from an all-women’s engineering college and a bold determination to break new ground. At Microsoft, she became one of the first from her college to enter the tech giant’s engineering ranks. But she didn’t stop there. Eager to connect technology to business transformation, she transitioned into customer and partner-facing roles, gaining critical skills that would later power her entrepreneurial ventures. 

In 2009, she founded Arth Systems, a Solution consultancy that leveraged Microsoft full stack to create scalable, impactful enterprise tech. As the business flourished, Microsoft became a pivotal partner, validating her belief that access to strong alliances can democratize innovation. When Arth Systems was acquired by Xoriant Corporation, Rajashree stepped in as VP and led a high-impact Microsoft alliance strategy, driving multi-million dollars of revenue growth and helping position the company among Microsoft’s top 4% global partners. 

Today, as Founder and CEO of AffableBPM, Rajashree is building the next chapter of her legacy—an AI-powered SaaS platform designed to simplify and scale non-clinical healthcare compliance operations. With a no-code interface that empowers business users to manage contracts, compliance, and inventory, AffableBPM has improved operational efficiency by over 70%, reduced burnout, and ensured audit readiness for providers across the U.S. healthcare system with measurable ROI. 

But Rajashree’s mission goes far beyond metrics. “Democratizing tech means paving the way for those who come next and solving real-world problems,” she says. Her work is proof that systems can be redesigned to empower, not exclude, and that leadership is strongest when it opens doors for others. 

A passionate advocate for inclusive innovation, Rajashree actively mentors aspiring technologists through Ada Developers Academy and the UW Foster School of Business. She champions women returning to the workforce and continuously invests in building opportunities that extend beyond her own success. 

From software engineer to CEO, Rajashree Varma exemplifies what happens when vision meets tenacity—and how a single dream, when matched with courage and community, can transform entire industries. 

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 – Shannon Beauclair

Some careers shape products. Others shape people. Shannon Beauclair’s story is a rare case of both. 

Born and raised in Bellevue, Washington, Shannon watched Microsoft’s rise unfold in her own backyard—eventually joining the company and building a 14-year career that bridged enterprise technology and human-centered leadership. A natural problem-solver, Shannon thrived in high-stakes program management roles, onboarding global brands like GE, Toyota, and Coca-Cola to Microsoft’s cloud and productivity platforms. 

But it was her time in Microsoft Philanthropies that reshaped her future. Leading the company’s Silent Auction for the Give Campaign, Shannon broke fundraising records and inspired a wave of giving through her personal story and public speaking. Her leadership was powered by a belief that technology isn’t just about systems—it’s about the people those systems serve. 

That same belief became the foundation for her next chapter. 

After leaving Microsoft, Shannon founded Beauclair Photography, using her lens to elevate women over 40 and amplify voices in underrepresented communities. Through her signature Worthy Series, she offers more than portraits—she offers visibility, healing, and proof that confidence has no expiration date. Every image tells a story of resilience. A portion of her proceeds supports organizations like Susan G. Komen and Donate Life America, ensuring that her business remains a conduit for impact. 

Shannon also mentors the next generation of creatives, including a Latina high school student she’s currently guiding through photography and entrepreneurship. Her mission is rooted in representation—creating space for every identity to be seen, celebrated, and remembered. 

Shannon’s journey from enterprise leader to empathy-driven artist reminds us: technology may shape the future, but humanity defines its purpose. And when legacy is captured with intention, every frame becomes a force for change. 

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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