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/
